.338 Win Mag/ RL22 powder??

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the rifleman

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I have 3 lbs of RL22 powder which has worked fantastic in loads for the 30-06, 7mm Rem mag, and the .300 Win mag. But do you think I could find any load data for it for the .338 Win mag, using the 225gr Grand Slam, or Nosler Accubond..nope, none, nada.

What's with that? Rl 22 should be a fine powder for the .338, and the 225gr bullets mentioned should be popular enough, to see some data for them. When I e-mailed Alliant, asking for info , they sent me load data for RL19.:rolleyes:

Has anybody any load data that would be suitable for the powder and bullets mentioned? I would appreciate any help, thanks.:)
 
RL22 is like H4831sc, so you could use that as a guideline. Start low and work up.

Use a chrony when testing loads, and stop at 2850-2900 fps even if you're not encountering high pressure.

Picking through a few of my manuals, I find max loads with 4831/225 gr. at around 73 grains

hope this helps

​
 
Reloader 22 is a tad too slow and too bulky for the 225 grain bullets inthe 338WM

Even under the 250 grain bullets it takes a compressed - 103% - load (75 grains) to get mediocre velocities. Under the 225 you would have velocities well under what the 338-06 is capable of even if you cram all the powder possible into the case.
 
From the Hodgdon Data Manual No.26, 225 gr bullet, Reloder 22, min load is 71.0grns giving 2617fps, 42,000cup, max load is 76.0grns giving 2799fps, 49,500cup.
 
Thanks Ringo, does the Hodgdon manual list the type of 225gr bullet, used in testing?

I'm suprised that Hodgdon would list another powder manufactures load data? Now what I would like to see in a reloading manual, is a complete list of data compiled perhaps from all the bullet, and powder manufactures in one book. That would be really handy! :)

Todd,I would hesitate to use data for another powder, but thanks for the info on velocitys/pressures.

Boo, I did see those listings for the Grand Slam 250gr bullet using RL22, in the Speer 13th manual. You would think the 225gr bullet would have higher velocitys than the 250gr, being pushed by the same powder?

Anybody have the latest Nosler manual? Mine doesen't even show the 225gr Accubond, for the .338 WM. I would think the Ballistic tip would have similar data.
 
the rifleman said:
Anybody have the latest Nosler manual? Mine doesen't even show the 225gr Accubond, for the .338 WM. I would think the Ballistic tip would have similar data.
Click to expand...

The newest Nosler manual doesn't list RL 22 for 225 gr. bullets, but the latest Lyman manual does. They are using Hornady 225 gr. bullets and show a starting charge at 69.0 gr. @ 2462 fps and a max charge at 77.0 gr. (compressed) @ 2747 fps.

Like 'Boo mentioned, RL 22 is just a bit too slow / bulky to give top velocity in the .338 WM.
 
[quote='Boo]Reloader 22 is a tad too slow and too bulky for the 225 grain bullets inthe 338WM

Even under the 250 grain bullets it takes a compressed - 103% - load (75 grains) to get mediocre velocities. Under the 225 you would have velocities well under what the 338-06 is capable of even if you cram all the powder possible into the case.[/quote]


+1 - the powder's too slow to be ideal in this application. The 338's less overbore than the 7mm, 300, 270, etc, so it makes sense that it's better suited to faster powders
 
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Well, maybe RL 22 is a tad slow for optimum use in the 338 Win Mag, but I have used a lot of Norma MRP in the 338 with great success, and that is a very similar powder [some say it is identical, but I don't agree] I used 78 grains behind the 210 Partition for very close to 3000 in a 26" barrelled A-Bolt. 76.5 grains behind the 225 worked well also, with velocities right up there where they should be. Never shot the 250, so cannot comment. In fact Reloder 19 is a real performer in the 338, and would be my first choice in the Reloder line. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Well I picked up some RL19 today as it does seem that there is more data for the .338 WM loads. I guess the RL22 will be something I will have to do more testing on though, as Speer has some load data for the 225gr Trophy BBC bullet, using both RL22 and RL 19. Odd thing is the load data they have listed is exactly the same for both powders, with only a very minor difference in velocitys. Both powders still produced over 2800fps. from that info I wouldn't rule RL22 out for the .338 quite yet....:)

Here is the link to the data.

http://www.speer-bullets.com/pdf/ReloadingSupplementalDATA/338wintb.pdf
 
Never tried Rel 22 with 225s but I get 2760 fps with 250s. I have a 23" Smith barrel, 74 grs in nickle brass does this. My barrel is fast but it should still work in any 338. First 2 groups I fired were .3s. It wont average that but stays well under 1".
 
[QUOTE='Boo]Alliant does have data for RL22 and the 225 grain bullets.

As I had guessed it drops the performance to 338-06 levels assuming you can somehow manage to get 77 grains of powder in the case.
[/QUOTE]

Yes thanks, I saw that data, bullet type wasn't the same, but I've come to the conclusion, I will just have to experiment a bit, within reasonable limits, based on what I could find for the .225gr bullets I have.
After reviewing what little data I could come up with for the RL22, I decided to load both the RL19 and RL22 as Speer listed for the Trophy BBC in 225gr. I Started with 71grs and ran up to 75 grs. At 75 gr, you can hear the powder crunching a tad. If you tap the case gently, it does settle the powder quite a bit though. This allows for a lower maximum then the Alliants data, although it is higher then the max load listed by Nosler, for the 225gr Partition, (max 72.5gr) It appears that Nosler is a tad more conservative in thier load data, then Alliant or Speer.

Boo, I'm not searching for the highest velocity, although 2800fps range would be nice, but more so the best accuracy. Even at less than 2900fps, the 225gr bullet out of the .338 can break some pretty big bones..:)

Looking forward to trying them out on paper now..:)
 
.rl 22

I remember an article a fews years ago when Ross Siefried (how do you spell his last name again??) was listing off favorite cartridges and loads and he listed Reloader 22 under the 225 grain partition as his favorite .338 Winchester load. I can't remember the charge.

I have found RL 22 to be excellent in many cartridges but have never owned a .338 mag so can't personnally comment on its use here.

Outdoors
 
Re22 in 338 WM.

Hi Rifleman: Re22 is one of the most accurate powders for use in a 338 WM using 225 bullets ,however, be careful of the types of bullets you use with it. Being a slow burning powder for use in the 338 WM, which has a limited case capacity, it has the tendency to produce extremely high secondary pressure excursions if use with certain bullet types. In both of my 338's it is extremely accurate with most bullet types. I can, and have shot on a regular basis, sub-1" 3 shot groups at 200 meters using 76.0 grains, 225 Hornady, Swift, or Nosler bullets and 215 federal primers in Winchester or Federal Nickel cases. However, using either Swift or Nosler Partition type bullets the pressures spike up into the 80,000 psi range on a secondary spike. The primary pressures are always below the rated SAAMI spec's. As a result of this information, I will only shoot a non partition type bullet using this powder. The best I have found is the Nosler 225 Accubond bullet. It is extremely accurate, has a fantastic BC, and the bonding helps the terminal performance. When I tested this bullet's pressure curve, the secondary spike fell to almost undetectable levels in the printout. Of all the powders I tried in my 338's, from the medium burners like Re15, through the slower powders like 4350, and then to Re22, I found Re22 to be the most accurate. Just be careful using the partition type bullets. Good luck, Steve
 
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