I've been testing RL-17 in my 308 Win. with 155 Scenars and 208 AMAX bullets. Here are my results (5 shot data) for where I got to.
26" 1-11 Schneider barrel (GAP Palma chamber)
Estimate bore area at .073806 sq.in.
155 Scenar
Lapua brass (55.7gr. water capacity fired in my chamber)
CCI BR2
COAL = 2.800" (OG = 2.185")
RL-17 (78F - today):
47.0gr. > 2704fps (avg.)
47.5gr. > 2735fps (avg.)
48.0gr. > 2760fps (avg.)
48.5gr. > 2810fps (avg.)
49.0gr. > 2819fps (avg.)
*switched chronographs
49.5gr. > 2875fps (avg.)
50.0gr. > 2903fps (avg.) Bit of shine from the EJ
50.5gr. > 2968fps (avg.) Clear EJ marks, stopped here.
208 AMAX
Hornady Match brass (57.4gr. water capacity fired in my chamber)
CCI BR2
COAL = 2.900" (OG = 2.175")
RL-17 (78F - today):
41.5gr. > 2244fps (avg.)
42.0gr. > 2256fps (avg.)
42.5gr. > 2296fps (avg.)
43.0gr. > 2323fps (avg.)
43.5gr. > 2363fps (avg.)
*switched chronographs
44.0gr. > 2418fps (avg.)
44.5gr. > 2477fps (avg.)
Data was taken on two different chronographs. However, both were CED Millenniums with the IR package.
I ran out of 208s. Thought I had another box, but it was 180 RN. With the 208, the brass at 44.5gr. showed less pressure than N550 at 44.0gr., which gives the same velocity. I was getting at bit of shine from the EJ with the N550, but nothing with RL-17. If I shake the loaded cases, I can hear the powder moving. So, there is still room in the case to go higher. I'm going to push it further once I get some more bullets.
I'm impressed with this powder with the heavy bullets and surprised that it got as far as it did with the 155s. With both these loads, the groups tightened up once the velocity got up there. I haven't done any work on accuracy yet though.
EDIT: One more comment I should make is that this powder burns incredibly clean. I'm looking at my fired cases and not seeing hardly any carbon on the insides of the necks. On the cases that were near max, the outside of the necks have almost no residue on them either.
26" 1-11 Schneider barrel (GAP Palma chamber)
Estimate bore area at .073806 sq.in.
155 Scenar
Lapua brass (55.7gr. water capacity fired in my chamber)
CCI BR2
COAL = 2.800" (OG = 2.185")
RL-17 (78F - today):
47.0gr. > 2704fps (avg.)
47.5gr. > 2735fps (avg.)
48.0gr. > 2760fps (avg.)
48.5gr. > 2810fps (avg.)
49.0gr. > 2819fps (avg.)
*switched chronographs
49.5gr. > 2875fps (avg.)
50.0gr. > 2903fps (avg.) Bit of shine from the EJ
50.5gr. > 2968fps (avg.) Clear EJ marks, stopped here.
208 AMAX
Hornady Match brass (57.4gr. water capacity fired in my chamber)
CCI BR2
COAL = 2.900" (OG = 2.175")
RL-17 (78F - today):
41.5gr. > 2244fps (avg.)
42.0gr. > 2256fps (avg.)
42.5gr. > 2296fps (avg.)
43.0gr. > 2323fps (avg.)
43.5gr. > 2363fps (avg.)
*switched chronographs
44.0gr. > 2418fps (avg.)
44.5gr. > 2477fps (avg.)
Data was taken on two different chronographs. However, both were CED Millenniums with the IR package.
I ran out of 208s. Thought I had another box, but it was 180 RN. With the 208, the brass at 44.5gr. showed less pressure than N550 at 44.0gr., which gives the same velocity. I was getting at bit of shine from the EJ with the N550, but nothing with RL-17. If I shake the loaded cases, I can hear the powder moving. So, there is still room in the case to go higher. I'm going to push it further once I get some more bullets.
I'm impressed with this powder with the heavy bullets and surprised that it got as far as it did with the 155s. With both these loads, the groups tightened up once the velocity got up there. I haven't done any work on accuracy yet though.
EDIT: One more comment I should make is that this powder burns incredibly clean. I'm looking at my fired cases and not seeing hardly any carbon on the insides of the necks. On the cases that were near max, the outside of the necks have almost no residue on them either.
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