RL 22 , powders of similar performance.

Kelly Timoffee

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Good day.

Wanting to know if any of the loaders out there have found a powder similar to RL 22 qualities that gave the closest results as they had with RL22 , I have looked at the burn rate charts but we all know what value can be placed on it, but wanted to get some first hand knowledge of powders that had similar perforamce.

Thank you

KT
 
I'm interested in the replies here also. I'm reloading for a 280AI and I've heard folks are having good results with RL22 although people do complain about its sensitivity to temperature. My plan is to start with H4831SC and N165 based on some research googling.
 
One of the Vhitavouri's is very close, 540 or 550 I think are the numbers, $44.50 a pound from Higginsons. FS

N560 and N165 would be a bit closer to RE22.

I have read that Norma MRP is about as close as you can get to a duplicate of RE22.

On a side note: I have tried to learn as much as possible about the temp sensitivity of RE22 as I use it in my 6.5x55. This year I shot a Mule Deer buck at 250yards and although I hit a bit low (but still in the vitals), I wondered if it was because my RE22 loads were moving a little slower in the November temps, after sighting for a 200yrd zero in early Oct.

Yesterday I fired a 200yard 3 shot group in -19 temps (rifle and ammo were outside for a bit first). Right on MOA, exact same point of impact as early Oct (47.5grs RE22 under a 130gr Matrix FB). I will chono it as soon as I find the top of my tripod ;-) I did move to CCI250 primers to ensure ignition.
 
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I use RE#22 exclusively in the 6.5x55 with 129-140gr bullets and IMR 4350 /N204 with the 156-160gr drills.............PS the heavies will shoot clean through two moose and a fire hydrant..never recovered a bullet yet........Harold
 
IMR 7828ssc is probably the closest one and you can gain a little with the same pressure with Vit N560 or Norma MRP

n165 will build a little more pressure for the same velocity

the referance cartrige is the 6.5x55mm with 130-140g bullets
Seb
 
Oddly I found rl-22 to be temp sensitive even through it's supposed to be fairly stable.
H-1000 is a fair bit slower. I'm running much more h-1000 than I could rl-22, higher velocity, no pressure signs and almost no measurable temperature variation.

I do not claim to be an expert, these are just my feelings and observations.
 
Closest Powders to Reloder 22 are Norma MRP [Or if you happened to score any from Higginson's, RP-5]
Also very close is Vihtavuori N560. [My usage suggests it is ever so slightly faster]
IMR 7828 also qualifies as a close powder.
Vihtavuori N165 is a tad slower as is[now obsolete] Winchester WXR.
I have stocks of all the above, so am not hurting there!
Regards, Dave.
 
I have found 4831 either to give similar results in my rifles. I worked up loads years ag in these powders and saw no real improvements with rl22 so I recently sold all my rl 22 to another member here. For what it's worth when i started developing loads in my rifles using slow powders years ago the IMR 4831 was more consistent from lot to lot. The H4831 's burning rate seemed to change slightly over the years .

Neil
 
Anyone around Edmonton who is looking for RL22 can send me a PM, I won't ship it but I have a 5 pound jug of it that now weighs 4.2 pounds including the container. It has been open for a couple years but has been stored in a cool dry place with the lid on the whole time. I used it for some 338 Lapua loads last summer but didn't get the results my last 338 got with it so I have no use for it anymore.
I will sell it for $50 and will meet anywhere from Stony Plain to Fort Saskatchewan to deliver it. Priority will be in order of PM's received.
I'm not putting it on the EE as I hadn't thought of selling it before, just thought I'd help out someone in the area since it sounds like it's hard to find lately. If you live in Sask or BC and will be passing through Edmonton area in the next couple months feel free to PM, I'll hold it for whoever, I'm in no rush and it's not going anywhere.


Sold, thanks.
 
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