Thoughts on Reloader 17, substitute for 4350.

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So Wholesale sports has Aliant reloader, and on 10% off. I bought some R22 and R19. Have not been able to find any 4350....either H or IMR. Down to a part lb, so was reading that Reloader 17 is very similar burn rate. Wholesale had 5lb'ers of R17 so i got one, $189.99 - 19.00 = $34/lb.

When does this happen? Never .....or next to it in the last 5+years.

So i load for a wide variety of calibers. What is everyones experience with R17, in which calibers, and is it temp sensitive?
 
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RL 17 is a bit odd. I have used it for 30-06, and gotten to off the charts velocity, with no pressure signs that I could observe. The accuracy was not there, however. This was a few years ago, when load data was almost impossible to find. Things may have changed by now, I haven't checked. I would be using a chronometer, and stop when you get to an acceptable velocity. Don't rely on traditional pressure signs. I have no idea how temp stable it is.
 
I am currently using it in my 300 wsm. Better velocity than with RL22 but accuracy is not as good. Be careful on the data you find. I have seen a lot of data saying that 65 or 66 grains with 180's is good. That is just stupid. I found that max for me is 62 grains and still getting 3000 fps. Hard to understand why there is such crazy data out there. I was able only recently to check with quickload and where I'm at is about right.
 
Suppose it would have been better to know about Budget having 4350 before i bought the 5lbs.

I was thinking of trying it in 30-06, 7x57, and with smallish projectile the 308 Norma and 300 wm. I am not much of a max loader, having ......a few.....choices, i would rather just grab a different gun.
 
skidderman said:
I am currently using it in my 300 wsm. Better velocity than with RL22 but accuracy is not as good. Be careful on the data you find. I have seen a lot of data saying that 65 or 66 grains with 180's is good. That is just stupid. I found that max for me is 62 grains and still getting 3000 fps. Hard to understand why there is such crazy data out there. I was able only recently to check with quickload and where I'm at is about right.
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I also use it in my 300 WSM, but with the 165 Hornady GMX.
64.0 grains in a WW case and a WLRM primer for great velocity and groups around ¾moa. Dave.
 
It worked very well for me in 243 with 87vmas. I was also jamming a lot of it into a 308 case with a 208 Amax on top, worked well for that as well.
Apparently it's good stuff in the 284. It generally produces better velocity than other similar powders. I have heard that pressure sneaks up on you pretty fast, you can go from no pressure signs to stuck bolts in a small increase in powder. I haven't personally experienced that however.
 
I use it in my 9.3X62. Very, Very accurate. <1 MOA This is with Norma 232 gr. Vulkan bullets.

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100 meters and the squares are ½".
 
I use it in my 375 ruger, 6.5x55 and have started load development in my 7mm with 150 grain accubond LR bullets. It'll do sub 1/2" out of my 6.5x55 and so far in the 7mm it looks promising. Will have to do more development in the accuracy node I found.
 
With my 308 Nemesis, i have a glorious load that push a 208 gr Amax at south of 2600 fps ( 20 inch barrel ) with R17, this load have become a classic of mine to buck the wind on LR shooting...

R17 will give you more HP with heavy bullets but is temperature sensitive... JP.
 
A well over max load of h4350 under a 175lrx yielded 2702 fps in my '06, while a max load of rl17 yielded 2823 fps. Both were sub 1/2" groups, seems in my limited experience with it that you get more velocity, and for me an apperently safer load. Of course it needs to group well in your rifle or the little boost in velocity doesnt mean much.
 
I've had really good luck in a 300 WSM and a 325 WSM using RL17. Same accuracy in both rifles as my best loads with IMR4350, and I was getting 100 to 150fps faster with the RL. I found the recoil in both to be a lot sharper though. No signs of pressure though.
 
CanuckR said:
It worked very well for me in 243 with 87vmas. I was also jamming a lot of it into a 308 case with a 208 Amax on top, worked well for that as well.
Apparently it's good stuff in the 284. It generally produces better velocity than other similar powders. I have heard that pressure sneaks up on you pretty fast, you can go from no pressure signs to stuck bolts in a small increase in powder. I haven't personally experienced that however.
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Just loaded some in a Savage99 in .284 but have not had a chance to shoot them through.
 
Dogbite said:
I use it in my 9.3X62. Very, Very accurate. <1 MOA This is with Norma 232 gr. Vulkan bullets.

misc018.jpg
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100 meters and the squares are ½".
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The target is the target, however, the powder was not Reloader 17 but rather Reloader 15. There are 6 bullet holes in the group from 3 different loads, 56.0, 56.5 and 57.0. And that is at 100 yards.
Sorry for the mislead.
 
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