Why Not? and his RL17 loads....

[todbartell]

Quickload suggests 175gr LRX @ 3.37" OAL, 55.5grs RL17 to give 2831 fps/22" barrel & pressure of 59,400PSI.

 

[1899]

Quickload suggests 175gr LRX @ 3.37" OAL, 55.5grs RL17 to give 2831 fps/22" barrel & pressure of 59,400PSI.

That is interesting. My regular load in this rifle is 60gr of H4831SC and a 180gr Partition and that gives me something like 2650fps, so I doubt I have a fast barrel.

 

[todbartell]

That is interesting. My regular load in this rifle is 60gr of H4831SC and a 180gr Partition and that gives me something like 2650fps, so I doubt I have a fast barrel.

QL suggests that load would produce 2679 fps (22" brl) / 55,800PSI.


I've only tried RL17 once in a 30-06, a 24" barrel Rem 700. Same charge weight as your 175gr LRX load

30-06 m700 SS 24"
168 gr. - Barnes TTSX @ 3.475", 55.5 grs RL17, WLR ~ 2850 fps, accurate (QL suggests 51350psi, 2839fps)

 

[1899]

QL suggests that load would produce 2679 fps (22" brl) / 55,800PSI.


I've only tried RL17 once in a 30-06, a 24" barrel Rem 700. Same charge weight as your 175gr LRX load

30-06 m700 SS 24"
168 gr. - Barnes TTSX @ 3.475", 55.5 grs RL17, WLR ~ 2850 fps, accurate (QL suggests 51350psi, 2839fps)

I just have a hard time digesting 3000 fps with a 175gr bullet out of a .30-06

I don't mind loading closer to .270 Win pressures. I really should give that load another go.

 

[todbartell]

looking through my notes I've used RL17 in :

6mm Rem
260 Remington
280 Ackley
7mm SAUM
300 Win Mag
303 British
8mm Rem Mag
338-06
375 Ruger

RL17 is closest to 4350 for burn rate and Ive gotten to compare the two powders a few times over the chrony

260 Rem 127gr Barnes LRX
43.0grs H4350 2810 fps
43.0grs RL17 2910 fps

260 Rem 140gr Nosler AB
41.0grs H4350 2650 fps
41.0grs RL17 2750 fps

42.0grs H4350 2700 fps
42.0grs RL17 2790 fps

338-06 225gr Nosler AB
59.5grs H4350 2620 fps
59.5grs RL17 2680 fps

7mm SAUM 110gr Barnes TTSX
63.8grs H4350 3432 fps
63.8grs RL17 3520 fps

8mm Rem Mag 160gr Barnes TTSX
82.5grs H4350 3301 fps
82.5grs RL17 3400 fps

375 Ruger 250gr Barnes TTSX
82.5grs H4350 2710 fps
82.5grs RL17 2774 fps

so on average, RL17 will give 85 fps more than 4350 in my limited experiences.

Quickload suggests 55grs H4350 & 175gr LRX would make 2730 fps in a 22.5" barrel. 60,000psi .........same charge weight of RL17 2820 fps/57,800PSI. 60,000PSI would come at 55.6grs/2850 fps

 

[todbartell]

57grs RL17 2919 fps @ 65k PSI

 

[1899]

57grs RL17 2919 fps @ 65k PSI

Yeah, it's that velocity that doesn't come for free. I am using Lapua brass. I also have a bunch of H4350 at home so it will be interesting to see how they compare.

 

[1899]

Quickload suggests 175gr LRX @ 3.37" OAL, 55.5grs RL17 to give 2831 fps/22" barrel & pressure of 59,400PSI.

Barnes has published loads with 175gr LRX, RL17, and .30-06. Max is listed as 54.2 giving 2762fps, but interestingly it is a compressed load. My loads were not compressed.

 

[Eagleye]

I found a smoking load in my 700 "Classic" 7x57, using RL 17.

Velocities are great, and cloverleafs at 100, ¾" at 200 with the 140 Accubond.

Also use it with success in my 300 WSM chasing the 165 GMX.

Regards, Dave.

 

[Ardent]

I wish everyone would just stop and think for a moment what even a four inch group really means.... that every bullet in the group hit less than two inches from the spot you were aiming at!

Now, tell me that that is not acceptable hunting accuracy.
Ted

Damn fine post. And I'll need to try RL17 in 9.5x57MS.

 

[Andy]

looking through my notes I've used RL17 in :

6mm Rem
260 Remington
280 Ackley
7mm SAUM
300 Win Mag
303 British
8mm Rem Mag
338-06
375 Ruger

RL17 is closest to 4350 for burn rate and Ive gotten to compare the two powders a few times over the chrony

< snip>

so on average, RL17 will give 85 fps more than 4350 in my limited experiences.

Quickload suggests 55grs H4350 & 175gr LRX would make 2730 fps in a 22.5" barrel. 60,000psi .........same charge weight of RL17 2820 fps/57,800PSI. 60,000PSI would come at 55.6grs/2850 fps

This is very useful stuff, what a very few of us do to establish relative powder burn rates. In that regard, what you found would suggest that RL17 is faster than H4350 and hence that its higher MV was due to the higher pressure it produced. However with RL17, because we're told that the burn rates are the same, but due to its "chemistry" it produces higher velocities at the same pressure, we accept that the pressures are the same or very close.


P.S. I have more data like yours:

6.5X55 with a 140 gr AMAX

44.0 grs RL17 - 2725 fps
44.0 grs H4350 - 2660 fps

7X57 with a 175 gr Hornady RN

45.0 grs RL17 - 2350 fps
45.0 grs H4350 - 2275 fps

8X57 with a 218 gr FMJ

54.0 grs RL17 - 2500 fps
54.0 grs H4350 - 2400 fps


So, is RL17 faster than H4350, or just produces higher MV's at the same pressure? I'm skeptical.