Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL 15, 23 or 25 ADVICE 270 WBY

A couple sessions into breaking in custom 700 in 270 WBY.
At 200 yard Zero ok (1.5 - 1.75 140 Accubonds) but with match
barrel looking for better. Also at this point want to load 150
Nosler Long range bullets. Would be happy dialed into 600 yard
rifle. Using Z3 BRH scope.To date loads with IMR 4831 and Magpro.
Want to try some RL powder? I have RL 15,23 and 25. My Nosler book
lists 66.5 RL23 and 66 grain RL 25. I have no clue I should even
spend time with RL 15?
Fairly new to reloading so any suggestions will be appreciated.

R15 is too fast.

Your group sizes are fine.

BOBNOB ~
Thank you that helps!

The 23,or 25 would be an excellent performer in the WBY.

HAMMER ~
Do you have any insight of advantages/disadvantages
of the two? I will try them both,Thanks!

You should see a few more fps with the 23, and the 25 should be a few grains (2-3)more with less pressure and could yield better accuracy due to case capacity. I would try both and make the decision from there. Also I'll look in Sierra loading manual and see what it lists, although mine is not going to have the 23 in it. I'm told that 23 is very similar to 22 in burn rate,it is just suppose to be more stable at temperature differences.

Lyman manual I have shows the following for 140 gr

RE22 Starting grains 64.5g Vel. 2960
Max grains 68g Vel. 3148

Done a little research for you, here it is straight from the manufacturer on 23 and 25:

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=1&powderid=39&cartridge=65

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=1&powderid=16&cartridge=65

I too would speculate the slower powder would deliver the best overall performance.

Amongst a few friends,IMR 7828 seems to be the cat's ass among Weatherby's in cartridges ranging from 240 to 300's.

I've been using some RL 22 in a 257 and H870 in a 30-378. The 257 is doing OK (like 1moa), and the 30-378 like 3/4 moa. When I get the 257 rds shot up, I'm planning on trying 7828. Seemed to available late into the past shortage, and early in the recent recovery.

Good luck and let us know how your trials shake out.

I shoot 7828, 22, H1000 and Retumbo in quite a few calibers. To me they are all really close in accuracy, and velocity. I have no way of testing pressure other than visulization and obvious signs but have not seen any with the above powders. I loaded some 208gr AMax in the 300WM the other day and was getting 2900-2950 with 7828,H1000 and Retumbo, all groups ranged about .750" for 5 shots. I wanna try the 208's out to 1000 and 1200 this week.

I found RL25 and Retumbo the most accurate, velocities with either are similar and faster than most powders.
Does your rifle have the srandard freebore, or is it less than 3/8"?
My rifle has the standard freebore of 1/2". I can use some pretty slow powders and get some high velocities, but you run out of case capacity pretty quick.
RL22/23 is a bit quick for the heavy bullets of 150gr and heavier.

Cheers.

I've shot quite a bit of RL25 with 130 TSX's in mine and get better velocities than with other powders I've tried (H4831, RL22, 7828 and Magnum). Lately I've been shooting the 150 LR Accubond and it's liking RL22 best but I haven't chrono'd it. No experience with RL23 - similar to RL22? I personally wouldn't bother with RL15...

I was in a hurry!

R25 is where I would start and I suspect finish out of those powders.


Honestly, re your group sizes, if you're getting 1.75 Inch and smaller groups at 200y, and seeing velocity in the range you ought to with such a large capacity medium bore cartridge; well your load development is over I think.