Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles IMR 7828 VS RL 22 Temp. sensitivity

How do these two compare? Both shoot well out of my 257 wby at 90+, with good speed (3400+ with 110 Accubond).

Im more worried about losing speed in the lower temps during hunting season then anything else. I live and hunt in Arizona so I'm not talking 0, or anything crazy like that... Likely shots taken will not even be below freezing.

FWIW, I have used R22 for a couple years with no known issues. I like to tinker so I tried 7828 and it did really well. Both powders are locally available (I have about 2# 7828 and something like 4+# R22, so thats a non issue).

I like 7828 in the 7mm mag i live in pa.I cronied my loads from when it was 90degree down to about zero and i lost between 50 to 60 fps i dont like rl powder at all because of the lot to lot differents.

My .270 lost about 70FPS from 80 degrees to 30 degrees with R22 if that helps.

I've found RL22 to be very temperature sensitive in a 7mm rem mag, so much so that I've quit using it. 7828 hasn't been as bad from my experience. I believe RL23 was made to be similar to 22 but with better temp stability.

Unless you are shooting targets and splitting hairs, the temp sensitivity will make virtually no difference at normal hunting ranges. All powder has some degree of sensitivity. If I was a bench shooter, I may be concerned, but no animal every cared that the Re22 was temp sensitive in my 7 mag.

Develop the load when it is warm and then sight in again before you hunt in the cold. Non-issue.

Re 23 is a good replacement for 22, by the way. I don't care about the sensitivity, but it works well.

That's interesting Crow. I haven't seen it in my
7mmRemMagnificent/RL22 (first powder I try, usually the last) loads. I usually do load workup here in the late winter to early spring before it gets too hot. Temps are generally in the 55-75* range. Last November in the TX Panhandle was particularly cold with temps in the 'teens-40* range while we were deer hunting. I had no POI changes out to 800 yards at all, as the CDS dials were still spot on.

Afternoon J G:

I've read your similar comment before and that's interesting to me. I DON'T doubt you but I also read MANY posts including Mule Deer's per RL 22. THEY, report noticeable decrease in vel in very cold weather. MAYBE colder than you hunt in, I don't know.

I've NOT bought 1 lb. of Rl22 and have not shot 1 grain of it so this thread & idea is of interest to me.

I really don't understand the different experiences with that powder. MAYBE ? the particular velocity/pressure envelope or bracket ? MAYBE something pertaining to EXACT pressure differences ? I really don't know.

IF I knew that Rl22 would be temp stable for me, I'd certainly use it. OTOH I'd hate to spend the money for it and then have a noticeable change in COLD weather performance.


You got any ideas ?

I hope M D will report in but I'm not sure he will.

Jerry

I wish I did have some ideas jwall, but I don't, and I've not enough experience in extreme temps to preach my experience with RL22 as the gospel. I do know that I've shot it enough now, in the country/environment that I hunt, to know that temp sensitivity isn't a factor, as I'm not the least bit worried if velocity varies by 50-75fps. I'm more interested in POI.

Maybe MD can educate us a bit, as you said.

I've had good results with H-4350 with 140 gr. bullets in the 7-RM, and it's an Extreme Series.

With 168's, I like RL-25. Not sure how it compares to RL-22 regarding heat sensitivity.

Some use H-1000 with good results and it's an Extreme Series.

DF

Also remember that the 7mm Rem Mag has a long, well documented history of random pressure excursions; for no known reason.

The "Extreme" powders properties are NOT universal properties either. They may or may not be such, in a situation not designed for. Where they ARE designed to work, often times aren't statistically different than a competitor; and this comes directly from Hodgdon's own testing.

I think you're right. Temp sensitivity and other properties of certain powders change with different applications. So, it gets harder to make over-reaching, blanket statements. Guess that's what makes Loony business interesting, keeps Loonies guessing and arguing...

DF

Thanks J G

YEP, 50-75 fps is small potatoes out of 3100 +
P O I is most important.

I'm keeping an eye on this thread because I'm interested.

Jerry

The 500 yard POI was about 14" lower as I recall. It is a fast, accurate powder, but I'm sticking with H4831 for the same applications now.

You may get less shift, but doubt you'll ever get NO shift.

DF

Where Is Mule Deer ? when you need him.













? coffee & donuts with the cops ? <G>

Dem Yanks, what hunts in da real cold, gots more of a problem with temp. sens. than we-ens down here, where 30* be cold...

DF

Here's the results I got with RL22 using same lots of bullet, powder and primers. I did use Federal brass with the 75 degree firing instead of PMC with the other two.

Load was 130 grain Sierra Pro Hunter over 60.0 grns with a Federal 210. The rounds were put outside and the rifle in the garage overnight for the cold firings. Temps went into the negative single digit/teens when I fired the 1 degree results.

75 degree- average 3065, low 3051, high 3079
29 degree - average 2951, low 2930, high 2969
1 degree - average 2892, low 2867, high 2911

I'm thinking of using the same PMC brass to fire at the warm temp to so I get rid of the brass variable.

That is unacceptable.. .

It is to me as well.



From 3065>>>2892 (2900) would HAVE to affect POI.

These results are similar to others and why I have avoided Rl 22 so far.

My mind is still open and I'm listening.

I've been a long time RL22 user in a lot but since my current jug is about gone I'm going to try a new jug of 23. 23 is available and as easy to get so I don't see any downside to switching. Price is the same as well.

I've used 22 in the 7mm WSM, Rem Mag, 270 WSM and a handful of others. I've not had problems so far but I figure it won't hurt to swap up to a more resistant powder.