Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL-16 SLOW in my 7mm-08

This is a follow up to the below thread -

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11804347/Re:_RL-16_-_Is_it_as_good_as_a#Post11804347

Have now tried RL-16 with different 140 grain bullets in a Tikka T-3X 7-08 and a Rem 700 7-08AI, and it is producing velocities that are very disappointing based on Alliant's published numbers. Judge for yourselves:

Velocities using a Pro Chrono chronograph (not a Shooting Chrony as I had mistakenly reported earlier) are from two different days versus published data of 2952 fps using 47.2 gr RL-16 and 140 gr Nos PT:

Day 1:

Tikka T-3X Superlite (22.4" brl):
140 Gr Nos BT, 46.5 gr RL-16 - 2726, 2710, 2715 fps - 0.7 gr below max.

Rem 700 7-08AI (24" brl):
140 gr Nos BT, 45.0 gr RL-16 - 2693, 2754, 2656 fps
140 gr Nos BT, 46.0 gr RL-16 - 2789, 2726 fps

Based on feedback from MD, 140 gr Partitions were loaded the second time to exactly match the Alliant load - same COL and primer, except I didn't have any Fed brass, so I used Nosler.

Day 2:

Tikka T-3X:
140 gr Nos PT, 47.2 gr RL-16 - 2732, 2737, 2732 fps

This is Alliant's max load and they report a velocity of 2952 fps - it's very doubtful the 1.6" difference in barrel length was alone the reason for a >200 fps delta, so I would conclude that in my rifle(s) at least RL-16 is very disappointing. The Chronograph produced velocities both days in both guns using other loads that were right in line with my expectations.

YMMV, I hope it does, maybe I got a bad early batch.

V/R,

bludog

Did you hit pressures? Just wondering if you couldn't push a little higher in charges to come closer to the advertised data.

Thanks for pushing the data.

There were no pressure signs in either rifle. Accuracy was only so-so, actually below average.

Add more.




Dave

Big Game





P

4064 slighted edged out Varget in several former OEM rifles in accuracy with equal speeds.

IME 2900-2960 was the safe top end with 139-140gr using 21" bbls.

Pharmseller is right. Big Game will give the velocity you want, is clean burning, and is temperature change resistant. I have seen no reason to try other newer powders in my 7mm-08. Just me........

bludog,

Interesting about the velocities remaining so low.

Still haven't found any RL-16 locally to try in various rounds, but if I don't soon will break down and pay hazmat to order some off the Internet. In the meantime I'll also stick with Big Game, having always had outstanding results in a number of rifles, including more than one 7mm-08.

John:

Are you using standard or magnum primers with Big Game? I've seen loading data for BG and Hunter suggesting both.

RM

Whatever works best, but more often than not magnums.

John,

I've been loading for this round for about a dozen years, and I can't really explain why, but the few powders that have really underperformed in this cartridge during that time have all been Alliant. Notably, AR Comp and now RL-16. Can't even ballpark the velocities Alliant claims (RL-15 and 17 as well as 2000MR all do fine).

The two rifles I'm loading for have no trouble achieving respectable velocities (close to book or slightly higher) with several other powders.

Maybe I got a slow batch, and maybe you'll have better results. Keep waiting to get some type of validation or rebuttal from someone here.

Thanks again for your response, you unlike many on here add value quite often.

bludog

One is not using the same rifle the data were derived from. Go out and shoot stuff. I don't think the deer will care.

Try Magnum primers or bump your loads till you see pressure.

Could not get my 243 Win 22 " to perform with 17 till I used Magnum primers. Same rifle is quite fast with RL 26 and standard primers.

Have plenty of 2000MR, Big Game, RL-17, etc, just passing on my experience with this particular powder in this particular cartridge. Just disappointing based on the hype and their preliminary data.

And btw, 2000MR is really impressing in both velocity and accuracy with both the 7-08 and the 7-08AI.

Can't remember the charge weight, but 2000mr and the 140's shot extremely well in mine about 2900 fps. I've been looking all over trying to find RL16 to try in my 6.5x47.

If you knock off everything beyond the first big number, the link will light up and work with a click.

www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11804347

DF