Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL 26 still Unobtanium?

I have enough RL 26 to load 16 or 17 rounds of .280 Rem., and after that time I have no clue about where to find more. Is this a somewhat temporary shortage, and any idea of when it will become available? I know there are other propellants out there, and I have used IMR 4350 and RL19 in the past, but the accuracy and velocity I have been getting with 26 and a 150 gr. Hornady ELD-X bullet is just excellent.
If anyone knows of a source out there somewhere for sale, I would like to hear about it! thanks.

I’d like to find some as well. I’ve used RL-22 in my .280 with 150 ELD-Xs and I’m not too happy with the results. I saw some back in August and should have grabbed a pound of it then.

Yesterday, I took my .280 to the range to check zero before my deer season opens on the 23rd. I typically check my rifles' zeroes at the 300 yard range, shooting at the small, 8" gongs.
After a fouler, I shot two rounds of the 150 gr. ELD-X's, both of which rang the gong. When I checked out the hits, it looked like only one strike. Closer inspection showed that in fact, both bullets had impacted very closely together. I could have just packed up and went home, but couldn't resist a couple more shots. The strikes were on top of the original two hits, giving a 4-shot group at 300 yards of well inside an inch.
Hence my desire to find some more RL 26!

I’ve seen it in two LGS, but it’s been quite a while at one, and August or so at one. If I see it again, I will not pass it up next time.

I have called Alliant twice since March and the availability of RL26 was one of my questions. Both times the answer was "We're working on it". The second time I pressed a bit and asked if the it was being manufactured? Being shipped? In the que? The answer this summer was "We're talking to the manufacturer". Not very encouraging, I got the feeling it may be a while still. Hopefully I'm wrong and it'll show up next week.........

I have not seen any RL26 for sale in about a year now. I'm about to open my last 8 lb jug.........

We had about 10 single 1 pounders delivered at our Local BiMart here in Southern Oregon this past week...
a week later they still haven't sold any... the locals have no clue what it is...

Last time they had some in, one guy was busy telling another of how great it worked in 223s....
gives an example of how clueless some of our locals can be on such subjects....

If you guys were here in Oregon, I'd pick ya up some...

I went to our LGS/reloading store last Friday. I’m always looking for powder between two different places. I asked the one store when they would get powder in and he said Tuesday or Thursday of this week. I asked if he has any RL22,26, or 19 coming in, he said they can’t get any Alliant powders for the foreseeable future.

I always buy the heck out of supplies when a run starts, therefore I have a keg of RL19, RL22, and one of RL26, I've actually not even opened the one of RL26. I have between 130 and 150 pounds of powder and almost 20k primers and probably 15k loaded rounds in my reloading room.

You might try Ramshot Hunter.The burn rate is similar to Reloader 19.I've had really good luck with it in my 30-06's and started using it in my 300 Win Mag too.Another powder they sell that has a burn rate similar to H-1000 is Magnum.I've had good luck with that one too.My new favorite for my 30-06's is there Big Game powder.It's just a little faster burn rate than the 4350 powders.Accurate 4350 might work for you too.It's as good or better than the other brands of 4350's.Ramshot powders are often overlooked,but they have become some of my favorite powders I use.
https://www.ramshot.com/load-data/

Gee,I thought I was bad.Lol.........I have a lot of components but I don't really keep a lot of ammo on hand.I recently had some powder that was recalled.I had been shooting it and it was fine,but when the powder went bad,it went bad quick.Container started sweating on the outside and a cloud of harsh dust came out when I opened the container.The liquid that formed around the lid burned my skin,turned it yellow and it took about a week to clear up. I thought I had pulled all the ammo that was loaded with that powder,but when I went to the range,I found three that I missed.I had shot some from that same batch a couple of months before and they shot great with really good groups.I shot just one and it showed extreme high pressure signs with a stiff bolt lift and smeared headstamp on the brass.That is the one and only time I ever experienced powder going bad.I have some powder that is probably 30yrs old or so and it's still good.Just something to think about.When I load ammo for hunting anymore,I usually use once fired brass for those and range test it before I go.

That Reloader -26 is a very good powder.I shoot it in my 7mags.Once other people found out how well it performs,they have had a hard time keeping it in stock.

I’ll be in Medford next week, I’ll take 6.



P

https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php?fbclid=IwAR18SC2K4oIFffjfCDyhg2Q6yLwV88kif3C-8S244tV30Qa064bd5EqymBM#!l=PDR&i=R268

Gotta love BiMart sometimes. Bought 2 lbs at the Albany store yesterday. Tipped off a friend and he drove down and bought the last few. They had lots of other Alliant powders.

Powder valley had it for moment, yesterday.

It’s not often that I make a good investment ......but, this time I grabbed the “golden ring”! About 2 years ago, I bought an 8 pounder for future load development.....I still have 8 pounds remaining! Given the present political environment, I’m feeling pretty good about having a little surplus! memtb

My shooting range had it a few weeks ago. I bought 2# but they had 8#'ers as well.

So fortunate to have secured these. Thanks Gene

I picked up 6 1lb jugs yesterday for me and my shooting partner. Had to drive an hour to get it but it's the first that's been available in years. That shop didn't have any of the 8lb jugs or I would have bought one.

Well, I just hit up another store and no luck. Guy at the gun counter said almost impossible for them to get Hodgkin and Alliant powders. Had some Winchester, IMR, and Accurate ones though.