Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters MD- Your substitutes for R15 and R19 these days

MD - Devoured all the Gun Gack stuff over the holidays. Especially enjoyed the no frills loading data. Can you tell us what you might be substituting for R15/R19 loads or Big Game now that they are scare

Especially in 6.5 x 55. Thx

Certainly not MD or JB, but for RL15 I have switched to VVN140. It works so well I wont go back when available
For RL19 I like IMR4831, works well without the lot# to lot# variations

👍

I started using VVN140 to replace Varget and R15, and like boatanchor, I aint going back. VVN160 works well in the 4350 to R19 range. Likely wont go back to those as long as the VV powders are available.
Charlie

Also not MD, but I've had good success with RL22 and Hunter powder in the 6.5x55, using 140gr bullets. The nice thing about Hunter powder, is it's not as expensive as some powders. Yet it works very well. Good for other cartridges as well. H4350 is also one that works well, but harder to find and much more expensive than Hunter. Good luck to the OP.

Haven't used RL-15 for quite a while, partly because I found TAC, and other more available powders in the same basic burn-rate range, worked as well with less temperature sensitivity. In general would try IMR4895, H4895, TAC and as others have mentioned) VVN140--but if you do happen across any Norma 203-B (unlikely but possible) it's basically the same as RL-15. In fact my last batches of both produced identical results--and also looked exactly the same.

As for the 6.5x55 specifically, I generally use Ramshot Magnum for 130-140 grain bullets. Have found it available on more than one website, though not on others.

I've been using RL-15.5 instead of RL-15 because it's temperature insensitive and has an anti-copper additive. It's a little slower than RL-15 but charge weights seem to be similar in the cartridges I've used it for which are .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H.

The only problem is that RL-15.5 is not easy to find either. I have an 8 lb jug so I'm fine for a while though.

I'm also using Reloder 23 in place of Reloder 22. It works great for me.

hatari, in my reloading/shooting world Reloder 23 has completely replaced all Reloder 19 applications. Better in every way IMO

I've never used Reloder 15 so can't comment on that powder.

41

Made in Sweden and Made in Canada powders will be in short supply for a while .

As for the 6.5x55 specifically, I generally use Ramshot Magnum for 130-140 grain bullets. Have found it available on more than one website, though not on others.[/quote]

Any ideas how Magnum can be used for the different weights in 7x57 modern loads Sir?

Magnum is too slow-burning to get decent velocity with any bullet weight in the 7x57.

Well, I'm not MD, but I've found several powders from manufacturers other than Alliant that I've been working with that seem to be pretty good so far:

VV-540, 140, 150 (I especially like 540)
Varget has always been an alternate for me; biggest negative is that is doesn't feed well through a Redding 3BR powder feeder
StaBall Match
Accurate 2520

Others in the Alliant line

RL-16 in the 7-08 in particular (also in the 270 & 280)
2000-MR in some cartridges

MM

I’ve always used Varget and R15 as an either or when I was shooting service rifle primarily in 223. Same charge weights got pretty close to the same velocities. My local Cabelas has R15 in 8 pounders in stock along with H4350 in 8# jugs. Going shopping to pick some up.

Hey JB, in ref to Gun Gack loads...my 338 Win Mag shot well with the RL-15 load with 200-210 gr bullets. I don't hunt with it much, more of a scope testing gun now. Any recs on a RL-15 replacement for this particular application? The 210 gr TSX and Hunter load looks like it produced similar accuracy in you 338 WM.

And where the he77 are you getting IMR-4831 these days? (asking for a friend )

IMR 4064, IMR 4350 and IMR 4831 are being made and do show up.

AA2520 and AA2700

kwg

Hunter would be among my first choices for lighter bullets in the .338 WM these days.