Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles My Reloader 17 Results

FYI--Stunning performance to the point of being.....well....almost too good to be true. Quickload doesnt' think it possible to get past 2960 at 63k pressure with any of today's known powders. Remember the original poster had fantastic velocity but after a proper correction matched QC's best velocity? Can we be sure of this fantastic event??

+1

I'll wait for pressure tested data. If you look at the WORD doc posted earlier in this thread, Alliant isn't claiming an extra 200 ft/sec over anything with similar size bullets - and the load they picked to compare. Some of the loads they picked to make a comparison seem, well, contrived. 3006 ft/sec with a 150 30-06 - ever heard of IMR 4350? 2874 with a 165 - H 4350 beats that. 3046 with a 120 in a 25-06 - Retumbo will do it easily.

My point being the loads Alliant picked to compare are a tad conservative and help fuel hype. I see nothing special about the velocities obtained with Re 17 so far - maybe an extra 50 ft/sec here or there.

I'm also a little leary of the 284 data. Based on the attached WORD doc, the 280 Rem only digests 51.5 grains under a 160 for 2825. Even assuming pressure was held to 60K, it ain't ever going to reach much over 2950 if pushed to 63-64K- which is doable by several powders in existence.

I hope RE 17 lives up to its billing but it is still a mix of the same chemcials currently being used. Unless someone comes up with a new chemcial to add to the mix, I can't see huge increases.

Coal of 284 with 162 A-max is 3.073". The mag box was lengthened so it barely fits but does feed. The reamer was what my gunsmith has on hand.

When this barrel goes south or I can't stand it anymore. I will be buying a Lilja SS and have it cut to 26". I'll have Dave Kiff (Pacific Tool and Gauge) make a 284 reamer to my specs with the throat a bit closer so the 168 VLD and 162 A-max fit with some leeway. Based on what I have seen with a custom reamer for the 257, 22-250 AI and 7 RUM, Dave designs the throat angle a tiny bit differently than usual for the VLD style bullets and it works. I am having fits making this A-max shoot accurately( under 3/4") but I am certain it is the design of the chamber reamer. This rifle shoots nice clusters with the TSX and other hunting bullets.

PRM: For grins I tried some RL-17 in a 358 with a 20" barrel. With a case full and compressed, the 225 gr bullet was 100 fps behind a load using RL-15. The 338 version might do slightly better especially if it has a longer barrel. Check out this link and go to the bottom to see some comparisons of other cartridges.

Edited..here is link http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html

I have a pound on the way to try in my .280 with the 120gr BT. It should be here this week looking forward to seeing what it will do.

Tried reloader 17 in a kimber montana, with 180 grain partition's. First charge was 64 at 2940,jumped to 65 at 3000. Then went to 66 at 3050, with hard extraction and sticky bolt lift. I get the same result's with hodgon 4350. Forgot to add it was a 300 wsm.

So she was a bit hot at 3050fps!

I've Chrony'd some factory 180's(Winchester lubed AB's) and they went 2980-3020fps(24" barrels on two different rifles). Seemed hot to my novice eye, but who knows.

2950fps is my comfort level with 180's and H4350. 3050 with 165's even better. My speed freak phase was pretty brief....grin

This does sound like interesting powder though.

Has JB written anything on it yet?

I sure would like to post some results but I can't find any RL 17 out here, I called the manufacturer, they said they ship directly to the distributer and sent out a large shipment at the end of December. Sportsmens warehouse in Reno may be getting some in a week from Thursday, hope this subject does not go away untill I can make some of my own tests.

They lied to ya. The last shipment coming into this country was a mere 20K pounds. For the whole country that's not a big shipment and that's why nobody's got any 5 pounders left, except Bruno, who's asking $95 for them. I don't know when more will come but I would hope it would be more than 20K pounds.

1flier

I purchased four pounds the date on the bottles is December 12 2008 .

I have loaded up some more 300 Saum loads with half grain increments and the bullets closer to the lands looking for best accuracy.

Also loaded up some 160 for the 7MM Saum to check. Maybe I will get a chance to shoot these this weekend.

Just got my two lbs. Will try in the .250x3000AI with 115 Bergers, and the 8x57 with the 180`s. Should work.

FYI, Graf's & Sons still has RL17 in stock.

More 300 WSM results.

185 Berger VLD.

Win brass and primer.

65 grains of RL17 for 3,060.

Shot two 1" groups today at 300 yards.

ES of 6.

More 284 win results. Retried the moly coated 150 nos bt with RL-17. Previously the absolute max load was determined at 59 gr, vel approx 3250. This time tried:

57.5 gr, vel 3135
58.0 gr, vel 3150
58.5 gr, vel 3180

58 gr shot the best with a three shot group of .366". Naturally more verification is needed to adopt this load.

Onward to the 140 nos bt. Will start with the same OAL as the 150 bt.

Details:
Rifle: barrel 23" rem takeoff, OAL 3.050" with bullet .010" off lands.
Chronograph. CED Millenium at 10 ft, temp 50-55 degrees.

I have a 284 win and those are some incredible numbers. 2960 fps is about all I've managed with a 150 grain NBT (no moly) - no pressure signs. And 2870 fps is about all a 160 gr Accubond will do (again no moly). This is with a 24" barrel. Just out of curiosity, what kind of velocities did you get with say H-4350, RL-19 or W-760 out of your gun with those same bullets?

SU,

How much barrel do you have on that .300?

Lefty C

Azshooter, those are impressive results, I would like to try RL 17 in my 284 but it's not available here yet, my local sporting goods store along with Sportsmens warehouse has some on order. I have a 22 inch barrel on my 284, oal is limited to 3.000 due to magazine restrictions and with a long throat with that oal I am .125 off the lands. What would you suggest as a starting load with 140 gr Barnes xlc bullets.

All,

Simply incredible! I have this thread bookmarked.

And thanks for sharing your results,

MtnHtr

I'm shooting a 26" attached to a FN SPR action.

I took it to 67 grains and could tell I was on thin ice pressure wise. The ES was going crazy so I backed off two grains, I feel that I have found the sweet spot for this load.

This powder is supposed to have a 4350 burn rate. The Nosler guide shows 65 grains max when using a 180 and that is where I am at.

I should be able to get 3,000 shooting the 190 VLD.

Can we use 4350 data and get higher speed?
I think so and so do the people who produce RL17.

SU35, you're subbing IMR4350 charges?

Yes, so far that is what I am doing on the learning curve here.