Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 375 Ruger with RL-17?

I have searched for 30 minutes and just got pist off. I've tried - and + signs to no avail.

There was a thread here that had some data for the 375 Ruger with RL-17.

THink it was a Manny5spd guy and Woods if I recall.

Specifically the guy had one of the rare Left Handed Rugers in stainless/laminate.

That's what I am trying to get up and running today with a new can of RL-17. Have to load something else for today, but wouldn't mind the data for future loads.

I gave up in trying to do searches here.

Yes! I think is was Woods done sometime last year. He worked up some RL17 loads for his (as I recall) a 24"? barreled 375 Ruger and posted the chrony results which were very impressive. Since I have an Alaskan, I remember asking him what his barrel length was.

Don`t remember the exact velocity or charges, but I think he was getting over 2900 fps using either a 260 or a 270 grainer with RL17 and getting good accuracy too.

Instead of searching, try PM`n Woods and Manny.

Is this the thread?

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...l17/Search/true/Re_375_ruger#Post4028014

Sorry I can't offer any info but I'm also interested in that powder in that case but want also comment that IMO the Search function here is worse than useless.

I think that's the thread you are looking for.

Latest target with the load I chose

Thanks boys....that is in fact the thread.

Hit the range today with some guessed-at loads with RL-17. I loaded the Sierra 250 grain with 81 grains, and the 260 Accubomb with 80.

Wish I'd not looked at the thread/link. I was sending texts to my wife from the range about how thrilled I was with the new little rifle....having a 375 Ultra Mag leaves me slightly concussed and with grey matter leaking out of my nose. This gun was about perfect.

This little 20" Ruger was almost a dream to shoot. More tolerable(too me) than my Winchester 70 in .338 with 250s. And I even threw a Limbsaver on that one.

So I am probably cruising at 2700 fps with the 260AB and 80grn RL-17. Which is probably good enough for me, since I am enjoying the rifle.

Loaded up 8 more before I looked at the 'Fire and got the update. Out for bears in Idaho tomorrow. Sure they won't know if it's 2700 or 2800 fps. And I realize a 260 Accubond at a "sedate" is probably a bit unnecessary for a blackie....but why not?

Hey, how do I save this thread? I want to shoot the 235 TSX exclusively if it shoots well. Will need this data in a month.

......Whoa! UH OH.....`OL Swampy isn`t gonna like this thread. Rugers can`t shoot.

Jesse.............Here`s some additional 375 Ruger loadings.

http://gunblast.com/Ruger-Hawkeye375.htm

Notice the 270 gr Horn SP load, which gave 2875 fps using H4350 from Quinn`s 23" barreled African.

I worked up to and duplicated that same exact load and chrony`d 2808 fps from my Alaskan. Not too bad uh?

This does exceed Hodgdon`s maximum by a few grains. But Hodgdon is known for its slightly more conservative maximums.

On a chart of powder burn rates (www.reloadbench.com), R17 wasn't added yet but R15 is #129 while R19 is #143, and the 4350s (IMR and H) are #s 137 and 140 respectively, so it's obvious R17-being between R15 and R19- is in the appropriate burning rate range for the 375 Ruger. It looks as if it could be looked at as being "slightly faster" than the 4350s. It should be a very good powder for the Ruger's bore/capacity ratio which is about 12.5.

I've been using 70 grains of RL15, and the Hornady 300 grain RN Interlok. About 2600 fps and the most accurate load I've used so far. I haven't tried RL17 yet, but I will.

What is the barrel length?

This thread is a bit old, but I'd like to point out a couple of safety concerns and factoids regarding the load development that Woods did:

Woods has an extremely different rifle-build then ANYONE looking to develop/duplicate a load for a factory-built Ruger Alaskan or African. (3-groove, 24" Pac-Nor, et al...)

Hornady, who developed the cartridge AND tested it in a "20 Ruger Alaskan has a MAX published load of RL-17 for a 270 gr bullet of 81.3 gr. (8th & 9th additions)

Woods load may be safe enough in his unique rifle, but in my experience RL-17 doesn't show traditional pressure signs like most handloaders are used to seeing, yet I would bet that Hornady's ballistic lab actually MEASURED the pressures to come up with the max safe load or 81 grains in their reloading manual.

That being said, if I recall correctly, Woods had worked up to 86 grains of RL-17 without any (traditional)pressure signs behind 260-270 gr bullets - anyone want to bet that 5 GRAINS over book max is actually at a safe pressure level - even in his custom rig?

Anyone care enough to run those numbers through Quickload?

I do appreciate how thorough Woods was with his documentation, and he did back down to a less-outrageous (and very accurate) load of 84 grains,but his loads aren't even close to realistic for us Ruger shooters and probably are way over-pressure even in his rifle.

IMO RL-17 is a good powder that only LOOKS like a wonder-powder to those used to seeing the traditional pressure signs that us seat-of-the-pants handloaders are used to looking for.

My $.02,
-Joe

I use RL-17 with 250 gr. Sierras. The Quick Load max (64 K psi.)with that bullet and powder is about 2950 fps. My current load runs 2905 with 82 grs. I will probably try 83 gr to see if the groups close up a bit, currently 1.5 inch. Chronos are your friend here.

I use RL-17 with 250 gr. Sierras. The Quick Load max (64 K psi.)with that bullet and powder is about 2950 fps. My current load runs 2905 with 82 grs. I will probably try 83 gr to see if the groups close up a bit, currently 1.5 inch. Chronos are your friend here.

I'll add another data point for RL17. I shot a hand full of Nosler 260 gr. ballistic tip (number 37260) with 81.0 grs of RL-17 and got an average of 2880. I'd say that the recoil was significantly greater than the factory 270 gr loads. In fact it gave me a headache. I didn't see any visual pressure signs but I'd dial it down in the future.

I should add that this was out of a factory Alaskan (20" tube). The 270 gr. ammo went over my chrono at 2819.

Docbill: Nice to see you getting such good velocity, and all the while you are loading within reason of published loads! What make rifle and barrel length?

tm7554: I, too, noticed that at a certain point with my load development that recoil went from manageable to fierce with just a small amount more powder and none of the usual visual indicators of over-pressure loads.

Never represented otherwise and never advocated using my loads in your rifle, thought it would be interesting for others to see actual field data to make their own decisions



Never worked up to or loaded 86 grains with a 270 gr bullet , only with the 260 gr. Don't have a recent Hornady manual and the Alliant website still does not list loads for the 375 Ruger with RL17 so I would assume (bad habit but there it is) that the max load for a 260 gr bullet would be around 82.5 gr or so, so that 5 gr over is a little overstated. Also said that I did that just to see if I could reach 3000 fps with a 260 gr bullet. Like you say, backed down to a 84 gr load for the 270 gr bullet so that load is 2.7 gr over their book max. Are we to assume also that the manufacturer's are not a little conservative in their data just for liability purposes.



Don't run Quirkload but have seen enough posted anomalies to forego that expense. Prefer to let my primer pockets (primarily but not solely) tell me if I am over max. Still holding primers on some cases that have been reloaded 4 times with the above load but it is a work in progress. Thanks for noticing that I started at 74 gr and worked up in .5 gr increments for the first 5 loads, then went to 1 gr increments up to 82 gr and then in .5 gr increments for the last 8 top loads. Anyone else should do the same!



As you say, your opinion only and well stated. I also have the right to say that IMO RL17 is a horse of a different color and burning characteristics and chemical composition can alter final results regarding velocity, load densities, pressures, work under the pressure curve et. al.

Many have posted unexpected additional velocity from RL17 and many have not. My data is only part of the big picture and is only worth what you paid for it should you choose to ignore it.

QL can be a very useful tool if used correctly. when beginning load work-up for a new cartridge, i run all of the published pressure tested data i can find through it and tweak the 'weighting factor' to align predictions with the pressure tested data, then check bullet speed prediction against actual speeds (chrono'd and extroplated from bullet drops). then measure and adjust the brass H2O capaciy. that done, i'll happily accept QL outputs for that cartridge. 'reading' pressures from primer pockets, not so much because my brass has to last more than 4 cycles. if i need more speed, i'll break out one of my .375 RUMs

i also use quite a bit of RL 17, and do not see the magic. it works fine in the .375 AI, 7mm-08, and 338 WM but speeds drop off when temps drop much below zero, but not it is not a wonder powder.

BTW, while i have not worked with the .375 Ruger at all, QL does show 86 gr RE 17 under a 260 gr NAB to produce 73000 psi and ~2940 fps from a 20" barrel after a quick 'calibration' against published data. the 82.5 gr 'guess' is much more realistic for a max.

nojoe:

My .375 Ruger is on a Rem. 700 action with a 24" PacNor #3 profile.

Sorry, didn't mean to be cryptic with the Hornady load data:

Hornady's 9th (and 8th) edition lists RL-17 as a mediocre performer in the 375 Ruger with 270 grain bullets:

Starting 76.3gr @ 2400fps and Max 81.3 @ 2600fps

These are in a 20" Barrel Ruger M77 Hawkeye 1 in 12" twist WLRM primer.