Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL-33

I found a bottle of Reloader 33 and want to give it a whirl. I know it was designed for the .338 Lapua, but would like to see what it will do with heavy bullets in the 7mm RM and .300 WM. But, I don't find any data for those rounds, or any others.

Anyone do any work, other than the .388 Lapua, with this powder?

DF

I think it may be too slow...

RL33 and 7mm RM

If you have the powder on hand you could give it a try. My experiences with the 257 Roy, 6mm-284, 7mm Rem mag, and 7mm/375 Ruger have led me to believe it works best with the heaviest bullets. RL-33 is slower than Retumbo. I used retumbo near max loads as starting loads for the 257 with 110s, 6mm-284 with 105s as there was no data.

Alliant load data for 7 Rem Mag:

7mm stw 175 gr speer deep curl, 84.5 gr RL 33 @ 2946 fps
7mm stw 175 speer hpbt, 85.7 gr RL 33 @ 3033 fps


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Rufous posted some 300 win mag load data here a while back.

rufous
Campfire Regular


I did a bit of testing today in my 300 Win Mag: 25" barrel with long throat. Loaded rounds with 200 LRX are 3.515" long which puts it 0.060" off the lands. Sierra 220 SMK is 0.005" off lands at similar COAL but did not measure. I used Win cases and F215 primer.

So here are my chrono results with 200 LRX:
82 grains= 2910 fps
83 grains=2960 fps
83.5 grains=2990 fps
All were compressed charges. I used a drop tube and then used the Lee Factory Crimp Die to help keep the bullet in place.

220 Sierra Matchking (coated with something called Acculube- do not remember the company that coated them)
80 grains= 2830 fps
81 grains=2890 fps
82 grains=2880 fps

I am getting 2930 fps with 79.0 grains of Ramshot Magnum so RL33 is obviously slower than it. Overall it is clear that RL33 is really too slow for the 300 Win Mag using 200 grain and lighter bullets but I will probably do a bit more testing for accuracy with the 83.5 grain charge. Pressure did not seem at all excessive with all charges tried.

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Campfire Regular

I tried RL33 some more today with the 200 grain Nosler Partition.

86 grains=3029
86.5 grains=3049 and 3077

In my rifle these loads seem safe. Bolt lift/extraction seemed normal and there were no shiny marks on the case head. Bullet was seated to 0.030" off the lands which came out to be 3.500" overall length.

rufous
Did a bit more shooting today with RL33 in my 300 Win Mag. Today I tried the Nosler 200 Accubond. 86.0 grains was a compressed load. 12 shots averaged 3030 fps. Accuracy looks promising.