I've used lots of RL-15 in mine and it is perhaps at it's best with bullets lighter than 286s. I initially chose it because it had worked very well for me in .35 Whelen. .350 Rem Mag and .375 H&H.
However, while I recognize that each rifle has its own preferences, I found RL-15 has it's limit at about 60grs in my rifle at 0* C (+32*F)with 286s for accuracy and consistency. That gives between 2450 and 2460 with .80" MOA from Hornadys, but during June through September, with temps at a high 28*C to a low 18*C (82* to 64*F), best accuracy was with 58.5 as also suggested in Nosler's manual, with about 30 fps less. Mine has a 22.4" tube.
Just a year ago, almost to the day, I tried RL-17 for the first time. 67grs gave identical results in MV and accuracy on the same day as 60grs of RL-15... BUT, with less pressure.
This year (2012), my go-to load is 68grs RL-17 (a tad slower than Big Game), WLRM primers, Hornady brass and Nosler's 286 at about 2550 fps during the hot/warm months and now, in December, 2500 fps+. Accuracy is the same. In the cooler temps I've used 69grs at 2560 fps but accuracy doesn't appear to be quite as good, though certainly good enough. Pressure still appears to be less that using RL-15.
COL is at 3.36" and it's a compressed load. If I can get 70grs in and seat the bullet to 3.36", I'll give it a try one of these days... just because!
My rifle (Tikka 3 Lite) weighs 7.2 lbs with scope, sling and 1 cartridge. With 3 it goes 7.4 lbs. Recoil with my go-to load is 45 ft-lbs.
The above is intended for information ONLY!!! NOT TO BE COPIED without working up in the usual manner.
NOTE: Gunner500 gets 2400 fps from the 320 Woodley using RL-17. In momentum that equals a 300gr from a .375 H&H (or any other 375 or anything shooting a 300gr)at 2560 fps and has an SD of .341 (the same as the SD of a 500gr from a .458-cal.).
