Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 270 + R26 + 150

I want to be happy with my 140 NAB going 2900fps out of my 22" barrel using H4831sc, but you guys are making it difficult...must resist...

Followup to my earlier post on this thread.

Following RatherBHuntin's suggestion, I weighed 40 cases of the PPU brass used in my Kimber 84L 270. Found what seemed a considerable variation in individual brass weights of over 3 grains.

I had three cases that each weighed 190.3 grains; then picked three that weighed 188.2, 188.2 and 188.1 grains. Then the lightest case was also selected of 187.3 grains. Each was loaded with 58 grains of RL 26, 150 g. Nosler PT (seconds from Shooters Pro Shop), WLR primers. The powder charge was individually hand weighed on my scale. Results:

Three with cases at 190.3 g. Velocity in fps. 3016, 3003, 2982, average = 3000.3 fps. Cases that weighed 188.1 and 188.2 g. 3009, 3003, 3003, average = 3005 fps. Then the single 187.3 g. case = 3023 fps.

Then three rounds loaded earlier with the "same" 58 g. of powder and the rest of the components the same but these were loaded using a powder measure. 2904, 2956, 2969 fps. average = 2943 fps.

What this told me is that the difference in weight of the brass is less important to variations in velocity than is the hand weighing of powder versus throwing it from a measure.

It seemed to me when hand weighing RL 26 using Lee dippers that what appeared to be relatively consistent amounts of powder in the dipper seemed to vary more in weight than has been my experience with other powders. (I use the Lee dipper to dip powder from a cup into the scale pan.)

My current powder measure is a Lee. When first bought it was tested it for consistency with powders I was using then; e.g. Hybrid 100V, Big Game, TAC, H-205, H-414 and H-4831. It was quite consistent and got to the point that I trusted it so much I had stopped weighing every 10th charge to check the measure. So I did not bother to see how it did when I started using powders like RL 26 or IMR-7828 SSC. WRONG!

From now on I will hand weigh powder when using RL 26. I think I'm done with load development for my Kimber and with stay with 58 g. of RL 26 with the 150 g. Nosler Partition.

Got about 9 pounds of RL 26 and picked up some 145 grain ELM Hornadys...

Going to Road Test the combo at the range real soon...

will post results if they turn out worth posting.

It sounds like the RL26 + 150gr bullet combo is working out quite well for you.

I've been looking at every gun shop around here for a month or so, and still haven't seen a bottle of RL26 live and in person. I have a 50rd bag of 150gr PT blems that I'd love to burn some RL26 under if I could lay hands on any.

I've fiddled extensively with RL26 and 150's in my 270. It won't group well unless slowed down to the same velocities that I run with H4831, RL17 and H4350 (2,850 fps +/-).

Obviously others rifles will be different.

I'd add I've never seen anything that a 150 Partition at 2,850 couldn't handle, and I appreciate the milder recoil of that velocity over the 3K fps of the RL26 loads, given my rifle is quite light (Kimber MT).

Where do you live Scotty?

I find it all over the place here in Oregon... and believe me, this place is far from Powder Central...

in December I shoot 3 loads of RL26 in a Vanguard S2 with 24" barrel Win cases only changed primers. 5 shoots each. CCI250 mag primer 2968fps average SD31.2
WLR primers 3019fps average SD 16.4 WLRM primer 3013fps average SD 19.1 Temperature was 45 Degrees.

Southern Wyoming, I can't find anyone in Cheyenne that has or can get it, and the last time I went down to Denver I stopped at 3 different shops on the way back up, no luck. I'll probably wind up throwing in a couple bottles with my next order from powder valley, I'll be needing an 8lb jug of RL16 soon, I've almost burned through the first 3 lbs I bought, and it's great stuff.

I,ve seen the highest velocities with RL26, But Norma MRP Produces better accuracy. I use it in my 257 Roberts, 270 winchester,and
sometimes in my 7mm mag. Although I use Retumbo the most in the 7mm mag.

I know this is about '26, 270's and 150 NPT's, but if I can get 3K accurate with my Montana in 280 AI with a 160 Accubond I'd be in light rifle Heaven.

Jerry,

I don't think that would be asking too much.. the 280AI has enough extra powder space.

I'd dare say H4831SC would get ya there also.

10-4 Seafire, Thanks, I'll have to keep in mind the shorter COL's with the diminutive Montana action, hope there's enough room to seat the long 160 NAB's.

A big +1 Brad.

I was about to start a new topic because I tried RL 26 with 150’s in my 270 and 95’s in my 243 and the accuracy was disappointing. My Win 70 is sub-moa with both the 150 Partition and 150 Hornady with H4831sc. My hunting load is 56.5 g for about 2800 fps. The RL 26 was giving me 3000 at 60 grains but groups open way up. I gave it one last try last week and am just sticking with H4831SC for accuracy and consistency. It also is much milder to shoot; that extra 200 fps sure made the rifle recoil much more like a 7MM mag.

An interesting note for those still using RL 26. In both my 243 and 270 CCI 200 primers groups were about double the size of Fed 210’s. It seemed for me that the RL 26 sure didn’t like the CCI.

I finally found some RL26 while on a work trip to NM, can't wait to try it in the .270. Hopefully it shoots ok with CCI200s because that's all I stock for large rifle.

CKW - your results are VERY similar to mine from years AGO.
1. I've always used more extruded powders than ball.
eg. I've used Surplus 4831, IMR 7828, IMR 4831, & IMR 4350 a lot.

2. I have an old Lyman cylinder thrower I used for small kernel & pistol powders.

3. I HAD a set of Lee dippers -- wound up throwing them in the trash. Never missed em.

Also if I read it correctly, your spread was @ 3 - 3 1/2 grs. That's pretty close IMO.
I normally segregate cases by 5+ grains.

Haven't read through this whole thread so this may be redundant but my results with the 270 Win. and RL 26 are as follows:

Rifle: Win. Model 70 w/factory sporter barrel, glass bedded in a McMillan fiberglass stock.

140gr Nosler Accubond
RL-26 61.5 gr
Win. Brass
Federal 215 match primer
OAL = 3.280"
Temp = 85 deg.

Avg. Velocity = 3,185 fps
Accuracy = 0.53" for 3 shots at 105 yds

Changing to Federal 210 match primers opened up groups to about 0.8"(still very respectable).

This kind of velocity and accuracy is impressive! I'm sold.

My "go to" load for this rifle before RL-26 was 60gr of H-4831 behind a 130gr Nosler Partition at 3,050 fps.

Looks like I no longer need my 7mm Mag!😁


Leftybolt

My load:

61.2 grains RL26
WLR Primer
Win. Brass
140 grain Berger VLD

Rifle: Browning A bolt 270 Win. / 22 inch barrel

3 shots thru the chrono at 15 feet, average velocity 3,099 fps

Didn't measure the group but all 3 shots were touching.

My previous load with 58 grains of H4831 gave the same accuracy but only 2,850 fps.

Has anyone tried R26 with 160's?

Yes, I only had two rounds left to run across the crono:
160 gr NP over 60 grs RL26 gave me 3005 and 3046 FPS
Accuracy was OK. Pressure a little high.

I got out and shot the first part of an OCW workup yesterday with RL26 and 150g NPT blems. I only chrono'd one shot per charge weight on my Magetospeed, out of my somewhat slow 22" Tikka T3 SL.

58.5gr - 2,911 fps
59gr - 2,920 fps
59.5gr - 2,929 fps
60gr - 2,968 fps
60.5gr - 2,999 fps
61gr - 3,027 fps
61.5 - 3,053 fps

I also chrono'd one 140gr AB over 62 gr RL-26 @ 3,108 fps

Shot round robin, both 59.5 and 61.5 were around 3/4" for three. The rest of the groups were all over the place size wise. I think I'm going to make up 5 at each of those weights and then do a few different Oal's at 60.5g, and see what happens. The primers never got too flat, but 61gr and over showed more cratering than I'm comfortable with for a hunting load.

Right now I'm shooting 140gr NAB's at 2,940 fps for my elk load, I think I'd be satisfied with a 150gr NPT even at the lower end ~ 2,930 fps, especially since POI is right with my 140's.