Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Reloder 16?

Anyone seeing any? H4350???

No I haven't for a while. I bought 5 pounds from Powder Valley a couple months ago and wish I would've got more. I'm switching over to RL16 because of the fact that I couldn't get H4350 anymore. And now I can't get RL16!

LGS has yet to get any RL16. I grabbed 8# of H4350 the last time they got a shipment.

I was in Brunos today, they say they are 4 months out before they get some.

How temp stable is the powder? I load and develop in the Phoenix heat and try to tune-in in the Flagstaff cooler Oct weather.

I got two pounds yesterday. Some guy that lives an hour from me was working in the Tri Cities area in Washington and found a small shop that had a bunch of RL 16 and H4350.

Tests I've read shows it to be very temp stable.

And it runs faster than 4350.

DF

My experience echos Dirtfarmer's as far as temp stability and velocity being better than H4350.

Leftybolt

I've only shot it out of my .270. Accuracy was fine, but nothing to write home about. Velocity on the other hand was impressive.

I have some loaded up in 7mm-08 (150gr) and 30-06 (180gr) I hope to get around to shooting this week.

With Reloader 16 I'm shooting 165gr Accubonds out of my 30.06 at 2,940 fps with none of the usual high pressure signs(heavy bolt lift, flat primers, shiny marks on case head etc...

Best I could do with H4350 was 2,860 fps.

Accuracy with both RL-16 and H4350 is about 0.6" for a 3 shot group at 100 yds.

I'm happy I no longer have to rely on nonexistent H4350. And, I have enough RL-16 squirreled away for the forseeable future.

Leftybolt

Seems like the shops around here are overstock on Alliant powders. I actually saw rows of Green Dot and Red Dot. RE-7 thru RE-26 seems to be everywhere I go.

Experimenting with a 6.5-284, I found that a powder with a sharper pressure curve tended to have more discreet accuracy nodes than a flatter pressure curve powder. Sorta makes sense.

My examples were Vihtavuori N-165 vs. RL-17. N-165 topped out with 140 VLD's at 2,950, was slight more accurate at specific nodes. RL-17 was consistently accurate thru a range of loads, didn't seem to have accuracy nodes like n-165. RL-17 out ran 165, beating it by around 100 fps, even more, but accuracy started dropping off much above 3,050 fps. I finally ended up with 48 gr. at around 3K. At 3,100 fps, groups were over an inch, like 1.5" in a half inch gun, but no pressure signs. I've read that when you do see pressure signs with RL-17, you're WAY over SAAMI limiits...

I'm thinking RL-16 may be similar to RL-17 regarding pressure curves, H-4350 more like n-165. I have no data to demonstrate that, just a hunch. Some of the newer, high performance powders tend to have flatter pressure curves, like IMR-4007, H100V, etc., older powders, sharper pressure curves.

Would like input on this observation.

DF

I have 3 1/2 lbs, it has become my favorite powder in my 6.5 CM. Have great loads with the 140 Gameking, and 120 Barnes TTSX. I've got some 129 SST's, and I just can't make them shoot though. Apparently those two combined are just not a combination my rifle likes. The Gamekings come in around 1/2" for groups. With the TTSX coming in under 1/4" as the norm. Best I've got the SST is 1.04" with the majority around 2".

48,

Am interested in your pet 140 SGK and 120 TTSX loads. I"m working up RL-16 loads for my CM. Please PM me that data if you're not comfortable publishing it.

Not much loss, IMO, SST's not shooting. To me their terminal perfromance is too unpredictable, too may other better bullets to chose from.

Thanks,

DF

Dirt farmer I have two Gameking loads with RL16 and both are under Sierra listed max. 42.0 grains and 43.0 grains for 2755 fps and 2810 fps from 24" barrel seated .020" off the lands. They both shoot great. The 120 TTSX was ran for me on quickload by someone. I started at 41.5 gr and worked up to 43.6 and had no issues in my rifle. I settled on 43.3 gr as the center of my node and the TTSX really shined seated deep. I settled on .102" jump and it has shot amazing, most accurate load I've ever had. But I have no experience with the TTSX. So if anyone has used them on southern deer average 140-200 lbs I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on performance, im little nervous they may be a little too tough, but they sure are accurate. Anyways I have no problem with the Gamekings, one of my favorite 6.5 bullets. Gonna start the season with Barnes though.

Well here is a RL 30-06 update.

Shot it under some 180gr Hornady RNs, and was thoroughly impressed. With my 20" pencil barrel, my best result was with 55gr. Had a 5 shot group to begin, #4 was a squib load (fairly new reloaded and the budget equipment reared it's head.) Taking that shot out, had a 4 shot group right at .6", @ 2702 average. Even with the squib load taken into account the group was under 1.2." Extreme speed was only 22fps, and standard deviation was 9fps. Pretty consistent, especially for a hunting load.

I loaded up to 56gr, and was averaging 2750, out of a 20" barrel! Accuracy opened up to about 1.5", but still more than acceptable for the shots I would be taking with this particular bullet. There were no signs of excessive pressure, and would feel comfortable loading hotter, but I don't see the need for it for this particular application.

After these results, I am going to try this powder with some 220grs.

Thanks for that info.

I, like you, have had great results, deep seating Barnes bullets. They do love to jump.

RL-16 is an interesting new powder, for sure.

DF


Edited to add, my experience with the TTSX on WT's and hogs has been good. They are hard bullets, but seem to open pretty well, especially when pushed hard.

TTSX advocates often like to punch shoulders, crunch bones. For sure in that scenario they work well.

Chest shooting WT's, in general, softer C&C type bullets are said to put them down quicker. I refer to the South Carolina study where deer traveled about half the distance, hit with soft bullets vs. hard bullets.

Nonetheless, the TTSX series has proven to be very accurate, good performers.

Thanks I'm looking forward to trying them out!

RL 16 seems to give awesome low SD's. The three loads I mentioned earlier are all under 9fps standard deviation.

Why is it called a double u, should'nt it be called a double v?


Not with my "handwriting".