Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL26 in 325 WSM

Has anyone worked with this combo. Can not find any listed loads with RL26 in the 325. Have found that many folks think it would be too slow. Given case capacity and bore diameter it seems like it should work. Have developed very good loads with RL26 in 270 win, 270 wsm and 257 Robert's. Have lots of RL26, and it has worked so well in these other cartridges. Would like to see what it would do in my 325. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Eric

They're right. It's way too slow.

Thanks FC, I have seen that posted a few times. I have also seen QL requests for rl26 compared to rl17, rl19, 4350, etc. All else being equal the rl26 shows higher velocitys, and 100% case fill. Admittedly, I do not have any experience with QL, maybe not looking at the posted material correctly.

Eric

RL26 is a top velocity powder for the 325WSM under 200gr and 220gr bullets. QL is correct. Those who say it's too slow are wrong.

However RL26 suffers from poor temp stability, which is why RL23 is a thing. Switching to RL23 you lose about 100 ft/s, but get the same velocity at all reasonable temps and the corresponding reduced sensitivity to barrel harmonics. Your choice which is more important to you.

Thanks for the reply LB. Good info. Looking to try 200 gr tsx. I have 4 pounds rl26, so would like to give it a try. Need a start charge weight to work up from. Does the QL give that? Start 5% below the first listed "near maximum"?

Thanks,
Eric

I shoot the 200 TSX in mine. Works well, fine bullet. I use H4350. I took a look and the last time I crono'd it I was getting 2830 FPS. Its a hammer. Both elk I shot with it went down like I'd shot them with a 45-70. Good expansion, but not excessive bloodshot. Didn't recover either bullet. Try the RL26 and report back. I tried a couple RL powders and velocity was good but accuracy wasn't as good as H4350 in my gun. Accubonds, 200 grain, shot well with 4350, but at the low end of the charge range. I really liked the 160 grain TSXs as well, the little bit I worked with them. 220 grain SGKs were accurate with 4350 about 2700 FPS (working from memory). Obama made me buy 8 pounds of the 4350 which should last me 45 years.

Given that it's a mono-metal bullet, I'd start farther down than that. I'd start at 63gr and work up not to exceed 74gr or 3000 ft/s out of a 24". I would definitely do an initial ladder with a chrono to make sure I was below 3000 ft/s (3060 ft/s with a 26").

Yeah, ok.........

Explain to us where your ballistics expertise comes from, and why you know more than both QuickLoad and those who actually shoot and load for the cartridge. We're just dying to know why you're the expert

It's hard to beat rl17 when it comes to the 325 wsm.

I don't believe there is any commonly used bullet weight where RL17 is faster than RL26 in the .325 WSM unless you're trying to avoid compressed loads. And the .325 compresses well with the large bore diameter, so I can see no reason to avoid them.

You obviously don't own a chronograph. RL19 is a better fit than RL26. If he was asking about a .340 Wby, then yeah, but not that WSM.

I have not tried rl17. I did load a ladder with rl19, 200 gr nos part, which I shot last weekend. Started at 67 gr and went up to 69 gr in .2 increments. The top of my ladder, 69 gr rl19, gave me 2861 across the chrono. No typical signs of over pressure. Nosler manuel shows 2964 fps out of a 26 inch barrel. I am not all about speed, but would like to see if I can do a little better. After all, we are all after the best combination of speed and accuracy we can get. That's the fun of reloading. Thank you for the input. Heading to the bench to load some up to shoot on Sunday. Will report back.
Thanks all,
Eric

Ingenious. Of course I own a chronograph you clown.

Now, explain why you know more than both those of us who actually load for the caliber and QuickLoad. This ought to be good. Cluster round everyone, FC363 knows more than the entire powder development and ballistics industry, and he's going to share it with us

Of course, it's worth noting that RL19 veoicity is 170 ft/s below the velocity that corresponds to 62KPSI with RL26. But I'm sure FC363 will be along to explain that any second now

Oh, and with the TSX and RL17, you get about 80ft/s slower with than with RL26 at the same pressure. But I'm sure FC363 knew that, and is only pretending to be an ignorant blowhard

Oh yeah. QuicKload is the last word on reloading. Man, how did we ever do it all those years without it? LMMFAO Lady, I'm done listening to your bullshit and wasting my time on your stupid azz. Bye............

Leaving is a good plan for you, since you know nothing and it's transparent to everyone in this thread that you know nothing. Bye indeed.