Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 300 Win Mag loads with RL26?

I posted this in the "Good 300 Win Mag Loads" but re-posting here also.

I'm interested in trying RL 26 with Barnes 168-180 gr bullets, and Nosler 180 gr bullets. Curious if any of you have experience with these combos.

Also, what difference do you see between Win LRM primers and Fed 215M primers in the 300 WM?

I've had great results loading Barnes 180 TTSX bullets with RL 26 @ 1.2 grains bellow max (Alliant's website load data), using CCI magnum primers and Norma brass. Velocity is around 2,970 fps in my rifle, 25" Lilja barrel with 1-10 twist. I'm seating the bullet .050" off the lands.

I tried Win LRM primers in both my 300 Win mag and 7mm Rem mag a few years back, and had some issues seating some of the primers, but maybe it was just that specific "lot". I switched to CCI and have had zero problems. My friend shoots Fed 215M primers in two different 300 Win mags and loves them.

Yeah, those CCI Primers work great.

The older Win primers perform very well without issues. I’ve not used the newer ones people complain about. CCI and Fed are both great.

I was so impressed with RL-26 I bought a big jug while Powder Valley offered free haz mat. I plan to use it in my 7RM and 300 WM, maybe in my Swede with the 147 ELD-M.

DF

I have been impressed with RL26 under 180 and 200 gr Partitions, accuracy wise. Need to get them over a chronograph soon.
Also been a fan of Winchester primers for a long time, but would not use anything I did not have great confidence in as I generally regard primers as the least important part of the equation..... within limits.

Interesting the elk load I had for the 300 Win Mag was H1000 and 180 Partitions.
I bought some 200 gr Partitions and 220 grain Partitions. Will be trying RE 26.
I’m going to be trying them in my new to me Weatherby too.

My default .300 Win Mag load is 77.4 gr/RL26, Fed 215Ms, Winchester brass (older blue bags), 200 gr Nosler Accubonds. I get right at 3000 fps, very slight powder compression.

It is superbly accurate. Wonderful elk or you-name-it load.

I hear such great things about RL26 but wonder if I just got a bad batch. When I tried it in my 300WM, the best I could get it to do was 1.5-2.0" at 100 yards in new FL sized Win cases with 180 Accubonds. It also smoked like I was shooting black powder! Well, that might be a slight exaggeration.....but not that much.

Remember to play with primer choices as there are tremendous ignition characteristics in:

CCI 250

Fed 215

Win Mag primers

I reload right at the rifle range, and it never ceases to amaze me how unpredictable a load can be in what it likes.

When a particular primer does not seat fully, clean the primer pockets. I use a White Tail carbide cutter to clean and square the edges of the pocket.

That speed has traditionally been 300 Weatherby territory. Then, I just looked and see that Alliant lists 77.4gr max with Sierra 200 gr MKs and a 24" barrel at 2991fps.They even list a load for the 180 gr TSX at Max 3099fps with 24" barrel. That's fast. Especially, assuming SAAMI COAL. If you load the bullets longer, I assume you can add more powder at similar pressure and maybe gain more velocity.

How's the accuracy with RL26 been?

Two very accurate .300 Win Mag loads for me are:
79.0gr of RL-26 with the 168gr T-TSX, and according to Magnetospeed, I'm getting 3323fps out of my 24" Mullerworks barrel.

and

73.0gr of RL-26 with 200gr ELD-X for 2884fps.

I noticed that in my 270 when I had the case stuffed too much. You may be running over what your rifle likes and not burning the powder efficiently enough in your rifle. I'd lower the charge weight. A recent experience with my bosses 300wm and RL 26 was not positive. Horrible accuracy with 178gr ELD X bullets and charges close to max yielded 3" groups at 100 yards. He was shooting the gun, but swears his rifle bugholes groups with Berger VLD's. I actually gave him the RL 26, so I can't do my own testing with my 300wm until I buy more powder.. I may just run 168TTSX in my 300WM and see how RL26 fares in my rifle. Velocity looks good in the books, but we'll see what the chrono says to be sure...

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