Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Down Side for R 26 In 6.5 Creedmoor

I have tried Reloader 26 in my 6.5 Creedmoor and have been impressed with the velocities it delivers. Just wondering what the down side is for this powder based on your experience.

Availability.

Reloader 26 if you get on a the list to buy powder sometimes that helps a person to get Reloader 26, i did that and was able to get 2 kegs and could of had more 1 lbers or kegs. but don`t be in a hurry. good luck,Pete53

Alliant is really pushing Reloder 16 for 6.5 Creedmoor. Data is a bit limited, has anyone had much experience with it?

i tried it with the 143 eld-x bullet .....started at 45 grains and got primer cratering with it so i guess its a no go for me

Pretty much.

It works well in my rifle with the 143 ELD-X, shooting in temps up to 85F or so. Haven't tried it in open-sunlight 100F weather, but I don't generally shoot in those conditions anyway.

First I've heard of Reloader 16. I've used a lot of Reloader 17 in my smaller cases, such as my 2 .25s, my .250 Savage and my .257 AI. It works really well in them and I'm planning on trying it in my new to me 7x57. If it works in it as well as it has in my .250 and .257 I'll be very happy.

RL-16 works best for me.

I've gotten excellent results with RL-16 and IMR4451 in more than one 6.5 Creedmoor, and the .260 Remington as well.

Me, too. They pretty much produce as well as H4350, in my testing. Both great powders, but I do really like the Reloder 26, for the heavy bullets. I have gotten good velocity and great accuracy using the 147 ELDM in the Creed. I prefer Re 17 in my .260s with 130-class bullets.

R16 is proving to be a versatile powder. It loads very close to R17 with the main difference is it is less dense. For light to medium weight bullets velocity is close to R26. R16 beats both of these for temperature stability. I will be trying more of it.

Rl16 is working well in the creedmoor for me. However, I have to say it’s the dirtiest powder I’ve ever used. Including lower end cfe loads.

Have 16lbs of 26 I scarfed up the second Bruno’s put it up so will give it a whirl soon.

I have switched from RL 26 to 16 with good results. Accuracy and velocity are similar. It is easier to find, and RL 26 was too compressed for my liking.

My lgs said R-16 is starting to eclipse H4350 for demand. I posted here last week's first range session with a Mt. Ascent using R-16. As accurate as H4350 but with about 85 fps more velocity.

Checked the latest Speer manual (#15), which is the only one I know of so far that has pressure-tested data for the various powders discussed here in the 6.5 Creedmoor. With the new 140-grain Gold Dot they list 26 with the highest velocity, 2855 fps from a 24" barrel, but RL 23 and 16 are only about 60 fps behind, and in my testing are more temp-stable than 26. H4350 is about 100 fps behind 26.

Somewhat oddly (to me, anyway) IMR4451 is around 80 fps behind H4350. This has not been my experience with 4451, using loads published by other companies. In general I have found it a little more accurate AND faster than H4350.

But that's not unusual in the latest powder mysteries.

RL 26 sure got scarce. I load my .300 Weatherby with it with great results. However, I only have a full pound and a partial jug left. The big Roy consumes it in big gulps so I won’t be experimenting with it in other cartridges until I find more. Happy Trails

Yep, using it. With Alpha brass and a 140 ELD, 40.6 gr is pushing along at 2710 fps. That's with a 26" Hawk Hill barrel. This load produces a 1-inch (not MOA) group at 300 yards.