Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06, RL-26, 180gr?

This is my first post, but I’ve been lurking for a while.

Anyone running RL26 in a 30-06 with a 180gr Partition or Accubond?

I’m thinking somewhere around 2900 fps would be nice to reach out and touch some elk out to about 700 yds.

This is for my Kimber 84L, 24” bbl. Match chamber. I’ll be using new Starline brass and WLR primers.

I’ve been loading H4350 under 30-06 165s for years, but have had impressive velocity results recently with RL26 in various 270 Win rifles with 130s, 145s, and 150s. I’m thinking the RL could really perk up the 30-06 with 180s.

Can anyone run me a QL simulation?

Thanks

58 grains of Hunter.

I tried this. Know that you & MD are advocates. Looks great on paper. Couldn't get it to shoot in M70 under 180 NABs. Chose Re-17, followed closely by Re-22 and H4350.

I tried Hunter and 180 gr many loads with a lot of different primers no love. In several 06,s.

I have not tried RL-26 in the 30-06 with any bullet weight as I think it is a bit slow for the application. I won't bother trying as the 4350s work so well in my 30-06 rifles. I currently use 56 grains of H4350 in a Bergara B-14 Hunter with a short throat. In another 30-06, a push-feed Winchester Model 70, it takes two more grains to reach the same speed. I have tried 58 grains of Hunter in a third 30-06 and got good results, as Pharm suggested above.

RL-26 is a "wonder powder" in some applications, not in all. I don't think it is a wonder powder in this application. I could be wrong.

The combination of 180 grain Accubond and 63.8 grains of RL 26 is a safe and very accurate load in my Rem 700. The load produces 2862 FPS in the 22 inch barrel. This is a Quick Load work up that I use with very good results.

I loaded 165gr Ballistic tips and 165gr Trophy Bonded Tipped Using 215M primers and win case I used 3.280 OAL for both.

Trophy Bonded Tipped gave 3027 FPS . Ballistic Tips with same case and primer and powder charge gave 3008FPS and was more accurate.

Just as a side note I got 3006 FPS using Norma MRP same as other load With Ballistic Tip. Most times RL26 will be a little faster.

My rifle is a Weatherby with 24" barrel.

RL 17 55-57 grains is good stuff

This! 56 grains.

Personally I think looking for 2900fps with a 180gr out of an 06 is asking a little much but I guess it’s worth a try. My top 3 choices for 30.06 is IMR-4350, RL-17 or RL-22 but I don’t think any of these will get you there. Good luck.

Compressed?



P

In my rifle with 24" barrel I can get 3008 FPS with 165gr Ballistic Tips 215M primer and Win case. Or Norma MRP with 165gr bullets at 3006 FPS.

Never tryed 180gr.

Following up on an old post.

I finally got around finalizing a 30-06 load with RL-26 and 180gr Accubonds.

Kimber Classic 84L with 24” bbl
63.5 gr shot 2935 fps with an ES of 10 over 5 shots at 55F. 59.5kpsi per QL and no pressure signs. Slightly compressed load.
1.2” 3 shot group at 200 yards (twice).
Starline brass with 70.2g H2O. 1X
WLR primers
3.328” COAL, 2.700” CBTO, 0.018” jump

Sounds pretty good. I’ve used 58.0 grs of H4350 (Speer’s max) for 2740 or so with a 180 Accubond. I found some RL 26 a few weeks ago and I’ll have to give it a try.

63.5 gr of RL26 with 180 partitions yielded ES of 10 for me as well at 2900 fps in my 24” 700. Best group was .20” at 3 shot group at a 100.

It is if the powder is Re17.

BTDT. Once.

Yeah, I don’t know if I could bring myself to knowingly torch off one at that speed.

Prolly flinch pretty good if I did.

Did you use Magnum primers with Hunter?

I worked up very slowly from 57 gr. Spent a lot of time in the 62-63 gr range before getting comfortable to go to 63.5gr. That extra 1/2 grain gave more consistent ES and shrunk the group size. Otherwise I would have stopped at 63gr around 2910 fps.

63.5gr packs a wallop in a 7# gun, and is just 20 fps off 300WM factory loads with that bullet.

I did the same With my partition load. Found 63.5 to be the most consistent in MV and group for me. I use a magnum primer.

Wow. QuickLOAD shows a pressure still under 60 kpsi for a 180 Partition pushed to 2935 fps with Re26---not that I take that as gospel by any means. Reassuring nonetheless.

I was surprised how well H4831 did with the 180 Partition. Accuracy was very good, a little better than 0.7 MOA for five shots at 200 yards but velocity was not any better than I get with H4350 or Re16. I didn't want to push up to the next accuracy node and didn't try, in part because I've noticed that I usually see best accuracy around 2725 fps no matter what powder I'm using and in part because I don't trust QL predictions that much.

This report on Re26 is intriguing for sure. I'm not sure why I'd want to push the '06 to .300 WM velocities because I just don't see the need for the hunting I do...but I may just give it a try to satisfy my curiosity one of these days.

Thanks for sharing the info, Stammster!