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Joined: Oct 2007
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2007
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It's the real deal, went to the range today with a Steyr 6.5X55 and the LabRadar says it is 100 FPS higher than RL-19, RL-22 and VV550. was surprised to see 2840 - 2850 out of 20" barrel. The others were low 2700's which was what I thought I would see. This was with 130-140g bullets. 130g AccuBonds for the RL-26. The 139g Scenars were the most accurate, but the RL-26 load was within a 1/4".
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,374
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,374 |
What loads are you shooting?
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468 |
I tried to find loading's for a 6.5X55 in RL-26 and found nothing. On the web, 48 to 53g with a 130g bullet. These were 50g. No funny primers or sticky bolt.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,262
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,262 |
I have been using RL. 26 in my 6.5 Creedmoor A.R. bolt bench rifle and has been very consistent with 1/2 - 5 shot groups at 100 yards it seems to shoot even better at 300 yards with 5 shot 1 inch groups not sure why ? i use 140 gr. Berger VLD target bullets, this RL. 26 seems to do well cold or warm so far ?
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,262
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,262 |
I have been using RL. 26 in my 6.5 Creedmoor A.R. bolt bench rifle and has been very consistent with 1/2 - 5 shot groups at 100 yards it seems to shoot even better at 300 yards with 5 shot 1 inch groups not sure why ? i use 140 gr. Berger VLD target bullets, this RL. 26 seems to do well cold or warm so far ? Load please
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,481
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,481 |
For what it's worth...here's what QuickLOAD has to say: Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet : .264, 130, Nosler AccuBond 56902
Useable Case Capaci: 52.511 grain H2O = 3.409 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.150 inch = 80.01 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26 *C
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.171% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-01.7 98 51.11 2785 2239 50450 14923 99.2 1.135 ! Near Maximum !
-01.5 98 51.20 2791 2248 50769 14942 99.2 1.132 ! Near Maximum !
-01.4 99 51.29 2796 2257 51090 14961 99.3 1.128 ! Near Maximum !
-01.2 99 51.38 2802 2266 51410 14979 99.3 1.125 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 99 51.46 2808 2276 51735 14997 99.3 1.122 ! Near Maximum !
-00.9 99 51.55 2813 2285 52062 15015 99.4 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
-00.7 99 51.64 2819 2294 52396 15033 99.4 1.115 ! Near Maximum !
-00.5 99 51.73 2825 2303 52730 15050 99.5 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
-00.3 100 51.82 2831 2313 53065 15067 99.5 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
-00.2 100 51.91 2836 2322 53403 15083 99.5 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 100 52.00 2842 2331 53743 15099 99.6 1.102 ! Near Maximum !
+00.2 100 52.09 2848 2341 54086 15115 99.6 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
+00.3 100 52.18 2853 2350 54430 15131 99.6 1.095 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.5 100 52.27 2859 2359 54778 15146 99.7 1.092 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.7 101 52.36 2865 2369 55129 15161 99.7 1.089 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.9 101 52.45 2870 2378 55481 15176 99.7 1.086 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Based on this, I'd say you're safe, but I do not endorse loading solely on QuickLOAD's generated output. This is the line I pay attention to: +00.3 100 52.18 2853 2350 54430 15131 99.6 1.095 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Be safe.
Last edited by RiverRider; 01/09/21.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468 |
Guess my barrel is a "faster" one.. Either that or the LabRadar is optimistic.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,481
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,481 |
Give and take a little here and there for variations in case capacity, chamber dimensions, and powder lot differences...I think that's what accounts for the charge weight / velocity discrepancies. What I look at is, what pressure is required to drive the bullet to "X" velocity with a given combination of components? I believe (I do NOT say I "know") you're running at a little under 55 kpsi. In a modern bolt gun I would not be afraid to push to even higher pressures (and therefore higher velocity) but only in the quest to find an accuracy sweet spot. You might gain a hundred fps by doing that, but velocity just isn't the right motivation to lean on it any harder IMO.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468 |
I have found that max velocity and accuracy don't always match. Next trip I will go down a bit and see. 50g at 3.160 COL was just at starting to compress the powder charge. I have found a full case, or nearly so does often help accuracy. Thank you for the Quickload info.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527 |
I've never tried R26 because I've never found any. That being said, it appears to be the magic powder in several cartridges. The praise is so high that I am not sure why there is a need for other powders in the burn rate. Seems like it makes all other powders obsolete. What's the real scoop?
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,041
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,041 |
I have never used RL26 but was able to snag an 8lb canister last week. Just got done loading up some for my Tikka 6.5 Creed with 135gr Bergers, and also for my Tikka 270 with 145gr ELDX. Gonna try to hit the range tomorrow and see what it will do.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,201
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,201 |
I've never tried R26 because I've never found any. That being said, it appears to be the magic powder in several cartridges. The praise is so high that I am not sure why there is a need for other powders in the burn rate. Seems like it makes all other powders obsolete. What's the real scoop? In part, there are usually other powders that do just as well but because of the significant velocity gain in some cartridges, everybody else is gonna make it work too. Have head several reports of RL26 not always being the most accurate. According to the Alliant tech I talked to RL26 was designed for overbore, highish pressure cases shooting heavy for caliber bullets. That's why Alliant has only limited number of cartridges with pressure data. The 270 and 7RM are two of the biggest beneficiaries. 243 doesn't do bad either. I have one 270 that loves RL26 for both accuracy and velocity. Couple other 270's and 243's that do well. One 243 that appears to hate it. But at this juncture folks are sprinkling RL26 on their Wheaties and claiming their farts go 200fps faster..........
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively...
Having said that, MAGA.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468 |
I haven't tried it in anything but the 6.5X55. What I have seen so far it is a VERY good powder, perhaps much better than others. Got lucky a coupe of months ago and found a pound at the LGS.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 584
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 584 |
A couple of things on the Quickload print out. It uses 55,000 psi or the SAMMI maximum pressure and it is off on R26 as it is listed as slower than R25 which it is not at least in mid sized cases. You would need to recalculate it with your own velocities to get it more accurate.
I had pressure spikes above 90 degrees at around 53 gr. with 130 grain bullets, I backed down to 51.5 grains so I could shoot them in hot weather, this was with magnum primers so that could have run pressure up some too.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,281
Campfire Tracker
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Have successfully used RL26 in two cartridges; 300 WM with a new bullet I can't talk about yet and my wildcat 6.5x57BR (8x57 necked down to 6.5mm and shoulder blown out to 30 deg). Talked to an Alliant tech a few years back. I don't recall the exact conversation but powders like RL16 and 23 are advertised as "world-class stability" and "exceptionally consistent velocities"......."temperature extremes". Where Rl 26, "controlled temperature stability" cannot be advertised the same because it might be or might not be as temp stable as the previous two. It's more cartridge dependent.
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,893
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I have changed my .300 Weatherby load from MagPro to RL26 for temp stability and lost about 25 fps but groups with 168 gr TTSX s tightened up. It’s still at 3,300 fps with an under max book charge and shoots well under an inch at 100 yards as did the MagPro. There were no flies on the MP, just running low and bought a couple pounds of RL26. I haven’t tried it in other cartridges since it has become unobtainable. Happy Trails
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,229
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,229 |
In both of my 6.5CM's, a T3X and CTR (20"bbl), RL 26 has no peer when launching 147 ELDM's. Around 47g gets me 2700' in the CTR with a COAL of 2.90. The base of the bullet sits perfectly at the bottom of the neck, and the powder charge sits perfectly at that juncture as well. Perfecto IMO.
I'm partial to the 139 scenar in my T3X though, at 2760fps.
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,335
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
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Have successfully used RL26 in two cartridges; 300 WM with a new bullet I can't talk about yet and my wildcat 6.5x57BR (8x57 necked down to 6.5mm and shoulder blown out to 30 deg). Talked to an Alliant tech a few years back. I don't recall the exact conversation but powders like RL16 and 23 are advertised as "world-class stability" and "exceptionally consistent velocities"......."temperature extremes". Where Rl 26, "controlled temperature stability" cannot be advertised the same because it might be or might not be as temp stable as the previous two. It's more cartridge dependent. How soon can you talk about this new 30 cal bullet? Is it slippery? I’m available for testing!
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,652
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,652 |
Have successfully used RL26 in two cartridges; 300 WM with a new bullet I can't talk about yet and my wildcat 6.5x57BR (8x57 necked down to 6.5mm and shoulder blown out to 30 deg). Talked to an Alliant tech a few years back. I don't recall the exact conversation but powders like RL16 and 23 are advertised as "world-class stability" and "exceptionally consistent velocities"......."temperature extremes". Where Rl 26, "controlled temperature stability" cannot be advertised the same because it might be or might not be as temp stable as the previous two. It's more cartridge dependent. How soon can you talk about this new 30 cal bullet? Is it slippery? I’m available for testing! Barnes must be up to something now that Sierra took over ??????
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,335
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,335 |
Have successfully used RL26 in two cartridges; 300 WM with a new bullet I can't talk about yet and my wildcat 6.5x57BR (8x57 necked down to 6.5mm and shoulder blown out to 30 deg). Talked to an Alliant tech a few years back. I don't recall the exact conversation but powders like RL16 and 23 are advertised as "world-class stability" and "exceptionally consistent velocities"......."temperature extremes". Where Rl 26, "controlled temperature stability" cannot be advertised the same because it might be or might not be as temp stable as the previous two. It's more cartridge dependent. How soon can you talk about this new 30 cal bullet? Is it slippery? I’m available for testing! Barnes must be up to something now that Sierra took over ?????? He’s already said too much apparently.
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