Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters RL-26

IMR7977 does pretty well in the .257 Weatherby, which I found out by noticing that its burn-rate is apparently pretty close to H1000, the powder I use in my .257 Weatherby. So I tried 7977, and did well, but wasn't quite as accurate as H1000.

Two things about RL-26: It tends not to show traditional "pressure signs" even when exceeding published maximums quite a bit, more so than most other powders. Plus, even though 26 is fairly cold-resistant, pressure can jump quickly in hot weather.

Pressure in really hot conditions is what Rio7 was reporting with RL-26, his gun getting pretty hot, riding in a South Texas Jeep.

RL-17 is said not to show pressure signs until it’s way over. So is ‘26 a bit like ‘17 in that regard?

DF

RL 17 shows pressure at high speeds and primer changes. RL 26 I never saw pressure signs in our cold weather, on load work up went by chronograph quit when velocity flat lined. Don't think I have ever shot either above 60 F

I think NitroChemie makes '17, '26 and '33. Some .264 Win Mag shooters report great performance with '33. And, '26 is a winner in a number of rounds, as is '17. NitroChemie's proprietary process seems to work.

DF

I settled on a load of 46 grains of 26, under the 147 in my Creed. Velocity is 2747 with phenomenal accuracy. It smucks deer well. I just shot one at 400 yards a few days ago. I did some testing with the 129, also, and it was great. I use the 26 in my Creed, with the heavy bullets and have gone to Re 17 and IMR 4350 in my .260s, as I use exclusively 129 Interlocks in those rifles.

I got a few pounds of Sta Bal awhile back and have been doing a little testing. It works well in the .260 and Creed, but I was not quite as happy, when I tried it in my .270. It would take a bit more testing there I guess, but I already have a great load for that rifle.

Mule Deer how is R26 in the 280 Rem

jyp,

Haven't tried 26 in the .280, but it works great in the .280 AI.

Since the .280 AI and .270 Winchester bracket the .280, would expect it to work there as well.

....M D : Thanks for your earlier feedback concerning the 257 Wby. Perhaps some day I may even have the opportunity to try RL-26. I have yet to even see any but that's typical. At least I still have good old H-1000.

Back in my .257 Wby days, RL-25 was my fav, but that was before '26 came on the scene. I recently saw a few '25 cans at a LGS. If I still had a .257 Wby, I'd be all over '26.

IMR powders may be easier to find, such as 7977 or 8133. Vv N-565 seems popular with PRC shooters. Those may work, but only if you can find them...

Hopefully '26 will start showing up again. I'm starting to pick up big jugs of whatever when I can find them.

DF

I have plenty of RL 26 available but IMR 7977 has become my go-to powder in my 7 RM's over RL26 when shooting 175's.

It comes within 40 fps of RL26 yet gives me better accuracy.

I got lucky and scored an 8lb keg of it recently.

SU35,

One thing about 26 many hunters don't understand is that while it's reasonably temp-resistant, it wasn't designed to be, and consequently isn't as resistant as powders designed to be from the get-go. In my tests it's pretty good in cold, but not so much in heat. (Ramshot Big Game is also not designed for temp-resistance, but I have found it to be very close to the Hodgdon Extremes in that regard, in a variety of cartridge/bullet combinations.)

On the other hand, the Endurons are pretty good in heat and cold, as they're designed to be. IMR8133 proved to be the best powder with 160s in my 7mm RM.

On another note, ALL of the Vihtavuori powders are now both temp-resistant and contain a decoppering agent. Since they're popular among target shooters, the company is also into introducing powders designed primarily for a specific cartridge. Recently tested a couple of new ones, and they really work.

Of course, finding any powder right now is tough. I saw VV powders on websites a month or two again, probably because they're a little more expensive than many others. But now they're pretty much gone as well.

I can't add too much to the conversation but I will still pass along my experience. In my .243 with 95 and 100 grain bullets I didn't see the velocity benefits and accuracy was better with H4350. In the 6.5x284 am using the 147 grain ELD-M with velocity of 2840 fps and groups in the .2s and.3s. My .270, and old JC Higgins 50, is going sub-MOA with 150 grain Sierra Gamekings at 2985 fps. With results like that it is the only powder that I will use in my .270 as long as I can get my hands on it.

jwp,
I have worked up a load for my .280, using RL26 and a Hornady 150 gr. ELD-X bullet. My barrel is a 22" PacNor, 1-9" twist.
Accuracy and velocity are excellent- last week I ran shots over my new Magnetospeed chrono, which registered a MV average of 3050 fps. In my rifle, this load is sub-MOA.

to bad a guy cant buy rel26 anywhere,,,

Thanks, sounds very Promising

Mule Deer can you elaborate on the caliber specific powders?

Thanks

On the other hand, I have been able to find RL26 and have not been able to get much Vihtavuori powders. Maybe I've been looking in the wrong places. The last time I went to Cabelas and then the city, I went to a couple of dealers before I found much. The biggest dealer in the city and also Cabelas had nothing to speak of. My favorite store in the city had just got a shipment in. - boy was my wife pissed when she saw the CC bill.

I just found some Western and Alliant powders in a small farmer oriented business in the local town for $25/lb.

I buy powder and primers when and where I can. I even buy round nose bullets to play with, if that's what is available.

Not JB, but I see Vv n-565 being used a lot in the 6.5 PRC. I was wondering about that connection.

DF

Read in another forum yesterday that a gun shop in LIttle Rock AR got a big shipment of Alliant powder yesterday. They had 26 but it was $45 a pound.

LGS had R26 at $36 a pound. 2 pound limit earlier this week when I was in there. Also 22,23 and 25.

The same store has a 8lb of magpro and some imr4451 in pounders.

They even had Hornady HAP 9mm 500 count boxes of bullets at $70.