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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,297
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,297 |
I switched to RL16 for my 6CMs and the H4350 is relegated to the shed. RL16 has worked better for me everyplace I’ve tried it where I tried 4350 SB6.5 seems very good so far as well.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 716
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 716 |
I switched to RL16 a few years ago because it was available everywhere and H4350 couldn't be found at all. Now you can't buy RL16. I have a couple pounds and I don't go through it real fast, but it works well in my 270 Win., my 30/06, and my 338 Win. Mag. So I'm a little worried about running out and will probably use more of the RL15 that I also have instead of the 16, when possible.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 971
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 971 |
People keep talking about H4350 (or Varget, or other Hodgdon powders) being non-existent, but I haven't seen any Alliant Powders (RL) in over 6 months.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,491
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,491 |
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 284
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2014
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,918
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
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IMR 4451 or Vectan Tubal 7000 would be (and are on my shelf) as replacements for H4350. Tubal 7000 has worked very well for me in the 30-06. It's basically a temperature-insensitive European 4350. Can't find it anywhere these days, though. Okie John
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,957
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,957 |
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,357
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,357 |
Don't speculate when you don't know, and don't second guess when you do.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,020
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,020 |
Yeah, good luck finding that or 4451. That's why I said big game.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,045
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2021
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IMR 4451 or Vectan Tubal 7000 would be (and are on my shelf) as replacements for H4350. How do you like that Tubal? I had thought about trying the 3000 and 5000 a few years back when Graf was carrying it, but I never ended up buying any.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,918
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,918 |
IMR 4451 or Vectan Tubal 7000 would be (and are on my shelf) as replacements for H4350. How do you like that Tubal? I had thought about trying the 3000 and 5000 a few years back when Graf was carrying it, but I never ended up buying any. My only beef with it is the relative lack of data compared to the 4350 clan. When I emailed Sierra, they quoted Vectan's data, which topped out at 43,500 PSI. Nosler emailed back to say that they hadn't tested it at all. I stopped around 2,670 fps with a 180-grain Hornady flat-base spitzer, which is about as old-school as you can get while still using smokeless powder. I might have pushed 4350 harder, but 7000 was accurate and relatively easy to use. I'd buy it again if I could find it. That said, I killed my first black bear at 353 yards with one shot using that load, so maybe I have a soft spot in my heart for it. Okie John
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,017
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,017 |
RL16 or IMR 4451. RL16 has given me slightly better velocities than 4451, but 4451 has been more accurate in some applications. If you get the accuracy you like with RL16, you're good to go.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17,042
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17,042 |
Staball 6.5, W760, Hunter, 4451
But I have 10lbs of H4350 so not to worry.
Kent
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,197
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2002
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AA 4350, Win 760, and one of the coolest burning powders made is the AA2700.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 971
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
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IMR 4451 or Vectan Tubal 7000 would be (and are on my shelf) as replacements for H4350. How do you like that Tubal? I had thought about trying the 3000 and 5000 a few years back when Graf was carrying it, but I never ended up buying any. I bought 5 pounds of 5000 and 5 pounds of 7000 right at the beginning of the craze. I have made up a few loads in 308 and 7-08 using the 5000 and a load of each in the 30-06 and 7 mag using 7000. All of them have shot well. Have a little tweaking to do on the 7000 loads, but the rifle range at the club is closed right now. Once I find the right load, I will run them over my chrono. Overall, good metering powder and seems to be right on target with Varget (5000) and H4350 (7000).
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,724
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,724 |
I just happened to be in Sportsman's Warehouse at the right moment in time last fall and they had an 8# keg of RL-16. I grabbed that with a death grip and headed to the checkout. It was $280, but it should last me for several seasons or at least until I run out of bullets.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,045
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2021
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I bought 5 pounds of 5000 and 5 pounds of 7000 right at the beginning of the craze.
I have made up a few loads in 308 and 7-08 using the 5000 and a load of each in the 30-06 and 7 mag using 7000. All of them have shot well. Have a little tweaking to do on the 7000 loads, but the rifle range at the club is closed right now. Once I find the right load, I will run them over my chrono.
Overall, good metering powder and seems to be right on target with Varget (5000) and H4350 (7000).
I was eyeballing it back when I was having a hard time finding H4895 and IMR4320, but I ended up coming across some of both, so I skipped on the Tubal. I never knew anyone that had tried it, so I was kind of wary. Do they even still import the Vectan stuff anymore? I haven't seen it listed for sale anywhere for a while now.
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,045
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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My only beef with it is the relative lack of data compared to the 4350 clan. When I emailed Sierra, they quoted Vectan's data, which topped out at 43,500 PSI. Nosler emailed back to say that they hadn't tested it at all. I stopped around 2,670 fps with a 180-grain Hornady flat-base spitzer, which is about as old-school as you can get while still using smokeless powder. I might have pushed 4350 harder, but 7000 was accurate and relatively easy to use. I'd buy it again if I could find it.
That said, I killed my first black bear at 353 yards with one shot using that load, so maybe I have a soft spot in my heart for it.
Okie John
At one point I think I had downloaded the Nobel manual on my phone, but that was a phone or two back. I was going to to try the 3000 in 303 and 300 Savage, and the 5000 in 308 Win.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,017
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,017 |
One interesting thing about RL16 and IMR 4451 is that because of the copper removal function, your first groups you shoot may not be great .Depending on how much copper is in your bore, your groups may improve if you shoot a few more groups and the powder takes out some copper. I've seen this happen on several rifles. Also, if you shoot with some non-copper removing powder, the "copper cleaned" accuracy can go away, and will need a few groups to return.
I acknowledge that bore cleaning might do as well.
Your mileage may vary....
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 754
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 754 |
My preferred powder, over H4350, is Reloader 17 for 30-06 and 6.5x55 (commercial new rifles).
I get more velocity and very good accuracy with no pressure signs at all in the temperatures I hunt in. (Eastern and Western Washington from 20F to 80F)
“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
--- Will Rogers
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