Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Alliant R17 or R16 for 30-06 165 Gamechanger

Looking for review of R16-R17 165 using grain bullets

Those powders will probably work well, I’ve also had good luck with Hunter powder, 150-180 grand bullets.
Primers: WLR and CCI-250 I couldn’t tell much difference between the two different primers.
Both worked great for me in my 30-06
My 30-06 has a 24 inch barrel, 1-11 inch twist.

Wish y’all the best.

My first pick would be with RL16, its alot more stable than RL17. 16 is real close to H4350.

Thanks for the replies, have an unopened keg of each. Thinking I will try the R16 first. Curious if the velocity for 165s on Alliants website is obtainable

I found RL16 gave great accuracy in several rifles with165 gr partitions. I expect it will work well with other 165 gr bullets.

I also found that initial groups I shot were mediocre, but improved a lot as I shot more and the copper remover affected the bores.

Did you run the loads through a chronograph?

57.0 gr of RL16 and 165 partitions averaged 2835 fps from a 22" barrel.

Was hoping R16 would produce a little more velocity than that

That's what I've been told and hoping it's true.. curious to see how it performs for the op.

Love Reloder 16!

I’m loading 165gr Nosler Accubonds in my 30.06.

Rifle is a custom Winchester Model 70 with PacNor #2 contour 24.5” barrel(Installed by CF member “Redneck”).

57gr gives me 2915 fps and consistent accuracy.

57.5gr gives me 2940 fps…Accuracy was still sub-MOA but opened up slightly to 0.9” @ 100yds.

Planning on carry it this season for mulies and elk in Utah’s back country.😁

R-17 55-56.5 rocks well in both my ‘06’s. 2870-2900 fps. Sub moa groups.

Going to load some R16 this afternoon, hopefully I can get to the range next weekend

I've gone through 8 lbs of rl 16 in various cartridges. I couldn't think of a better powder for the 30-06.

Winter caribou hunts, temp stability of powder is more important than velocity.

A rifle could be heat soaked, drying out near woodstove after a spill on the snowshoes. Herd of caribou pop out 400 yds.

Another instant, rifle could be cold-soaked after a 40 below zero night.

Guess which powder maintains dmn near the exact velocity and zero?

Anyhow, most of yall on here don't hunt where a rifle sees that level of extreme temperature change.

Keep chasing top velocity, RL 16 might not make the cut.

I heard it is very temp stable. I loaded some up for my new to me 300RSAUM, so I will be trying that out soon.

Loaded up 30 various rounds. Powder meters very nice.


Any where around 2900 FPS with the 165s I'll be happy

Keep us posted. I'm always looking for powder that is similar to my favorite H4350.. I've got that reserved for my 6.5 man bun though. Shooting that in some long range comps, so I don't like to use it for anything else right now.. I will say that RL16 is available at different LGS, here locally, but it is expensive. @ $50+/pound..

My rifle(mentioned earlier in this thread) loves H4350 also…Accuracy is very good and consistent…max load = 2860 fps. That’s no slouch in a 30.06!

But, RL16 gives me more velocity with the same accuracy.
2900 fps + in a 30.06 pushing 165gr’ers….Doesn’t get much better than that!😁

If you can find RL16 for $50/lb locally you’d better grab it cause it ain’t gonna be there when you change your mind.

Leftybolt

I happened on an 8lbs jug at a reasonable price

338rcm,

I’m confident you won’t regret that purchase.

Leftybolt

Look down the bore after firing 30-40 shots. It'll look as if you scrubbed the darn bore with bore cleaner.