Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Alliants TS15.5 Powder

I know where there's several pounds of this powder. I also know it's advertised as falling between "regular" RL15 and RL16. Suppose to be extremely temp stable and offer more velocity among several others. With that said, Im interested in trying it in an 7-08. Has anyone tried this powder in the 7-08 and if so what did you find?

Interested in this as well

For Pete's sake - go buy it !!!!

I haven't used it in the 7mm08 yet, but I've developed loads for the .375 H&H with 270 grain TSX and the .338 WM with 200 grain E-Tips. The charge weights seem to be very similar to what you would use with RL 15 but with a bit higher velocities. Accuracy has been good. Seems like a great powder.

Yep you can use RE 15 data to start

Haven't had a chance to try it yet--but haven't found any of the Alliant Reloder series advertised as temp-stable to not be exactly --at least to the present apparent limits of the technology.

Mentioned in another recent thread that I haven't tested ANY rifle powder that doesn't gain some velocity (and hence pressure) at temperatures above about 80 F.--but that temp-resistant powders tend to gain less.

I'm about to work it up in a 250gr Whelen load that will get used here in 105 degrees and then used in Alaska late next month at maybe 20 degrees. Will report.

I have made a couple trips to the range with RL-15.5 in the .308 with 155 Scenar L. I am trying to replicate my Varget load since I can't seem to find Varget. Impressions so far:
- It is extremely bulky. An equivalent weight of 15.5 takes up a lot more case space than Varget.
- Accuracy seems excellent so far.
- I have not yet achieved my same Varget velocity. Been carefully working up and it looks like it's going to take a very compressed load of 15.5 to equal the 2800-ish FPS a just-under-max Varget was producing in my 20" .308 barrel.

If you would give up 100 FPS to get a sub 0.5 MOA group versus a sub 1.0 MOA group, it might be perfect for this combo, 'cause that's what it's doing. I have not shot any heavier bullets in the 308, and really don't intend to, but it might really shine there.

Hoping for great things in the 9.3x62, and .375 H&H - anybody worked with those?
PP2000MR has been so stellar in my 35 Whelen AI that I hesitate to mess with it there, but then again, the 15.5 may be a lot more temp stable - maybe worth a try.

I bought a can to try in .308 Win, but to use with 180 gr bullets. Because it's a little slower than RL 15, I think it's more likely to work better with heavier bullets in a .308 Win. Alliant .308 Win data is for 180 gr and heavier bullets.

I have run this powder in the .308, .338-06, 35 Whelen AI, and 9.3x62, and all of that experience has suggested its combination of bulkiness and burn rate might be near perfect for lighter weight bullets in the 30-06. In all of the above, it was a struggle to get enough powder in the case to get the best of it.
Today I finally got to the range with some 155 Scenars loaded over RL15.5 in my JC Higgins M50 30-06 (CCI 200, .010" off the lands, R-P brass). This rifle tends to develop max velocities at a grain or two below the published "max", and thus, that's where I tend to stop. And I will certainly "stop" right here (at 54 grains). This needs to be shot a couple more times to validate it's not just a fluke but it bears all the earmarks of a perfect combination - groups tighten as one approaches max and velocity variations diminish. Of course, SD is essentially meaningless for 3-shot groups, but these results scream for much more work.

I'm going to also post this to the other RL 15.5 discussion threads we have going here. I am thinking 30-06 165 grain bullets might also do nice with 15.5.

Cheers,
Rex

Nice stuff TRex.

I keep meaning to test these RL15.5 loads I worked up in August in some cold weather, but I've been too lazy. Has anyone else?

Looks like a good shooting old rifle. You can definitely see the better node. I have to ask, why did Aliant think they needed to manufacture a new powder, especially one with a weird #? I'm also wondering if it is worth the so called "struggle" to get it in the case? Were you using a long drop tube? If a powder is causing any kind of "struggle", I tend to move on. I'm thinking 4064 would be worth considering, if you want to run light bullets in your old 06..

My LGS has it but I bought a 5 pounder of RL-15 about a year ago so passed.

Yes bsa, I did use a drop tube to get it in the 35 WAI and 9.3x62.
But this 30-06 load was a perfect fill just pouring it into the case.