Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Substitute for RL 15 ?

Flower Child
I believe they were referring to the relative burning rates of the powders, not a grain for grain substitution.
Mike D.

To the original question, either Accurate or IMR 4064 will do pretty much anything RL15 will do. One advantage to RL15 is, since adoption as the military powder of choice, it's supposed to be quite temp stable.



FC - There was a thread over at AR on a similar subject: http://www.accuratereloading.com/ub...mp;amp;sb=5&o=93&fpart=1



The poster went on to state that both Norma and Alliant's powders are made by Bofors in Sweden, then packaged at different facilities in either Norma or Alliant containers. This actually is not an uncommon occurrence. As one example, Primex makes H414 for Hodgdon, which, in a W-W can, is W760; likewise for H110/W296.



R-WEST

Mike; Just noted that there was still a couple of tins on store shelves here in PG last week. Whether there will be more coming in, I cannot say, but local store said that on the last order about 6 weeks ago, RL-15 came in with the rest. Perhaps it will dry up here too.

As to the similarity of N-202/RL15; N204/RL19; and N-MRP/RL22, I have examined these combinations very thoroughly with weight vs volume, relative burn rates and physical appearance under good stong magnification. They are very similar if not the same, in burning rates, but seem slightly different in the lots I have here. The physical characteristics are somewhat different. In the samples that I have, Both N202 and N204 are finer grained than either RL15 or 19. MRP and RL 22 look quite similar under the glass, but a lot more RL22 kernels are perforated in my samples than is MRP. Also, MRP is denser [Higher specific gravity] in the samples I have. This allows one to get more of it in a given case than RL22. However, I would defer to the fellow in Umea, Sweden, as long as he knows what he is talking about. I do know, from talking to a fellow closely tied in to powder manufacture [also from Sweden] that Norma 205/Norma MRP and Bofors RP-5 are basically identical powders. In any case, it emphasizes the need to work up any load carefully whenever changing powders OR lot numbers. As for W760/H414, I do believe them to be identical powders. Exposed to the same criteria: appearance under magnification, density and actual use in different chamberings, I have been unable to see any difference in these two powders that would be greater than lot-to-lot variances. Regards, Eagleye

Flower,


I knew I shouldn't have post that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I just knew someone would call me on it. Now you have done so! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I am going to work right now. But when I get home tonite, I will endeavor to look it up. Whoa! I just took a long shot! It is in Layne Simpson's column: Benchtopics in Handloader #133 on page 17 (continued on pg. 69) He states: "that the only difference is the container and the price" However, he does add the caveat that it should not be used in a grain-for-grain substutition. But new loads should be worked up like any new powder. Hope this helps...the9.3Guy

I've used Varget and IMR 4064 in cartridges that like RL15. H4895 works well also. I live in BC also, and have seen no shortage of RL15, it seems the powder shipments are slow into Canada PERIOD. I don't think brand or powder type has anything to do with it. Give Higginson Powder a call, and order a 5lber, that should solve your problems.

280_ACKLEY

Actually, I too have heard a rumour that the distributor for Alliant powders in Canada has dropped out of the picture. The person who would know the definitive answer on this topic is Andrew Higginson of Higginson Powders, by far the biggest powder importer in Canada. I recall that he was trying to import the Alliant line himself, but something seems to have held that up. You might want to give him a call at 613-632-9300.

Personally, I think that Varget and IMR 4320, as well as Vihtavuori N540 and N550 would all be pretty comparable powders to Reloder 15. These other four powders are quite readily available, though the Vihtavuori powders are very expensive.

9_3Guy,
Thanks for your timely response. Armed with these facts, I believe that I will try a little RL-15 myself and I want you to know I really do appreciate your effort to locate your source of info so quickly as I was just about to place a powder order myself. Truly, it was awful nice of you to do that for me. Thanks.

Flower_Child