Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL-17 is going to be a very interesting powder

I see enough to try it in a 22/250, when used in a fast twist barrel and 75 and 80 grain A Max and match bullets...

I bought one pound (shoulda bought more) of it a couple of months ago. I had a terrible time finding data. I called Alliant and asked for starting loads for 7x57 and the 257 Roberts. The guy I talked to said RL-17 would be an excellent choice for those calibers but had no idea where to start because Speer was doing all the testing. The funny thing is that he didn't tell me not to use it, instead he asked me to call him back with my results after trying it. To make a long story short I started with 7-08 data for the 7x57 and accuracy was excellent. I got over 100 fps faster than my max loads of RL-19 or Imr 4350. I haven't gotten around to trying it in the 257 yet.

Me too...

bhtr


[img][IMG]http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh96/bearhuntr/reloder17chart.gif[/img][/img]

Nohting on their list impresses me much...

remember this is lawyer approved.. so the potential is probably alot better...

I don't let lawyers shoot my rifles any... so why should it be any of their concern...

could this be the powder used in Hornady Light Magnum loads?

CALIBER BULLET VELOCITY GAIN
243 Win 85 gr. HP 3316 +48
243 WSM 70 gr HP 3745 +198
243 WSM 80 gr SP 3512 +80
243 WSM 85 gr BTSP 3452 +178
6mm Rem 70 gr HP 3682 +89
6mm Rem 80 gr SP 3500 +112
6mm Rem 85 gr BTSP 3441 +156
270 WSM 100 gr HP 3668 +23
270 Win 100 gr HP 3554 +118
280 Rem 110 gr HP 3397 +111
280 Rem 130 gr BTSP 3167 +33
7 mm WSM 110 gr HP 3588 +163
7 mm WSM 130 gr BTSP 3356 +126
7 mm WSM 145 gr BTSP 3166 +87
30-06 150 gr BTSP 3006 +159
30-06 165 gr BTSP 2874 +71
300 WSM 150 gr BTSP 3343 +74
300 WSM 165 gr BTSP 3217 +50
300 WSM 180 gr BTSP 3082 +104
300 Win Mag 150 gr BTSP 3333 +32
325 WSM 150 gr Semi-SP 3348 +45
325 WSM 170 gr Semi-SP 3131 +57
325 WSM 200 gr SP 2897 +60





Reloder� 17 was created with new technology to provide velocity greater than the competition in the most popular standard rifle calibers and the new short magnums. Following are recipes developed in our Ballistics Laboratory (all loads used Speer bullets and list the correct Overall Length- DO NOT SEAT THE BULLETS TO A LESS OVERALL LENGTH). These recipes are maximum loads and shall not be exceeded.

LOAD DATA RECIPES FOR RELODER� 17

Caliber Bullet Case Primer COAL Chg Wgt Velocity
223 WSM 55 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.210 46.6 3865
243 Win 80 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.615 44.0 3362
243 Win 85 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.625 43.7 3316
243 Win 100 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.625 40.8 3044
243 WSM 70 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.185 49.0C 3745
243 WSM 80 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.255 44.5 3512
243 WSM 85 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.255 45.5 3452
243 WSM 100 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.290 41.0 3128
6mm Rem 70 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.775 48.5C 3682
6mm Rem 80 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.775 46.7 3500
6mm Rem 85 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.775 46.0 3441
6mm Rem 100 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 44.0 3163
25-06 87 gr SP Fed Fed 210 3.115 54.5 3547
25-06 120 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 48.5 3046
6.5x55(mil) 90 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.850 48.5 3223
6.5x55(mil) 120 gr SP Fed Fed 210 3.000 41.5 2741
260 Rem 120 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.720 44.0 2912
260 Rem 140 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.745 41.0 2645
270 WSM 100 gr HP Fed Fed 215 2.730 67.5 3668
270 WSM 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.700 62.0 3258
270 WSM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.700 60.0 3041
270 Win 100 gr HP Fed Fed 210 3.100 59.0 3554
270 Win 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 54.0 3136
270 Win 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 51.5 2921
280 Rem 110 gr HP Fed Fed 210 3.200 59.5 3397
280 Rem 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.205 56.0 3167
280 Rem 145 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.180 53.0 2968
280 Rem 160 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 51.5 2825
280 Rem 175 gr GS Fed Fed 210 3.265 50.5 2674
7 WSM 110 gr HP Win Fed 215 2.770 69.5 3588
7 WSM 130 gr BTSP Win Fed 215 2.775 66.5 3356
7 WSM 145 gr BTSP Win Fed 215 2.760 63.5 3166
7 WSM 160 gr BTSP Win Fed 215 2.820 60.0 2964
7 mm-08 110 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.760 50.5C 3169
7 mm-08 115 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.655 49.5C 3107
7 mm-08 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.730 48.5C 3007
7 mm-08 145 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.730 46.0 2819
7 mm-08 160 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 44.0 2669
7 mm-08 175 gr GS Fed Fed 210 2.745 44.0 2574
7 mm RM 110 gr HP Fed Fed 215 3.200 68.0 3535
7mm RM 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.200 63.5 3255
7 mm RM 145 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.210 61.8 3113
7mm RM 160 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.210 59.0 2931
7 mm RM 175 gr GS Fed Fed 215 3.215 67.0 2774
7mm RM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.700 50.0C 2763
308 Win 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 50.0C 2739
308 Win 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 48.7C 2641
30-06 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.250 58.0 3006
30-06 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.250 56.5 2874
30-06 168 gr BTHP Fed Fed 210 3.295 56.0 2850
30-06 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.250 54.5 2762
30-06 200 gr SP Fed Fed 210 3.250 51.0 2552
300 WSM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.810 69.3 3343
300 WSM 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.810 68.0 3217
300 WSM 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.800 66.0 3082
300 WM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.330 74.0 3333
300 WM 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.340 72.5 3202
300 WM 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.340 70.5 3074
325 WSM 150 gr S-SP Win Fed 215 2.850 71.5 3348
325 WSM 170 gr S-SP Win Fed 215 2.790 65.0 3131
325 WSM 200 gr SP Win Fed 215 2.840 65.0 2897
338 WM 200 gr SP Fed Fed 215 3.300 71.0 3002
338 WM 225 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.340 67.5 2831
338 WM 250 gr GS Fed Fed 215 3.300 66.0 2664

This is a good thread. I hadn't heard about RL-17 coming out. If they were able to keep the powder buring longer, and increasing the area under the pressure curve, we'll get more velocity. I'll see if I can order a pound locally.
Thanks for the thread, and the data to use as a starting point.

I e-mailed alliant and asked them when they would test Barnes bullets. They didn't know. So I e-mailed Barnes and asked them if they have done any testing with RL17. They said no, they haven't received any power to test with. I sent the Barnes message to alliant, never heard anything back. You would think it would be good business to get your power out there and get the testing done. I would think if alliant gave the bullet manufacturers the power they could get their testing done free. It would be a win win.

Yep, I agree.
Checked locally and no one ever heard of it...

I get the impression the availability is still quite limited. I just picked up 2lbs a week ago and the production date was 12 Dec. I am guessing testing will expand once the availability is there to meet increased demand. I will be trying it in my 338-06. Still trying to figure out how to determine starting loads.

I have been trying to buy some for about 3 months now. None of the local shops seem to be able to get any. I have seen it online but if only ordering a couple of pounds to try the hazmat fees make it pretty pricey. I will for sure try some when I can get it, should be super in my 300WSM.

Am interested for both my 6.5mm Rem Mag and 350 Rem Mag. Anything to help out those short mag cases with all bullet weights. Could be veeeeeeerrrrrrrrrryyyyy interesting!!!!

Is the RL-17 temperature stable, like RL-15? Because RL-19 is not temp stable, you can lose quite a few fps going from warm work-up temp to cold hunting temp per JB in his article about "Handloads That Work"

The 120 tsx in my 7wsm at 3400+ should be a real attention getter, and should be a real flat shooter.

A question for the experienced loaders out there. There is no data for the 338-06 and RL-17, however, in looking at loads for similar cartridges (30-06, 35 Whelen) that have data for both RL-15 and RL-17 the RL-15 loads are consistently 8%-12% less than the RL-17 load for that same round. So, would it be reasonable to use the 338-06 RL-15 loads as a starting point for RL-17? Just trying to get to a good safe starting point for the 338-06 and then have some expectation for what a max should be. Would Quickload do that?

From 6mmBR website: someone had posted they thought it might be Norma URP, the post below claims no.
A month or so ago, some site had a pic of a ship, with the caption "40,000 lbs of RL17 in transit", or something like that. Now Graf's has it, and Powder Valley sez they will have it Jan 6.

"July 6, 2008
Alliant Reloder 17 Ships in Late July
Filed under: News � Editor @ 11 am
Alliant Powder, a division of Alliant Tech Systems Inc., (ATK), has confirmed that the new Reloder 17 powder will ship out later this month. This is definite. The powder is going out to distributors within 2 to 3 weeks. Alliant had originally intended to start shipping Reloder 17 by mid-April, but there were some production-line delays relating to packaging. Reloder 17 is made in Switzerland by NitroChemie and Alliant had to make some modifications to its production line to be compatible with NitroChemie�s bulk powder containers.

We are very excited about the new Swiss-made Reloder 17 for Alliant. It is a high-energy powder with a burn rate close to IMR 4350, and �midway between Reloder 15 and Reloder 19.� The powder density is optimized for the short magnum cases such as the 7mm WSM and 300 WSM, but it also will work very well with cartridges such as .243 Win, .270 Win, 6XC, and 6mm Remington, according to Alliant Product Manager Dick Quesenberry.

Reloder 17 features an advanced, penetrant-type kernel coating. Alliant believes this is superior to typical surface powder coatings because it provides a more consistent, progressive burn. The powder pressures do not spike as sharply as with surface-coated powders, but remain more consistent throughout the burning process.

Mr. Quesenberry noted that Alliant tested many formulations, from a variety of makers, before choosing the Swiss-made Reloder 17. Alliant�s new RL17 is NOT the same as Norma URP, produced by Bofors in Europe. According to Alliant, the new Reloder 17 tested superior to URP (and most other powders in that burn range) in all major criteria: Velocity, Accuracy, ES/SD, material consistency, and resistance to ambient temperature-induced pressure changes.

The new RL17 will be offered in 1-lb. and 5-lb. containers and will cost about the same as other Alliant Reloder powders, such as RL15 and RL19.

RE 15 is great this looks even better

I shot some RL17 today in my 338-06. I did not have any book numbers to work with so I looked at loads for other cartridges and compared to known loads for the 338-06. For today, I loaded one bullet each starting at 53 grains and went up to 59 (.5 gn increments from 55-59). Bullet was a 225 Accubond set to an OAL of 3.37, and primers were BR-2s and the barrel is 22". 53 and 54 seemed too low. 55 is my guess for a very conservative starting point (2426). It started to compress very slightly at 58. Velocity started going over 2600 at 58 grains. Interestingly the velocity was the same at 59 grains. There were no pressure signs at all. Now that I have an idea of where to work, next time I'll do groups from 58 to 60, or so. As a comparison, I get the same velocity with 61-61.5 grains of H4350 as I did with 58 grains of RL-17. Mind you, this is determined with single data points for the RL-17 so it's not exactly robust analysis.

I bought some today at gander mountain going to try it in 223 wssm

I had two tubs turn up today...will be loading it in my 7mmSAUM tonight will try it in the 243AI as well....but we dont expect more in stocks for mounths over here so will have to savour what I have......A freind is getting 3100+ with his 243AI and the 105 amax and 7mm WSM with the 162 amax....good enough reason for me to try some