Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL 17

Has anyone found a reliable source? And, is it living up to all of the earlier great things said about it? Thanks, memtb

I'd suggest a search for RL17, as there has been some recent discussion.

So far I am very impressed with the velocity I am getting out of my .280 with the 120gr BT. A friend has loaded some with it as well and looks very promising, he is getting 3,100fps out of a Rem. Model 7 .260 using 100gr partitions.

Bump, I just bought a pound and have a308, 30.06, 300wsm to load for. I'm anxious to hear others success stories with this powder. From what I've read, it seems that the wsm may benefit the most in terms of velocity. Please post your results (anyone) with this new exciting powder.

Bruno's has ones and fives. A couple of others have ones but I think Bruno stands alone right now if you want a five pounder.

1flier

I messed around with it and a 284 win with 23" barrel. Mentioned some stuff in another thread. Repeated the 150 moly'ed nos bt load. 58 grs is shooting approx 1/2" 4 shot group for second test with vel of 3175. This is very fast for a 284. When I get some more 150s I'll try tweaking the seating depth.

For the heck of it stuffed some in a 358 win. Most powder I could cram in lost 100 fps compared to RL-15. Some case expansion ratios won't be able to capitalize on RL-17's virtues.

To answer your questions, yes and yes, check out www.6mmbr.com/reloader17html

cant find the page search in their archives, they achieved huge velocity gains with it, and heavy bullets per cartridge

You guys should checkout this thread on RL 17. Seems to be a lot of people trying it with good results. I have tried it in my 300wsm with 180gr Partition and was getting avg of 3060fps with there max posted load. The fastest I have ever gotten with a 180gr partition was with RL22 and it was 2987fps in my rifle.
here is the link to the other thread.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...owflat/Number/2692158/page/3#Post2692158

I ordered two pounds of RL 17, do you think it will help my 300wsm get highter velocities? I am getting 3115 fps with 168 gr Barnes xlc bullets using 70.2 gr IMR 4831, with 74 gr Ramshot magnum I get 2731 with the Barnes 200 gr X bullet but recoil and muzzle blast is getting nasty. My 284 is getting 2900 with 56 gr of IMR 4831, due to magazine restrictions and a long throat I am .125 off the lands, can't get any closer than that with any bullet, it was rechambered to 284 from 7mm-08. What do you suggest as starting loads? I will post my results when I complete the tests, might be at least two weeks or more.

..........Based on everything I`ve been reading, you should get more velocity. According to Alliant, 69 gr is max for the 150 grainer and 66 gr is max for the 180 grainer.

I`d start the 168 at 63-64 gr of RL 17 and work up in 1/2 gr increments until you see the usual pressure signs, then back off a 1/2 grain and call that your max load.

Waiting for some to try in my own 300 WSM.

Depending on your temps now as compared to your usual and accustomed huntin' temps, I'd back off a full grain in your load.

The more dramatic the difference in temps, the more I'd back off.

Good luck........

I have some for my 300 wsm and have loaded a series for the 165 TSX and 180IB but it keeps snowing and I need some younger guys to break trail into the range so I can go shoot:)

Freddy,

Regarding the 284...you didn't mention bullet weight. I'd start off with load data for H4350 and work up from there. RL-17's moniker is misleading. It is slower than the 4350s and RL-19 is very close. Must be the burning curve that has it acting more like 4831.

Shot another dozen rounds of moly'ed 150 Nos Bt yesterday. 58 grs is the load and consistently is shooting well at 3175 fps. Have three sessions now with over 25 rnds fired, no signs of pressure or other anomolies. Still tweaking seating depth.

FYI the mag is 3.1" so the 150 is seated out compared to the normal 2.8" 284 length, load data would be different for the shorter OAL.

Azshooter, I will be using Barnes 140 gr xlc bullets, I don't plan at this time of using any other weight bullet.

Freddy,

I just looked at Barne's website to be certain what an XLC was. They are not listed, perhaps they are no longer available? If you have some I believe they would react similarly to moly coated bullets IIRC. I did try some moly'ed 140 nos bt with the 284 and RL-17.(23" barrel) OAL was 3.050"

58 gr 3250
58.5 3275
59 was showing some signs of pressure

If you can get some RL-17 I'd start with 55 grs and work up in 1/2 gr increments.

FYI as a comparison, I just checked and I still have a few 140 moly'ed TSX loaded with 56 gr of H4350, vel 2985 fps

Hope that helps

Thanks to everyone with your responses. I'm presently using RL19 in my .375AI, and getting good accuracy and velocity (Horn'270's just over 2900fps, and 270 X's @ just under 2900). But, am shooting very (read extremely) compressed loads, espicially with the X's. Am planning load development with 270 Triple shocks as soon as I burn up the rest of my old X's. Hoping for a little less load density, while maybe gaining a little velocity! Thanks again, memtb

Azshooter, the xlc is an x bullet with moly. I am buying as many as I can find, it saves me alot of money, I buy ttsx bullets once in awhile, in fact I ordered a box at the SCI show in Reno, it came today. They are the new 120 gr 6.5 cal ttsx bullets, going to try to work up some loads in my 264.