Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06, 208AMax, RL17

Did some velocity/pressure checks today with subject combo. Shot two shots each at 1.0 gr increments.

Details;

Rem 700 30-06
22.5" 1/10 Douglas bbl
Win brass
208 AMax, moly'd
3.4" oal (.05" jump)
CCI 200

Reloder 17
55 gr - 2728, 2729 fps (15' from muzzle)
56 gr - 2748, 2750 fps
57 gr - 2805, 2794 fps (slight ejector flow)

In direct comparison, my regular load of 61gr RL22 yields 2720 fps.

I loaded up to 60gr, but stopped shooting at 57gr, with visible ejector flow.


At the chrono, checking brass.


Fired brass,

Looks like it made a good jump in fps. from 56 grains to 57 grains. The velocity looks to be very consistent with each charge.

Thanks Shane

Shane- big thanks!

Do you have book data you are extrapolating from, or are you wingin' it? If there is book data, what does it say for a max charge?

Understand, I'm cool with wingin' it... Did that for my first .325 as there was almost no official data out yet... I'm just curious.

Jeff,

No book data. I had worked up to 51gr in the 308, so I took a stab at 55gr starting load for the 30-06.

I'll go with the 55gr load, and leave some room for hot summer temps (after I shoot up the rest of my RL22).

MM, How is that comparing to your 308/208 tests?

With the 308 I made 2650 fps via 51gr RL17, and 20.5" bbl. For a regular use load I'll probably settle on 50gr/2570 fps in the 308, to leave some room for summer temps.

Cool. Gonna try RL17 in my son's Kimber 308. Maybe in my 338 Fed also.

Thanks, Shane.Good stuff there!

Shane,

How does the accuracy of your RL-17 loads compare to that of RL-22?

Thats what I call one BEAUTIFUL SHOOTING RANGE!!!

FWIW-Theres a guy over at Accurate Reloading that's done some pressure testing in the '06.
This is a post and you might find some of the loads interesting.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/316101735

I know he also did work lately with re17 and some 180's but I can't find that post and he didn't add his data to the origanal stuff.
Anyhow (if I remember right) it was his findings and results that when he got to about 65k with re17 he was doing the same speed as 65k with re22.
Sounds like there are a bunch of new powders coming that promise the same things re17 promised when it came out more excuses for us to get to the range.

Thanks for the info Shane, interesting and good velocity from your '06.


FWIW, I tried 62.5 grains of R17 and a 200gr Accubond in one of my 300WSM's.
Velocity was right around 2820fps. No real pressure signs but guessing 63 grains would be close to max and I might squeeze 2850fps out of it.
Accuracy was terrible. Big whacky 8" pattern at 400 yards.

I just did the chrono checks out in the yard.

Here's a little place on public land not far away, where I set up for LR steel.


I carry my junk up the hill to a 1050 yard firing point.

Shane;

Thanks. Still sounds like RL-22 is the way to go with the '06 and 208s.

I'm getting about the same either way with my 22.5" bbl,

61gr RL22 - 2720 fps.

55gr RL17 - 2730 fps.

Would be interesting to see how they compare with a 26" bbl. My RL22 load gave 2800 fps from 26" bbl.

Good interesting info Shane.

There is data from Alliant with RL-17 and the 200-grain Speer Hot-Core: 51.0 grain maximum for a muzzle velocity of 2552. Even with the somewhat lightweight SAAMI max pressure limit for the .30-06, you might be pushing it a little even with the molyed 208 A-max.

The 2552 is the top velocity listed by Alliant for the 200 HC.

I've reviewed the RL17 data on Hodgdon's website. Crunching some of the recipes through Quickload gives the following pressure calcs:

30-06, 200gr Speer, 51gr RL17, 2552 fps - QL pressure: 46.6K lbs-psi

300 RSAUM, 180gr Speer BTSP, 63gr RL17, 3008 fps - QL pressure: 74.8K lbs-psi

300 WSM, 180gr Speer BTSP, 66gr RL17, 3082 fps - QL pressure: 70.4K lbs-psi

300 WinMag, 180gr Speer BTSP, 70.5gr RL17, 3074 fps - QL pressure: 67.2K



My loads:
30-06, Win brass, moly'd 208
RL17
55gr - 63.5K lbs-psi
56gr - 67.4K lbs-psi
57gr - 71.5K lbs-psi (first signs of pressure, slight ejector flow)

From these comparisons I conclude that the Alliant recipe for the 30-06 is watered down in deference to old guns and gas operated guns with port pressure requirements such as the Garand.

My loads seem to be in the same, or lower, pressure range as the Alliant recipes for the modern magnums.

These calcs also reinforce my opinion that Quickload is not accurately calculating pressure on RL17.

I still can't understand why you haven't thought that maybe Quickload is correct and you are OVERLOADING your RL-17 Loads for both the 308 and the 30-06! You are justifying your loads even though they are 5-6grs above the factory listed maximums and even are way over pressure with the program you refer to as a reference when it agrees with your preconcieved notions.

You load too hot. It's as simple as that. If you really need 200gr 308's to go fast there are several 300 Mags that can exceed the velocities you get without going 5 or 6 grains over the listed maximum loads.....................................DJ

DJ,

This ain't 1906, and I'm not shooting a vintage arm.

If you want to run your 30-06 at 46K, go for it.....