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

Anyone burned it in the Whelen yet?

I want to try some in a 257 Roberts.

How big is a tub?

Lot's of R17 on the shelves here.

I just picked up a pound from my guy with a component-stuffed-closet in his radiator shop. He had quite a bit.

Been putting together loads for my Springfield w/ 165s. Gonna try some 215 SGKs through my 338-06, and would like to see what it can do in my 257 AI w/ 100s, as I get 3320 fps from IMR-4350.

Interesting stuff indeed!

A couple friends and I are running '17 in 3 of our 243AI's. We're all running about the exact same load w/moly'd 105Amax's and getting 3250fps in all of them. Barrel lengths vary from 22"-24"s. One of my buddies is also running it in his 7wsm w/moly'd 162Amax's and getting 3125fps in the 22" barrel.

I tested some RL17 yesterday with 150's in my 300 WSM. I was shocked to see 3400 fps on my chronograph and no apparent pressure signs. I plan to retest with it. It wasn't exactly accurate as I'd like with my bullet choices but I think it will be. The only thing that scares me about its use is the unacceptable temperature variations I get with the other RL powders.

............I`m not really surprised at your 3400 fps result. Alliant says 69.3 gr of RL17 gets 3343 fps using a 150 gr Speer and 24" barrel. What 150 gr bullet and charge weight did you use?

From my 16.5" barreled 300 WSM Ruger Frontier compact, 69 gr RL17 using a 155 VLD gave me 3234 fps with no presuure signs and moa groupings.

I just need some start loads, I would love to try some with my whelen and some 225 gr TSX's.

150 Accubond with 70 gr.'s RL17 went 3400 fps
150 Accubond with 69 gr.'s RL17 went 3300 fps

One thing people are failing to take notice to is, the published data on RL-17's chart is info taken out of Speers newest reloading manual, which gives very conservative loads in general. I have compared several of my other reloading manuals data on several calibers (Nosler 6 and Hornady's newest (7) I think). Speers reloading data is definately conservative compared to others data. Therefore the gains are easily attained over Speers data. I have a lb of RL-17, but I have not used any yet.

Those are appear to be pretty warm loads.
Guessing 68 grains would be about max for 150's in my rifles.

Have you shot any 180's in the rifle yet?

Anybody have good success with it in a 270 WSM? I have some 130 partitions and E-tips loaded up, but haven't gotten to the range yet.

I have tried it in my 270 wsm, Ramshot magnum was my go to powder with 150 gr bullets, was getting about 3000 fps but I would lose about a 100 fps when the temp got below 60 degrees.

Rifle: Win model 70, 24 inch bbl
56.5 gr 150 gr Barmes X bullet, 2925 fps 1 in group
59 gr 150 gr nosler partition, 2970 fps .569 inch group
63.2 gr 130 barnes xlc, 3220 fps, 1 1/16 inch group
I used winchester mag primers for all loads

Freddy, Is this info with RL-17 ?

Rifle: Win model 70, 24 inch bbl
56.5 gr 150 gr Barmes X bullet, 2925 fps 1 in group
59 gr 150 gr nosler partition, 2970 fps .569 inch group
63.2 gr 130 barnes xlc, 3220 fps, 1 1/16 inch group
I used winchester mag primers for all loads

Thanks

Yes it is, by the way this powder works good in my 284.

Thanks Freddy

I just tried some in my 25-06; haven't chronoe'd it yet but it put five Speer 100-grain BTSPs into 3/4" all with brand new brass.

I did a quick preasure test with the 7mmSAUM and the 162 amax, loaded from 57gr - 59.5gr and velocites accheaved where good. 2960-3157fps....But the 59.5 had a tight bolt lift, extractor mark and is to hot to get the brass to last (was a hot day as well)
So have loaded more at 57.5 & 58gr to test groups.....they got 3080 & 3110fps

The down side appears to be barrel life with the HOT loads, some of the target boys with the 6.5x284 are getting 2-300 less shots before the throat is fried.....but that was with hot loads so hope its not to bad with averagely hot loads

anyone have any loads for 130 grain bullets in 284 Winchester for reloader 17?

This is an example OF ONE but it looks very interesting to me. I've tried all the usual suspects in a little custom .284 (2.95" magazine) with a 23" tube and got all the usual expected velocities with the 140-gr TTSX, a very long bullet, that dips into the case .3" below the neck base to be seated to correct OAL for my magazine. While the expected velocities are not disrespectfull-2900-2950 fps-a load of 53-grs of R17 (worked up to) opened my eyes and required repeated shots through the "lie-detector" device to comfirm I had indeed hit 3150 fps consistently. This is with no flattened primers, no sticky cases, no ejector marks, etc. I know these traditional signs are said to be unreliable and that velocity is the ultimate truth-teller about high pressure, but that is when powders act in the "usual" way. I've backed off to 52-gr. to salve my conservative nature but I still hit 3075-3100 fps and this is still a good 125-150 fps over the nearest rival, H4350.

And, I should add, three of these pointy TTSXs will fit into < .50" at 100 yds.

So, to answer your question, I'd start at 49-grs. and work up.