Today, my nephew found a pound of RL-26 and asked if I wanted it. I said sure, why not.

Tell me about your success and failures with RL-26. What cartridges are you using in.

I've never used it.

I use it in my 280 with 160gr SGKs at 2975fps from a 22 inch barrel. Also in my 243 with 95gr NBTs at 3130 fps from 22 inch barrel.

I have a new to me Model 70 FW 270 that I plan to load up with 150gr bullets and this powder. Also may try it with some 175gr bullets in my 7Mag.

6.5 creedmoor and 6.5 PRC love it!



Roy

270 WCF, 270 WSM, 260 Rem

I have not tried it in as many rifles as I would have liked, the one round so far I Love it in is 270Win. an easy 200fps over any other powder

im going to use it in my 280 with 150 NPTs and 7 mag with 160 accubonds

It really works well with .264-.300 heavy for caliber bullets.

7RM, 160 gr NAB over 67 gr RL-26 at around 3K out of a 26” Sendero was a big hit in Africa on a PG hunt.

This load grouped 3” at 400 yds. off a pickup tailgate Lot of DRT and DROT kills. (Dead right over there).

DF

7mm rem with 180 scenars.

Has anyone tried it in 7 WSM with light bullets?

R22 always did well for me with the 120s, but I have a ton of 26 and plan on trying it soon.

As far as I know, it is only recommended with heavy bullets in any cartridge.

Works good in a 270 with 150 grain Partitions. Also works good in a 30/06 with 180 Accubonds. Knocks em dead.

Works great with 140 PTs.

I’ve used it in the .243 with 100gr bullets. Only 45gr, which is leaving something on the table, but I usually get close shots and accuracy was decent. Now I’m using H4831, and in a different rifle, so I’ll find something else to do with the rest, probably 150s in my .270s now that I’m almost out of 7828. Trying to use up the odds and ends.

Works great with the 130 TBT in my 270 (3200+ fps) and the 160 TBT in my 280 Rem (2900+ fps).

I’ve used it in the 22-250, 243, 6.5 CM, 270 Win, 280 Rem, 7 WSM, 270 WSM, 338 Win, 35 Newton and my 7 Mashburn Super. To me, it’s an awesome powder. I could easily use just it for most of my bigger guns without a worry. It’s been very accurate for me and also makes easy speed.

I have tryed it in about 5 cartridges 257 Roberts, 7mm-08, 270 Win, 30/06. It gave maxium velocity in all of them. Some times RL23 and Norma MRP was more accurate.

Bullet weights are important, in 257 Roberts, 110gr and 115Gr, 7mm-08 160gr at 2741 FPS Flat based only, 270 Win 140gr, 30/06 165gr. Those are what I have used in the 30/06 it probably

would work with heavier bullets, did not try. Actually I use RL23 in the 257 Roberts or MRP, in the 270 Win I us RL23 and MRP.

I use it in my 270 Win. with 150gr. LRABs. CCI 200 with 59gr of RL26 gives me just under 3100fps from a 24” barrel and less than 1” 5 shot groups. It is my mice to moose load!

Elk Country

It's a horrible powder. But lucky for you I'm here to help get rid of it 🤣😛.

On a more serious note, it's great for most magnum cartridges.

Thank you. It seems there is a range of usefulness, provided your rifle likes it that ranges from 6.5 Creedmoor to 270 WSM.

I'm going to give it try and see if any of mine like it.

As good as it gets for heavy bullets in the Creed.

I use it in 340wby(225s), 7mmSTW(160s), and a 270wsm(140s). It’s fast and accurate. It burns a little dirtier than 7828, but it’s not a big deal. If I get my other reloading goals met this spring, I hope to try it in 30-06 with 200s and 180s.

Tag

I have used it in the 30-06 with 200 gr Nosler Partitions for a couple years. I get 2730 fps with the published Alliant data. Quite accurate, too.

Have also used it in the 300 Win Mag with 200 gr Accubonds, Alliant data, clocks at 2994 fps. Also very accurate.

6.5 CM with 140/143 at 2850 fps
270 Win with 130s at 3200+, 140s at 3100+, and 150s at 3050
30-06 with 180s at 2950 fps
All 24” bbls, and all at or below SAAMI max pressure. Usually 102-105% case fill - so if you don’t like working slightly compressed loads, you won’t see the full velocity benefit.
For me, I also was able to find some accuracy nodes at higher velocity than what I could safely achieve with other conventional powders that maxed out +/- 200 fps slower.

RL26 burn rate varies slightly by lot, more so than some other powders ... so with only 1 lb, don’t use is all on load development and not save any for killing stuff. Otherwise you will need to start over and verify the new lot. Ask me how I know.

It also burns a little dirty, especially if not at >95% case fill.

I love the stuff in my .270wcf. 150 NP @ 3040 from a 22" tube. I would like to try it with the 160's

Gee I wonder what the 25 to 30 pounds of it I have are worth?

I'd buy it every time I went into Sportmans Warehouse or our local Bi Mart for quite a while when it first came out.

it was $19.95 to $22.00 a pound at both places when other powders were running $28 a pound and other Alliant powders were running $32 a pound.

Did the same thing with RL 23....

oh and its not for sale, as it is probably worth more next week than this week...

I was even giving it out to friends who wanted to try it out....

you guys need to learn to buy when things are available, especially when they are cheap.

did the same thing with primers when Trump was in office... Cabelas was selling a brick of S & B primers, all types.. for $18 a brick for a year or more...
bought 5, bricks of them whenever I dropped by a Cabelas...

Guess Boy Scouts taught me " Be Prepared"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Great post, and even better advise! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I've been doing this pretty much since I started loading about a decade ago. I've just concentrated on bullets and powder, and to a lesser degree, brass. I buy big jugs of powder when I find them in powders I use, also buy bulk packages of bullets when I luck up and find someone selling them cheap. I just haven't been at this long enough to experience a primer shortage, and it never occurred to me that they might not be available at some point. I've got plenty to get through this shortage, but if they ever become plentiful again, I'll pick up $100 worth or so every time I stop by a gun store.

I’d rather look at it than look for it!!!!!

Savage 260 Rem model 16 22" bbl.1/8 twist. Badlands Precision 125gr copper mono, 47.5grs Rel 26, CCI #250 mag primer, Rem brass. 3025fps. Super accurate.

I own four centerfire rifles. Y’all have named all 4 cartridges except one (.223) plus several other cartridges that are on my wish list. Is RL 26 really that good?

Another vote for 7 Rem Mag and 160-class projectiles.



P

I only use it in .300 Weatherby with 168 gr TTSX so far. It shot about 20 FPS slower than my Mag Pro load but tightened groups up a bit. That rifle is my elk gun so I don’t shoot it a lot. Due to plandemic supply issues, I don’t have adequate inventory to try other uses. I have another full pound from the same lot number in reserve.

I use it in my 6.5 PRC with 127 gr. Barnes LRX bullets, MV of 3100 fps and sub-.5 MOA accuracy.

I’m getting 2960 fps out of a 24” Tikka 6.5 Creed with a 135 Berger and .5 moa accuracy. Also use it in my 280 Rem with a 22” tube and am getting around 3,120 fps with 140 gr Nosler BT’s with pretty much the same accuracy as the Creed.

RL26 works well for me in the 6.5 and 300PRCs. Hoping to find some useful info on it in the 6.5CM with 140gr Nolser Partitions as my 'stash' of H4350 has dwindled significantly.

Speer has published 26 data for 140’s. I use 26 for 147’s. It’s been real good at 2775 and accurate as heck.

Good to know. Haven't used Speer bullets in years, but I'm sure that I can find a starting point for RL26 from their data.

SEAFIRE, SEAFIRE, SEAFIRE.

Who invites you to dinner? Who loans you a wrench? Need a trailer, I got your back.

Just reminiscing. LOL

Yes sir, that’s what I meant. It’s a full case with the Alpha brass and 26 but it works great and it’s been so good it’s been boring.

I have been using R26 in the 270W with 150’s since it first became available. With 150’s in a 22” barrel I suggest stopping at 3000fps. Pressures can climb very quickly and unpredictably.

Have also used it with the 160 Partition, works very well.

Great advice and post, however, it's always a good idea to keep an eye out for components and good deals. Yard sales, estate sales, small town gunshows, etc. etc. Even now there are great deals to be had out there, if you know where and how to look.

It’s been excellent with 130’s for me as well. In a 22” Featherweight I get an easy 3150 and accurate beyond my ability at distance as well.

What's your charge?

Worked great in the 6.5x55 with 140's and 147's

61.5 with a CCI BR2 in a WW case.

In the 270 WSM it works well with 140 grain bullets and mirrors the results I got with R25.

Works well in: 243 W, 6mm AI, 25-06, 6.5x55, 270 WSM 280 AI and 7 RM so far. Will try it in the 300 RM at some point.

The only thing I don't like is pressure increases at over 90 degrees. At usual temperatures the stability is good and linear.

Anywhere you would use R22 or MRP R26 will work as well or better. It has worked with mid weight bullets not just the heavy for cliber ones, but I suspect this will vary with the cartridge. It does do better as you near maximum charges and if it doesn't perform try a magnum primer, this has helped in even the smaller cases like the 6.5 x 55 it's worth a try.

At over 90 degrees I would NEVER be shooting any of my center fire rifles, those temps are what a 22LR and 17HMR are made for