I was messing around with my Tikka last week. I have an accurate load with a 130 TTSX and 59.5 H4831sc, but it's a little slow at 2950 - 2970 fps.
On a whim I decided to try some RL 26. I tried this wonder powder with 150 partitions/Hornady's and got great speed, but the accuracy dropped off from H4831.
There's not many loads listed for 130's and RL 26 so I checked load data for 140 Bergers and 130 Speers. The listed max load for RL 26 with 150's is 60.8g, so I decided to load up 5 rounds with 60 grain of RL 26 with Fed 210's and the same seating depth as my other load to start.
Well, the results were pretty darn good; 1.5 inch 5 shot group at 200 yds and velocities around 3150-3170 fps. The couple shots chronied higher ( a little over 3200) but I realized the sun was just hitting the back 'eye' of the Pro Chrono and that always gives me wonky readings. I was pretty tickled as I'll take free velocity at no expense of accuracy. Question is if you gun writers think this load is pushing the pressure limit in a 22.5 inch barrel.

Here's the target. Top (L actually) is the RL 26 group, bottom is 3 rounds of my established hunting load just for comparison. No idea why the computer turned it sideways.

Wow, that's better than I expected, given that Alliant seems to think it's not a good choice for 130s (no data). Hodgdon data for the TSX shows a few powders giving over 3100, but not the slowest ones.

I'd say you're done, unless JB or someone else has a reason why not.

If my .270 shot that bullet at 3,150 into 200 yard groups like that.....and showed no signs of pressure, I'd go with it. The key here is there's no signs of pressure.

I got 3150 with 26 and the 130 Tipped TBBC in my 22" Featherweight as well. It was pretty accurate for me as well. I am completely happy with the load, no overt pressure signs on any of the cases or the gun. All I had for load work up was Quickload and the load seems to be on point at the 60K PSI mark.

Great shooting.

Yeah no pressure signs or heavy bolt lift, but I have always go by velocity as THE pressure sign. If you can go up to almost 61 with a 150 bullet I felt pretty safe starting at 60 with a 130. The velocity is up there for the traditional powders in this cartridge.

There's just so little data on this combo I wanted to check with the pros.

How much RL 26 are you using with your load?

Sounds like a great load.

I suspect the only reason Alliant doesn't list RL-26 data for 130's in the .270 is they only have so much time to pressure-test new powders, so use it to test certain loads, not everything possible. They'll probably get around to testing 26 with 130's (and 140's) eventually.

Thanks for the input Mule Deer.

In longer barreled 270's (or maybe even 22 inches) I image 3200+ could be easily achievable with 130's. That ought to make the old 270 really despised by some of the 'haters'. Sure would be nice to see some factory pressure-tests though.....

That Alliant hasn't published such a load is not at all unusual. The reason I only use Hodgdon powders is that they invest much more time in testing and publishing data for handloaders.

I emailed Hodgdon a month or so back asking for more data on the .300 H&H and they were kind enough to reply to me why they didn;t have more data available.....what it cost to do so....it's darn expensive to create all this data.

There's little doubt that Alliant powders are every bit as good as Hodgdon powders, but if the usage data isn't available then sales will necessarily be dismal as well.....it's a tough business to be it.

I like the ball powders from Ramshot too but they have the same problem.....the cost of developing useful and pressure tested data.

It's posts like this that go a long ways to inform the rest of us about the products available and how they can be used....thanks for that djb.

61.0gr will give over 3200fps in my new Sako A7 24" barrel. Quickload shows pressure goes to 62,000psi at 61.5gr
Superformance gave 3154fps at 57gr. no Qiuckload numbers.
RL17 gave 3200+ good accuracy. RL16 should be similar but did no try.

Forgot to mention that I tried 110gr Barnes TTSX in the Sako A7 270 Winchester.
56.5gr of RL17 gave 3401fps and 56.5gr of RL16 gave 3400fps using same 110gr Barnes TTSX.
The 130gr TTSX I talked about in last post, some of those loads showed about 100fps less in
a Vanguard S2 with about 3000 rd thru it.

I am using 61.6 for my load.



That's out of a 22" Model 70 FWT

I plan on getting back to this one pretty quick and finalize it. It shot right around an inch for 3 shots, but I haven't had enough time to really tweak it. Pretty happy with 3150 in a 22" barrel.

Thanks. My guess was that RL 26 will probably max out at about 62g in most rifles. I too was happy with 3150 in my Tikka especially with good accuracy. I was surprised to get to that speed with such a low charge weight (60g) and wanted to check here if I was pushing the envelope. That's why you have to try stuff, the outcome isn't always predictable.

The 130 TTSX in .308 and .277 has been a wicked elk killer for me at ~3000. Another 150 fps should make it even "more better".

Sounds like I should try in my Ruger #1, which has a 26" barrel. Previously it's done very well with Reloader 22. I've nudged 3200 with 130gr Accubonds, but that's close to max.

Reloader 26 also works very well in the .300 RUM

I shoot 130 ttsx's in a 22" barrel and get 3150-75 and good accuracy with Re17. I've had good quick kills on deer and elk with them too.

My max load of RL26 was 61.5g, with 130gr TTSX didn,t go above that, speed in Vanguard was 3209fps 5 shots.
RL23 gave 3170fps with heavily compressed load,
Superformance was very accurate as was RL17.
Currently I use RL23 in my 270 Winchester with 140gr Accubonds, shoots under 1" at hundred yards. At 3100fps.
That's what I take hunting. RL26 and Norma MRP will get you a little more speed but less accuracy in my rifle.
with 150gr Partitions I us Norma MRP at about 3070fps. Got my last Elk 2 years ago with that load.
Got go load more 270 Winchester shells for my brother in law. 130gr TTSX and 110gr TTSX.

TAG

Beretz what is the story on "primer fell out" ? Is that a starting load for R16?

I think R26 especially in the 270 is a lot like the old surplus 4831 or Data powder. Some used to run up to 62 grains with the old stuff and got away with it at about or close to 3200 fps. I am getting 3150 with 140s out of a 24" barrel with R26. If I ever get to it working with 130s I will stop at 3200 fps or 62 grains which ever comes first. Here is the Berger data I used. http://www.bergerbullets.com/pdf/270-Win-140gr.pdf I think the Berger has a long bearing surface so I should be OK with the Accu and Inter - Bonds. Possibly the tougher jackets increase pressure or I have one of those lucky fast barrels but almost identical velocity as Berger.

Forgot to add my $.002 Quickload the BA number for 26 is off, they have it slower than R25, and R26 just doesn't show any pressure signs until your nearly at proof loads. Is this because it is so progressive that peak pressure occurs farther down the barrel?

Interesting thread!

I am shooting 57.5g of R17 with a 110g tipped tripple shock, very, very accurate, I use a fed 215, bullet seated .050 off the lands...wicked accurate at 300 yards. Deer just flop.

57-58g of Win 760 with a 9 1/2 primer is also great!

Keith

I've recently come over to RL17 in a couple cartridges. Been quite happy with it. I have a jug of RL26 in the cupboard as well. Anyone here do any temperature sensitivity work with the 26?

I have not but others have reported somewhere around 0.1 fps per degree change. So not like like some of the least sensitive like R23 but still good and similar to Hodgdons extreme powders. It is much less sensitive than R22. Supposedly R17 exhibits more temperature sensitivity but again this is secondhand information.

I only tried it twice, I chrono'd an average of 3230 fps/ 22" barrel.The bullet was the cutting edge 130 gr mth. Easy extraction, no excessive pressure- my notes. I should try it again. I also measured this same load out of my 19" BLR 2@ 3100+ .Reloder 26 is quite amazing.Love it with the 150's.I need to verify these numbers again

Thanks Tejano. I'm currently liking RL17,but can't ignore the results folks are getting with 26 and 150 grain bullets. I generally don't do load development in the heat of summer,but why build in a temp sensitivity issue unnecessarily.

I just picked up another 270 that is earmarked for a mule deer hunt late next Oct. Could be chilly in the mountains,and my load work will have to happen between now and then. 50 or 60 degrees shouldn't amount to much if I don't get married to a known problem child like RL22.

If I were to load for Arctic to Africa conditions I would go with R23 as it gets almost 3000 fps with the 150s according to Alliant and it shows almost no temperature variation. Some are reporting that it is easier to find an accurate load with too.

But I wouldn't be too concerned with R26 it will vary more but would have to be really hot/cold or long range to be a concern. I have used some powders known for temp. variation like R22 and H870 and I may have missed maybe one or two shots due to temp. and it is more likely due to numb hands and bad shooting.

Interesting. Any other load data using RL26?

Great thread.
I have trialed RL26 under 150 gr Partitions and have been impressed with the results.
Reviewing the results in this thread make me thing that RL26 might combine well with the 130 gr ETip. I have been impressed with the performance of the ETip on game, but believe Nosler is correct in recommending that loads remain moderate with conventional powders.
RL26 seems to be delivering some new sweet spots.

Spper is the best I have found.: https://www.speer-ammo.com/en/reloading/rifle

Alliant: https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=40

And Berger: http://www.bergerbullets.com/reloading-data/

Speer is showing R26 as achieving 3,171 fps with 60.3 grains with the 130s, but didn't see what barrel length. I would think the banded monos would produce less pressure and in a longer barrel should come close to 3,200 fps. I would stop there even if no pressure signs showed. Alliant shows similar charges for the 150 but Speers seem to generate higher pressure than some other bullets.

When I start putting the hammer down on the 270 I have to remind myself how good I thought the old factory loads were until I found out they were not even reaching 2,900 fps.

You all should note that Speer lists a max with 150’s at 56.8 of R26.
Most folks here seem to think that 60-61 is OK with 150’s.

60 with 130’s should be OK.
Knowing when to stop=wisdom.

I wish it could be 50 degrees here for just five minutes. TTSX bullets are accurate in every rifle I’ve tried them. I use Accubonds in my 270’s, but you are making me want to try the TTSX.

In short mags RL 17 has had pretty terrible temp sensitivity for me.

Tag

Ive used RL26 and 150’s with much success in the velocity and accuracy deptartment. I also tried some 130 interlocks and started at 59.5 working up to 61.0, which yielded 3028 fps and a .450” 3-shot group. I pretty much use RL26 for all my 270 loading except the 110 TTSX.

Thanks Rick that is why I shouldn't quote charge weights with out the data in front of me. I was thinking old 4831 should have double checked the data. Yes some load R26 that high but I won't.

Tag.