Anyone try RL17 yet?

[bigswede358]

Just wondering if anybody has tried out the new powder yet. Looking at Alliants web site there data doesn't show much difference in velocities over IMR 4350. Anybody have good results with it?

[Ronster]

I loaded up a tree of RL17 and Barnes 180 TTSX, but its going to have to warm up before I go out and try it. I couldnt find much data online for RL17 so I am kinda starting from scratch.

[Kay9Cop]

I have tried it in my .30-06 with 150 grain bullets and had poor accuracy, but my gun prefers a faster powder with those bullets. I posted a thread here: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/...ad.php?t=46592

Here's all the data I found for RL-17 on the internet. I don't remember the site, so use at your own risk. Sorry, the tables don't convert too well and I'm just cutting and pasting from a Word document.


(Suggestion for Reloder® 17 Flyer)

NEW TECHNOLOGY MAXIMIZES VELOCITY

Alliant Powder introduces Reloder® 17, a smokeless powder that utilizes new technology to increase projectile velocity in most standard rifle calibers and the new short magnum cartridges.

INSERT LABEL GRAPHICS


The table below reveals the velocity gain over the nearest competitor for many popular calibers (this information is taken from the latest revision of the Speer Reloading Manual).

CALIBER BULLET VELOCITY GAIN
243 Win 85 gr. HP 3316 +48
243 WSM 70 gr HP 3745 +198
243 WSM 80 gr SP 3512 +80
243 WSM 85 gr BTSP 3452 +178
6mm Rem 70 gr HP 3682 +89
6mm Rem 80 gr SP 3500 +112
6mm Rem 85 gr BTSP 3441 +156
270 WSM 100 gr HP 3668 +23
270 Win 100 gr HP 3554 +118
280 Rem 110 gr HP 3397 +111
280 Rem 130 gr BTSP 3167 +33
7 mm WSM 110 gr HP 3588 +163
7 mm WSM 130 gr BTSP 3356 +126
7 mm WSM 145 gr BTSP 3166 +87
30-06 150 gr BTSP 3006 +159
30-06 165 gr BTSP 2874 +71
300 WSM 150 gr BTSP 3343 +74
300 WSM 165 gr BTSP 3217 +50
300 WSM 180 gr BTSP 3082 +104
300 Win Mag 150 gr BTSP 3333 +32
325 WSM 150 gr Semi-SP 3348 +45
325 WSM 170 gr Semi-SP 3131 +57
325 WSM 200 gr SP 2897 +60





Reloder® 17 was created with new technology to provide velocity greater than the competition in the most popular standard rifle calibers and the new short magnums. Following are recipes developed in our Ballistics Laboratory (all loads used Speer bullets and list the correct Overall Length- DO NOT SEAT THE BULLETS TO A LESS OVERALL LENGTH). These recipes are maximum loads and shall not be exceeded.

LOAD DATA RECIPES FOR RELODER® 17

Caliber Bullet Case Primer COAL Chg Wgt Velocity
223 WSM 55 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.210 46.6 3865
243 Win 80 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.615 44.0 3362
243 Win 85 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.625 43.7 3316
243 Win 100 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.625 40.8 3044
243 WSM 70 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.185 49.0C 3745
243 WSM 80 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.255 44.5 3512
243 WSM 85 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.255 45.5 3452
243 WSM 100 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.290 41.0 3128
6mm Rem 70 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.775 48.5C 3682
6mm Rem 80 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.775 46.7 3500
6mm Rem 85 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.775 46.0 3441
6mm Rem 100 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 44.0 3163
25-06 87 gr SP Fed Fed 210 3.115 54.5 3547
25-06 120 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 48.5 3046
6.5x55(mil) 90 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.850 48.5 3223
6.5x55(mil) 120 gr SP Fed Fed 210 3.000 41.5 2741
260 Rem 120 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.720 44.0 2912
260 Rem 140 gr SP Fed Fed 210 2.745 41.0 2645
270 WSM 100 gr HP Fed Fed 215 2.730 67.5 3668
270 WSM 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.700 62.0 3258
270 WSM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.700 60.0 3041
270 Win 100 gr HP Fed Fed 210 3.100 59.0 3554
270 Win 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 54.0 3136
270 Win 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 51.5 2921
280 Rem 110 gr HP Fed Fed 210 3.200 59.5 3397
280 Rem 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.205 56.0 3167
280 Rem 145 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.180 53.0 2968
280 Rem 160 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.200 51.5 2825
280 Rem 175 gr GS Fed Fed 210 3.265 50.5 2674
7 WSM 110 gr HP Win Fed 215 2.770 69.5 3588
7 WSM 130 gr BTSP Win Fed 215 2.775 66.5 3356
7 WSM 145 gr BTSP Win Fed 215 2.760 63.5 3166
7 WSM 160 gr BTSP Win Fed 215 2.820 60.0 2964
7 mm-08 110 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.760 50.5C 3169
7 mm-08 115 gr HP Fed Fed 210 2.655 49.5C 3107
7 mm-08 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.730 48.5C 3007
7 mm-08 145 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.730 46.0 2819
7 mm-08 160 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 44.0 2669
7 mm-08 175 gr GS Fed Fed 210 2.745 44.0 2574
7 mm RM 110 gr HP Fed Fed 215 3.200 68.0 3535
7mm RM 130 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.200 63.5 3255
7 mm RM 145 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.210 61.8 3113
7mm RM 160 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.210 59.0 2931
7 mm RM 175 gr GS Fed Fed 215 3.215 67.0 2774
7mm RM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.700 50.0C 2763
308 Win 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 50.0C 2739
308 Win 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 2.800 48.7C 2641
30-06 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.250 58.0 3006
30-06 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.250 56.5 2874
30-06 168 gr BTHP Fed Fed 210 3.295 56.0 2850
30-06 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 210 3.250 54.5 2762
30-06 200 gr SP Fed Fed 210 3.250 51.0 2552
300 WSM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.810 69.3 3343
300 WSM 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.810 68.0 3217
300 WSM 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 2.800 66.0 3082
300 WM 150 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.330 74.0 3333
300 WM 165 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.340 72.5 3202
300 WM 180 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.340 70.5 3074
325 WSM 150 gr S-SP Win Fed 215 2.850 71.5 3348
325 WSM 170 gr S-SP Win Fed 215 2.790 65.0 3131
325 WSM 200 gr SP Win Fed 215 2.840 65.0 2897
338 WM 200 gr SP Fed Fed 215 3.300 71.0 3002
338 WM 225 gr BTSP Fed Fed 215 3.340 67.5 2831
338 WM 250 gr GS Fed Fed 215 3.300 66.0 2664

[blackfoot]

Not Yet

I have some loaded up for my 300WSM but have been waiting for a good day to do some serious shooting. My chronograph took a dump also so I am waiting for the new one before I test the loads. Here is a link to some good information and some data:

http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html


I'm going to try it in my .375 Weatherby also, and possibly my 6BR. I don't think it will beat N135 in my 6BR though.

[Murphy]

I have some loaded up in a couple of calibers and will give it a try when I have enough sun for the chronograph.

Looking over those calibers and loads it seems to be more closely match to 4350's burn rate so I loaded both the 375 and 358 with 4350 charges of this RL-17.

Some have speculated that this may be the magical powder used by Hornady and others to make the light mag ammo and to get the velocity of the short mags but I will have to disagree with that. I have pulled the bullet form all of the light mags and high energy loads as well as factory WSM loadings and I've never poured this powder out of any of them. They say this is done with different coating and a different technique to get the coating on and in this case in the powder kernal. This maintains a higher energy release per unit time and broadens the pressure curve without boosting the peak pressure. We'll see how this works out. It does show promise. It has good load density for this burn rate and the shorter extruded kernals go through the powder measure well. It will be difficult to dethrone my H4350 powder but I'll give it a chance.

[AKArcherdaddy]

tried it in 7mm-08

I gave it a quick try in my 7mm-08 this weekend. Accuracy was not as good as with my other "best" load. However, since I was still working up I hadn't reached the same speeds as my "best" load yet, so I may not have hit the same sweet spot in barrel harmonics yet. Also, I was only shooting 3 shot groups at each powder level, and that leaves a fair amount of room for shooter error.

More testing to come. My hope is that since RL-17 is a bit slower than my current best, and since RL-17 is supposed to have a smoother pressure curve, I can reach the same speeds and accuracy as I have been getting with a lower peak pressure. I'll report back when I have more data!

[lagerboy]

Murphy did you ever give RL-17 a go? If so how did you make out? I am using it with wonderful results in my 338-06AI. Just managed to take a large Elk with it using Swift Scirocco's. I'm curious to here your findings.

[back country]

I tried it in my new 84L '06 with 165's, 168's, 180's & 200's - I was able to creep up to very respectable velocities but the accuracy still wasn't as good as with H-4350 - the groups tended to string more with the RL-17 but that's in "my" gun, H-4350 seems to produce better clustering

[lagerboy]

BC, I have gotten great velocities with this powder in my 338-06AI. Both with 210gr and 225gr. Groups are good enough for me also with sub moa on any given day. The velocity gain was about 80 fps in both bullet weights mentioned with no pressure signs. And shot it all through the heat of the summer with no big changes. I too was using H4350 but switched once I had this unit dialed in with RL-17. Cheers.

[marshall]

I've run it in my daughters 243, my cousins 300WM and my 375 Ruger with very good results.

[back country]

lagerboy - Alliant says RL-17 works well in "environment extremes" so apparently warm conditions as well as cold temps are on it's list - I was sort of excited after reading some of the posts here with 30.06 loads but then, we all know about "rifles" ...... It did show some promising results to follow up on with the Kimber 325 WSM's and 200 TSX's so when I have the time we'll see there - I have had stellar results with RL-15 in .308 so I am an Alliant "fan" - and, of course, I've been pressed for time while trying to work up loads for upcoming hunts so I'm keeping an open mind

[aksparkey01]

I use it for my tikka 300wsm with 180 nosler accubonds and get great results. 65.5g powder is 3050fps in my rifle and same bullet is about 3125 in my buddys savage bear hunter. I had the best groups with the 175 berger vld hunter but wasnt really happy with how they acted on animals. 4350 is a great powder and i thinks this one acts verry simmailar, it just seems to meter better making loading easier for me.

[HEMLOCK]

I have tried in several calibers and got excellent velocity and accuracy out of my .338 using 210 gr Partitions. Will be working with it on several different calibers this weekend.

[kodiakrain]

I've had stunning results in several different bullet weights for .270wsm
increase in velocity, fine accuracy, etc.
and noticeably best for the larger in the .277 range, 150 and 160 grain partitions especially

but was somewhat surprised to see that for the .243, comparing it to either IMR4350, or 4064, it did not work very well
I mean, it produced fine results, just didn't win out over the other powders I've used for several different bullet weights tried
and that was in the .243 I have anyway,...
I really had expected it would shine,...so I start wondering if it is a Short Magnum specific powder, until reading here, others results

and I'm curious if anyone knows what's up with the New Release Manuals' numbers on this powder ?
I stopped thru the big city for a few days, so did the cheap guy manual update thing,...
standing at the loading manuals rack reading through the latest releases, looking for RL-17 updates, before buying them, right?
(who needs more heavy books around,...I have last years version, of everything)

I was surprised to see RL-17 listed for .270, in several bullets, yet not for .270wsm at all,....??
This was true for Nosler, Hornady, Speer, and Sierra,...as I recall,...
now as I was under the impression that RL-17 was actually designed to take advantage of the Short Magnum Concept (true,... right?)

what's up with that, are these bullet manufacturers not seeing the results they expected, why aren't they listing it in their newest manuals
for WSM I mean, yet it is listed in some of the non Short Mag load #'s ??

[drow]

I think it is good for the 300 WSM, but too fast for max velocities in the 270 WSM.