RL26 7 saum

[J.d. Popkes]

Anyone have any hard evidence that RL26 erodes throats significantly faster than the usual powders used in this chambering? Getting mine back soon and was curious. I have plenty of the other commonly used powders, but if I can gain velocity and find an accurate load without destroying my barrel prematurely I’m all about it. I don’t intend on long strings and hot barrels so that’ll factor in. On this one I’m also going to start with non magnum primers, people seem to be doing well with these. I probably need to include, 28”, 8.7 twist, 180 class bullets, made to a long dummy round seated well above neck/shoulder/donut.

what do ya think?

 

[tclaunch]

I'm only 15 rounds in on barrel breakin and beginning testing with 180/184 bullets, and RL23, H4831, and some vintage Accurate Arms Magnum Rifle powder, are gonna get a hard look. This Accurate powder says use H4831 data, and it was made in Israel, with cotton base linters so its bulkier than wood pulp base powders. It shot very well in 6.5x284 and 7mm Rem mag.

 

[Longrange57]

Anyone have any hard evidence that RL26 erodes throats significantly faster than the usual powders used in this chambering? Getting mine back soon and was curious. I have plenty of the other commonly used powders, but if I can gain velocity and find an accurate load without destroying my barrel prematurely I’m all about it. I don’t intend on long strings and hot barrels so that’ll factor in. On this one I’m also going to start with non magnum primers, people seem to be doing well with these. I probably need to include, 28”, 8.7 twist, 180 class bullets, made to a long dummy round seated well above neck/shoulder/donut.

what do ya think?

The subject of throat erosion gets many responses, but is such a complicated process that few have the real scientific evidence including myself to point a finger at one powder or another. Your post asked about hard evidence! You will see attached an article I put together a number of years ago for a group, but still does not have hard scientific evidence. My experience after comparing thousands of rounds with single base vs double base in SAUM and other cartridges does not allow me to point a finger at any particular powder. Long strings (20 or more) and hot days will more than likely be the culprit! My 7 Saum groups slightly better with H1000 but that does not mean anything. Others shoot really well with double base powder and barrels last just as long....if we don't push velocity to the max! If you hold your loads to moderate pressures, I don't think RL-26 would erode any more than say H1000. There is actual evidence that if its not pushed to the max that double base powders have a higher nitrogen content and could slightly help the erosion issue but in my opinion again... would be negligible. Hope this helps, but is certainly not etched in stone!

 

[B23]

I use more RL26, in a variety of different cartridges, than all other powders combined, and I can't say that I've noticed any greater amount of throat wear using it than before.

I don't know if there's ever been any real specific or detailed testing done with it, but the only powder I've heard some claimed cause accelerated throat wear, was Viht N570

 

[J.d. Popkes]

So far sounds like nothing to be too worried about.

I have a few barrels worth of:
RL26,25,17
H1000,4831sc,retumbo,4350

I guess I’ll see. Thanks for the information guys.

 

[MrMajestic]

Personally I would rather have 1k good shots than 1500 mediocre ones. I run H4350 and am very happy. 180's at 2950 from a 28" 9tw....

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Personally I would rather have 1k good shots than 1500 mediocre ones. I run H4350 and am very happy. 180's at 2950 from a 28" 9tw....

Is that to say h4350 is rough on your saum?

 

[MrMajestic]

Shall we say a little rougher than H1000...

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Shall we say a little rougher than H1000...

OK, I will make it last on my list to try.

 

[std7mag]

I used to use RL25 in my Rem Mag.
Great velocity, but accuracy wasn't there for me.
That changed when i switched over to RL26.
Velocity still up there, but accuracy greatly improved!!
I still put about 300 rounds a year out of it.

I should note, it is a hunting rifle and i don't own a borescope.
I don't know that i would want to put a borescope down a factory Savage barrel.

 

[MrMajestic]

OK, I will make it last on my list to try.

You will miss out on some nice shootin'...my point is barrels are consumables.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

You will miss out on some nice shootin'...my point is barrels are consumables.

Certainly not gonna rule it out, but if I can get accuracy with velocity elsewhere I’m gonna do that as a “plan A” before I resort to a known barrel roaster. But we’ll see, h4350 could win out. Barrels are consumable but $700 is not chicken feed. I do appreciate your sharing because it’s good to know that It’s an option. If it works best I’ll use it

 

[No i deer]

I didn't get to try H4350 in my saum as they became reach non compliant here in the UK as did most of the Hodgdon range of powders. When I got my first saum barrel I bought up all the H1000 I could get at that time, 8 or 9 tubs I think.. I poured them all in to one big tub and mixed it in to make one batch.
My first barrel is still shooting great on 1630 shots but likely to die shortly...
My other barrel has done 500 odd but on N165 which is cooler burning than H1000 and will still give you good velocities.. I think the 184gr hybrids are doing 2950fps out of a 30 inch barrel on 61.4grs of N165 and very accurate

 

[RDavies]

You will miss out on some nice shootin'...my point is barrels are consumables.

Yes, my thoughts exactly, H4350 is a little harder on throats than some, but it sure does work well on long range targets. For practice barrels I have used H4831sc for a little better life but for big comps, barrels are like race car tires, a consumable.

 

[RDavies]

I didn't get to try H4350 in my saum as they became reach non compliant here in the UK as did most of the Hodgdon range of powders. When I got my first saum barrel I bought up all the H1000 I could get at that time, 8 or 9 tubs I think.. I poured them all in to one big tub and mixed it in to make one batch.
My first barrel is still shooting great on 1630 shots but likely to die shortly...
My other barrel has done 500 odd but on N165 which is cooler burning than H1000 and will still give you good velocities.. I think the 184gr hybrids are doing 2950fps out of a 30 inch barrel on 61.4grs of N165 and very accurate

I wish we could still get N165 in Australia. My SAUMs just never seemed to wear out on that stuff when we used to be able to get it.