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RL23 Temperature Sensitivity

I have been working up a load with RL23 in my .284 Win over the winter and it is now pretty hot here , so I have some numbers to show over a wide range of temperatures with some SD/ES numbers. All numbers listed are for 10 shots, so make of that what you wish (is that enough to be statistically meaningful?). All are for the same powder charge, same cases, same bullets and same seating depth. These numbers are all from the same Labradar, from the same range, positioned exactly the same way. My gear was all set outside for the same length of time prior to the test, approximately 20 minutes, as the range was cleared and targets posted. I believe the ammo/rifle was close to ambient temperature when shot. Lastly, all of these numbers are for the 197g SMK in a 1:8 twist barrel.

Temperature/Avg Vel/ES/SD

8-12 degrees: 2718/10/3.4
38 degrees: 2723/21/5.4
68 degrees: 2718/25/6.3
88 degrees: 2702/16/5.5

I was a little surprised to see the temperature go down this week when I tested at 88 degrees.

Hope this helps someone.

Wade
 
I have been working up a load with RL23 in my .284 Win over the winter and it is now pretty hot here , so I have some numbers to show over a wide range of temperatures with some SD/ES numbers. All numbers listed are for 10 shots, so make of that what you wish (is that enough to be statistically meaningful?). All are for the same powder charge, same cases, same bullets and same seating depth. These numbers are all from the same Labradar, from the same range, positioned exactly the same way. My gear was all set outside for the same length of time prior to the test, approximately 20 minutes, as the range was cleared and targets posted. I believe the ammo/rifle was close to ambient temperature when shot. Lastly, all of these numbers are for the 197g SMK in a 1:8 twist barrel.

Temperature/Avg Vel/ES/SD

8-12 degrees: 2718/10/3.4
38 degrees: 2723/21/5.4
68 degrees: 2718/25/6.3
88 degrees: 2702/16/5.5

I was a little surprised to see the temperature go down this week when I tested at 88 degrees.

Hope this helps someone.

Wade
Interesting indeed. The first three sets may be considered equivalent from a statistical standpoint. You can throw a blanket over the three sets of data, taking into consideration their respective standard deviations. The set recorded at 88 degrees is different to a meaningful, albeit slight, degree.

You seem to have controlled the variables well. Were there any differences in primer lots or bullet lots? I've been using RL-23 in one of my .260 AI rifles for quite some time and I have not noticed any material sensitivity to ambient temperature but there may be something I've missed.
 
Interesting indeed. The first three sets may be considered equivalent from a statistical standpoint. You can throw a blanket over the three sets of data, taking into consideration their respective standard deviations. The set recorded at 88 degrees is different to a meaningful, albeit slight, degree.

You seem to have controlled the variables well. Were there any differences in primer lots or bullet lots? I've been using RL-23 in one of my .260 AI rifles for quite some time and I have not noticed any material sensitivity to ambient temperature but there may be something I've missed.

Same lot of bullets (bought 500) and same lot of powder (8 lbs keg), same 1000 box of primers.
 
I also did some very informal testing. I wouldn't include it if it didn't mirror your results. 32 deg f= 2856 100 deg F =2845.

Shot same day/same lot of brass/powder and bullets with magneto speed. Shot all cold and then all hot. Waited for barrel to cool in-between strings. 10 rounds in ice water for greater than 4 hours and 10 rounds on my heater vent for 1hour plus. Take the heater vent for what its worth. I did it to just get an idea what I was working with because there is limited data on reloader 23. Ambient temp was 56degF.

I didn't write down my SD/ES but I did record the velocities and the cold had a ES of 10 and the hot had a ES of 8. Not going to calculate the SD.

This was also done while fire forming SAUM brass. A disastrous scientific study statistically speaking but it gave me the confidence to continue with reloader 23 when I found time.
 
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good info. I'm glad to hear how stable it is. I've been running RL16 in my 260 with amazing results, but average speed. I'm hoping that the RL23 may step things up a bit.
 
I have a little more information about this powder. I shot a LR regional this weekend with this same load. The temperatures were in the low 70s in the morning and in the mid 80s by the end of the day. I see that as not much of a change and normal for many matches. My velocity averages/SDs at the target (1000 yards) on the SMT targets(I shot the same target point all weekend) were as follows:

Velocity/SD
Match 1: 1642/12.6
Match 2: 1649/18.4 (had a 1702 high 9 with asterisk explaining the SD)
Match 3: 1657/18.5
Next day
Match 4: 1657/10.2
Match 5: 1660/10.8

Not sure what this argues, just wanted to throw out some additional data points.
 
Wade, did you clean the bore back to match 1 starting condition for day two or shot it without cleaning overnight?
 
Wade, did you clean the bore back to match 1 starting condition for day two or shot it without cleaning overnight?

I had a clean barrel(to the metal) for the start of Match 1 and I cleaned (not to the metal, but BoreTech directions with clean patches) after Match 3, so before Match 4.
 

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