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243AI and rl26

holstil

Silver $$ Contributor
I'm playing with a 243ai. Using h4350 and 105s, decent load found, but looking for better.
I am thinking rl26. I prefer loads on the mild side but if it hammers ill let er eat.
Anybody using use rl26 in this config?


Thanks, Jim
 
B23 said:
RL26, if you can find some, will likely be your top performer with regard to velocity.
Click to expand...

I read that in other threads while searching.
I'll continue to try to locate some. Speed may be a bonus as long as accuracy is there.
 
holstil said:
I read that in other threads while searching.
I'll continue to try to locate some. Speed may be a bonus as long as accuracy is there.
Click to expand...

I've yet to use RL26 in anything that it didn't preform well, both, with regard to accuracy as well as a top velocity powder. I'm using RL26 in a 243 Improved but it's of the necked down 22 cal variety and it's working extremely well in that.
 
Too many years gone by, and old records lost, but when I played with the 243ai I used and found a very accurate load with 4895 and the 95 to 100 grain bullets.
 
Friend of mine is running R26 behind 105s in a standard 243 and it’s by far the best velocity powder in his gun. Can’t imagine it wouldn’t work well in the improved case.
 
I use RL26 with Sierra's 90gr Tipped GameKing's with very good results .
As Always Start Low And Work Up .

243 Ackley Imp 40*
90 gr Sierra TGK
RL26 46.2 grs.
BR 2 primer
Win Brass


I had some RL26 back ordered with Graf & Son . After a few months I received my order in the beginning of last Dec .
 
Last edited:
I'd like go see the 23 and the 26 in a side by side test. I don't have either but may have to get some. My buddy stepped up to RL26 in his .243. Woo Hoo, speed and accuracy with a 105 bullet.
 
Dgd6mm said:
I'd like go see the 23 and the 26 in a side by side test. I don't have either but may have to get some. My buddy stepped up to RL26 in his .243. Woo Hoo, speed and accuracy with a 105 bullet.
Click to expand...

This pair come from different manufacturers and use different technologies. Both are 'double-based' in the commonly used meaning of incorporating nitoglycerin (as do all Alliant powders).

Re23 is manufactured for Alliant ATK by Bofors in Karlskoga, Sweden, incorporates an anti-coppering agent and the recently introduced 'TZ' temperature stability technology. It is therefore in the same series as Alliant AR-Comp and Re16, both of which are well proven as excellent performers over large ambient and barrel chamber temperature ranges.

Re26 is a Swiss manufactured product from Nitrochemie Wimmins AG in its 'high-energy' and 'EI' grade range. The former means it is technically a single-based type, but at a later stage in the production process, nitroglycerin was infused into the kernels to increase its density and energy content. 'EI' is Nitrochemie's unique patented deterrents infusion process that gives much greater depth in the kernel than traditional surface coating and controls burning and the initial peak-pressure spike for a longer period allowing considerably higher MVs within the same PMax as a non-EI type with otherwise similar characteristics. That means it's a different burning rate stablemate to Re17, Re33 and Re50, all from the same source and employing the same ingredients and techniques even if (say) nitroglycerin content / specific energy values vary.

That would suggest (I stress that word given an absence of direct experience of these powders other than Re17 and a couple of Europe only RS grades) that it will behave similarly to the other Nitrochemie 'EI' grades in the Alliant Reloder line-up as well as other Reload Swiss RS rifle cartridge grades that we have in Europe - in fast to slow burning rates RS40, 52, and 70 roughly equivalent to very high performing versions of H4895, VarGet/Re15, and Re22 in burning rate terms. The experience with these products sees the combination of 'high-energy' and 'EI' early burn control give unparalleled performance when loaded to maximum allowed pressures and that they're usually pretty flexible as to applications. The downsides are reduced barrel life (if peak pressures are employed) and some of these powders show a tendency to being temperature affected. (Note that Alliant claims
  • Controlled temperature stability
on its website attributes for Re26 which it doesn't for Re17.)

So, as always you pays your money and makes your choice and it depends what you're looking for.
 
Last edited:
Laurie said:
This pair come from different manufacturers and use different technologies. Both are 'double-based' in the commonly used meaning of incorporating nitoglycerin (as do all Alliant powders).

Re23 is manufactured for Alliant ATK by Bofors in Karlskoga, Sweden, incorporates an anti-coppering agent and the recently introduced 'TZ' temperature stability technology. It is therefore in the same series as Alliant AR-Comp and Re16, both of which are well proven as excellent performers over large ambient and barrel chamber temperature ranges.

Re26 is a Swiss manufactured product from Nitrochemie Wimmins AG in its 'high-energy' and 'EI' grade range. The former means it is technically a single-based type, but at a later stage in the production process, nitroglycerin was infused into the kernels to increase its density and energy content. 'EI' is Nitrochemie's unique patented deterrents infusion process that gives much greater depth in the kernel than traditional surface coating and controls burning and the initial peak-pressure spike for a longer period allowing considerably higher MVs within the same PMax as a non-EI type with otherwise similar characteristics. That means it's a different burning rate stablemate to Re17, Re33 and Re50, all from the same source and employing the same ingredients and techniques even if (say) nitroglycerin content / specific energy values vary.

That would suggest (I stress that word given an absence of direct experience of these powders other than Re17 and a couple of Europe only RS grades) that it will behave similarly to the other Nitrochemie 'EI' grades in the Alliant Reloder line-up as well as other Reload Swiss RS rifle cartridge grades that we have in Europe - in fast to slow burning rates RS40, 52, and 70 roughly equivalent to very high performing versions of H4895, VarGet/Re15, and Re22 in burning rate terms. The experience with these products sees the combination of 'high-energy' and 'EI' early burn control give unparalleled performance when loaded to maximum allowed pressures and that they're usually pretty flexible as to applications. The downsides are reduced barrel life (if peak pressures are employed) and some of these powders show a tendency to being temperature affected. (Note that Alliant claims
  • Controlled temperature stability
on its website attributes for Re26 which it doesn't for Re17.)

So, as always you pays your money and makes your choice and it depends what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

The TZ powders have low heat numbers. Lower by a lot of their counterparts.
 
urbanrifleman said:
The TZ powders have low heat numbers. Lower by a lot of their counterparts.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Good to know. They're pretty rare over here (had been asking the importer about AR-Comp for years without any luck), but have just received some Re16 and been promised AR-Comp and Re23 soon. Yet more things to play with this summer.

Norma publishes the nitroglycerin levels in its powders (all from Bofors) and it varies considerably by grade.

https://www.norma-ammunition.com/en-gb/products/dedicated-components/gunpowder

Many people I know won't touch a 'double-base' powder with the proverbial bargepole but I'm more than happy with these. I've used Re15 (same thing as Norma 203-B, 7.5% nitroglycerin content) for instance for years and one 308 I used to own then sold on with the new owner still using my old Re15 recipe must have at least 8,000 rounds down it now and it still shoots well.
 
When I try to check out with it in my cart it says out of stock. Tried it with both 1lb and 8lb. No luck yet.

thanks though!
 
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