6.5x47 and RL-17 load data

[fredjake]

Looking for some load data using RL-17 in a 6.5x47.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Bullet weight?

 

[fredjake]

120 to 130 grain.

 

[Erik Cortina]

120 to 130 grain.

Start at 40 gr. RL17 and work up.

 

[Tim]

Keep in mind reloaded 17 is extremely tempature sensitive

 

[Erik Cortina]

Keep in mind reloaded 17 is extremely tempature sensitive

Really? How much testing have you done with RL17 to arrive at such conclusion?

 

[Steve Blair]

In 6BR, .308 and .284 Win; I have found it no more temperature sensitive than any other double base powder.

 

[Hombre0321]

I have to agree with Erik on this. This is old spin as far as I can tell, the spin for quite awhile that both RL15 and RL17 are very tempature sensitive. Accurate reformulated these powders some time ago and today on the bottles the label states "Stable At All Tempatures". My own testing with RL15 ( extensive) and RL17 ( not as much) have shown me that both have no trouble at tempature. I have shot F-Class matches in temp's as high as the upper 90's to low 100's and had my barrel so hot that you couldn't touch it at all and had no problems.

If there is confirmable data that speaks to this I for one would like to see it. Until then this is just another old wives tale...

Roland

 

[Tim]

I have used 16 lbs of R17 and I have found a spread of over 200 fps difference from tempatures 30 degreese to 100.

 

[RIFLE1]

I found big variations using RL17 in the 20PPC,...6mmx47Lapua & 6.5mmx47Lapua with respect to tempuratue.


Don't don't get me wrong, when it is "in tune" in a rifle it can truly provide significant gain with respectable accuracy performance,... one just needs to be aware of this before getting married to reloading with RL17.

 

[deadlyswift]

Are we talking about a temp range from 30*F to 100*F ???? To me with a 70* jump in temp most powders are going to become sensitive?? But I guess it would also count on how close you are already running to Max Pressure to begin with???

 

[boltfluter]

In my personal experience RL15 will drive you crazy in anything over about a 30 deg. swing in temp. YMMV ;D

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[gotcha]

Just my luck Judging by the above chart/test, the powder w/ least amount of temperature instability always gives me the worst groups. :-\

 

[Hombre0321]

OK Guys I personally am glad you see things this way, now I have to do is get all of you to stop using RL15 and RL17 and that will mean more for me. The results posted go absolutly against all of the shooting and testing I have done with both RL15 and RL17.

One of the matches I shoot every month is a club shoot in Birmangham at that shoot a mid range benchrest match shot at 600 yds. Every month we have around 20 shooters, sometimes 30 but rarely less. The predominant caliber is 6BR or Dasher, of the 15 or 16 rifles that show up at these matches each month almost to a man they all shoot RL15, with a couple of them die hard Varget user's. Some pretty good groups and scores shot at these matches in Tempature swings of a low of 30's to a high of 105 or so. I have never heard anyone complain about RL15 giving them any problems. But hell what do we know? We are a just a bunch of country Bumpkins at a rifle shooting match!

Roland

 

[flatlander]

I've got a couple of 6.5x47s that really shine out to 1000yds with RL17 behind Berger 130VLDs or 140LRBTs. While I was doing initial load development, I found tightest groups with both bullets at load levels about 70-80fps below max velocities, so that's where I load for both rifles. I've yet to have any problems with either pressure or accuracy with RL17 in these rifles, at temps from the lower 40s up to 100*F. Can't say that for several of the other double-based powders I use, but that includes some of the older ball powders that were & still are rather notorious for being temp sensitive.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I've got a couple of 6.5x47s that really shine out to 1000yds with RL17 behind Berger 130VLDs or 140LRBTs. While I was doing initial load development, I found tightest groups with both bullets at load levels about 70-80fps below max velocities, so that's where I load for both rifles. I've yet to have any problems with either pressure or accuracy with RL17 in these rifles, at temps from the lower 40s up to 100*F. Can't say that for several of the other double-based powders I use, but that includes some of the older ball powders that were & still are rather notorious for being temp sensitive.

I've had the same experience with RL17 and N550, they shoot good in hot or cold weather.

 

[MDM]

I use 39.5 R17 under 140 vlds in a 6.5x47. The matches over the summer I was getting 2850 in 90degree temps. Last match was 60 degrees and and while even compensating for a Desity Altitude difference of 2500 ft, I still had a velocity loss of 80 fps. So 80 fps loss in a 30 degree swing. Meanwhile, I'm shooting 40.4 of H4350 (2800fps) in an identical rifle and did not experience and noticeable velocity loss when compensating for DA. Everything was right where it was supposed to be.

So, I can get more velocity with R17 in the warmer months, but H4350 stays consistently at it's baseline velocity. I should note, that the accuracy was still there with R17 and the temp/velocity drop, just 2-3 moa lower at 900 and 1000yds. It's not a big deal if you have data collected and know how it is going to react.

 

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