Alliant Reloder-16

[dmoran]

Alliant website link: www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/reloder16.aspx


Was contacted by a representative to Alliant Powder asking if I would test Reloader-16. I excitedly excepted and still have further testing to do, but here is some of my early assessment and results:

One of the first things I noticed when loading RL16 into my cases, it takes up more case room then does either RL15 or RL17. Of the three, Reloder-17 is the most dense, RL-16 is the least dense, and RL-15 is between the two. Below is a picture of 3 identical charges (37.0-gr) of each powder in 6Dasher cases of similar capacity.

** Click on picture for full resolution



Next noticed when trickling that the "kernel weight" is very close to RL17. Weighed kernels as best I could and on the average I come up with the fallowing kernel weights:

• RL15 <> 0.01 to 0.02-grains per kernel (0.01455-gr. average)
• RL16 <> 0.02 to 0.03-grains per kernel (0.02667-gr. average)
• RL17 <> 0.02 to 0.03-grains per kernel (0.02667-gr. average)

Below is a picture of 50.0-gr of each in a side by side comparison photo:

** Click on picture for full resolution



The first tests with the New RL16 I conducted with a 6Dasher (my HV-Gun) 31" Benchmark barrel, that I loaded a 10-shot Ladder Test (see target image below) from 33.3gr in 3-tenth increments to 36.0gr.

On the Alliant website its says it's in the "4350 burn rate" and I would say that is similar to what it acted like in this "first glimpse" test I did. The speed was better then I've had from H4350 at less pressure. I didn't have any sign of excessive pressure at any of the increments. Bolt opened with out effort, no brass swiping, and no excessive primer sign. Was pretty impressed with the "lack of pressure". Attaching pictures of the Ladder results along with a combined picture of the case fill and spent primer:





34.2 + 34.5 + 34.8 stayed together well in the ladder, both on the target and by the Velocity data. A .6-tenth window that only yielded 3.867" of vertical on the target with an ES of 27-fps from a Mv 3055 to 3082-fps in this .6-tenth window.

Next conducted 4 group tests. The conditions were not the best with some tricky wind changes occurring, but was very impressed with the results for the conditions. Fired 4-groups of 5-shots to each. Used 2 separate charges + 2 separate seating depths. Edited the target picture with the particulars and also a video of the 1st group:

All in all, my impressions are running high with Reloader-16 to this point.
Donovan Moran

 

[Brians356]

Excellent report! I can see why Alliant sought you out. Kudos!
-

 

[Phil]

Donovan,

Are the numbers, on the top target, in yellow the velocity???

Phil.

 

[dmoran]

Phil -
Yes... on the Ladder target the velocities are edited in yellow to the left of the POI's.
The charge increments used and vertical dispersion to the right.
Donovan

 

[michaelbz]

Thanks for the report. I hope you do a temperature sensitivity test in the future.

 

[cf]

Thanks for the report. I hope you do a temperature sensitivity test in the future.

i hope we can get some soon!!! they are sure taking there time

 

[Phil]

Phil -
Yes... on the Ladder target the velocities are edited in yellow to the left of the POI's.
The charge increments used and vertical dispersion to the right.
Donovan

Impressive speed.........

 

[Kyle Schultz]

Donovan:

Thanks for posting these results. Recognizing that you are still early in your testing, do you see any advantages for RL-16 relative to H4350?

 

[dmoran]

Kyle -
In my LT-Gun with a Bartlien barrel as wrote in the report above, shot the smallest group at 1000yd that barrel ever shot. So with that barrel, it is the most accurate powder I have ever used to date !.!.!

As compared to H4350 as your asking of; in both those barrels at prior times I have tested H4350 with okay to good performance, but had better results from RL15. The RL16 is riling my RL15 petloads to accuracy, and I am getting velocities slightly faster at less pressure then I did from H4350 (more so yet over RL15).

Donovan

 

[22BRGUY]

Awesome report Donovan....Great info for sure.

 

[Chuckhunter]

Donovan, do you have any idea when this powder may become available?

 

[CTK]

I spoke to Alliant yesterday and they said RL16 was released to some distributors. Cabela's has the ability to "backorder" it.

 

[dmoran]

Chuckhunter -
Not being directly affiliated I have no date to that question. I know some is here and believe that its currently being bottled and packaged. How long it takes to get to and from the distributors until it hits the shelves, I have no idea. I'm crossing my own fingers and hoping with in a week or so.
Donovan

 

[spclark]

Interesting report Donovan, thanks!

I scored 16#'s of H4350 a few days ago but not in time to load for a 1,000 yd match last weekend. Thinking IMR4451 to be a good 2nd choice - based on testing at 600 yards a couple weeks back; same charge weight of either gave nearly identical velocities, spreads and groups - I had unexpected fliers that I'd not seen with H4350.

This is a popular powder classification so having more options is a good thing. I'm anxious to try some RL16 when it appears! RL17 works but is a little too 'peaky' for the temps I routinely encounter.

 

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

Donovan, thank you! This report is why I peruse this forum. Thankfully in-between the unable to Google crowd and poor attempts at humor are people that you can follow and use the news feed to cut through the tripe.

 

[Chuckhunter]

Thank you for the Quick reply Donovan, I'll keep my ear to the ground.

 

[Phil]

I`ve been waiting for this since I heard about it, I`m glad to see the results Donovan has posted, they are encouraging.....to say the least.


The wait continues...........

Phil.

 

[PVI]

Great Info. Thanks for all your work.

 

[swd]

Thanks Donovan, now were all waiting even more impatiently for it to be released

 

[JasonT]

Would this work in heavy .308 like RL17? RL17 has me pushing 230gr pills at 2500 FPS with less than 60kpsi. Beats the snot out of the go-to Varget, 4064, 4895, etc...

I'm just confused about why Alliant would bring out a powder that's supposedly faster than RL17 but with lower packing density. It doesn't make sense to me.

Am I missing something?