Anyone tried Reloder 26 in the 6.5 Creedmoor with 130, 140 or 147 gr Bullets?

[goneshootinginAZ]

There is some load data from Sierra and Berger, but I wondered if anyone has tried it with 130, 140 or 147 grain bullets? I've tried IMR 4451, Reloder 16 and H4350 with 130 grain Berger AR Hybrids and the winner in my Tikka T3x CTR was easily 44.0 grains of IMR 4451 in the Lapua brass with CCI 450 primers, but was wondering if anyone had tried the slower Reloder 26. The only bullets I have currently are the 130 gr Bergers, but have some 140 gr Nosler RDF's and 147 grain ELD Match on backorder. I really liked Reloder 26 in a 243 Ruger Precision Rifle, but I'm currently out and wondered if it would be worthwhile to try some in the Creedmoor.

Thanks for your help, if anyone has any experience!

 

[jr600yd]

Don't know about the "Creed" but R-26 does extremely well in my 284

 

[Preacher]

RL-17 is my 6.5 Creedmoor go to powder FWIW.....

 

[msinc]

I have used R26 in both the 30-06AI as well as the 280AI with very impressive results, both velocity and accuracy. I know it is used in many other cartridges, but those are the two I have tried. I will say this, it likes three things to do it's best...a long barrel, a heavy bullet and room for enough powder. In fact, even with compressed powder charges in my AI rifles I saw no signs of pressure whatsoever. It seemed as if I could not get enough powder into the case to cause a problem. I say this with caution and it seemed to good to be true...wanting a bigger case to see just how much velocity I could get before the pressure issue kicked in. R-26 is fantastic powder to be sure. Almost makes me want to build a 7mm Magnum as much as I hate a belted case!!!

 

[g.ross]

Don't think there enough case capacity. Tried it in the 6.5x47. Love the 26 and 16 powder so far !!!

 

[jwing]

Yes 47 will get you 2950 fps, been play with imr 4955 will get you there too.

 

[charcher]

I have used R26 in both the 30-06AI as well as the 280AI with very impressive results, both velocity and accuracy. I know it is used in many other cartridges, but those are the two I have tried. I will say this, it likes three things to do it's best...a long barrel, a heavy bullet and room for enough powder. In fact, even with compressed powder charges in my AI rifles I saw no signs of pressure whatsoever. It seemed as if I could not get enough powder into the case to cause a problem. I say this with caution and it seemed to good to be true...wanting a bigger case to see just how much velocity I could get before the pressure issue kicked in. R-26 is fantastic powder to be sure. Almost makes me want to build a 7mm Magnum as much as I hate a belted case!!!

msinc, Would you know how R26 compares to R25 in those cases?


Kevin

 

[msinc]

msinc, Would you know how R26 compares to R25 in those cases?


Kevin

I am sorry, but I haven't tried R-25 yet...I can tell you that 26 outperformed R-22 with the mid weight bullets in the 280AI, {I was getting 3050 avg. with 154 grain bullets}but not by as much as it does when you cap it off with heavier bullets. I didn't really see any advantage with midweight bullets in the 30-06AI {2750 or so with 168's.} Sorry, I don't have the figures for the 190 partitions I tested, but it was great.
The two things I can say that were noted with 26 was the absolute lack of any pressure signs right on up to compressed charges with heavy bullets in either rifle and the way the barrel heated up. It seemed like the entire barrel heated slowly and evenly over the full length instead of the usual hottest part being the chamber/throat portion.

 

[jwing]

Rl 26 is slower than rl 25, goes rl26 then retumbo. To the slow side.

 

[wedgy]

Rl 26 is slower than rl 25, goes rl26 then retumbo. To the slow side.

I thought it was slower as well, and it acts like it but I think I was scientifically proven wrong in this thread.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/rl-25-vs-rl-26.3902484/#post-36773824

 

[goneshootinginAZ]

I was hoping someone would have tried RL 26 in the 6.5 Creedmoor for accuracy and velocity by now.
Here are my latest results with 130 gr Berger AR Hybrids with RL 16, H4350 and IMR 4451. As you can see the winner was IMR 4451 in the 43.6 to 44.2 range with no pressure signs @84* F. This confirmed some ladder testing using all three powders the previous week. I'm going to load a bunch up at 44.0 gr and hope to shoot them later this week for groups @ 100 and 200 yds as well as separately velocity with my Magneto Speed Sport. The pictured loads were all in new, sized 165.4gr Lapua cases with CCI 450 primers and the bullets were ~0.045 off the lands of my 20" Tikka T3x CTR. The first pic is a cropped version of the second for easier viewing. These loads were safe in my rifle with no pressure signs on the cases or primers nor did they have any stiff bolt lift, but may not be safe in your rifle! The max load listed by Sierra for their 130 TMK is 43.7 grains of IMR 4451 so start below that in your rifle for safety.

I was thinking RL 26 might provide some additional velocity over IMR 4451, but would not expect a wider node or better accuracy as I can't shoot better than that at this point!

 

[charcher]

I am sorry, but I haven't tried R-25 yet...I can tell you that 26 outperformed R-22 with the mid weight bullets in the 280AI, {I was getting 3050 avg. with 154 grain bullets}but not by as much as it does when you cap it off with heavier bullets. I didn't really see any advantage with midweight bullets in the 30-06AI {2750 or so with 168's.} Sorry, I don't have the figures for the 190 partitions I tested, but it was great.
The two things I can say that were noted with 26 was the absolute lack of any pressure signs right on up to compressed charges with heavy bullets in either rifle and the way the barrel heated up. It seemed like the entire barrel heated slowly and evenly over the full length instead of the usual hottest part being the chamber/throat portion.

Thank you for that msinc.

 

[Clavius-Walker]

Don't know about the "Creed" but R-26 does extremely well in my 284

Yeah, really helped mine out, could never get to 2900 with the 140s and short cut, I get 3,000 with the 140s now and no pressure out of a 26" barrel, probably could go faster but it shoots extremely well there and is more velocity than I originally hoped for when I had the rifle built.

Seems that powder was made for the 6.5x284 as well as it does in them.

 

[Dgd6mm]

RL-17 is my 6.5 Creedmoor go to powder FWIW.....

Preacher, have you shot this in summer temperatures? If so how was it?

 

[CTK]

I am sorry, but I haven't tried R-25 yet...I can tell you that 26 outperformed R-22 with the mid weight bullets in the 280AI, {I was getting 3050 avg. with 154 grain bullets}but not by as much as it does when you cap it off with heavier bullets. I didn't really see any advantage with midweight bullets in the 30-06AI {2750 or so with 168's.} Sorry, I don't have the figures for the 190 partitions I tested, but it was great.
The two things I can say that were noted with 26 was the absolute lack of any pressure signs right on up to compressed charges with heavy bullets in either rifle and the way the barrel heated up. It seemed like the entire barrel heated slowly and evenly over the full length instead of the usual hottest part being the chamber/throat portion.

I am getting 2910 and great accuracy from RL 26 and 168VLD in my 24" 280AI. I found this load just before hunting season. Am going to test it again and mess with the seating depths. If it holds up to average an expected .33", I am done with experimenting.

 

[jwing]

Yes, 46.5 of rl 26 seems to be the best, also imr 4955 is great in the creedmoor both have great vel,

I shot up to 47.0 2940 fps

 

[Redrams]

Jwing, what bullet are you running with that Rl26 getting those speeds?
Did you compare it to H4350? More accurate for you as well?
What rifle/barrel length is your Creedmoor in?

 

[goneshootinginAZ]

Thanks Jwing just the kind of info I was hoping for!!!! Like Redrams I'd like more specifics on the bullets you are shooting, how far off the lands and the length of your rifle barrel.

Thanks for joining the conversation!!!

 

[Redrams]

I have a 26" barrel, and have done a direct comparison between Re16 and H4340 with 140 ELDMs and Berger 140 Hybrids, and for me, in both bullets, at equal distances off the lands, H4350 is more accurate at all the different powder loads I tried.
Very curious to try the Re26, and also maybe Re17.

 

[hogpatrol]

I have used R26 in both the 30-06AI as well as the 280AI with very impressive results, both velocity and accuracy. I know it is used in many other cartridges, but those are the two I have tried. I will say this, it likes three things to do it's best...a long barrel, a heavy bullet and room for enough powder. In fact, even with compressed powder charges in my AI rifles I saw no signs of pressure whatsoever. It seemed as if I could not get enough powder into the case to cause a problem. I say this with caution and it seemed to good to be true...wanting a bigger case to see just how much velocity I could get before the pressure issue kicked in. R-26 is fantastic powder to be sure. Almost makes me want to build a 7mm Magnum as much as I hate a belted case!!!

Build a 28 Nosler and maintain your dislike for the belts.