Anyone Tried RL17 On 6.5x47L

[blowemup]

Also dont be afraid to try some 123's at the same time .

 

[GermanS1]

Greg, I too am looking forward to reading the results of testing in the 6.5x47.
Something else crossed my mind, if anyone who has a 6.5x47 lives in the Phoenix area and would like to test RL17, let me know. We'll need to prep the rifle,strain gauge on the barrel) a day before shooting and then a weekday morning at Ben Avery to do the testing. It would help if you have Wilson type dies for the cartridge or a portable threaded press and regular dies. Bob and I can provide everything else. Contact me at gasalazar@att.net

 

[GoNavy3]

Greg & German

If you can provide test info like you did on RL-17 with the 6.5X47 it sure would be a change of flavor.

Should velocity increase the 130 grain Berger VLD with a consistance 3000 fps I truly believe the Lapua 139 grain won't be far behind.

Now I'm excited.

Ben

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

Greg, I too am looking forward to reading the results of testing in the 6.5x47.
Something else crossed my mind, if anyone who has a 6.5x47 lives in the Phoenix area and would like to test RL17, let me know. We'll need to prep the rifle,strain gauge on the barrel) a day before shooting and then a weekday morning at Ben Avery to do the testing. It would help if you have Wilson type dies for the cartridge or a portable threaded press and regular dies. Bob and I can provide everything else. Contact me at gasalazar@att.net

Lets hope it happens!!!!!! Thank you German, for stepping up with that generous offer.

 

[k6ctw]

I too will be interested to see how the RL-17 works in the 6.5x47L. I currently use H-4350 and the Berger 130 VLD with outstanding results,see gun of the week 85) so it will take some doing to get me to change. My interest will be in possibly reduced pressure but at a similar velocity,2900 with the 130). Too bad I don't live closer to Phoenix or I'd gladly take my rifle out to Ben Avery w/German and give it a try,a very fine and generous offer indeed).

 

[SF340Driver]

I've got the 123 and 139 Scenars ready to go to the range this weekend and I'll get some data on the 130 and 140 Bergers the following week.

Greg

 

[RockChucker]

Looking forward to see if it performs better than IMR 4007SSC.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

I posted this in another thread, but maybe it got missed:

I just returned from the range, having shot RE-17 with the 140 Berger VLD,standard) in my 6.5x47. I found the case to offer about the same space as Robert Whitley has posted, and had worked up to max of 41.4g of powder.

41.2g of powder
Avg 2932
ES 20.74
SD 8.60

41.4 of powder
Avg 2972
ES 30.94
SD 11.57

I did not see any pressure signs on the primer or case itself, and had no hard bolt lift. Fired cases would rechamber easily as well. *Disclaimer time* The above was safe in my rifle, but may NOT be safe in yours. I worked up clear from 37g to be sure I was being safe, and you should do the same!!

This is with a Panda wearing a 28" 8-twist Krieger. This barrel was throated for the 130, and a longer throat would help. It was HOT here at the range today, about 80 when I started, and 95 when I finished.

I shot through two Shooting Chronys at the same time, fwiw, the velocity quoted above is the average of the two results.

HOWEVER, accuracy was not satisfactory at the high end. It was much better at the lower velocities of my work-up loads, and I know this barrel will shoot well. It loves Varget and the 130 Breger.

So, 2950+ w/ the 140 Berger VLD is now attainable in the 6.5x47 using RE-17, hopefully a few tweaks will get it shooting well.

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

Very impressive velocity with 140gr projectiles and with no adverse pressure signs. This is exactly what we had hoped for, increased velocity with heavy projectiles without pressure becoming an issue. Cant wait to see how your load develops for accuracy.

 

[Forum Boss]

What's amazing to me is that I used to shoot a Remington 260,aka 6.5-08) and the best I could achieve with a Scenar 139 or Sierra 142 was about 2820 fps in a 24" barrel.

As noted by other posters, the real question is how is accuracy/std deviation going to hold up with the new "top end" that RL17 delivers.

 

[johara1]

What primer were you using on those test?.....jim

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

What primer were you using on those test?.....jim

I was using CCI450s, which have always shot well in my 6.5x47s, no matter the powder or bullet.

I did more load dev today, getting the SDs down into the 5s and 6s, but still cannot get the thing to group. Primarily I just tried different seating depths, as the velocity is right there, 2960 or so, but I would lose 1-2 shots out of each group.

So I knew it was not the rifle, or the scope had gone t/u, I went back and finished my left over 130 loads from the last 1k match, and they all shot as expected, small & tight groups w/ very little vertical.

Maybe this barrel just does not like the 140s, that is of course a possibility.

I did not fire the last 30 bullets I have on hand, and am going to switch primers for these and give her one more go...

 

[RBD]

Perhaps it's a throating issue?

RBD

 

[rhino]

walkertexasranger,

It could be your bullet is seating too far in the case in the neck shoulder junction that may be causing those flung shots with the 140's.

Now if you had a 6.5x47 lapua with a longer throat maybe that would elimate your problem with flyers.


RHINOUT!

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Perhaps it's a throating issue?

RBD

That thought has crossed my mind. Anyone know the normal leade angle etc for a 6.5-284 designed to shoot Berger 140s??

I could then compare that with my reamer print...

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

walkertexasranger,

It could be your bullet is seating too far in the case in the neck shoulder junction that may be causing those flung shots with the 140's.

Now if you had a 6.5x47 lapua with a longer throat maybe that would elimate your problem with flyers.


RHINOUT!

When I got the 140s I thought this might be a problem, but my throat is out just far enough that the bearing surface/boattail junction is seating right above the neck/shoulder junction of the case. There is only .022 difference in the 130 and 140 Berger, IIRC, so it is not much.

I do, however, have an older 6.5x47 barrel that has a very long throat, and I will be screwing that back onto the action and giving it a go just to see if that makes the difference. Both are Krieger 8 twist.

I sure hope I, or anyone else, can make the 140s work in this case. I am liking 2960 fps with a 140, using only 41 or so grains of powder..

 

[johara1]

Mark, try RL17 with the 130's, you have a good control groups with them.thanks for the primer info........jim

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

Has anyone heard officially from Alliant when RL17 will be going into production. I have heard from the Aussie supplier that production wont start until next year.

It might be a long wait before a regular supply of RL17 powder is available and what makes the wait worse is just how good the posted results are.

 

[transdude]

I think that it must be in production now- it is just not on everyone's shelves yet.

I was lucky enough to get about 6 pounds but haven't tried it yet.

-John

 

[RoscoeP]

I posted this information in the reloading forum as well:

6.5x47 Lapua
28" Krieger 8 twist
CCI 450 primers
Remington 700 action
75 degrees
Elevation 1100

Bullet-------------Powder------MV----ES--SD
Berger VLD 130--39.5 RL-17--2801--20--9
Berger VLD 130--40.0 RL-17--2844--24--13
Berger VLD 130--40.5 RL-17--2895--19--13
Berger VLD 130--41.0 RL-17--2936--11--5

No pressure signs on any of the loads. The best group,4 shots @ 100 yards) was a .216 for the 39.5 load.