Anyone using Reloder 16 in .243?

[SSL]

With the scarcity of H4350, RL16 looks like something to try in my .243 with bullets in the 80-grain range. Any experience?

 

[Rodney]

I have. Accuracy is excellent,but I've only used it with 75g v-max.

 

[rardoin]

I have in a 6 Creedmoor...not same case but a 2 1/2 -3 grains smaller water capacity. Excellent results with 106gr at 3050fps/26" barrel (small primer brass). I think RL-16 would be a good choice for the .243, particularly with the heavier bullets.

 

[SSL]

It appears so to me. Nosler recommends RL15 for their 80-grain BT/SP I use, but 16 is supposed to be much more insensitive to temperature changes.

 

[Texas10]

I tried RL16 and 87 V-Max. Shot OK, but very dirty. Went to IMR4831 for better groups and cleaner too.

 

[rardoin]

I find RL-16 to 'soot' up the barrel a bit but I saw no degradation in precision over a 68rd match and the carbon cleaned out easily with much less copper fouling than H4350 24hrs later.

 

[Alliant Reloading]

rardion,
I suspect the soot you are seeing is the result of the decoppering agent doing it's job.
I hope our product continues to perform well for you.
Paul

 

[urbanrifleman]

rardion,
I suspect the soot you are seeing is the result of the decoppering agent doing it's job.
I hope our product continues to perform well for you.
Paul

I have tried it with my 243. I shot a three shot group at 39 grains and the Berger 108, and the extreme spread was a total of 3 fps. 1 FPS per shot. It really went to sleep around that node. I am going to try the lower node next.

 

[rardoin]

rardion,
I suspect the soot you are seeing is the result of the decoppering agent doing it's job.
I hope our product continues to perform well for you.
Paul

That was my assumption too Paul. I may have to run a few more wet patches to get the loose carbon out but very few to get out copper....in both Rel 16 and 23 (in 6.5 x55 Imp).

 

[shoot4fun]

I shoot it in 6 Creedmoor. It has given me the widest accuracy node of any that I've ever found. In a ladder test I found a 1.2 grain node that centered up at 42 grains RL16 with a 105 hybrid. Velocity came in at just over 3000 FPS. I've shot this combo, so far, in weather conditions from high humidity to very hot, dry and sunny with no change in POI. Also, the ES and SD numbers were great (low single digit SD).
I'm working on tests for 6.5 Creedmoor now and hoping for similar results.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I shoot it in 6 Creedmoor. It has given me the widest accuracy node of any that I've ever found. In a ladder test I found a 1.2 grain node that centered up at 42 grains RL16 with a 105 hybrid. Velocity came in at just over 3000 FPS. I've shot this combo, so far, in weather conditions from high humidity to very hot, dry and sunny with no change in POI. Also, the ES and SD numbers were great (low single digit SD).
I'm working on tests for 6.5 Creedmoor now and hoping for similar results.

Exactly what I found. Wide node with no change in velocity. I call that "going to sleep".

 

[expiper]

rardion,
I suspect the soot you are seeing is the result of the decoppering agent doing it's job.
I hope our product continues to perform well for you.
Paul

HI Paul,,,,most of the 'soot" that folks see is from a load that is too mild and under pressure,,,I have found that if you load up where the rifle shoots good (near max) it is clean as a whistle ,,,,the most accurate load I have ever found in a factory rifle with a 9-1/4" twist (Rem-700) is any Berger bullet from 80-90gr and a good stout load of Rx-16 !!!!!.....Roger

 

[rardoin]

I'm working on tests for 6.5 Creedmoor now and hoping for similar results.

I found a great load for the 140 Berger Hyb. in the small primer Palma converts at 2725 or so in a 26" tube that shot very well at 600. That was with little effort once testing RL-16...you should have no problem getting it to work well with better velocity than H4350 and less charge weight.

 

[SSL]

Many thanks to all for their replies. Very helpful.

 

[shoot4fun]

I found a great load for the 140 Berger Hyb. in the small primer Palma converts at 2725 or so in a 26" tube that shot very well at 600. That was with little effort once testing RL-16...you should have no problem getting it to work well with better velocity than H4350 and less charge weight.

I will likely lose a little velocity because I've been using RL17. On the plus side, with the right node, I should gain much more in stability with RL16 over RL17.

 

[swd]

I will likely lose a little velocity because I've been using RL17. On the plus side, with the right node, I should gain much more in stability with RL16 over RL17.

You might loose some but then again you might gain some speed. RL16 is great stuff!