Anyone using RL-17 in 6.5x55 Swede?

[Ledd Slinger]

Ive been running way behind on getting ready for hunting season that starts this Saturday. My rifles are good to go, but I wanted to load for my son's custom 6.5x55 Swede. I used my burn rate chart and compared it to similar powders and came up with a starting point of 41gr behind a Berger 130gr VLD. Slapped a few charge weights together with the bullet just kissing the lands and headed to the range. The rifle ended up shooting 3 shots into 1" at 300 yards using 42gr of RL-17. So roughly 1/3 MOA, pretty good. However, I was in such a hurry that i didnt set up my chronograph.

I am wondering if any of you 6.5x55 shooters have ever chronographed 42gr of RL-17 with a 130gr Berger? I wont have time to chrono the load before rifle season so I am curious. If so please list your barrel length and twist rate. Thanks so much.

 

[wboggs]

That is impressive shooting. I have tested some with Barnes 120 TTSX's in Win brass with WLR primers loaded to 3.06" OAL. 24" 1-9 barrel. 42 gr gave 2846, 41 gave 2811. Using MRP, 48gr, everything else the same, gave2945
Case head expansion was the same for the 48 MRP and 42 R17 loads. Accuracy with MRP 1/2" , R17 3/4at 200yds. I am using the MRP load.
Hope this helps.
Bill

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Thanks Bill. Im using Lapua brass with GM215M primers. In my experience, RL17 always seems to shoot best with those particular mag primers. Barrel is a 22" CM Shilen, #4 contour with 1 in 8" twist. Judging by your numbers, I figure im down somewhere in the 2700-2750 fps range. I ran a load of 43gr during testing as well, but the group opened up horribly. Dont like seeing groups open up that bad with 1 gr difference, but I dont have time to tune. Speed is nice, but accuracy is the name of the game so I'll stick with the 42 gr charge til after hunting season when i have more time to play with loads. Thanks again Bill.

 

[wboggs]

I have never tried the 215 primers. Some groups with R17 also open up badly in my hands. When I have some time Ill try the 215's. Thanks for the tip. Figured there must be something I was missing. Good luck on your hunt. Bill

 

[Bugs]

I was able to drive 140 Bergers to just over 2900 with RE17 out of a factory Tikka but accuracy was absolutely terrible. Backed off to about 2650-2700 or so and accuracy returned nicely. note: I've tried RE17 in three different calibers and have given up on the stuff; maybe it's just me.

 

[wboggs]

I've had trouble in a 30-05, WSM. Some guys love it. I'm going to try the 215's. If that doesn't work, I'm through with it.
Bill

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Only rifle i didnt get it to shoot in so far was a 6XC. Has worked great in everything else. 300 Win Mag, 6.5 Rem Mag, 6.5x47L, 6.5-300 WSM, 338-375R, and now the 6.5x55 Swede.

I almost always use the GM215Ms. However, all the loads I tried in my 6XC were using GM210Ms. Thinking I might take my best-bad group, which is about 3/4" @100 yards, and slap a 215 in it to see if the theory lives on a while longer.

 

[louielouie]

While the GM215M is considered 'hotter', the Winchester LRM was noticeably more consistent according to this primer force test (the formatting isn't quite web-friendly) and the WLRM is easier to find right now.
I've been using the GM210M in my 260 with 44.5gr RL17 and the 123 A-Max ( 3050 fps) but I think I'll try the WLRM - at 300 yds the vertical was maybe 1/2" but my light hunting rifle spread the group horizontal about 2". Definitely gotta run RL17 WARM to burn clean...

 

[Changeling]

No body wants to say what barrel length they had

 

[louielouie]

On my Rem 600 I have a 25.5" #3 contour Shilen with the 4-groove canted-land rifling.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

On my Rem 600 I have a 25.5" #3 contour Shilen with the 4-groove canted-land rifling.

Called "Ratchet" rifling on the Shilen barrels.

Winchestet primers may have been more consistent in some odd test, but that is the one and only manufacturer of primers that has never produced great accuracy in any load ive tried. Ive tried them in just about everything i own with many different powders. Win primers always fell short on accuracy to another brand. I have found great loads with CCI, Remington, and Federal primers over the years, but never with a Win primer. Maybe just weird coincidence, maybe something to it. I dont know. But in my reloading room, they have earned a spot in the "desperate last resort" section of components when load testing.

As a last note, i lied about RL-17 and GM215M primers. In the 6.5x47 I was using 205M primers and although speed wasnt quite as good as some of the other faster burning powders, accuracy was very good. So there was one instance where I had good results using RL17 without Fed mags. I believe my father is using RL17 with CCI 250s in a 300 WM and getting good accuracy, but not 100% there. Would have to double check that recipe with him.