Hang Fires with Rel 26

[moondog]

Just sharing my findings. This happens with my 300 PRC and my buddies 300 WM.
I worked up loads with Retumbo, H-1000, and decided to try 26. I get great Velocity with the 26 but only get about a 75% case fill before pressure. Got really good accuracy with it, but got hang fires every 5th round or so. I was running CCI 200s as they gave the best resuts. I tried switching to 215s, BR2, 210, CCI250s. All still had the occasional Hang fire. Ended up with a Retumbo load and a H-1000 load that seem pretty good so far with no hangs. Now my buddies 300 WM is doing the same thing with Rel 26. Different lot, not as bad but still there. His fill ratio is real close to mine. I've never experienced this before and just thought I'd share my findings. I really liked the load and I have 16lbs of it. I really think it's a fill ratio thing but can't verify. Anybody else experience this with the 26?

 

[M-61]

Hang fire or Failure to fire????

Hang fires, thankfully, are very rare compared to a failure to fire.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

@moondog, - Much appreciate you sharing this information. - So far I've only tried RL-26 in a .243 Ackley Imp. and the case was full (with Fed. 210 primers) so I'd say you are very probably correct on your assessment of what happened in your recent experience. - I'm looking at trying Rl-26 in the 300 Norma Mag Imp. and will be sure that I have a full case when I do.

 

[moondog]

Hang Fire. Always goes bang.

 

[AckleymanII]

Try a Winchester Mag primer, they have a very different flame than 215's.

We experienced the same thing when shooting IMR 4064 with 140g Ballistic tips in a 7 Mag, but in your case, a 75% case fill should not have caused hang fires. We learn something new every day in this sport.

 

[spclark]

Case fill % is important!

75% in these large-volume cases isn’t enough to ensure against detonation, why you start seeing pressure with powder volumes in that range.

The composition of that particular Reloder blend isn’t working for you when the case isn’t near capacity. You might try a primer change but that’s not the issue. Powder placement in the cartridge (all in the back with air up front, all in the bottom with air above, most up front with a lot of air at the flash hole) will seriously affect how ignition & combustion happens.

You need to leave RL26 for loading other, lower volume cartridges.

 

[std7mag]

^^^
I agree.
With that large of a volume, you want at least an 85% case fill.
Wonder if your "hang fire" is indeed detonation.
And can be as bad as overcharging.
Pressure spikes can do wierd, bad things.

I'd stick to your H1000, and send the RL26 to me ASAP for umm, proper disposal...

 

[moondog]

I agree with the fill ratio, just never have experienced this before. I really liked the performance and accuracy I was getting with it. Just not working in this cartridge. Funny thing is guys on typers hide are tripping over themselves with 26 in the 300 PRC as it seems to be the go to powder. I can't believe I'm the only one to have this with THIS case. Lesson learned.

 

[mike mccormick]

I have been using 26 in my 300prc. If you are getting high pressure at 75% case fill, something is off. My fill is closer to 90%.

 

[moondog]

I was running 215 Bergers at 3020 fps so, I don't think so. Also across 2 different barrels. What was your charge? I was at 75.5 grains

 

[moondog]

Just for reference, Kelbly's Black Bear, 29" Bartlein 9 twist, 29" Brux 9 twist.

 

[mike mccormick]

I was running 215 Bergers at 3020 fps so, I don't think so. Also across 2 different barrels. What was your charge? I was at 75.5 grains

I am running 75.5 behing a 220 eldx. With hornady brass, this is far better than 75% case fill. There is quite a bit of bullet in the case

 

[mike mccormick]

Just did a quick check. Full to the case neck/shoulder junction is 86 grains. 75.5 gr would be 88% load density, give or take, depending on seating depth

 

[std7mag]

You might want to try RL23.
Seems to be a little more "bulky" than RL26.
Still good velocities.
My go to when i can't find any RL26 for my 7mm Rem Mag.
Like now....

 

[moondog]

I think I have a good load with Retumbo. I'll play a bit more with it after the snow lets up.

 

[searcher]

About 35 years ago, I had a real accurate load with a 7 MM Mag using IMR4064. The gun didn't kick till after what seemed to be a 1/4 second delay. It did not, however, exhibit any high pressure signs. Turned out, I had the necks pushed a bit far back and I was not getting consistent ignition. It wasn't the powder at all - but rather my reloading skills were not at 100%. It wasn't till years later that I revisited that load with my new skills. That load was not only safe - it was even more accurate than before. Just needed the shoulders moved forward. We didn't have all the cool, affordable tools we have now to make quick reference measurements. I wouldn't want to use loads that don't fill the case at least 90%, though. The ES numbers tend to be all over the place.

 

[moondog]

Definitely not the shoulders, I'm bumping them .0015" to .002. Measured with both the Wheeler method and a Sinclair bump gauge.

 

[Hohn]

Case fill % is important!

75% in these large-volume cases isn’t enough to ensure against detonation, why you start seeing pressure with powder volumes in that range.

The composition of that particular Reloder blend isn’t working for you when the case isn’t near capacity. You might try a primer change but that’s not the issue. Powder placement in the cartridge (all in the back with air up front, all in the bottom with air above, most up front with a lot of air at the flash hole) will seriously affect how ignition & combustion happens.

You need to leave RL26 for loading other, lower volume cartridges.

This 100%. If you can’t fill the case near full, you need a slower powder. Try RL33 if you like the Alliant powders. RL26 is fantastic in short mags, but in bigger cases it’s a bit too high in density to fill the case before you hit pressure.

 

[jkohler]

What’s this crazy stuff called 26. id like to try some in a couple 300 prc’s

 

[JTEX]

I'm using 26 in 7mm rem mag and 300 Rum, getting great accuracy and velocity, go figger?

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