• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Looking for reloader 22 substitute-.300 Win Mag

Hi All,

I’m looking for a powder to use in place of Reloader 22. I’m loading 190gr SMKs in .300 Win Mag, basically a clone of the Gold Medal Match load(or the older Military 190gr load). Obviously, Reloader 22 isn’t particularly easy to find these days. I loaded a quantity of this ammo the last time I loaded it several years ago. I recently have a situation where I’m probably going to be using some .300 Mag ammo, and I need to find a suitable powder to load some. I can’t be the only one in this situation.

Anyone have any suggestions?
 
VV N560, N565, N165. Available, great powders and very close to the same burn rate as RL22. I’ve been using more and more VV in a Variety of cartridges including 300 NMI and 7PRC, N570 has been great in the 300 Norma improved. Excellent SD, ES and accuracy.

 
I second the recommendation for H1000 here. I've been using it specifically in all my 300winmags using 185,190,215 and 230 grain projectiles with great success. I too tested up a load for the 190mk to emulate Fed GM specs and matched the velocities very close. The accuracy just fell into place.
 
I recently finished a 300WM with RL23 and 185's, I know RL23 is hard to find and is expensive but it worked well and in everything I used to shoot 22 in.
I would try Viht 555 or 560, I tried 565 couldn't get enough in the case if the rifle I was reloading for had a little more freebore would have helped same with H1000 just not enough room.
 
Vitavori N165 or N560. if you are even remotely concerned about barrel life N165 is very barrel friendly with a low burn temp, and as best as i can tell it is very clean. I tried H100 in my 6.5-284 and I also could not get enough in the case. H1000, hybrid 100V, and N165 are all very barrel friendly, if you could get the speed you need with any of them it could be a good thing for your barrel.
 
I think R 22 is very close to Norma mrp.

It is, but Norma (which sources its powders from Eurenco Bofors in Sweden) stopped all handloading canister powder exports some time ago as its entire output is going to military contracts as a result of the European security crisis and Sweden joining NATO.

Only old stocks will be around, and Norma grades weren't plentiful even before Vladimir Putin's Russia invaded Ukraine.

The European situation and diversion of Bofors powders is why the OP can't get Re22 as it was also manufactured by Eurenco Bofors.
 
O.P if you do try RL23 look at Alliant load data I am just under there max load with the 180 NP but running the 185 Berger 40FPS faster.
The Viht Data is very conservative with 565 when I tried it.
 
O.P if you do try RL23 look at Alliant load data I am just under there max load with the 180 NP but running the 185 Berger 40FPS faster.
The Viht Data is very conservative with 565 when I tried it.
Agreed. VV is pretty conservative when I try it for just about anything, I still start with their starting loads but a guy can often work up a max load and surpass what they have listed.
 
Hi All,

I’m looking for a powder to use in place of Reloader 22. I’m loading 190gr SMKs in .300 Win Mag, basically a clone of the Gold Medal Match load(or the older Military 190gr load). Obviously, Reloader 22 isn’t particularly easy to find these days. I loaded a quantity of this ammo the last time I loaded it several years ago. I recently have a situation where I’m probably going to be using some .300 Mag ammo, and I need to find a suitable powder to load some. I can’t be the only one in this situation.

Anyone have any suggestions?
Mace -

Howdy !

FWIW -

I used to shoot RL-22 in a 6mm wildcat of my own design, that has 51.2gr H2O capacity.
After reading that RL-22 " burns " really hot, I wanted to go w/ a different powder that does not have so high combustion temperature, and one that is also temp insensitive.

I was able to obtain 1lb bottles of RL-23, RL-25; and RL-26. Spent a lot of range time doing a 3 way powder run-off, to see which powder would give me best accuracy, useful accuracy; and safe pressures.

RL-23 & -25 are made in Sweden. RL-26 is Swiss-made.

Reloader says that RL-23 is made w/ " TZ " technology, to be " exceptionally consistent.... across temperature extremes. " The label says RL-23 is a " Smokeless Magnum Rifle Powder. "

RL -25 is labeled as being a " Smokeless Heavy Magnum Rifle Powder " that is
" ideal for over-bore Magnums ".

RL-26 is manufactured using what Reloader calls " E1 " technology, to allow
" extremely high velocities in Magnum cartridges. "


Testing all 3 of these RL powders in my " DEEP 6 " wildcat using Sierra 6mm 95 T-MK:

- All three powders gave higher max charges velocities than what I saw when shooting max charges of IMR7828 and RL-22 under the 95MK. With those powders/charges, RL-22 very nearly filled the case, while max charge of IMR7828 DID fill these case to base of the bullet... all with safe pressure. RL-22 burning hotly and IMR7828 being discontinued prompted me to seek out a new and temp insensitive powder to use, and the 3 RL powders looked like good candidates.

- I was surprised that the velocity results were not " linear ".
- While closely monitoring case head expansion and other pressure signs, I started the tests thinking that velocities would progressively increase as the charge weights went up.
I also started out thinking each progressively " slower " " burn rate " powder would have a progressively higher max charge wt than those faster in burn rate.

- I noticed that RL-25 max charge wt was a bit heavier that max charge wt for RL-23, which was expected. I was not surprised on the velocity results that showed RL- 26 w/ the highest charge wt and highest amount of case fill.... gave the highest obtainable velocity of the 3 powders.

- What I did not expect to find, was that RL-23 ( and not RL-25 ) gave the second highest
max velocity.

- RL-26 max charge load velocity was 50+ fps higher than the second place max charge of RL-23 load. The same RL-26 max charge velocity was 157 fps higher than the RL-5 load.
I had previously read someone else's reporting on the same result, that RL-25 obtainable velocity was lower than obtainable velocity when shooting RL-23.

ATK ( owns Alliant powders ) says that ..." performance of RL-23 is similar to RL-22...
in general burn speed terms." They also report that RL-26 is not quite as flat on temp insensitivity as is RL-23, which is made using " TZ " technology; but is very close.

- My test results showing RL-26 giving the highest velocity is consistent w/ the manufacturer's claims for it. RL-26 uses the same special coating that they use on Rl-17.

I did so much range testing, that my can of RL-26 has only 20. 44.2gr charges left in it.
And, my RL-23 and RL-25 bottles are themselves well down.

* Pressed for adequate prep time for shooting groundhog this year, I chose to use RL-26 because of the higher velocity providing flatter bullet trajectory. I loaded cartridges and went afield w/o even doing a 100yd 5- shot group test... which was a first for me !
I also had dropped the max charge of RL-26 I used by just .2 grains, out of force of habit for what I often do as outdoor temps rise over time. Plus... I pushed out seating depth for the field loads some.004" beyond the c.o.a.l. I had used when doing an accelerated scope zeroing. I did manage to take some groundhogs with the expedited RL-6 loads.

What limited group shooting I did accomplish with the 3 powders was inconclusive as far as best accuracy goes, since things like powder charge wt, seating depth; and even scope zero we simultaneously in flux. Not the best way to things, but again.... I was pressed.

Y.R.M.V.

My point:
If you can locate any... RL-23 and RL-26 powders might deserve a look, but locating these has recently become more problematic.

I DK If this helps you any ?


With regards,
357Mag
 
Correction to previous:

"..... 157fps higher than the RL-25 load ".

"...take some groundhogs with the expedited RL-26 loads".


With regards,
357Mag
 
I’ve used Imr 7828ssc and 210vlds with really good results I just didn’t like the temp swings.
So I switched to h4831ssc and it’s really good with 208 hornadys.
I used h1000 for years until shortages and prices pushed me to try something else.
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,156
Messages
2,190,818
Members
78,728
Latest member
Zackeryrifleman
Back
Top