Problems with Re17

[watercam]

Is anyone else out there having funny pressure problems with Reloader 17? I'm down to 37 gr. with Boron DTAC115s in a 6XC and still having issues if I leave a round in a hot chamber for more than 10 sec. or so. Using a Bartlein barrel, Norma brass, CCI BR2 Primers and getting about 2890 fps.. Shoots great but seems on the edge.

 

[GermanS1]

Are you having similar problems with other powders?

 

[watercam]

German! Oh good, you'll know.

I'm new to the 6XC. Have about 500 rounds through this barrel. Tried H4350 early on and, for whatever reason, never was able to get the velocity you and others have been able to get. Went with Re17 for the extra poop.

No extractor marks, bolt lifts easily. Just hard to pull the empty case out of the chamber. Fired cases are nice and round and uniform. Works well when I get it in and shoot without leaving it in too long. Shot a Long Range match Sunday and would develop problems after about 12-15 rounds on a slow fire rate of fire.

Am I still just on the edge?

Mike Thomas

 

[GermanS1]

Mike, that sounds like the problem is brought on by heat in the rifle more than a hot load. As it heats up, things are tightening up. I would suppose,without seeing it and with limited information) that this may be more of a resizing die/chamber compatibility issue and perhaps a bit of an extraction camming problem thrown in,or not). Except for extraction, everything is fine, right?
What dies are you using?
Are you full-length sizing? If so,and I hope so) does the ram cam over,a bump after making contact with the die)?
Do you have a method of checking shoulder set-back? If so, how much are you setting it back?
Do you have a way to accurately measure base diameter,like a blade micrometer)? If so, how much are you reducing it?

I know these are somewhat basic questions and I apologize if they are things you've already examined, but, as the old saying goes: let's begin at the begining.

 

[watercam]

Thanks for the attention German. I am full-length sizing with the SSS,Redding) die set. Press does cam-over and am setting shoulder back .002-.003' measured with the case-length gage that comes with the dies. Don't have a fired case handy right now but cartridges chamber easily at all times and extract easily if gun is cold or I don't leave them in the hot chamber for more than 10 seconds or so. I guess I should check outside fired case dimensions more thoroghly next time I shoot and see if maybe the chamber is a bit snug. MT Guns did the chamber and they should know the gun,Tikka) and cartridge. If you have any additional thoughts, I'm all ears.

Thanks, Mike

 

[rcw3]

Is anyone else out there having funny pressure problems with Reloader 17? I'm down to 37 gr. with Boron DTAC115s in a 6XC and still having issues if I leave a round in a hot chamber for more than 10 sec. or so. Using a Bartlein barrel, Norma brass, CCI BR2 Primers and getting about 2890 fps.. Shoots great but seems on the edge.

Don't have unrealistic expectations about a 6XC - 2890 fps with the DTAC 115's is, in my opinion, about close to the top end of what you can expect out of the cartridge. The DTAC 115's are heavy bullets with a long bearing surface and a thick jacket and they pressure up easier than do other bullets. I am not going to say 3000 fps with the DTAC 115's is out of the possible realm, but I have a few 6XC's and I personally don't find the 6XC workable with that bullet up there,despite BN coating, moly, etc.).

There are other potential issues:

What's your barrel twist? If it's a 1:7' twist, I would say that's an issue right there. If it's any bit tighter than 1:7.5' twist, that can also be an issue.

What's your throat angle? Throating for the various 6XC's is not the same and that can have a significant effect on your pressures. Some of the 6XC reamers have a 3/4 of a degree throat angle to try to resolve pressure issues people had with the 115's.

Robert Whitley

 

[TonyR]

I have been testing RL-17 in another cartridge and one very experienced shooter warned me that he had had pierced primers without the usual early warning signs of high pressure with RL-17. Have your loads been anywhere close to what you believe might be maximum in your gun or perhaps the heat from sitting in the chamber is causing pressure problems of the sort he experienced? If you continue to have problems with the RL-17, you might give VV N560 a try. I have seen similar velocities with N560 with what I believe are similar pressures as what I would have expected from RL-17.

 

[watercam]

Really appreciate all the suggestions. I'll try other powders but sure do hate to give up 1/2 min. groups! Blowing up a gun would be worse I'll admit though.

 

[rijndael]

With my 6XC and H4350 I was never able to get past 2900 without pressure signs. IIRC, I was running 38.7 grains.

With RE-17 I have a very good load right at 2950, with 39.4 grains. I have not had any pressure signs, actually, I can go to 40.0 before I start getting some mild signs.

With RE-17, I've been able to get a really good load, which doesn't seem to be that temp sensitive. But I'm always careful to not let a round cook in the chamber. If I can't shoot it, after chambering for about 5 seconds, I cycle in the next round and shoot that one later.