RE 23 in a 22-250?

[Bigguy1951]

Has anyone tried Reloder 23 in a 22-250, specifically with 80 or 90 grain bullets? I want to give it a try but don't have a good feel for the interchangeability of Re 22 and Re23. Looking around at max loads for different calibers on the alliant site shows that Re 23 can be substituted for Re22 at a rate ranging from 94% to just over 99%. Not real consistent.

 

[Bigguy1951]

Since I didn't get a response I went back and worked on it myself. First the last Sierra manual shows 38.4 grs of RE-22 as the max load for the 80 gr MK's. Being conservative I backed that to 38 and took 95% of it or 36.1 grs of RE-23 as the safe max load. Then took 2.1 grs off of that to give me my starting load of 34 grs. I stepped up the load in 0.3 gr increments. Some basic info before the results; 28" Xcaliber 8 twist barrel. MagnetoSpeed used each shot, 3 shot groups. I set my bullets to jump 0.020 which gave me a COAL of 2.677 (about 1/2 the boat tail is below the neck-shoulder junction).

Disclaimer: Use this info at your own risk. This has worked for me but may not for you.

The 34-34.6 gr loads were on the light side, especially the 34.0. Average velocities for the groups ranged from 2903-2931 with high ES's 24-44. I continued stepping up until I reached 38 grs (3232 fps). At 38 grs I still had no pressure signs; no cratered primers, no flattened primers, no hard bolt lifts, no ejector marks on the case head, nothing. I've decided that I don't really need to find the upper safe limit that badly.

The RE-23 powder really has impressed me, and it may be a function of barrel and powder that is impressing me as the barrel is new. Every group I shot was sub-moa, ranging from 0.884 moa down to 0.352 moa. In the two sessions it took to get this done I have fired 15 groups. The powder range that seemed to be most accurate and consistent was 36.2 (3065 fps) to 36.8 (3123 fps) with group sizes of 0.397, 0.393 and 0.352 moa respectively. This powder seems extremely clean compared to the IMR enduron powders I have been using lately. Cleanup is very easy. Plenty of work to do to get the load finalized, but when it is this easy to start the end should be fun.

 

[357Mag]

Bigguy -

Howdy !

FWIW -
Based on my experiences w/ my " .22-35 Remington " wildcat......

In a 28" 5-groove 1-8, AA3100 came out on-top as the best all-around powder. In a .22-250, RL-22, RL-23 powder would be slower in burn rate than a more conventional powder choice(s).
Not that it won't " work ".

Great accuracy can often be found by shooting w/ high load density.
A slightly faster burn rate powder than RL-23 could help boost load density in a .22-250 ( IMHO ).

With regards,
357Mag

 

[Bigguy1951]

I chose the RE 23 because of the slower burn rate. I was really looking for a powder that might extend the barrel life somewhat. The factory barrel on this Savage burned out at 1050 rounds. Load density is very good with the 23. Cases are filled to the neck (unpacked) and I feel no powder crunching when seating the bullets. If I can't get the accuracy I want with the 23 I will switch. However, I'm betting this barrel will shoot in the teens when the bullet/powder combo are fully tuned. Not mentioned above is that I have a Harrels tuner/brake on the barrel as well. Plenty of things to play with and find what really works with the gun, and that is what I really enjoy doing. My next step, when I have settled on load, is to play with seating depth and then the tuner.

 

[357Mag]

Biguy -

Howdy !

Yeh.... I've also gone w/ a s-l-o-w-e-r burn rate powder(s) in my
" DEEP 6 " wildcat. I'm shooting RL-22 and IMR7828 under 6mm bullets of 85 - 107gr. Case capacity is 51.2gr H20.
Compare to .243Win @ 54gr, 6mm Remington @ 55gr H2O capacity.

I'm getting ready to try IMR4995 in my " DEEP 6 ", the wildcat case holding some 43gr to base of bullet ( tipped 95MK ).

I get your points, fer sher.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Bigguy1951]

The 4995 was my other choice and goto if the Re 23 didn't work out. Should be very interesting.

 

[357Mag]

Biguy -

Howdy, again !

Please keep us posted on your progress.


With regards,
357Mag