I am shooting Camp Perry with my brother for LR. What is the consensus on RE17 for 308 win with 185 bullets?? Heard stories about this powder not being able to consistently hold the 10 ring because of elevation swings. I have a 26 heavy barrel in 1-12 twist barrel. Should I just stick with IMR 4064 or RE15?? Have to learn to read the wind again for LR. Thanks again. Steve
RE17- 308 win for Camp Perry LR with 185 bullets??Any good results??
- Thread starter CADDIE5
- Start date
jmatters
Silver $$ Contributor
I know this is a few weeks old, but for what it's worth, I like 47.2 gr of Re17 behind a 187 BIB, with BR2 primers in Lapua brass. My first test at 100 with my BR rig yielded 1 hole shaped like a sideways figure 8 for 4 rounds. Really, only 2 holes were discernable, and the widest edges were about .570" inches apart. Careful, though... It's fairly stout!
I tried RL-17 with Berger 185bt match bullets at our 500yd. matches and was not impressed with the vertical. I've gone back to my load of 43.8grs varget, br2 primers and lapua brass. This in from a broughton 10 twist at 26". Chamber is a wtc Palma match. Velocity is right about 2750. Your chrono may read different than mine. For the money you spend going to camp perry I would suggest trying proven loads and experiment at home.
+1 on previously posted views on Re17 with 185s. I couldn't get the velocity spreads down enough either, high 20s or low 30s the norm. (This may be a combination worth retrying with the new small primer Lapua 'Palma' cases that have just arrived here.)
I haven't tried VarGet yet with the Berger 185 - foolishly, I seem to have run out somehow and the UK is a Varget-free zone until the importer gets another Hodgdon shipment in, sometimes maybe never. Viht N550 has given me very good results with this bullet.
Re17 looked a little more hopeful with the 200gn Sierra - I'll give it another go with the 208gn A-Max and the various 210s, alongside N550 and IMR-4007ssc in due course.
Laurie,
York, England
I haven't tried VarGet yet with the Berger 185 - foolishly, I seem to have run out somehow and the UK is a Varget-free zone until the importer gets another Hodgdon shipment in, sometimes maybe never. Viht N550 has given me very good results with this bullet.
Re17 looked a little more hopeful with the 200gn Sierra - I'll give it another go with the 208gn A-Max and the various 210s, alongside N550 and IMR-4007ssc in due course.
Laurie,
York, England
Steve,
I shoot 44.5 grn of RE17 out of my 28" 10tw Obermeyer barrel. I am using Winchester brass and BR2 primers. My bullets are seated 2.267 oal(ogive) in my 95 palma +.030 chamber.
I do not have a chronograph so I am shooting blind. Last 1k match I was using 35.5 - 37 m.o.a. Now that some mention vertical problems it makes me wonder about it. I DID have a few shots hit low and then the next one hit high but I shook that off as I was shooting a head wind and over corrected.
I have shot Varget but was not as impressed as the RL17. Recoil did not feel as sharp. It was a shove instead of a punch with the RL17 compared to the Varget.
Allen
I shoot 44.5 grn of RE17 out of my 28" 10tw Obermeyer barrel. I am using Winchester brass and BR2 primers. My bullets are seated 2.267 oal(ogive) in my 95 palma +.030 chamber.
I do not have a chronograph so I am shooting blind. Last 1k match I was using 35.5 - 37 m.o.a. Now that some mention vertical problems it makes me wonder about it. I DID have a few shots hit low and then the next one hit high but I shook that off as I was shooting a head wind and over corrected.
I have shot Varget but was not as impressed as the RL17. Recoil did not feel as sharp. It was a shove instead of a punch with the RL17 compared to the Varget.
Allen
No, we can just resurrect this one. 
FWIW, I think the the 185 is too light for RL17 in .308. My velocity results were not consistent and could not get enough powder in the case to reach pressure. RL17 does not perform well for me at less than full pressure. I have been shooting the Berger 210 BT-LR with RL17 at 3.030 OAL. The load is slightly compressed, just over 100%. With Wolf KVB-7M primers, ES is running between 10-16 for five shots. The load is max in my gun at 2620-2630 from 30", 10" twist. This is a recent development and I have only shot it at 300 yards on a very windy day. When the wind was not too bad, 5-shot groups were 1.3-1.4".
FWIW, I think the the 185 is too light for RL17 in .308. My velocity results were not consistent and could not get enough powder in the case to reach pressure. RL17 does not perform well for me at less than full pressure. I have been shooting the Berger 210 BT-LR with RL17 at 3.030 OAL. The load is slightly compressed, just over 100%. With Wolf KVB-7M primers, ES is running between 10-16 for five shots. The load is max in my gun at 2620-2630 from 30", 10" twist. This is a recent development and I have only shot it at 300 yards on a very windy day. When the wind was not too bad, 5-shot groups were 1.3-1.4".
Resurrection sounds good to me. 
I have tried the Berger 210 BT-LR and achieved 2550FPS with 45gr from a 27", 1 in 10 Shilen barrel, OAL 2.95", .01" jam. I just couldn't get them to group very well.
I also tried the 190SMK at 46gr RL17, 2693FPS, which shot OK .6" 5-shot groups. But, I would like a better BC if I can get it.
I have finally achieved a decent load with the 185 BTLR, 46.3gr RL17, 2610FPS, .015" off lands, OAL 2.92", 2.214"(ogive), .48" 5-shot average group size. I was hoping for a bit more velocity, but primers are starting to show flattened character, not always a definitive sign of pressure. However, all else is fine, no bolt lift drag, enlarged primer pockets, etc.. Oh... ES is 30FPS for 20 rounds, but I can do a lot better with brass prep to possibly reduce that.
I would like to hear what others have found with 185BTLR and RL17 as far as velocity.
I think you may be right sleepygator, that 185gr bullets may be on the light side for RL17. I was a bit surprised that I could not at least achieve the same velocity with a 185 as I did with the 190 with the same charge of powder. Curious.
Thanks for the post and resurrecting the thread.
I have tried the Berger 210 BT-LR and achieved 2550FPS with 45gr from a 27", 1 in 10 Shilen barrel, OAL 2.95", .01" jam. I just couldn't get them to group very well.
I also tried the 190SMK at 46gr RL17, 2693FPS, which shot OK .6" 5-shot groups. But, I would like a better BC if I can get it.
I have finally achieved a decent load with the 185 BTLR, 46.3gr RL17, 2610FPS, .015" off lands, OAL 2.92", 2.214"(ogive), .48" 5-shot average group size. I was hoping for a bit more velocity, but primers are starting to show flattened character, not always a definitive sign of pressure. However, all else is fine, no bolt lift drag, enlarged primer pockets, etc.. Oh... ES is 30FPS for 20 rounds, but I can do a lot better with brass prep to possibly reduce that.
I would like to hear what others have found with 185BTLR and RL17 as far as velocity.
I think you may be right sleepygator, that 185gr bullets may be on the light side for RL17. I was a bit surprised that I could not at least achieve the same velocity with a 185 as I did with the 190 with the same charge of powder. Curious.
Thanks for the post and resurrecting the thread.
What primer in your 185 BT-LR load?
Steve,
just curious about a follow-up here now that the LR matches are over. I shot the CMP and NRA Championships, but came home the day the LR matches started (three weeks is just more fun than I can stand). What did you go with, and what sort of results did you get?
Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA
just curious about a follow-up here now that the LR matches are over. I shot the CMP and NRA Championships, but came home the day the LR matches started (three weeks is just more fun than I can stand). What did you go with, and what sort of results did you get?
Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA
Kevin,
Sorry for any misunderstanding, but Slim and I hijacked this thread to discuss Reloder 17 in the .308. I did not attend the National Matches.
Basically, I have found the 185 BT-LR to be too light for RL17 in .308, I just run out of case room. The 210 BT-LR is another story and detailed in my previous post. My finding is that the 210 with RL17 is superior to any other combination that I have tried in .308, provided the recoil level is acceptable. Since I am firing 18+ lb. rifles, it is not much of an issue.
Sorry for any misunderstanding, but Slim and I hijacked this thread to discuss Reloder 17 in the .308. I did not attend the National Matches.
Basically, I have found the 185 BT-LR to be too light for RL17 in .308, I just run out of case room. The 210 BT-LR is another story and detailed in my previous post. My finding is that the 210 with RL17 is superior to any other combination that I have tried in .308, provided the recoil level is acceptable. Since I am firing 18+ lb. rifles, it is not much of an issue.
Steve,
Missed the transition here, my bad! As I said, just returned from Perry myself and am trying to catch up on all kinds of things that accumulated here while I was on the range. The LR Championships finished up yesterday, with today and tomorrow being Palma individual and team matches.
For what it's worth, I've never tried the RL-17 in the 308, but have gone through more kegs of RL-15 with 175s than I really care to think about. When I was still shooting 308s (with heavy bullets, anyway) for LR, 4064 was "the" go-to powder. These days I'd be more inclined to try N540, but I'll admit to a bit of a bias there. ;D
Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA
Missed the transition here, my bad! As I said, just returned from Perry myself and am trying to catch up on all kinds of things that accumulated here while I was on the range. The LR Championships finished up yesterday, with today and tomorrow being Palma individual and team matches.
For what it's worth, I've never tried the RL-17 in the 308, but have gone through more kegs of RL-15 with 175s than I really care to think about. When I was still shooting 308s (with heavy bullets, anyway) for LR, 4064 was "the" go-to powder. These days I'd be more inclined to try N540, but I'll admit to a bit of a bias there. ;D
Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA
Kenny474 said:The original poster was a Steve as well Sleepygator.
There are too damn many of them!
Kevin,
RL17 is just suitable for the 210 in .308. Full pressure is reached with a slightly compressed load. The fact that this load is shot in 30" and 31" barrels in two rifles helps. With any lighter bullet, it probably would not work well.
I have had excellent results recently with IMR 8208 XBR and Berger 155.5, just over 3000 in a 31" barrel and no overpressure signs. The load is 45.6 at 2.905 OAL in Lapua Palma brass. Referencing your other post about .260 Remington; I had several rounds drop >200 fps with CCI BR4 primers and that load. Switching to CCI 450s fixed the problem and provides fine consistency. I have not shot the load under 80° and will likely not until October. San Diego is not Phoenix but it does get warm.
RL17 is just suitable for the 210 in .308. Full pressure is reached with a slightly compressed load. The fact that this load is shot in 30" and 31" barrels in two rifles helps. With any lighter bullet, it probably would not work well.
I have had excellent results recently with IMR 8208 XBR and Berger 155.5, just over 3000 in a 31" barrel and no overpressure signs. The load is 45.6 at 2.905 OAL in Lapua Palma brass. Referencing your other post about .260 Remington; I had several rounds drop >200 fps with CCI BR4 primers and that load. Switching to CCI 450s fixed the problem and provides fine consistency. I have not shot the load under 80° and will likely not until October. San Diego is not Phoenix but it does get warm.
Hey Steve,
Know it well! Used to shoot the matches that Bud Chai used to run at Camp Pendleton and had a sister who lived in Escondido. Here in MO it doesn't really get hot, it just gets really miserable.
Appreciate the info on the RL-17, too. Still shoot Palma occasionally, but haven't used anything but the 155s for some time now. The RL-17 hit the market sinceI've been with Lapua, and I don't get to play with as much of the new stuff as I used to do in routine testing.
Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA
Know it well! Used to shoot the matches that Bud Chai used to run at Camp Pendleton and had a sister who lived in Escondido. Here in MO it doesn't really get hot, it just gets really miserable.
Appreciate the info on the RL-17, too. Still shoot Palma occasionally, but haven't used anything but the 155s for some time now. The RL-17 hit the market sinceI've been with Lapua, and I don't get to play with as much of the new stuff as I used to do in routine testing.
Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA
jmatters
Silver $$ Contributor
Didn't realize you guys were from SD; we probably shot together with SMGC at CamPen (Wilxcox range) or the South Bay Rod and Gun Club! I actually helped the SMGC when Bud and family moved north by taking over the administration of the club. But I couldn't hold a candle to he and Helen. Jack Klein started calling matches for us then. Bud was a real mentor to me.
I realize I'm shooting a different bullet than you guys, but I recently re-confirmed my results. (I'm back east in NC now and shooting BenchRest - too fat for High Power!) My flat base BIBs just love being pushed hard. I tried to get a lower node established, but when I hit 47.0 gr of RE17 the group just got significantly smaller. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think it was a .240 sized group with no vertical. (Your 3 minute prep period began 2 minutes ago!)
I realize I'm shooting a different bullet than you guys, but I recently re-confirmed my results. (I'm back east in NC now and shooting BenchRest - too fat for High Power!) My flat base BIBs just love being pushed hard. I tried to get a lower node established, but when I hit 47.0 gr of RE17 the group just got significantly smaller. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think it was a .240 sized group with no vertical. (Your 3 minute prep period began 2 minutes ago!)
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