RE17 I feel left out!!!

[skeetlee]

I keep hearing all these claims that RE17 gives extra speed and that it shoots well. Well in my case only one of the two claims is true. I have seen some extra Velocity, but the accuracy always stinks when i use this powder. I have tried it in several different chamberings. I have come to the conclusion that RE17 isn't a very accurate powder in any of my 6mm, and 6.5mm cartridges. Am i the only one that feels this way???? The extra speed isn't worth it to me! Lee

 

[Obtunded]

Well, in my limited experimentation I agree. It was amazingly fast in my 6X47L and 6XC, but accuracy just got worse the faster it went. It was accurate with 105 bullets and 115's going slow, but N560 gave far better results at better speeds than I got accurate results with RL17

 

[Preacher]

I burn a lot of it in my 7mm saums, and my 7 saum ackley and accuracy is right up there with good velocity... especially with 120's and up to the 168 Berger's.....
Never tried it in anything smaller......

 

[rcw3]

I keep hearing all these claims that RE17 gives extra speed and that it shoots well. Well in my case only one of the two claims is true. I have seen some extra Velocity, but the accuracy always stinks when i use this powder. I have tried it in several different chamberings. I have come to the conclusion that RE17 isn't a very accurate powder in any of my 6mm, and 6.5mm cartridges. Am i the only one that feels this way???? The extra speed isn't worth it to me! Lee

No you're not the only one out there that has that opinion about RL17. It's like all the emphasis with the powder was put into speed, but it lacks some of the other qualities that makes a powder a good powder for target and accuracy work.

Robert Whitley

 

[Forum Boss]

In our 6-6.5x47 test rifle, RL17 produced the best,smallest) groups at both 100 yards and 300 yards. It outshot H4350 both at a low node and a high velocity node.

John Adams shoots a 6BRK,modified .243 Win with longer neck) and he indicated his ES dropped and his accuracy increased when switching to RL17.

Point of the story is that, while some folks haven't found the accuracy, others have. Remember there are a lot of variables you may have to alter to get best results: charge weight, neck tension, primer choice, seating depth, bullet choice -- and even things like action screw tension and the way you hold the rifle.

The other thing to keep in mind is that some powders show incompatibility when run back to back in a dirty bore. You may need to aggressively clean out your barrel before you try the Reloder 17. FWIW I've experienced the same thing when testing Varget and Vihtavuori powders. Varget left a residue that the VV powders didn't like.

 

[expiper]

I am just one lil pimple on the butt of the world...but...I have shot aprox 2 lbs of it thru 7mm mag-300mag,win and AI) and my latest 243 win project rifle and have found it to be just as advertized ....good speed and accurcy....I sorta think of it as Rx-21...most confuse it with the existing lots of Rx 19....I have had much different results....but I dont have a lot of lab test equipment,do have an old antique Ohler 33,,This stuff is very primer sensitive...like VV 133....too hot and it doesnt work rite...mag primers didnt work for me..YMMV....Roger

OBTW...'Moderator' has hit upon a valuable lil tid-bit....some/most powders do act up for at least 2 shots in a bbl fouled with some other powder ...and even the ammount of fouling from the same powder from a previous chrono test if excessive,too low pressure) will give erattic results till the amount of fouling is consistent!!!...

 

[JRinCo]

After using H 4831sc for several years in my .260's, I found that Re. 17 was just a smidge better both in accuracy and velocity, with reasonable ES numbers.

In my 6.5X47 Lapua, Re. 17 made a great improvement.

 

[critter_bill]

I load for both the 6.5x47 Lapua and the 260 Remington. I recently obtained 10 lbs of RL-17 and am looking forward to trying it. Would you share some of your loads for both calibers?

My 260 is a DPMS LR-260 semi so I may have to load lighter for it than the BAT actioned bolt rifle.

Thanks.

critter_bill

 

[watercam]

In my 6XC I get one full grain more powder and the extra velocity to go with it. Gun shoots .375 - .500' moa ten shot groups out to 600 yds. with it. Not good enough for bench rest but works for an up and coming High Power shooter.

 

[ccg]

Would any of you loading for the .260 Rem like to share your load. I am looking for a load for the 142gr. SMK.

 

[JRinCo]

I'm getting 2830 fps and single digit E.S. numbers, groups under .500. Remington brass, Federal 210 primers, 142 Sierra Match Kings .010 off the lands. 42.5 grains of Reloader 17.

That's with Remington 700 action and 24 inch Krieger 1 in 8 twist sporter weight barrel.