RL 17 in the 6mmBR?

[F224]

Anyone find load data for Reloader 17 in the 6mmBR with 105-107gr bullets yet?

 

[Steve Blair]

I've shot about five pounds of RL17 in 6BR with Sierra 107 molys. It takes a compressed load to achieve effective performance as RL17 performs best at full pressure. My OAL is ~2.380, just touching the lands. Try starting at 32.0 and work up in .3 increments. CCI 450 and Wolf KVB-5.56M worked best for me.

 

[birdog]

How was your accuracy compared to Varget or RL-15?

 

[Steve Blair]

How was your accuracy compared to Varget or RL-15?

In the Savage 12F, it was comparable at about .3". The real key was the 3020-3030 fps velocity. That was in a 30" barrel with Sierra 107 molys and Wolf primers. The bolt was bushed by Greg Tannel, highly recommended for exploring pressure limits.

I have been shooting 8208 XBR and H4895 with Sierra 107s and Berger 105 VLDs, respectively, in my Viper SS 6BR. I am loading a short series today of RL17 with Sierras to see if I can get the same velocity from the Bartlein barrel.

 

[Hoier]

What do you mean by a "bushed" bolt.

 

[Steve Blair]

Greg installs a threaded bushing in the bolt face, reams it for a small firing pin diameter and to guide the firing pin and turns the firing pin to match. It largely eliminates any cratering from primer flow under pressure.

http://www.gretanrifles.com/services/viewEntry.jsf

 

[F224]

This is the reply from Alliant:

Unfortunately we have no data for RL 17 in this application. RL 17 is
very close to the same burning speed as IMR 4350. You can use the same
starting load for either powder. The max loads will not be the same,
but they will be similar. Do you think that RL 17 might be a little too
slow for the 6 BR? Thanks for your note and have a nice day.

Ben Amonette
Consumer Service Manager
Alliant Powder Company

 

[Steve Blair]

This is the reply from Alliant:

Unfortunately we have no data for RL 17 in this application. RL 17 is
very close to the same burning speed as IMR 4350. You can use the same
starting load for either powder. The max loads will not be the same,
but they will be similar. Do you think that RL 17 might be a little too
slow for the 6 BR? Thanks for your note and have a nice day.

Ben Amonette
Consumer Service Manager
Alliant Powder Company

What Alliant says is essentially correct, RL17 is marginal for 107-108 bullets and better for 115 in 6BR. The comparison to 4350 is correct in burning rate but ignores the high load density that permits more powder in the case than any of the three 4350s. I would not use RL17 in a short barreled 6BR.

 

[F224]

My new Blaser R8 Professional in 6mmBR Norma has a 22.7" barrel. I will mostly shoot 70-90 gr bullets, but would like to find a good 105-107gr load for Hollands Shooting School this September.

My guess is I will wind up with a VV 500 series powder for the heavy bullets.

 

[Steve Blair]

My new Blaser R8 Professional in 6mmBR Norma has a 22.7" barrel. I will mostly shoot 70-90 gr bullets, but would like to find a good 105-107gr load for Hollands Shooting School this September.

My guess is I will wind up with a VV 500 series powder for the heavy bullets.

Try H4895 (AR2206H) with Berger 105 VLD. You may be surprised at the velocity a safe load produces. Start at 29.5.

 

[smoking-brass]

Sleepygator,
How many rounds can you shoot before accurcary goes away?
I should f-class we shoot a total of 50 rounds...5 sighters and 45 for score...Just wondering if rl 17 burned cleaner than some of the other rl powders. I shoot 107 smk's with n150 in a 30inch barrel.
Vinnie

 

[Steve Blair]

Sleepygator,
How many rounds can you shoot before accurcary goes away?
I should f-class we shoot a total of 50 rounds...5 sighters and 45 for score...Just wondering if rl 17 burned cleaner than some of the other rl powders. I shoot 107 smk's with n150 in a 30inch barrel.
Vinnie

Vinnie,

I have fired 100 rounds without cleaning while practicing and no noticeable degradation. The most we usually shoot is 3X1000X20 with unlimited sighters, so about 70-75 rounds. I clean every night during a tournament.

My experience is that the key to clean burning is running at full pressure. Not overpressure, because accuracy usually suffers.

Because of the marginal suitability with 105-107 bullets, I no longer use RL17 in 6BR. When I compared the ballistics of RL17/DTAC 115 and H4895/Berger 105 VLD, the DTAC had no advantage. My match load is now either H4895 or 8208 XBR. Both are excellent performers with 105-107 and no compressed loads. RL17 performs well with DTACs but just does not have enough boiler room to obtain a decisive advantage.

 

[smoking-brass]

Thanks a lot Steve...my next step was 8208...thanks again for the info!

Vinnie