RL 17 vs H4350 in the 6XC

[hoverp]

Just wondering of the 6xc shooters out there with 26"-28" barrels and shooting 107's or 115's what are you shooting between the 2 powders. What have you found to be more accurate than the other?

Thanks

P.S. what are you Highpower guys using for bullet /powder combos for short range. I was thinking to keep it simple I would just back down on the powder charge for the 115's so I can run straight BN bullets in the barrel.

 

[Bob3700]

In HP most are going to keep it simple.

They will shoot H4350 in all loads. That way there are no changing conditions in the bbl that can affect accuracy as you change yard lines.

70 gr bullets will be the norm for 200 yds, very low recoil and excellent accuracy. At 300 and 600 they switch to the 105-107 gr bullets and most will shoot the same powder load at both distances.

Few are going to be shooting 115 gr bullets because there isn't any advantage to the heaver and therefore slower bullet.

With 26-27 inch bbls the overall advantage is to the 105-107 gr bullets. The XC is just a little short on boiler room for the heavier bullet.

H4350 is hard to beat in the XC. You can probably subsitiute for N160 if you like the VV powders.

Bob

 

[Mudcat]

I have tried a lot of powder and bullet combos over the years for the 6XC in the T2k but have mainly stuck with the 80grFB for 200 and 108bt for 3/600. I use the same powder charge in both, 38.0 grs of H4350. Neither are stout loads but I have learned over the years that I am better off having a smooth running bolt with a low pressure round where brass lasts forever than I am trying to squeeze a little more speed of out if and losing accuracy. If it makes my wind calls more critical, so be it.

Yeah, you can get more velocity out of RE17 but its not been consistent for me nor as accurate. and as Bob stated, us XTC shooters like the easy button....and H4350 is it.


if you dont care about recoil during offhand, use the 108 class bullet all the way.

John

 

[GermanS1]

My distances with the 6XC are 600 and 1000 since I haven't shot across the course in many years now. Although I shot the 115 Bergers for a while, this season, I'm sticking to the 105 Lapua and 105 Berger. Mostly I use H4831sc but also H4350 which, is the "standard" powder for 6XC for a very good reason: it works!

As John said, super high speed isn't really the answer - accuracy is everything. Although I tested RL17 in this case when it came out, I've stayed with the normal powders for my use and have had no regrets.

 

[WyleWD]

I pretty much agree with all the other posters. H4350 is the standard in the 6xc. I've used N-550 with pretty good success too. For the shorter ranges like I shoot, 100, 200,300, & 400 I've found R-17 to be just the ticket using 80gr BT bullets from Precision Ballistics. If I'm shooting just 400 and 500yds and not the shorter ranges then I'd go up to a 95gr Precision Ballistics or Seirra bullet. What I like about the R-17 is how cleanly it shoots with my rifle. Cases and bore are MUCH easier to clean when I'm using it.

Just as a point of referance, my barrel is a 27" 9 twist. WD

 

[JOHN708]

I've been told by some some very well known F-class and 600 yd. benchrest shooters that Re-17 is pretty temperature sensitive. Anyone out there care to comment?

John Skowron

 

[WyleWD]

If it is temperature sensitive, I've not seen it. I've used it in both target rifles and varmint hunting and have been out in anywhere from 40* to 90* weather and not noticed it being temp sensitive.

The temperature sensitive monaker that has been put on a lot of powders is IMHO more keyboard related than actuality. Just remember that every round needs to be kept in a reasonable stable temperature that is good for gunpowder. Just my humble opinion. WD

 

[spclark]

I don't find RL17 to be temp-sensitive either; H4350 is the benchmark by which other propellants should be judged for 6XC.

I prefered H4831sc though until I tried IMR 8208XBR late this year. This coming season that's what I'll be using for 1,000 yards behind Berger's 105VLD as it's by far the most accurate of any of the propellants I've tried.

If you feel inclined to try it yourself, please work loads up carefully as it's a much greater density propellant than what you might be used to! There'll be some space left in a case with a safe load.

 

[hoverp]

as far as starting charge weights what would you recommend? 34 grains?

thanks

 

[WyleWD]

34gr. should be on the safe side. WD

 

[RJ338]

I have not found RL17 to be temp sensitive, only that it doesn't like to burn clean in lighter charges. It really shines at higher charge ranges.

 

[rcw3]

My experience with RL17 is that it has the ability to deliver higher velocities, but not typically higher consistently accurate velocities. With a number of different 6mm cartridges, I have used RL17 and H4350 with interchangeable loadings (i.e. same powder charge) with similar velocities being the result, and typically if it's accurate with H4350 at a certain load and velocity, it is typically close to the same with the RL17 loading. When I tried RL17 to try to get 100 fps or so more, I was typically able to get the extra speed but the accuracy would not follow the speed (so I don't go there because there's no point to it unless "spray and pray" is the order of the day).

Dittos to those posters above (German, Mudcat, Bob3700) who reflect that consistent accuracy is paramount with velocity always being subservient.

Robert Whitley

 

[hoverp]

anyone else care to post their comment on their testing or results of the 8208 Xbr?
(RCW , German, Mudcat or others that have significant experience with the 6XC?)

All, Thanks for all the posts as this gives me some starting parameters to grow off of for my particular T2K.

One other question...for those folks running across the course chambers (i.e. not super tight BR chambers) in 6 XC and using Norma brass how many full power loadings (say 38 grains and above) of H4350 or RL17 (with 115's or 107 class bullets) on average do you get before the brass gets tossed?

 

[GermanS1]

I haven't tried 8208 XBR in the 6XC and am unlikely to try it. I normally use H4831sc or H4350, both of which are significantly slower and, I believe, more suited to the 6XC's case capacity and the bullet weights I use (105 to 115).

As to case life, I've shot Norma brass over 20 times with no problems. I sold that rifle with its brass, so I don't know how far beyond that it went. The sets I'm using right now have about 12 firings and are like new. The only thing tight about my chamber is the neck which is 0.271" and I turn my necks for a loaded round clearance of 0.003" (total).

Yesterday at 1000 yards, I shot 198-11, 193-5 and 200-10 (all irons) with the 6XC and H4831sc. The first two strings were with a pair of new bullets made by an old friend, the third was with the Berger 108 which was the standard against which he wanted to check his bullets. I just can't get too motivated to switch powders in this cartridge, H4831sc and H4350 just work so well...

 

[rcw3]

. . .
Yesterday at 1000 yards, I shot 198-11, 193-5 and 200-10 (all irons) with the 6XC and H4831sc. The first two strings were with a pair of new bullets made by an old friend, the third was with the Berger 108 which was the standard against which he wanted to check his bullets. I just can't get too motivated to switch powders in this cartridge, H4831sc and H4350 just work so well...

German

Berger 108's are a pretty good standard to work from, at least in my experience they are very reliable and consistent performers. I have never really run H4831SC in the 6XC but I assume you must be very close to 100% load density in that - Yes?

Robert Whitley

 

[GermanS1]

Yes, right about about 100%. It works very well.

 

[Rustystud]

I have recently fired several hundred loads in 5 .284 Rifles.
I shot Reloader 17, H4350, H-4831sc, and IMR4350. All 26", 3 with 1:9.9 and 2 with 9.3 twist barrels.

I shot the following bullets: Berger 140VLD, 168VLD, 180VLD, Barnes 140 TXXX, 140XXX, 150 TXXX, 150 XXX, Nosler 140 BT, Nosler 140 AB, Nosler 160AB, Nosler 140 Par, 160 Par, Hornady 139 SST, 140 Inter, 140 GMX, Spear 145 Spt

I found Reloader 17 shot best at 52.5 grains

I found H-4350 shot best at 54. grains

I found the IMR 4350 shot best at 56. grains

I found the H-4831 shot best 56. to 58. grains

The velocities ranges from 2885-30020fps.

Groups ranged from the .2s to 1.25.

Bergers and Nosler Accubonds were the most accurate.


Bullets were shot from jamed to .070 jump.

Bullets seated long shot the best.
Nat Lambeth

 

[hoverp]

How do you Gentlemen feel about the 115 DTAC compared to the Berger 108? are you Moly ? and what barrel length do you think 4831sc is better suited. Im running the standard Gary Schneider T2K barrel 26inch polygon.

 

[GermanS1]

I used the Berger 115 for a while, but have gone back to the 108 and 105, even for 1000 yard shooting. The Berger seemed a bit fragile, I had two blow up last time I used them, that's two too many!

The DTAC 115 has a lot of bearing surface compared to the Berger and the pressure went up to max before the MV was enough to give less wind drift than a 105 Berger so, I didn't continue with it.

Avoiding blow-ups is a real concern for me, so my current approach is a 1:8" twist barrel instead of the 1:7.5" twist, shoot the 105 - 108 and keep velocity down a bit from max (2930 to 2950 instead of 3000). The accuracy is there and the wind drift is fine this way.

 

[Bob3700]

German,

I have not used any of the Berger 108s but from a dimensional comparison, are they not Berger's answer to the 107 SMK?

Just looking at drawings, it would seem so. They modified the nose to get away from the "seating depth sensitive" VLD design.

Bob