I'm just starting to work up loads for my 6-284. I've only tried RL-22 and RL-25. Both have performed really well,with a nod to the RL-25 at this point), but I have zero experience with these powders. Are they as temp sensitive as RL-15? Do they need to be run hot to stay clean like RL-15? Any tips would be appreciated.
RL-25 characteristics
- Thread starter rstreich
- Start date
Robert, I have used quite a bit of RL-22 in 7mm Rem Mag and at least a couple of pounds of RL-25 in the 300 RUM and never noticed any heat sensitivity with either one. It does seem like they both perform best on the high side of load density. These calibers are all I have experience with as far as that powder goes. I hope this helps. Bill
I have shot RL22 in several magnums and "overbore" rounds. I would say that RL22 shoots best just below max pressures for me. I would also agree that it burns cleaner at the higher loads too. The only temperature issues I have seen is when I shoot in weather like we are having now with temps hitting 105F. When the temp is >95 or so, I try not to shoot these loads. In my opinion, it is the higher temps that cause more problems than low temps. I got virtually the same velocity, 2954 fps @ 85F and 2930 fps @ 50F, with my 300WM shooting 190 Berger VLDs. I have not chrono'd them at lower temps, but much past 95F, I start to get pressure at 73.5 grs RL22. When I ladder tested this combo it was in the 50s and I went to 76 grs without seeing pressure signs other than maybe a 6 fps gain with a increased charge of 0.5gr RL22. Just my $0.02.
Thanks, guys. It looks like I'm going to have to start over a bit. I only ran up to 50 grains of RL-22 and 52.5 grains of RL-25 with 105s and didn't see even a hint of pressure. My rifle is a quasi-benchrest varmint rifle. I thought I'd try it out in a local long-range benchrest match just for fun.
I went straight to 3-shot groups with the RL-22 shooting 87 V-Max and 105 A-Max. The 87s topped out at ~3500 with a couple inch-sized groups at 300m including one group with an ES of 0.6. Nothing looked good with the 105s except the chrono numbers.
I've only shot a couple of ladders with the RL-25, but was leaning towards it based on what my sighter rounds with the 87s were doing. There seems to be one sweet spot around 3400,where the sighters were running) with the 87s and there might be another around 3600 based on the ladder. Unfortunately, it looks like I was loaded a tad light. So, I'll go back and load up a couple of ladders with RL-22 in a higher window. I still have a ladder with RL-25 and 105 Scenars to shoot, but I think I'll throw some extra rounds with more powder on the end of that one.
I went straight to 3-shot groups with the RL-22 shooting 87 V-Max and 105 A-Max. The 87s topped out at ~3500 with a couple inch-sized groups at 300m including one group with an ES of 0.6. Nothing looked good with the 105s except the chrono numbers.
I've only shot a couple of ladders with the RL-25, but was leaning towards it based on what my sighter rounds with the 87s were doing. There seems to be one sweet spot around 3400,where the sighters were running) with the 87s and there might be another around 3600 based on the ladder. Unfortunately, it looks like I was loaded a tad light. So, I'll go back and load up a couple of ladders with RL-22 in a higher window. I still have a ladder with RL-25 and 105 Scenars to shoot, but I think I'll throw some extra rounds with more powder on the end of that one.
Thanks a lot for the RL-22 info, Lynn. With so little published data, I had no idea what this cartridge could do. I was a bit unexcited about it before I started working up loads, but now, I'm lovin' it.
Now, however, I have to figure out what to do with the results of my ladder tests. They aren't as clean as I was hoping, so I was hoping you could provide some insight. Ladder tests are still new to me.
When I hit the 53 gr. mark that you referred to, I started to get some head expansion. It was only a couple of tenths at this point, but it worked its way up to around six tenths at the 54.5 mark. However, I might have to stay a little lighter since I only have .100" freebore. RL-25 started to show head expansion at the 54.5 mark with about the same velocity as the RL-22.
The elevation is a close approximation off my plot sheet. I was using our electronic targets and was apparently too lazy to right down the exact measurement from center. The distance was 300 meters. The bullets were 105 Scenars, 31-inch tube.
The RL-22 has me a bit confused with shot #6 as a huge jump in velocity. Perhaps I punched in the wrong number on the Chargemaster for that one. If it weren't for the anomaly, I might try some groups with that charge weight.
1. 50.0 3252.2 -3.8
2. 50.5 3290.6 -0.8
3. 51.0 3350.9 +0.5
4. 51.5 3320.2 -0.4
5. 52.0 3359.0 +0.3
6. 52.5 3511.4 +0.3
7. 53.0 3440.7 +0.8
8. 53.5 3463.7 +2.1
9. 54.0 3489.1 +0.9
10. 54.5 3538.8 +1.8
Here it is graphed out by velocity. The first ten shots were the sighters at the same charge weight as shot 1,11 in the graph):
RL-25 makes a much nicer progression of velocity to charge weight. I shot 17 rounds in this ladder as I already had the first ten loaded before this thread started and I learned that I could pack a lot more powder in there.
1. 48.0 3052.1 -3.0
2. 48.5 3091.2 -3.1
3. 49.0 3133.5 -3.7
4. 49.5 3147.6 -1.9
5. 50.0 3154.7 -3.6
6. 50.5 3188.1 -1.9
7. 51.0 3204.4 -2.0
8. 51.5 3270.4 +0.1
9. 52.0 3294.8 +0.2
10. 52.5 3308.7 -0.4
11. 53.0 3355.9 +2.2
12. 53.5 3359.0 +1.9
13. 54.0 3436.8 +3.7
14. 54.5 3445.3 +2.0
15. 55.0 3447.9 +2.0
16. 55.5 3503.2 +3.1
17. 56.0 3528.5 +3.9
Much nicer graph with the RL-25,the same deal with the first ten shots on this graph):
Now, however, I have to figure out what to do with the results of my ladder tests. They aren't as clean as I was hoping, so I was hoping you could provide some insight. Ladder tests are still new to me.
When I hit the 53 gr. mark that you referred to, I started to get some head expansion. It was only a couple of tenths at this point, but it worked its way up to around six tenths at the 54.5 mark. However, I might have to stay a little lighter since I only have .100" freebore. RL-25 started to show head expansion at the 54.5 mark with about the same velocity as the RL-22.
The elevation is a close approximation off my plot sheet. I was using our electronic targets and was apparently too lazy to right down the exact measurement from center. The distance was 300 meters. The bullets were 105 Scenars, 31-inch tube.
The RL-22 has me a bit confused with shot #6 as a huge jump in velocity. Perhaps I punched in the wrong number on the Chargemaster for that one. If it weren't for the anomaly, I might try some groups with that charge weight.
1. 50.0 3252.2 -3.8
2. 50.5 3290.6 -0.8
3. 51.0 3350.9 +0.5
4. 51.5 3320.2 -0.4
5. 52.0 3359.0 +0.3
6. 52.5 3511.4 +0.3
7. 53.0 3440.7 +0.8
8. 53.5 3463.7 +2.1
9. 54.0 3489.1 +0.9
10. 54.5 3538.8 +1.8
Here it is graphed out by velocity. The first ten shots were the sighters at the same charge weight as shot 1,11 in the graph):
RL-25 makes a much nicer progression of velocity to charge weight. I shot 17 rounds in this ladder as I already had the first ten loaded before this thread started and I learned that I could pack a lot more powder in there.
1. 48.0 3052.1 -3.0
2. 48.5 3091.2 -3.1
3. 49.0 3133.5 -3.7
4. 49.5 3147.6 -1.9
5. 50.0 3154.7 -3.6
6. 50.5 3188.1 -1.9
7. 51.0 3204.4 -2.0
8. 51.5 3270.4 +0.1
9. 52.0 3294.8 +0.2
10. 52.5 3308.7 -0.4
11. 53.0 3355.9 +2.2
12. 53.5 3359.0 +1.9
13. 54.0 3436.8 +3.7
14. 54.5 3445.3 +2.0
15. 55.0 3447.9 +2.0
16. 55.5 3503.2 +3.1
17. 56.0 3528.5 +3.9
Much nicer graph with the RL-25,the same deal with the first ten shots on this graph):
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