RL-25-vs-RL-26
- Thread starter jpretle
- Start date
Jrpetle
FWIW,
I used the 243AI, with 80gr bullet, 26bbl, only change was powder,
loaded to 100% case capacity and got the following info,
RL-25= 100% LR =3178fps @ 39251psi,
RL-26= 100% LR =3518fps @ 51087psi.
HTH,
Don
QUOTE="jpretle, post: 36774453, member: 106858"]
JRS, certainly that has to be at higher pressures, does it not????[/QUOTE]
FWIW,
I used the 243AI, with 80gr bullet, 26bbl, only change was powder,
loaded to 100% case capacity and got the following info,
RL-25= 100% LR =3178fps @ 39251psi,
RL-26= 100% LR =3518fps @ 51087psi.
HTH,
Don
QUOTE="jpretle, post: 36774453, member: 106858"]
JRS, certainly that has to be at higher pressures, does it not????[/QUOTE]
4xforfun
Gold $$ Contributor
In my mind , powder density should NOT factor in!!! NOBODY, ANYWHERE loads in load density....they load in grains. It is a unit of measurment.....one that EVERYBODY uses. If you take xx.x grains of rl25 and rl 26, put them in IDENTICAL cases with IDENTICAL primers and bullets, the one that produces faster velocity should be identified as the "fastest" powder, correct?
And NOBODY can convince me that RL 22 and RL 25 are the same.
And NOBODY can convince me that RL 22 and RL 25 are the same.
germanlongbow
Scott M Bainbridge
I've shot both RL 22 and 25 in my 243AI over 105 bergers and 115 dtacs. RL 25 higher velocities than the RL 22. Both however are very accurate. Scott
I have shot RL22 since it's been out ..a long time...I also have shot a lot of RL25 when ever I switched from 22 to 25 they are close in burn rate with 25 being slightly slower..I have shot a lot of RL17 and recently last year or so I have been threw 2lbs of 23 and 26 now on my 3rd lbs of 26.. I am not a expert but if you are a loader you will understand what I am telling you. If you do not understand load density you are not a loader.. RL26 works by being able to load to a higher load density. just take the 6XC case for a example...25 you might get 39.0 grs in the case and it may shoot well but the velocity will be low low,low...26 you can get 42.0grs in before going to a drop tube and getting 45.0 grs in..
the slow burn rate with the dense load density allows a longer burn down the barrel before you make peek pressure
so it produces high velocity and dense load...more powder allows you to make the max pressure...that's how I see it and that's how it has worked for me...Now 26 is slower than 25...how much slower. some but I really don't know..
You could have a slow lot of 25 powder and a fast lot of 26 I guess...I think the RL powders are decent lot to lot.
but I know for sure I have seen and talked to others who have seen quite a bit of difference in burn speeds lot to lot and even humidity and moisture content of the powder can change the burn speed some...I could get in trouble for this but I once was talking to a powder co about a specific lot of powder compared to another lot of the same powder, I told them I wish all of it was like the first lot...the reply I got was. well that powder was out of spec or at the fastest side of spec we have for it and was almost another powder but we jugged it and shipped it...but it turned out to be another powder and it has had many lots and some of them have quite a bit of difference in burn speed..
But what you really want to know is how does 25 compare to 26 I think that really depends on the case size you are loading..A small case like the XC 25 is useless but 26 due to the small kernel size allows you to pack enough in to be useful. now a big case I think you will have to try them and see what works best in that case and even that barrel bullet combo...I had a mark 5 weatherby 7mm WM it would not shoot anything better than say 1 1/4" 3 shot group at 100 yards. now that was a good group not the average. I shot several bullets with several powders..25 I actually stuck a case in it..then I tried a Berger classic hunter 168 with a stout load of RL26 and it was cutting bullet holes at 200 yards..NO Sh*t ! 3 shot groups at 200 yards 1/2" or under..So until you try it who knows how it will work...
the slow burn rate with the dense load density allows a longer burn down the barrel before you make peek pressure
so it produces high velocity and dense load...more powder allows you to make the max pressure...that's how I see it and that's how it has worked for me...Now 26 is slower than 25...how much slower. some but I really don't know..
You could have a slow lot of 25 powder and a fast lot of 26 I guess...I think the RL powders are decent lot to lot.
but I know for sure I have seen and talked to others who have seen quite a bit of difference in burn speeds lot to lot and even humidity and moisture content of the powder can change the burn speed some...I could get in trouble for this but I once was talking to a powder co about a specific lot of powder compared to another lot of the same powder, I told them I wish all of it was like the first lot...the reply I got was. well that powder was out of spec or at the fastest side of spec we have for it and was almost another powder but we jugged it and shipped it...but it turned out to be another powder and it has had many lots and some of them have quite a bit of difference in burn speed..
But what you really want to know is how does 25 compare to 26 I think that really depends on the case size you are loading..A small case like the XC 25 is useless but 26 due to the small kernel size allows you to pack enough in to be useful. now a big case I think you will have to try them and see what works best in that case and even that barrel bullet combo...I had a mark 5 weatherby 7mm WM it would not shoot anything better than say 1 1/4" 3 shot group at 100 yards. now that was a good group not the average. I shot several bullets with several powders..25 I actually stuck a case in it..then I tried a Berger classic hunter 168 with a stout load of RL26 and it was cutting bullet holes at 200 yards..NO Sh*t ! 3 shot groups at 200 yards 1/2" or under..So until you try it who knows how it will work...
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Like I said earlier the bigger the number the slower the burn . Good job . Larry
I know a few guys who seem to have better luck with RL33 in the 257 WM..
I worked up a load once for a 22" barreled 257 ROB with RL17 I can not remember exact numbers but it was like 3,400 FPS with a 100 gr'er and 3,200's with a 117 but it never grouped well for me..I really never did get that rifle to shoot well for me..but that is one of them RL17 things where it works it really works..kind of too bad it did not shoot.I also was not trying to make it go that fast I was trying to get it to shoot. and I don't think it really showed me any pressure signs..
jpretle
Gold $$ Contributor
25-vs-26
Regarding the 6mm-06=====
Previous load was 59g of 25 and a 80gTTSX. 10rds of this load clocked 3640fps.
Powder level was just below the bullet base when seated.
I loaded 59g of 26---all the rest was same. Powder level was lower than w/ 25.
Fired 3 rds over the chrono, as follows: 1st rnd-3802fps. the other 2 were 3780 and 3787.
Brass was moved on each case head and the primers were notable flattened, but none leaked.
I guess I would put 26 in the faster than 25, category, at least in this instance.
Would like to see similar comparison referencing the 243AI case.
Regarding the 6mm-06=====
Previous load was 59g of 25 and a 80gTTSX. 10rds of this load clocked 3640fps.
Powder level was just below the bullet base when seated.
I loaded 59g of 26---all the rest was same. Powder level was lower than w/ 25.
Fired 3 rds over the chrono, as follows: 1st rnd-3802fps. the other 2 were 3780 and 3787.
Brass was moved on each case head and the primers were notable flattened, but none leaked.
I guess I would put 26 in the faster than 25, category, at least in this instance.
Would like to see similar comparison referencing the 243AI case.
Does Quickload give a flame temp for the RL26?
RL-17, 33, and 50, are also made in Switzerland by Nitrochemie.
If you'll read the articles referencing the Nitrochemie RL series of powders, you will understand why the increases in velocities are possible.
The only real comparison is that both are slow burning powders. The chemical makeup in RL 26 is completely different from RL 25. You are certainly going to achieve faster velocities from 26. For one reason, in most cases, slower burning powders are going to give you faster velocities. You can put more RL 26 in the case than you can RL 25. Due to the chemical makeup, an equal amount of 26 will still produce faster velocities than 25.
26 has a slower burn rate. Larry
What the flip!!! Guess I was miss lead. Thank you for posting that. THat kinda angers me that I was given some bogus info as I specifically went for the R26 because I was lead to believe it had a lower Heat of Exp than H1000. Now I have 16 lbs of it and a load worked up.
Did you pull this off a new version of QL?
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