RL17 and 105 AMAX in 243 win.

[deserthk]

Can someone tell me the ceiling charge for RL 17 pushing the 105 AMAX in a 243 win? I have worked up from 30.3 grains to 40.8 grains but couldn't find any good node for my Remington SPS stock barrell. Also, comparing to the N550 powder that I used, but couldn't find it anymore, the velocity is a little slower with the RL17. Just wondering if I still have room for a bit more powder?, or should I find a different powder? Thank you for your help.

 

[Yellow11]

I have found that RL17 weighs out about the same as H4350 and others have confirmed this fact. Thus you might consider checking out powder weights for H4350 to give yourself a bench make.

Hodgdon's web site suggests 37.5g of H4350 will give you around 2800 fps using 105g tips.

What sort of speeds are you recording?

 

[Steve Blair]

Attached is a QuickLOAD print that might help.

FWIW, I have shot more than five pounds of RL17 and found it faster than H4350 in every instance. My applications have been 6mm Remington, 6mm BR, .308 and .22-250. Judging from the loading density that QuickLOAD predicts, it looks like H4831SC, RL19 or RL22 would be potentially better choices at that bullet weight. YMMV

 

[savageboy]

Sleepygator- how was the accuracy w/ RL17

 

[Steve Blair]

Variable. In 6BR, 32.5 to 33.4 and a Sierra 107 in my 12F, accuracy is excellent. A top load gives just over 3000 fps with single-digit ES. I now shoot nothing but RL17 in this rifle.

In 6mm Remington with 58g V-Max, excellent accuracy and velocity. In .22-250 with Sierra 53g Match, Ok but nothing to brag. In .308 with Sierra 190 MK, accuracy was good but 4064 gave better ES/SD.

 

[DJ111]

I have had good luck with H4831sc. With a 24'' Savage barrel it would run around 2860fps and shot well with the 105 a-max.

In another 243 with a 28'' Lothar barrel it would shoot 105's around 3100fps with a 1/2 grain less powder.

Good Luck,
Dallas

 

[deserthk]

Thank you Sleepygator for the quickload info. I am running the RL17 at about 40.2 grains, which I think is slightly above the max with a OAL of 2.750". I was getting about 2945 fps from a stock Remy tube with 1:9 1/8" twist. So I am okay with that velocity. With my N550, I was getting slightly over 3000 fps, but the trouble is trying to find N550 without mortagaing my house to buy a couple pounds. The problem that I had with the RL17 is groupings are not as tight as N550. I realized the limitations of a stock tube, but I thought I could do better. Certainly, the Quickload data showed that I shouldn't try to push the envelop on the charge for RL17. Perhaps it's time to try a different powder.

 

[cliffy]

What Hodgdon power is Alliant RL-17s equivelent? Could it be H4350? Or H4895? Or what? Love RL-22, when H4350 is too fast burning. Where does RL-17 burn-rate slide into the burn-rate charts? Burn-Rate is almost everything regarding bullet speed downrange, and it also relates to accuracy. Cliffy