Thoughts on Alliant powders.

[Nvreloader]

I use to use RL-17 in my 284 SP, decent accuracy for my use with 140gr,
then I tried RL-26, OMG what an improvement and with better accuracy,
at 300+ yds, gained 360 fps over RL-17, in my 18" SP pistol.

RL-26 works very well in my 7mag/150gr Nosler and great accuracy also.

YMMV,

Tia,
Don

 

[normmatzen]

Actually, RL-17 IS an "old" powder. It was used in the ammunition for the Swiss army K-31 which dates back to the 30's. It is just "new" here in the States being called RL-17.
I have been using it in a 284WIN F Class gun with pretty good success. I am now characterizing RL-16 as a replacement due to better temp stability. So far it looks good.
I do also use RL-17 for hunting in a sporterized VZ-24 action with a German surplus 7X57 barrel. With 140 gr Barnes TTSX it is a tack driver!

 

[centershot]

I went on Alliant Powder's site to check out loads and found it to be very vague, especially the newer powders.

 

[swehrman]

Actually, RL-17 IS an "old" powder. It was used in the ammunition for the Swiss army K-31 which dates back to the 30's. It is just "new" here in the States being called RL-17.
I have been using it in a 284WIN F Class gun with pretty good success. I am now characterizing RL-16 as a replacement due to better temp stability. So far it looks good.
I do also use RL-17 for hunting in a sporterized VZ-24 action with a German surplus 7X57 barrel. With 140 gr Barnes TTSX it is a tack driver!

What source can you cite to verify your claim?

-- Scott

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Used RL-22 in a 25-06 for many years. It was great as a hunting and varmint load, nothing else came close for velocities. For F-Class, H4831 and H1000 were much more temperature stable. Super-flat primers with RL-22 on a load that had been thoroughly tested and vetted under slightly different conditions told me something really was not right with the RL-22 loads.

Blue Dot is the only other Alliant powder I have much experience with. Great for reduced loads in .223 and .222 and also good for high speed loads in the pistol cartridges for which it is listed. Lots of muzzle flash at dusk and dawn in pistol loads.

 

[Coolhand]

Old or not RL17 is a damn good powder although I have replaced it with RL16 which in return just might replace H4350...

I am running RL17 is two .220 Ackleys , Quick Load says my load should average around 3800 fps with 52 gr Berger Varm, my Magneto speed says average velocity is 4087 fps. My buddy is running both RL15 & 17 in a 22/250 Ackley and we both agree the 'old' Alliants are the stuff !! As for dirty , we dont care and temps , neither of us has had any issues.

regards
Mike.

 

[5spd]

I run 10x & Pro Varmint in my .223s & 6x45, they do stack holes on top of each other at the range in those builds.
I run r19 in the 243, very good powders for my uses.

 

[jr600yd]

I've been running R-26 in my 284 1K rifle pushing Berger 180 HB's. Getting 80fps more than my H-4831 load.

 

[dkhunt14]

I never understood the "isn't it dirty" question about so many powders, I've been hearing it my whole life. My only concern is how accurate is it and how does the load hold up? If it shoots who cares?
I'm not trying to flame you, I honestly just have never understood the thinking behind it.

In competition, under long strings of fire, dirty usually means loss of accuacy on continued firing. Most times powders that burn clean usually stay more accurate. What I am talking about being dirty is when you clean. A clean powder let's you get to copper after only one or two wet patches with a little soak between them. A dirty powder might take 5 or 6 patches or more before the black disappears and you see copper. Matt

 

[Guybo]

I've been using RL22 in my 25.06 for years and it is my go to powder in the 25.06 for bullets in the 110 - 120gr range. It has always worked well for me, good velocity, great accuracy and no issues with temps here in NC. I've used RL15 for quite sometime in my .308 with the same results. I have a unopened can of RL17 and RL25 in the cabinet but don't remember why I bought it. I haven't tried Alliants newer stuff as of yet but have heard good reviews about it.

 

[Milo 2.0]

In competition, under long strings of fire, dirty usually means loss of accuacy on continued firing. Most times powders that burn clean usually stay more accurate. What I am talking about being dirty is when you clean. A clean powder let's you get to copper after only one or two wet patches with a little soak between them. A dirty powder might take 5 or 6 patches or more before the black disappears and you see copper. Matt

Some powders are a little dirtier than others, but I believe most of the time a powder gets labeled dirty is there is not enough powder in the case. Especially a slower powder that doesn't get burned(too short of barrel) etc..
Everyone needs to buy a couple boxes of hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 143 eldx ammo and shoot it, gives a new meaning to dirty.

 

[dkhunt14]

Some powders are a little dirtier than others, but I believe most of the time a powder gets labeled dirty is there is not enough powder in the case. Especially a slower powder that doesn't get burned(too short of barrel) etc..
Everyone needs to buy a couple boxes of hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 143 eldx ammo and shoot it, gives a new meaning to dirty.

Wonder what powder they use in it. The reloader series has more graphite so it is dirtier. They all give way more dirty black patches. I shoot 1000 yard BR and can guarantee that my loads are not light. Matt

 

[Preacher]

Some powders are a little dirtier than others, but I believe most of the time a powder gets labeled dirty is there is not enough powder in the case. Especially a slower powder that doesn't get burned(too short of barrel) etc..
Everyone needs to buy a couple boxes of hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 143 eldx ammo and shoot it, gives a new meaning to dirty.

Shot 2 boxes of it in a Ruger Precision rifle and never noticed it being dirty, 100 FPS less than quoted though.
42.5 grains of RL-17 isn't either and it runs at 2700 FPS no problem...

 

[normmatzen]

Scott,

Swissrifles.com

 

[paulT]

Anyone able to verifi that Re17 is the same powder as Reloader Swiss RS60.

 

[Laurie]

Anyone able to verifi that Re17 is the same powder as Reloader Swiss RS60.

Yes, they're identical. Nitrochemie OEM EI-Niessen 145. (The orange bars denote single products with different suppliers / names. Note this is an early Reload Swiss document from the time of the marque's introduction into the UK market and doesn't show some later additions to the range(s). The 'Elcho-17' reference to this powder comes from its original name here in the UK when import / packaging / distribution was by a domestic entrepreneur and before Nitrochemie started bottling the powders itself and launched itself as 'Reload Swiss.)

 

[AckleymanII]

Small case guys have loved R#7 and #10 for a very long time, and will continue to do so. As a hunter, I have shot R17, 19, 22, and 25, I will continue to shoot these powders Until I run out.

It seems that each of the powders, 17, 19, 22, and 25 fill a niche that other powders can not touch. 17 seems magic in some applications with speed and accuracy for hunting. R#25 is unbelievable in a 7 Remington Mag in terms of speed with accuracy with 150-180g bullets.

In your mind's eye, you can envision switching to a more temp stable powder...finding "in stock" to buy from a vendor is another issue. "Making do" with what you can find fits a lot of us.

 

[rebs]

what is the comparison between RL 15 and RL 16 ?

 

[jepp2]

If you are using 140-150 class bullets, RL-23 would be perfect>>>if you are shooting the 180-195 class bullets, RL-26 should be the ticket.

Would the same guidance apply for a 25-06 running 110-115 gr bullets? (using RL-23)

 

[ShootDots]

Would the same guidance apply for a 25-06 running 110-115 gr bullets? (using RL-23)

I think that RL-23 would be great for the 25-06... If, for whatever reason it would not work, use H4831sc...