Good, bad, clean,dirty? What are your experiences? Ok in big temp swings? Why the huge diffrences in load data from siffrent books? I saw one datas starting load 2grs over anothers max. Ive been running reloder 15 and it seems pretty consistent lot to lot. Good speed to in my 22-250. Seems about all i can find all year round around here.
Thoughts on Alliant powders.
- Thread starter Mtstalker
- Start date
There are at least 2 BIG variations in Alliant powders. You have the "old" Alliant powders i.e. RL-7, RL-15, RL-17, RL-19, RL-22 and RL-25. They are dirty and can be temp sensitive. The slower the powder, the dirtier they are. NOW, enter the "New" Alliant powders: AR Comp, RL-16, RL-23, RL-26, RL-33 and RL-50. They are all pretty temp stable. However, AR Comp, RL-16 and RL-23 are, at least as their propaganda states, temp stable at EXTREME temps with lot-to-lot consistency. I have tried BOTH RL-16 and RL-23>>>they produce A LOT of velocity over "standard powders". They appear to be very temp stable and they burn clean>>>at least A LOT cleaner than their other counterparts in the "OLD" variety. RL-26, RL-33 and RL-50 are SUPPOSED to be pretty temp stable, and they may be>>but I have no experience with them..
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How close are the holes together is really all that matters. If Alliant powders do that then I'll deal with the rest. JMHO
I agree with the above posts and I'm really glad that we have so many powders to choose from
now days. Gotta say though that your probably going to use the powder that gives the best accuracy
in your rifle and many of the powders I use is made by Alliant.
now days. Gotta say though that your probably going to use the powder that gives the best accuracy
in your rifle and many of the powders I use is made by Alliant.
watercam
Silver $$ Contributor
I disagree that Reloader 17 is an 'old' powder. It is a high intensity powder with a burn rate similar to H4350. Great velocity and accuracy. Not my first choice for preserving a barrel's life span but as a hunting powder it is great. I had no issues with temp extremes with it.
I have used Reloader 15, 19 and 22 with very accurate results and really good velocities.
I have used Reloader 15, 19 and 22 with very accurate results and really good velocities.
RL-17 is "newer" than the other "old" ones, however, it shares the same characteristics as the old ones>>>>certainly not in the "new" category with AR Comp, RL-16, RL-23 etc..etc..
I am trying to remember back when the Newer powders came out. I recall that R17 was reformulated like the new ones R26 and such that are made by NitroChemie. Anyone else read that when they came out?
Gosh don't Quote me on this but a Rep said they had feed back that the R17 had too high of a temp swing by the end user so they did something to it like the others in there line up. Hope I am not dreaming I read that some where.. Anyone anyone????
You can't compare hunting loads to competition loads. I'm both a Ex-Professional African Hunter, and a F-Class competitor. The Rifles, cartridges and loads have nothing in common. I have tried RL 17 in a few cartridges. Yes, good velocity, but No, as far as temperature stable. Hunting barrels never get hot. We are only concerned with the first or maybe second shot. After that, the game is lost. In competition, we shoot 3 or 4 shots just to warm the barrel up. After the first 10 shots in a 20 shot string, we can't even touch the barrel it is so hot. My experience with RL 17 was that it shot great for the first few shots, but by shot 13 or 14 I had to pull out of the match because the temps were so high and the pressures became dangerous. This was using a Barnard action that has no problems with high pressure loads. Its not just ambient temps that are the problem. Our barrels get extremely hot during the course of fire.
In my early tenure into Competition, I recall talking at a Score shoot with one of the original IBS competitors - an accomplished shooter, also a long-time gunsmith. He stated he was using 10X in his Hunter Class 30 Aardvark with good success. I made the mistake of commenting "But isn't it awfully dirty?" I received a valuable lesson that day and the above post sums that lesson up pretty well. I surmise he was pretty tired of hearing half-truths and gossip about a powder that he learned to make work for him.
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
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.
What about accelerated throat erosion with there powder? I have heard alot of rumors about that, i mean your always going to get erosion but some guys are saying they are seeing it twice as fast with the reloder series.. So far i only have good things to say about the reloder 15 ive used. It actually shot better than varget for me in a 22-250.
I'm not a comp shooter . I target shoot for my own enjoyment and I hunt . I seem to be using more of the reloader powders . in my area they are easy to find in stock at the local stores . I use RL17 , RL22 , RL33 . I've bought RL26 to try in two different rifles .if RL26 works out I'll not be using RL22 anymore . I'm not sure if this helps but , most of my loads are at or close to a max powder charge . I don't see the dirty burning , or wild pressure spikes I read about . so maybe these powders like higher psi , full cases , lightly compressed loads .
I had a rifle giving me problems . I thought I was over pressure from what I was seeing , so I kept lowering my powder charge weights . at lower pressure loads RL33 burns dirty . when I would push a patch through the bbl it looked like coal . I've never seen anything this dirty , not even unique burns this dirty . I got the rifle figured out , increased the powder charges , and the bbl is clean .
I had a rifle giving me problems . I thought I was over pressure from what I was seeing , so I kept lowering my powder charge weights . at lower pressure loads RL33 burns dirty . when I would push a patch through the bbl it looked like coal . I've never seen anything this dirty , not even unique burns this dirty . I got the rifle figured out , increased the powder charges , and the bbl is clean .
CharlieNC
Gold $$ Contributor
Love 2000MR for best velocity and good accuracy in my 6.5x47 tac rifle. It was liked for a while for the same reasons in Fclass, then went out of favor for temp sensitivity. Maybe for a Xring, but not steel. Thousands or rounds thru my 223 with RL15 with excellent results. Working with RL25 in 300WM now. Many Alliant powders offer attractive pressure vs velocity balance with accuracy.
centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
So if I am using "old" RL-19 in my .280, what would be its replacement in the "new" powders?
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.
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