Ts 15.5 comparison

[Mauser06]

I'm looking to load up 120gr bullets in a 7x57 Mauser. Load books show Varget, imr 4895, n150, etc working well....so I'm "assuming" TS 15.5 may work well too.

I'd like to try some but the only data Alliant has is for 140gr bullets.


Don't know if there's a "rule of thumb"...like start a grain lower than varget load data...or anything like that where I can start at a safe level and work upto pressure/velocity.

I'm shooting a BRA in the match rifle and trying to conserve my Varget and 4895 lol. If I have to use Varget in the 7x57, that's fine..it's not like I'm going to shoot a ton. But it'd be nice to use the TS 15.5

 

[Murray Brook]

I've never loaded for the 7x57, but have done much loading for 3 different 7/08's. These two cartridges are very much alike in terms of powder and velocity. I would certainly save the Varget and H4895. Powders such as WW760--H380--H100V--CFE223 to name but a few are good powders for your stated application. As for 15.5 I would start with the min load for the 140 to be safe and work up till you see some pressure. JMO

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I don’t know if this will help you but when I did some testing in a 6.5 x 47 with 130 AR Hybrid and 142 SMKs, the RL15.5 was a direct grain for grain match with Hodgdon H4350.

 

[Fclassfool]

It's very close to varget and RL15 in my dasher

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I'm looking to load up 120gr bullets in a 7x57 Mauser. Load books show Varget, imr 4895, n150, etc working well....so I'm "assuming" TS 15.5 may work well too.

I'd like to try some but the only data Alliant has is for 140gr bullets.


Don't know if there's a "rule of thumb"...like start a grain lower than varget load data...or anything like that where I can start at a safe level and work upto pressure/velocity.

I'm shooting a BRA in the match rifle and trying to conserve my Varget and 4895 lol. If I have to use Varget in the 7x57, that's fine..it's not like I'm going to shoot a ton. But it'd be nice to use the TS 15.5

Start at the 140g load and work up.

 

[RegionRat]

TS 15.5 is just slightly slower than RE-15.

 

[shoot4fun]

I don’t know if this will help you but when I did some testing in a 6.5 x 47 with 130 AR Hybrid and 142 SMKs, the RL15.5 was a direct grain for grain match with Hodgdon H4350.

I have used 15.5 fairly extensively since its introduction and absolutely have not seen any similarity to RL16/H4350 data.
It's a bit faster than H4350; only slightly slower then RL15 but more dense. I usually don't use it for comparison but RL15.5 is fifteen spots to the faster side of H4350 on the latest Hodgdon provided chart.

 

[Charlie-NY]

Loaded to the same charge weight as Varget in my 6mmBR, it gave the exact same velocity. (give or take 10fps)

 

[ronemus]

RL-15 and TS RL-15.5 both run dirty and have large SD/ES at starting loads, but work much better as pressure nears max; don't get discouraged by your starting loads.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I have used 15.5 fairly extensively since its introduction and absolutely have not seen any similarity to RL16/H4350 data.
It's a bit faster than H4350; only slightly slower then RL15 but more dense. I usually don't use it for comparison but RL15.5 is fifteen spots to the faster side of H4350 on the latest Hodgdon provided chart.

That’s good info. You have probably looked at it more carefully than I did.

 

[ronemus]

I use RL-15 and TS RL-15.5 in .223 and find that their speeds straddle N-550 (my previous go-to powder for my spacegun). I find that TS RL-15.5 is denser than either, and for a given velocity just a bit less is needed. If you find data for either N-550 or RL-15, just start your workup a couple of grains lower.

 

[deep south]

Imr4350 is best all around powder in 7x57 in my experience in two rifles mine and my fathers.h4350 should work well also
Used several though and imr4350 seemed to always do best

Have had excellent results with imr4350 and 120gr Sierra pro hunters for hunting

 

[Mauser06]

Thanx all!


I was fortunate enough to get a decent supply of TS 15.5. Got a long time before hunting season...and I'm not sure but the barrel looks like it needs some rounds down it....so was going to play around and experiment and try to conserve my powders for the match rifle.

I'll report back if I find anything good. Barrel looks like it's got a fairly fast twist...might not even like copper 120s. Not sure yet. I have 140s and 160s (copper jacketed not coppers) to play with too.


Cfe223 and staball 6.5 both look good for 120s in the 7x57 too. Don't have any on hand but worth a try.

 

[randallcounts]

I'm looking to load up 120gr bullets in a 7x57 Mauser. Load books show Varget, imr 4895, n150, etc working well....so I'm "assuming" TS 15.5 may work well too.

I'd like to try some but the only data Alliant has is for 140gr bullets.


Don't know if there's a "rule of thumb"...like start a grain lower than varget load data...or anything like that where I can start at a safe level and work upto pressure/velocity.

I'm shooting a BRA in the match rifle and trying to conserve my Varget and 4895 lol. If I have to use Varget in the 7x57, that's fine..it's not like I'm going to shoot a ton. But it'd be nice to use the TS 15.5

I've been reloading for my 7x57 since 1986. I'm shooting 120gr Sierra Pro-Hunters over 45.5gr CFE223 chronographed at 3,010 fps. There was no load data for that bullet and powder combination. But I also load 8x57 mauser. 170gr Hornady SST over 56.0gr CFE223 chronographed at 2,778fps. Since it was so accurate I figured I'd try it in my 7x57. I compared powders that had loads listed with CFE223 on the burn rate chart and started from there. 5 shots at 100 yards under 1". Killed a lot of deer with this load. Give it a shot. Start low and work up to it.