I've found that R23 shows pressure fast. Small incremental increase and all of sudden it's pressured out in my WSMs.
Reloder 26
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Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
In my 7SAUM RL23 did not give me the desired speed that I was hoping for, however accuracy was there.
I found the same accuracy and greater speed with H1000 followed by N565.
I found the same accuracy and greater speed with H1000 followed by N565.
Catbird
Well-Known Member
My rifle just likes it. A Rem700 SPS with 24 in. barrel. I've had it over 25 years. I was shooting 95gr BT's at 2970 with RL22.
I tried RL23 with 95Gr Classic Hunters and they crono at 3150.
At 100 yards both loads shoot under 1/2 inch and hit the same place. I'm using Lapua brass and CCI200's
Let me know if you feel the need for 26 speed
waspocrew
Well-Known Member
I like RL-26, but RL-23 is definitely my favorite powder. Have about 12# of RL-26 left and about 32# of RL-23. Hope that gets me through this season 
Justice1327
Well-Known Member
Please dont say that. I sold my muzzleloader because Blackhorn 209 Was Way too high.
Sneuses
Well-Known Member
I picked up a load that shoots pretty decent.
Case length 2.268
Primer CCI 250
Berger VLD 168
RE 26 66.3 grains
Coal 3.324
Peterson brass
Peterson brass is heavier than Hornady so there is latitude with powder drop, depending on your brass. I was initially at 66.8 grains of Reloader 26. I cut it back a half a grain due to the weight in the brass difference that I noticed and found magic.
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bowhunter123456789
Well-Known Member
What muzzle velocity are you getting with 66.8 and 66.3 ?
When I first started using RL 23 and could not find load data I was told to use data for RL 22 so your post makes sense to me.
Sneuses
Well-Known Member
I'm sure well above 3025 as I'm running a 26.5 inch BRUX barrel. After all Hornady is pushing 166 grain bullet at 3050 but their brass is substantially lighter than Peterson as you know with lighter brass less pressure. that's why I had to back off a half a grain. I worked up the load between shoulder surgeries and at this time I'm not able to further test. All I will say is Reloder 26 burger 168 grain VLD bullets and a CCI 250 primer works magic in that Brux barrel. At this time, I have 94 rounds down the tube of that barrel, so it would still be a waste of time to chronograph it. I'm sure the accuracy will be fine for Kansas this year and Whitetail. All I hope for is my accuracy doesn't falter after the latest rotator cuff surgery doc says 1 pound left hand for three months as of August 1st
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I run RL23 in one of my .270 WSM loads. I tried RL26 and never got the accuracy from it, but velocities were higher. I switched to RL23, no change to anything else, and I got sub MOA accuracy. Reloader 23 is also temp stable they claim. I did not get the pressure build up others mentioned, but I'm also not in extreme heat either. I've shot the load in 70+ temps and again in the negative teens. A little velocity loss, but that was it.
akmtnhnt
Well-Known Member
It's not the best in everything. It's a fairly bulky powder(low density) and so most things with limited case capacity, or if you're putting some kind of VLD in a older cartridge and taking case capacity, it will not be the fastest. In that case another double base powder will be better. I find RL26 and N555 or 560 are pretty close to each other, though RL26 generally edges it out.
In 308 sized case capacity, I find something more dense like RL17 or N550 will get better velocity.
But ultimately why the RL line and N5XX line are faster than most other things is because they're all double base powders. Most people are used to working with single base powders.
Muzzle velocity will always be highest with the most area under the pressure curve. Powders that spike pressure and drop off rapidly might run at a higher overall pressure, but something that keeps the pressure high or moderately high will be faster.
In 308 sized case capacity, I find something more dense like RL17 or N550 will get better velocity.
But ultimately why the RL line and N5XX line are faster than most other things is because they're all double base powders. Most people are used to working with single base powders.
Muzzle velocity will always be highest with the most area under the pressure curve. Powders that spike pressure and drop off rapidly might run at a higher overall pressure, but something that keeps the pressure high or moderately high will be faster.
Catbird
Well-Known Member
I called Alliant for load data. They also sent data for RL26. To me it seems almost impossible to get enough of that powder into A 243 case. I couldn't find where I wrote it down , but i believe it was around 48gr. I wasn't going to use it anyway.
