6.5-284 load development (changing powder)

[stx]

I couldn't get quite the velocity(2950+) or accuracy I wanted with Retumbo and 140 VLDs in my Cooper Backcountry.....although it wasn't bad! I tried RL 26 and immediately got better accuracy and the velocity I wanted(2974 fps with no pressure signs). With this lightweight rifle, I'm plenty happy with this velocity and sub .25" groups! I'm going to leave it at 56 gr RL 26, .030" off lands and call it "good to go"! I've never used this powder before and was impressed with the immediate results.....groups attached are 3 shot groups at 100 yds.

 

[Brianc74]

What primers are guys using with RL26?

Brian

 

[stx]

What primers are guys using with RL26?

Brian

Federal 210M

 

[dennisinaz]

I'll try the 26 and 23 myself. I haven't gotten any groups like that with 140s, only with the Norma 130s.

 

[Bang4theBuck]

I tried a few different powders, and All of the Reloader powders were too temperature sensitive for me. I settled on H4831, definatively. I shoot a 140 grain VLD Hunting Bullet.

 

[DocDoc]

Two Reloader powders, RL-16 and RL-23, are new formulations and supposedly even less sensitive to temperature change than the Hodgdon powders.

 

[dennisinaz]

Only RL 16 and CFE 223 are actually rated as temperature insensitive. This was per a phone call to Alliant. I spoke to the tech at length. He said 23 and 26 are good but no where as good as the other two mentioned.

 

[hydehunter]

well yesterday I tried 54.0 of Retubo,210m primer and 140 Nosler BT and a coal of 3.00 and got 2907 with a 24 inch barrel but the bolt opened tight and had to use a lot of pounding with my hand to get the bolt to come back.I thought starting 1.0 grains plus below Bergers starting load would work but I guess I will give up on Retumbo and stay with RL22 and 2648fps

 

[dennisinaz]

Wow, I can get quite a bit more than that out of Retumbo

well yesterday I tried 54.0 of Retubo,210m primer and 140 Nosler BT and a coal of 3.00 and got 2907 with a 24 inch barrel but the bolt opened tight and had to use a lot of pounding with my hand to get the bolt to come back.I thought starting 1.0 grains plus below Bergers starting load would work but I guess I will give up on Retumbo and stay with RL22 and 2648fps

 

[Gunnitt]

Yea im at 57grns retumbo and have no pressure signs and shooting 3050

 

[stx]

Yea im at 57grns retumbo and have no pressure signs and shooting 3050

I tried 57 grains Retumbo for 2844 fps but lost the accuracy I had at 55-56 grains(.5").....went to RL26 and stopped at 2974 fps with no pressure signs and sub .25" accuracy. I'm shootings Retumbo in several rifles, have a lot on hand and really wanted it to shoot in my 6.5-284 Cooper Backcountry but just couldn't get the velocity/accuracy combo I wanted..... the RL26 groups are in one of my previous posts in this thread.

 

[Bang4theBuck]

Is there anyone with that fancy software that can check load data? I am intending to try the Reloader 26 with the following conditions:
26" Hart Barrel
Lapua Brass
BR2 Primers
140 Gr Berger VLD Hunting
Charges starting at 53gr and working up like this:
53.3, 53.6, 53.9, 54.2, 54.5, 54.8, 55.1.....etc. Would like to know that I'm not going to have a problem on the low end.

 

[dennisinaz]

R26 is not in load data yet, You can call Alliant and see what they have. They were very helpful on the phone a couple of weeks ago with R23 and R26 questions.

 

[stx]

Is there anyone with that fancy software that can check load data? I am intending to try the Reloader 26 with the following conditions:
26" Hart Barrel
Lapua Brass
BR2 Primers
140 Gr Berger VLD Hunting
Charges starting at 53gr and working up like this:
53.3, 53.6, 53.9, 54.2, 54.5, 54.8, 55.1.....etc. Would like to know that I'm not going to have a problem on the low end.

I'm loading 140 VLDs in Nosler brass with 56 grains of RL26 at .030 off for 2974 fps from 24" bbl Cooper Backcountry with no pressure signs......started at 53 grains and worked up from there. Shooting sub .25" groups(see groups in previous post #100).