Reloder 26

[Bowfishn]

If I can get the 46.5 gr load to shoot twice as good as it is doing and the 48 gr load gets a bit worse then, at 800 yards the edge would still go to the faster load based off of ES and at 1 mile they will be tied for group size. But the faster load hold supersonic longer and has a 4" less 5 mph wind drift at 1 mile at which point the edge would go to the faster.
We can debate this all day long but in the end the proof will be in the pudding, we will see.
I have been hand loading for 49 years and shooting longer than that, not my first Rodeo.
gun)

 

[bigbulls]

I've got RL26 coming, I hope this next week, so I'm watching here closely. Thank You bowfishn for your posting on the creedmoor.

 

[reeldawg]

I have been using RL26 in my 6.5 Sherman and a 7WSM. I am running 67.6 gn with a Berger 180 Berger VLD. I am getting 3048 fps with a 22" barrel. It does get finicky when you get near max.

Jay

 

[waltercrouse]

I have noticed in every cartridge I have used it 243, 260, couple of 6.5's, 280AI and several belted magnums that the ES's and temperature stability was improved by using Magnum instead of Standard primers. It would be worth testing to see.

I would not have thought it mattered in the 40-50 grain case capacities but it did across the board. IMHO RL26 needs FIRE at ignition.

I tried RL-26 in my 243 ,but my barrel is to short , 22 inches . I had better results with RL-17 with the 243 with 68 grain and 95 Berger bullets. The slow burning RL-26 was shooting a lot lower at hundred yards. I did have good results with RL-26 in my 7 Rem Mag with 140grain Berger bullets.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I used R-26 in my long throated 300wsm with 215 Bergers all last year for hunting. The load is 69grs of R-26 with 215 Bergers going 2960fps in a 26" barrel. COAL is 3.195". I didn't like the on game performance of the 215's so I decided to try 225 ELD-M's this morning. 68grs of R-26 with 225's got me 2908fps. I wasn't really trying to shoot groups because the wind was blowing over 30mph but I shot 1 shot of each 66, 67, and 68grs across the chronograph into .370".

I shot 147's with R-26 in my 6.5 Creedmoor with virgin Lapua brass and 47grs showed very slight ejector marks. 47grs was the most I could get in the case as well and it was pushing the bullets back out .003 compared to the lower loads. That is without a drop tube though. This is also a brand new barrel so the velocity should pick up 30-50fps as it gets some rounds down it but the velocity was 2870fps in a 25" barrel. My dad shoots Hornady brass and his gun was running 2954fps with 48.5gr with a 147. His has a 26" barrel.

 

[codyadams]

Did some load development with rl26 and the Berger 140 VLD in my .260 A.I., this powder continues to surprise me.

.005" off (2.895" OAL)
Lapua brass
CCI BR-2 primers
29" barrel

49.1-
1. 3073
2. 3078
3. 3073 E.S. 5 FPS

49.4-
1. 3115
2. 3114
3. 3102 E.S. 13 FPS

49.7-
1. 3119
2. 3130
3. 3128 E.S. 11 FPS

50.0-
1. 3144
2. 3147
3. 3138 E.S. 9 FPS

50.3-
1. 3158
2. 3140
3. 3162 E.S. 22 FPS

50.6-
1. 3170
2. 3174
3. 3179 E.S. 9 FPS

I shot all these on a ladder test at 511 yards, and the node seems to fall between 49.1 and 49.7, the center of these 3 groups landed .8" apart, and all were less than 2.5" total spread, and even with wind all 3 groups were under .7 MOA. The 50.6 grain load was right at max, leaving a faint shiny mark from the ejector and some catering. However, 50.3 didn't leave any ejector mark and primer edges were still rounded. I think I'm gonna work around 3110, as that seems to be the best node. Also, temp was 50° outside.

 

[Bowfishn]

Did a little more testing with RL26 using 143 ELD-X bullets, this time treated with HBN coating.
It took about .5 gr more powder to equal velocities but I worked it around the test I had done that showed 48 gr to give me 2999 fps and tight group.
Using HBN the results were:
48.4 gr Coal of 2.890" 5 shots @ 100 yards .490" ctc including the shot I pulled, av vel 2986 fps ES of 10 SD of 4.5
48.5 gr Coal of 2.885" 5 shots @ 100 yards ..376" ctc av vel 2990 fps ES of 10 SD of 5

 

[Lonewolf74]

Has anyone had a chance to test this stuff out in some different temps like 15° up to 60°? Does it seem temp stable?

 

[codyadams]

Has anyone had a chance to test this stuff out in some different temps like 15° up to 60°? Does it seem temp stable?

I have tested in temp starting at 20 and up to 60ish, and for me it was about .6 fps/degree, but that load had a pretty high E.S., and it was shot at different times with an optical chrono, and if it's not set up exactly the same every time it will give different velocities, so I don't know how much credit I would put in that. I have seen people report anywhere from .2 fps/deg up to 2 fps/degree. I just loaded up another batch, and this load has shown single digit e.s. on a couple different occasions, I plan on putting 5 rounds in the freezer overnight and comparing to 5 shot at room temp or more in the next few days. I'll report what I find.

 

[parshal]

I think I posted something earlier in this thread. I had a much larger change in velocity with temp changes.

 

[Bowfishn]

I have tested in temp starting at 20 and up to 60ish, and for me it was about .6 fps/degree, but that load had a pretty high E.S., and it was shot at different times with an optical chrono, and if it's not set up exactly the same every time it will give different velocities, so I don't know how much credit I would put in that. I have seen people report anywhere from .2 fps/deg up to 2 fps/degree. I just loaded up another batch, and this load has shown single digit e.s. on a couple different occasions, I plan on putting 5 rounds in the freezer overnight and comparing to 5 shot at room temp or more in the next few days. I'll report what I find.

I think I posted something earlier in this thread. I had a much larger change in velocity with temp changes.

What Cartridge are you guys shooting?
I have heard it varies with Cartridge and load.

 

[parshal]

I'm shooting it in a 6.5 WSM, 22 Creedmoor and 6 Creedmoor. Temperature variation seems similar in all three for me.

 

[Bowfishn]

The only test I did for temp was it was 40 deg far. and I shot 5 rounds from a cold barrel,
after I shot 25 rounds I tested same round for 5 shots that had been kept in truck with heater on full, took from truck into my pocket and shot 1 at a time from my pocket.

It was with 48 grains of RL26 behind 143 ELD-X bullets seated 2.890"
103.7 % case fill.

2990 cold 40 deg.
2999 hot 70 to 80 deg.

Not very scientific but did let me know it did not change much.

When the weather gets hotter I will do the cooler with ice and thermometer in cooler and a thermometer at range bench. Should give me a better Idea.

 

[codyadams]

What Cartridge are you guys shooting?
I have heard it varies with Cartridge and load.

I'm using a .260 Ackley, May test a 7mm mag with 180 Bergers