Reloder 26

[codyadams]

So I did a temperature test, I'll go over how I conducted it. I put 5 rounds in a zip lock bag in my freezer overnight, then on my way to the range I put the rounds in a bucket filled with ice, and put my kestrel inside so I had a temperature I could monitor and record. The other rounds were kept at room temperature in my house, then on my dashboard in my truck on the way to the range.

When I got to the range and set up my chronograph, I got my bucket of ice and pulled my kestrel out and looked at the temp, it registered 17° f, but by the time I thought to get my phone out and take a picture, it had warmed up to the 30's, as the ambient temp outside was in the high 60's. After this I put my kestrel in my ammo box with my room temp rounds.

First I shot the chilled rounds, pulling them out of the ice one at a time, and I shot them within about 3 seconds of chambering them, and recording velocity. Then after that, I let my barrel cool to room temp, then looked at the temp in my ammo box, which was 67 ° f. Then I shot those 5 rounds, and recorded velocity.

This was my load for all rounds fired in my .260 AI:

49.1 grains RL-26
Lapua Brass
CCI BR-2 primer
140 Berger VLD Seated .005 off lands

And these were my velocity results:

17° f -
1. 3051
2. 3046
3. 3056
4. 3066
5. 3055 AVG. 3054, E.S. 20 FPS

67° f -
1. 3060
2. 3059
3. 3055
4. 3058
5. 3063 AVG. 3059, E.S. 8 FPS

My lower temp loads would have had a 10 fps e.s. If it wasn't for the one that went 3066, and also would have averaged 3052 instead of 3054. But even at that...The velocity spread for 50° f difference was only 7 fps...so all my worries about temp sensativity are now dismissed, at least for this rifle.

 

[Idaho Trecker]

I did my own testing quite a few months back that I posted and came up with similar results. I believe I came up with .35 fps/degree. Good to see more testing with the same results.

 

[Bowfishn]

So I guess my non scientific method was most likely accurate at .3

7 fps @ 50 deg = .14 fps per deg, that is like no change. at 1800 yards it will open your group by 1/2 inch gun)

RL26 is looking better all the time.

That Akley is fast

 

[codyadams]

And to add a little more info, these 10 rounds were loaded up in a batch of 50, using all the same lot of components, randomly picked out of the 50 rounds, they were fired over the same chrono without shutting off or moving the chrono or moving the shooting position, and they were all fired on the same day with all other atmospheric conditions remaining the same accept for temperature of the loaded rounds/powder.

Because of this I do believe that this was a fairly controlled home experiment and does hold some merit. It could have been completed in a somewhat more controlled envirornment, perhaps put the entire rifle in a freezer so the chamber/bore would have matched in temperature, however my rifle was left in my truck outside overnight, and was pretty chilly when I shot my first rounds, but the overnight low was only 33° or so, not nearly as cold as my low temp rounds.

I also believe that the fact that these were shot the same day, within 20 minutes of each other, without chronograph position or shooter position changing, adds some credibility to it. I will note that this was conducted with an optical chronograph as I don't have a Magnetospeed or labradar...but these speeds reflect drop data and other observed chronographing sessions I have conducted with this load.

 

[Lonewolf74]

Sweet to hear guy's now I just gotta get some stuff loaded up and try it out for myself. I know I'm impressed with the RL25 with heavier pills in my 243. The 26 should be an even better performer!

 

[Bowfishn]

Sweet to hear guy's now I just gotta get some stuff loaded up and try it out for myself. I know I'm impressed with the RL25 with heavier pills in my 243. The 26 should be an even better performer!

Alliant shows RL26 with the 243 getting over 3200 fps with 100 gr bullets out of a 24" tube.

 

[parshal]

Here's the start of my post (it swings page 6-8) with my experience in temperature swings. I'm very happy to see other testing prove mine wrong since I use R26 in most everything now.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/reloder-26-a-172482/index6.html#post1275120

 

[Lonewolf74]

Alliant shows RL26 with the 243 getting over 3200 fps with 100 gr bullets out of a 24" tube.

I'd love to see even 3100 with the 105 bergers. I think I'm getting 2930 with RL 25 but I have to check my notes to be sure

 

[Bowfishn]

I'd love to see even 3100 with the 105 bergers. I think I'm getting 2930 with RL 25 but I have to check my notes to be sure

They show 105 gr A-Max at 3078 fps out of a 24" tube

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

 

[Wedgy]

In the .243 Win Federal brass Fed 210M I ran up to 48.0 grains of RL26 at 3420fps with the Berger 105's.

 

[Lonewolf74]

In the .243 Win Federal brass Fed 210M I ran up to 48.0 grains of RL26 at 3420fps with the Berger 105's.

That's screamin! I'm gonna get some loaded up to test this wknd. I was gonna wait till I burnt up my 25 but this thread got me amped up lol.

Also really anxious to test it against H1000 in my 300 win mag but that will be a couple months out

 

[txsendero]

In .243WIN and RE26 with 105 Berger VLD I'm getting 3095fps in 26" barrel at 46.1 gr. FWIW

 

[Wedgy]

7mm RUM with 143 grain Hammer Hunter I finally hit pressure at 95 grains of Redoder 26. I need a faster twist barrel to shoot heavier non lead bullets so I am having fun shooting out this barrel. Would like to try these on some pigs, should kill them pretty dead.

 

[Bowfishn]

7mm RUM with 143 grain Hammer Hunter I finally hit pressure at 95 grains of Redoder 26. I need a faster twist barrel to shoot heavier non lead bullets so I am having fun shooting out this barrel. Would like to try these on some pigs, should kill them pretty dead.

That's screamin.
Holy pooper!