SavageHunter11
Well-Known Member
Same here in the great plains. Found it in two local shops last weekendRL26 is plentiful in the South.
Same here in the great plains. Found it in two local shops last weekendRL26 is plentiful in the South.
Try Vihtavouri N570So apparently rl-26 has fallen off the face of the earth. Which is a shame because I had a great load worked up for my rifle. Anyhow, what would be a good replacement that would give me decent velocity and fairly stable? I shoot in anywhere from below 0 to 85 degrees depending on the time of year. I used to run rl-22 and it gave me great results, but I've read its unstable. Powders on my list of possibilities that I can get local are rl-22, rl-25, h1000, and retumbo. Will be shooting 162-180 class bullets.
I think I've heard that's a similar burn rate to rl-26?Try Vihtavouri N570
I've used RL 22, Retumbo, IMR 7977, and most recently IMR 8133 in a 7RM using the 175 Nosler ABLR. Very impressed with 8133. Velocities are similar to Retumbo but seems to shoot a lot cleaner. I was getting a lot of carbon fowling with the Retumbo. Been able to produce great groups with all of them but I think IMR 8133 or possibly the 7977 should be similar in burn rate and temp stability as RL 26. Someone else can chime in here and dial in on burn rate comps. Both IMR powders advertise the same copper fowling agents like in the RL 26. I haven't tested 7977 as extensively in my 7RM because it was a pound of powder my father had bought for me to load his 270, so I just dabbled with a few charges. Had a screamer of a load found for 8133 anyway so I didn't feel the need to fuss with it. Velocities in the 270 however, with 7977 is impressive. I've found them to be very temp stable but I don't have recorded data to support. After all that rambling, I suggest trying out either IMR 7977 or IMR 8133.
Reloader 22 is a great powder in a 7 mag. I have run it for a long time in both of my 7's. I use one for hunting and one for long shooting, but recently I changed powders in the long range 7 to retumbo it seems to burn at a more stable rate and I can put more powder in the case. In the hunting rifle I use 63 grains behind a 150 gr Sierra gameking. The range rifle shoots 67 grains of retumbo behind a 180 gr Sierra match king. So either of the two powders would do well I believe.So apparently rl-26 has fallen off the face of the earth. Which is a shame because I had a great load worked up for my rifle. Anyhow, what would be a good replacement that would give me decent velocity and fairly stable? I shoot in anywhere from below 0 to 85 degrees depending on the time of year. I used to run rl-22 and it gave me great results, but I've read its unstable. Powders on my list of possibilities that I can get local are rl-22, rl-25, h1000, and retumbo. Will be shooting 162-180 class bullets.