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RL-33 Load Data

Alliant is still using 24 inch barrels for their test data right??
If so, some of the loads are decent improvements. And it should be more temp stable. I have used some rl50 and rl17 and they've been good performers, but I don't know about real world temp stability.
 
Alliant is still using 24 inch barrels for their test data right??
If so, some of the loads are decent improvements. And it should be more temp stable. I have used some rl50 and rl17 and they've been good performers, but I don't know about real world temp stability.

Hey lefty, I just read in Rifleshooter mag that a max charge of RL 33 , 85.7 grains behind a 175 speer will yield 3033 fps, versus 74.0 rl25 @ 2947, all in a 24 inch barrel. This stuff looks interesting in the STW with heavy bullets. I think it will really benefit the larger calibers with heavy bullets even better. My guess is the burn rate is similar to VN-170. Don't know about the temp sensitivity though!!!!!
 
Hey lefty, I just read in Rifleshooter mag that a max charge of RL 33 , 85.7 grains behind a 175 speer will yield 3033 fps, versus 74.0 rl25 @ 2947, all in a 24 inch barrel. This stuff looks interesting in the STW with heavy bullets. I think it will really benefit the larger calibers with heavy bullets even better. My guess is the burn rate is similar to VN-170. Don't know about the temp sensitivity though!!!!!
I'll buy some and work it over when it shows up, and I don't wait for data. I've been working with mil-surp long enough to work with unknown powders. I'll tell ya though, even after doing my own developement for years, I still get apprehensive about that first trigger pull with an unknown powder. After I know where I've landed, it's cool, but that first shot......... I've already worked rl50 over in the 300u, and it's good but it needs rather heavy compression to get 3K out of a 225, I bet I could break 3100 with the 300u with 33 if it's slow enough. The stw hasn't eaten rl50 as it isn't quite as over-bore as the 300u.
An 80 fps edge with rl33 is pretty good, as rl25 is one of the best in the stw.
The new nitrochemme(?spelling) powders have a different powder structure as far as burn rate modifiers as far as I've read, and it's supposed to help with temp sensitivity. I have seen at least some speed difference even with the hodgdon(wicked temp extremes here in the Dakotas), but it seems as though when a lot of this stuff is temp sabilized, they take some speed off the table. H4831 is a prime example. With new powder, I can barely get 3050 to 3100 fps with a 180 in my 300win; in old paper can stuff(war surp), I could get 3150 and it wanted more.
 
I didn't really care about this stuff 'cause I have a great Berger 210 VLD load and I'm fine tuning a load for 230 OTM's and H1000 that I'm pretty happy with....then I ran it through QL to see what all the hoopla was. Whoa!

If it performs like QL is projecting for my setup I might have to start over again. Using this stuff I'd gain +,- 100 fps. at 100% fill with tolerable pressures. That's bandwagon-worthy to me.

The only reasons I'd turn away from it is if it turns out to be too erratic in varying temps or if it causes a pucker to afford it. I'll have to at least give it a test drive.

Holding breath....
 
8 lbs was delivered two weeks ago from Powder Valley. Tested it in four rifles. It really shines in the 6mm-284 with a 178 fps gain over max load of Retumbo, 90 fps over max load of RL-25 in a 257 weatherby and it it was no slouch with the 24" barreled 300 RUM with 230 gr target hybrids, at 2975 fps. The 162 A-max in a 24" 7 rem mag showed no gain over retumbo. See whole thread here:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/tried-rl-33-three-different-chamberings-today-99570/
 
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