RL33...degradation?

[26Reload]

26nosler loaded with 140acc..fm215...nosler brass...RL33 powder..75gr....
Loads are 2 years old..boxed and tucked away safely...original loads were shooting at 3200fps..today they shot 2950ish....
No signs of pressures..no bullet weld....still shot 1" at 100yds...
But loss of 250fps.....
Any one had any simular loss of fps from loaded ammo with RL33....

 

[Dosh]

Barrel cleaned?

 

[coop2564]

Barrel cleaned and cooler than load last shot?

 

[26Reload]

Been two years since last used..cleaned..put away...cleaning swab put through it this morning before leaving...rockpit was 34 degrees...one shot per rifle(3 rifles)..
walk to 100yd target to mark holes..five rounds fired....
1st....2950
2nd...2980
3rd...2948
4th...2961
5th...2948
Shots 2 3 4 5....
1" vertical..1/4"horizontal
After each shot rifle was played in back of truck on gun case....
Shot really good other than 1st shot low left by 1"...
Just 250fps slower?????

 

[Quintus]

Same chronograph?

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Light affecting your chronograph differently at each outing?? I've shot ammo that was reloaded 20yrs ago without a noticeable decrease in velocity or function.

 

[billcaldwell]

Sorry to hear about the decrease in velocity. I'm a real fan of Reloder 33, and we have several boxes of reloads that are over two years old. We have noticed ZERO decrease in velocity. In fact we've never seen any decrease in velocity nor accuracy. I'm interested in the experience of others. Thanks for posting!

 

[26Reload]

Chrono f1....bullets passing within 4" of eyes....i think with numbers that it pretty solid reading....basically same situation at rockpit....early mornings before sun breaks into the pit...
Looking at noslers book it says that 75gr rl33 should shoot that 140gr acc at 2975.....
And 79 is top at 3110....
Shooting 79 said 3350+....but destroyed brass in one shot....
Why I backed down to 75gr....
Strange to me.....
65284s will send 142 at 2950...

 

[Barrelnut]

Looking at noslers book it says that 75gr rl33 should shoot that 140gr acc at 2975.....

Seems you are currently getting the expected results are per the Nosler book.
Maybe it's the 3200 FPS number from 2 years ago that is wrong?

 

[26Reload]

Well..thats the dilemma...

 

[Frogman77]

I recently cleaned my 300 wsm thoroughly... it literally took almost 20 rounds before speed came back. Clean barrel was almost 150fps slower.

 

[338 dude]

Chrono f1....bullets passing within 4" of eyes....i think with numbers that it pretty solid reading....basically same situation at rockpit....early mornings before sun breaks into the pit...
Looking at noslers book it says that 75gr rl33 should shoot that 140gr acc at 2975.....
And 79 is top at 3110....
Shooting 79 said 3350+....but destroyed brass in one shot....
Why I backed down to 75gr....
Strange to me..
65284s will send 142 at 2950...

My 6.5 x 284 Norma sends a 140 VLD hunting at 2980 fps with 52.5 grains of reloader 23

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

sounds like a fouled barrel pushing pressure up a couple years ago... could be bore wear too if you've been running the rifle quite a bit...

 

[26Reload]

Bought it from Nosler...friends/family deal...guaranteed 100rds or less fired in it....at inspection..very little throat wear.....basically none if compared to my replaced 65284 & 280ai barrels...........
Shooting again today my carbon proof(lapua)as per brass used))was averaging 3010fps..26" barrel..at 52.2gr rl23...fgm210
My proof ss(proof)as per newer barrel))24" barrel..was 2970fps..52.2gr rl23.....fgm210

Tightened the screws throughout all three rifles last nite...making sure no screws binding anywhere..scopes snugged up tight.....

And the first 2 shot from each rifle were...about 35 degrees at rock pit
26Nosler...........2919 & 2920...
Lapua 65284....2985 & 2999...
Proof 65284.....2974 & 2971...

Well...i hope the old saying comes true....."even a blind beaver finds a willa' stick once in a while"......

And....once while guiding for steelhead.....'this is no bs'.....saw a younger beaver swimming next to an old blind beaver to keep it away from my driftboat......maybe that's what I need....a younger beaver.......