Reloader family of powders question
I have a pound of RE-17 and can get RE-19 and RE-22 in good supply locally. They even have 8 pound kegs of red Dot for 149 bucks. [^]
What cartridge families are the individual powders good for.
I load mostly 22BR 6BR 308 30-08 7.62X54R and 8MM Mauser.
What burn rates do they fall into.
Thanks,
Bruce
What cartridge families are the individual powders good for.
I load mostly 22BR 6BR 308 30-08 7.62X54R and 8MM Mauser.
What burn rates do they fall into.
Thanks,
Bruce
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RL-19 is on the slower end of the 30-06 powders, but it's also listed as the "most accurate powder" with 150gr bullets in the Nosler manual. 0 -
Burn rate charts are not going to be much help.
Look at actual loading data.0 -
Rl 22 is too slow to get optimum velocities from those cartridges- it's designed more for magnum cartridges, however Rl 19 is one of the best powders available for 30-06. It's a little slow for the other cartridges, but would still be workable, particularly with heavier bullets. 0 -
as above, the RL17 should work well in all of those 0 -
Reloader 22 will work well in the 30-06 with bullets 180 grain and up.
One of my 25-06's loves Reloader 22 with 115-120 grain bullets.0 -
RL22 is my favorite powder for 130 gr. bullets in my .270's. It's burning rate must be very similar to the old surplus Hodgdon 4831. Of course it's a good powder for other applications, too, especially for magnum cartridges. RL19 is similar to IMR4350 but, of course, you shouldn't substitute data from one to the other. IOW; If the prices are not out of line, stock up and get the data manuals, you'll find those powders very useful. Red Dot is used mostly for shotgun target loads with some application in low end pistol cartridges. 0 -
bpost,
There is a ton of reloading data for these powders although the Alliant site is not necessarily the best unfortunately. Remember that these are all double base powders which includes the addition of nitroglycerine to the nitrocellulose as a component which raises the activity level of the burning. They can be a little harder on barrels.
Here is a hype statement from the release of Re-17 back in 2008:
Alliant Powder, a division of Alliant Tech Systems Inc., (ATK), will be shipping new Reloder 17 powder in mid-March, 2008. This is an all-new, double-base powder produced in Switzerland by NitroChemie for Alliant. It is a high-energy powder with a burn rate close to IMR 4350, and "midway between Reloder 15 and Reloder 19." The powder density is optimized for the short magnum cases such as the 7mm WSM and 300 WSM, but it also will work very well with cartridges such as .243 Win, .270 Win, 6XC, and 6mm Remington, according to Alliant Product Manager Dick Quesenberry.
Granted Mr. Quesenberry is charged with making this release a big hit but their testing leaves a little something to be desired...
"The powder density is optimized for the short magnum cases..."
Well the density may be 'optimized' but the pressure curve with a full case certainly isn't. The lightest bullets in each different case suggested are really the only ones which work properly. Heavier bullets raise the pressure to a point where the charge needs to be reduced to 90% or less. Maybe this is O.K. with the manufacturers but it isn't for me and a bunch of others testing these powders.
Now, on the other hand, Re-17 has a major presence in my powder cabinet but for other cartridges. I use it without hesitation as my primary powder for the 22BR and my 6BRX competition rifle. It performs fine in the .308 with some bullets but Re-15 and IMR-3031 are better choices in my opinion. The 30-06 can use this powder for light bullets including the 178 grain Hornady AMAX without problems. This can be a longer range deer killing combination if the rifle/scope and shooter are up to the task. I was also surprised to find that my 8mm Mauser shoots well with this powder in my competition load using 196 grain HPBT Match bullets.
Re-19 is useful where the 4350 type powders are necessary. I don't have much use for this powder simply because I don't shoot many cartridges in the burn rate.
Re-22 has had a reputation of being inconsistent lot to lot on some occasions. We had a near catastrophic run a few years ago when a batch got out with a much faster burn rate which caused a lot of trouble. The recall was massive and instantaneous fortunately but not before some folks had some extraordinary pressure excursions. I prefer Re-25 for the work that I do so Re-22 isn't required.
Best.0
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