Just noticed that RL 17 has about the same powder burn rate as the H4350, has anyone been happy using RL 17? I asked because I hear almost everyone talking about H4350 for that particular round. Or maybe H4350 has been more consistent than RL 17, this curious mind wants to know.

Do some research on the R17 about the temp stability of it, and you won't want to use it. In your 30", I certainly wouldn't use it, since you will show pressure more with it in hot temps. It's a double base powder, with A LOT of energy, which makes it temp sensitive. It will get more speed than H4350, but at a cost.

Something you could look into is H4831, or the newer R16. The 4831 would give you a longer pressure curve, and could bump up your speeds in a longer 30" barrel.

[quote=ChadTRG42}
Something you could look into is H4831, or the newer R16. The 4831 would give you a longer pressure curve, and could bump up your speeds in a longer 30" barrel. [/quote]

Are you referring to the H4831SC? I use it in my 6.5 x 284

Yes Chad, the RL 17 velocity is insane. RL 17 in a .284 Winchester pushing a 180 Berger at 3,000 fps is fast. I just read this article. http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html

I played with it some in other calibers and the speed was outstanding but like Chad mentioned I didn't feel like it as temp stable enough.

Chad is on the money. If you're wanting to bang steel at 1000, it's not stable enough. I have detailed data on its behavior in the .30-06 and it will perform differently with only a 30-degree temp change. I think it will work fine for typical hunting up to 300 yards, but I may go with loads for warm weather and loads for cooler weather. Don't know yet.

I use R15 in my 260. I never knew it was temp sensitive, but then again there is a lot of stuff IDK.

15 isn't as bad as 17...it is still a bit temp sensitive but nothing like 17.

Never say never, but I'll never use a powder that fluctuates in ambient temperature changes. Even the normal deer range shots I've taken (less than 250 yards) I can't, in good conscience, use a powder that will cause vertical dispersion due to temperature swings. I like to shoot does in the brainstem. Small target means you need a tight shooting rifle as well as a tight shooting load.

I am in South Texas, its mostly warm to hot down here. Possibly RL 17 won't have much of an effect on temp change in my parts except winter days. I use RL 19 mostly for my 7 Mag for hunting, have not seen much of a problem, but I have seen a couple of lower POI ( 2 to 3 inches) during cold spells at long distance.

I have hunted Rockchucks with a group of guys from Utah and they think Reloader 17 is the best thing since sliced bread. They are very knowledgable LR shooters too. They were shooting 6x47 and 6.5x47 Lapua's with great results but that's in Utah.

Round here, temps from teens to 100F, DA from -300' to +3500'. I need stability wherever I can get it.

If memory serves me right the x47 was designed with rl17 in mind.

I use R17 behind 120 Nosler BT's in my 260. Super accuracy, but I'm not a long range shooter, at least not out past 400 yards. I doubt I'll see any problems with what I need it for.

As for temperature instability, I just threw away an empty pound bottle of the stuff, and the bottle made no mention of temp stability. The new bottle says, on the front, "consistent max velocity in extreme weather conditions". So...maybe the temp stability problem has been addressed.

Maybe the long range guys need to give it another try.

My 5-pound jug says the same thing on it, but it sure doesn't meet my idea of what a temperature tolerant powder should be.

Not trying to be argumentative, but does anyone have hard data on temps and velocity variance? Data that they personally gathered?

First hand, right here, and I'm sure Chad's got data too.

603, I know you'll want to know more so here's what my data is saying about using Re17 in .30-06 with a 180-grain Partition...from 40 degrees F to 60 degrees F, I got a 35 fps increase in velocity. That's 1.75 fps per degree F. A load developed at 90 degrees F could lose up to 120 fps or more when fired at 20 degrees F, which is not an unrealistic temperature range in this part of the world. In my case, a fairly stiff charge of Re17 yielded outstanding velocity when fired at 40 degrees last fall but when fired this spring when it was 60 degrees velocities were suggesting pressures beyond my own comfort zone. I'm reworking the load now and have found another node (I think) which a much safer margin for error---or maybe I should say margin for temperature.

You ever try shooting from a bench?

JG's idea of stability is when he can't possibly fall down because he's already just about got his face in the dirt. It's actually kinda hard to argue against that notion.

That's exactly right!






Shut up, Judd.

RiverRider, thanks for the feedback. Very interesting. Since I don't compete, don't bang steel, and my hunting rarely includes hot weather, I'll just keep using the R17. The load I'm shooting is super accurate at the distances I shoot, so I can't bring myself to mess with it or change powders.

I think I feel the same way about Re17, 603. I had a scare with it about five years ago and steered clear of it until recently when o decided to give it a try in .30-06 with 180 Partitions. I think it's a good powder as long as you steer clear of those ragged edge charge weights. I'm still on the fence as far as seasonal loads go, though.

When R17 first came out, I bought some to play with. I even did a few load work ups with it, and the powder did shoot great with an increase in speeds. But, what I've seen is the powder is so aggressive (double based, extruded), that the change in temps will alter the pressure and fps enough to change up the accuracy node. I have seen this multiple times with my ammo when using R17, and from talking to other shooters. One of the loads I worked up was one of the middle loads I tried (like Load B or C), when I went all the way up to Load E (more powder and faster load). That lighter load ended up having pressure issues in the summer time. I had previously taken the same rifle, same everything, just different temps, with hotter loads and no pressure signs. So, yes, it definitely is more sensitive. There's no free lunch in shooting. Everything is a trade off. I wrote off using R17 in my powder options because of these issues. I keep some on hand because some customers have loads using it.

Yes, for your application, it should do just fine!!! It is a good powder for higher speeds. One of my favorite powders in my 270 Win is IMR 4350, which is also a temp sensitive powder. But for hunting applications and how good it shoots, I won't switch either!