Guys,

Have any of you noticed that RL22 produces a large muzzle flash when used with 130 grs bullets in a .270 Win?? I'm shooting a 22" barrel.

I'm wondering whether RL22 might be a tad slow for this combination, and that the muzzle flash might result from powder burning at or after exiting the barrel?? (Don't know how realistic this scenario is??) If this was the case, would using a powder as slow as this cause extra barrel corrosion (unburnt powder granules - don't know how realistic this is either?)??

Educate me, please...

- mike

Most powders burn completely by the time the bullet has travelled only a few inches down the bore. The muzzle flash is from hot residual gas or carbon particles that glow when they exit the muzzle.

Mike,

RL22 is double base - in fact being from alliant it has one of the highest nitroglycerin contents around. Double base powders generaly use deterrents or coatings to reduce flame temperature which have a secondary effect of increasing muzzle flash over similar burning rate powders.

The wear from physical erosion will be lesser IMHO than that caused by the extra temperature of using a high NG content powder.

RL22 is among the finest powders one can use in the .270. It ranks favorably with the old tried and true IMR (or Hodgdon) 4831

Being a huge fan of the .270, I've probably used every powder known to man. I can't say that RL22 is the best, but it sure is good accuracy wise. I've had the best results with H4831, but then again, I can't imagine any slow powder that wouldn't render at least decent results.

Anyone ever run a 270 with that light bullet
and slow powder on a PT? Ed.

RL-22 From 51.0 grains to 61.3 grains
Winchester WLR Primer

I prefer:
RL-19 From 48.4 grains to 60.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer

MHO, nothing, including RL19 and the 4831's, can match the velocity and accuracy of the 130/RL22 load in my 22" bbl'd 270 (3,150 fps). Still, I prefer H4831sc at 50 fps less because it's equally accurate while being temperature insensitive. I've found RL22 to be quite unpredictable lot to lot while being VERY tempurature sensitive... I've given up completely on RL22.

Mike, I like RL-22 in the 270 because it has given me excellent accuracy in a couple 270's. If I were going to be hunting in the Antarctic I might try a less temperature sensitive powder but most of my hunting is done in moderate temperatures. I shot a deer last year with my 20" barrel Finnlite and the following load. The group is at 300 yards......





My 270 Beretta Mato shoots (on a good day) about 1 1/2" at 300yds with RL-22 and 140gr Accubonds.
I think the best comment I've heard about RL-22 is that it is one of the most accurate and easy to load powders for any cartridge that likes slow powders that exists although it is temperature sensitive.
I've bought most of the 4-5 Kegs of RL-22 from the same supplier so some of them have been the same lot and I've not noticed a big difference from lot to lot because I may have been using mostly the same one.
As far as muzzle flash goes it's probably less of a concern for us since we don't hunt at night as is legal in some European locations. It may be more of a concern for you.
I wouldn't worry too much about muzzle wear since recrowning isn't too expensive, and I'm not so sure it's a real issue anyway. If RL-22 is otherwise performing well for you I wouldn't worry about it.
If you are really wanting to experiment with other powders anyway the first ones I would try would be of course H-4831 and then maybe Ramshots new "Magnum" powder. "Magnum" might be available to you in Europe under a different name, I think it's made in Belgium. For a while I shot a bit of High-Power Silhouette with a 270 Winchester and used IMR-4831 with 150gr bullets. The IMR-4831 is a little quicker and may not have the reputation of temperature insensitivity as H-4831 but it sure shot well in a couple of 270 Win's I shot it in.
Good luck, Have Fun, and I'm still hoping to meet you someday in Die Schwiez...Tschuss............DJ

Why aren't you working you bum. Good to see you posting. Tommy says not to modify that Mato extra and tight magazine box you got from him as he has another that will probably fit better.See you when you get home again.

DJ, the temp swings here from summer load time to fall hunting can exceed 100 deg's... the "arctic" has nothing to do with it.

quote:

Originally posted by hubel458:
Anyone ever run a 270 with that light bullet
and slow powder on a PT? Ed.

Ed, some time back I posted a trace I ran with the 130 gr and R22 in my 270 Win. The topic was on secondary pressure spikes and I`m sure you had a few comments posted also. Run a search for the last month and I`m sure you`ll find it.

That is great feedback guys.

1894, it was interesting to read about the composition of the RL (Norma) powders!

The reason I try to stay with as few powders as possible (I also use RL22 in .300 WM, .257 Wby etc), is that powder is about 2-3 times as expensive over here, as it is in the States. We pay of the order of 45$ for 1 lbs of RL22 - compared to 15-20$ in the States... The more powder types you use, the more they stack up in your reloading room. I'm probably already way over what my fire department would like... Also, availability of various powder types is very spotty over here. It is only of late I have been able to buy RL 22 in Switzerland, prior to that I relied on imports. I can get most of the Hodgdon powders, though, so H4831 remains a viable alternative. I have never seen the SC version here in Europe, though. Maybe in another 10 years or so... You US guys don't know how good you have it. Now appreciate it, damn it!

Thanks again.

- mike

I don't think it is too slow for the .270 Win. And the test of whether it is too slow or not is based on chronograph results, not on the apparent size of the muzzle flash! A slow powder that maintains high pressures on the bullet base all the way to the muzzle produces higher velocities, and along with these pressure/velocity levels comes a larger muzzle flash!

RE 22 is not so much different from H4831, except that it occupies less space in the case, thereby permitting you to get a little more of it into a non-magnum case like the .270. It SHOULD therefore allow you to get velocities at least as high as you can get with H4831, which has always been considered the "GO-TO" powder for the .270 Win. with both 130 and 150-grain bullets.