Hello
I did this a few years ago, but since hunting seasons are coming up thought it might be of interest. And of course, if Rx 16 can be found these days...
I noticed that Speer, in their new #15 manual, tested Rx 16 and they found it to be the top performer in 30/06 with their 150gr. bullets.

https://i.postimg.cc/Y92wQXM0/Speer-150gr-sized.jpg


So I got inspired to test this in my rifle, and while I was at it, test some other powders that I haven’t used in ’06 with 150gr bullets, and some that I have, to see if I could duplicate their results. This rifle has not seen any 150gr Speer’s before.

The rifle is a Ruger M77 SS MkII 22” bbl.

The two powders that weren’t tested by Speer that I tried here were Norma 204 and Norma URP. Data for these came from the Norma website.
So I assembled some rounds and went to the range. Here is the first day;
Velocity data taken with an Oehler Mod 33 chronograph
Sky screens centered 15’ from muzzle.
Range 100 yards.




Pic
Well looks like Rx 16 is indeed the top performer.

With AR Comp, 2000-MR and Rx 17 I got nowhere near what Speer got. AR Comp shot a nice group on that day, but when I see a group like that from a rifle that never shot a group like that in its life, I take it with a high degree of suspicion.
The H-414 group, I forget to turn on the chronograph.. But this load shoots in the high 2800’s usually.
I was a little cautious with IMR 4451 starting out.
No surprises with IMR4350, H-380, or H-414. They shot these Speers about the same as other 150gr bullets.
Norma URP was a nice surprise.

Now Norma’s data for N204 was a little off it seems.. The load was so slow the rounds missed the target. Did a little research and discovered an N204 Propellant Profile article by Wooters, where he uses 63.0grs of N204 with 150gr bullets in 30/06..
So I assembled some more rounds for a re-shoot and bump IMR4451 and N204 a bit.



The second day at the range.. Rx 16 proved to be the top performer again.
Worked up to 60.0grs with IMR 4451.. The load was warm in my rifle but not terrible. Not a choice load here.
Got a good chrono read with H-414 this time. This has been one of the most consistently accurate loads in this rifle.
AR Comp showed what I would believe to be its true colors.
Norma URP didn’t do quite so good this time.
N204 is getting there.. Need to take it up more.

So, I shot some more N204.. 62.0grs and 63.0grs.




62 grains shot very well. 63 grains was a little warm.

Here is a little graph for the 150gr project.




Now I wanted to see how Rx 16 would handle 180gr bullets.
So I loaded up some Sierra Spitzer BT’s in Winchester brass and Fed 210 primers.





This is really amazing. 54.5grs of anything has never produced anything even close to 2700 fps in this rifle. Speer lists 55.2grs of Rx 16 as max. As you can see accuracy drops off as charges increase, but this 54.5 grain load is just fine. These loads did not produce any signs of excess pressure, other than 55.5 grs. Showed some slight extractor marks.
I believe Rx 16 just might prove to be one of the all-time great powders in 30/06. We’ll see in time.

Good writeup and there should be a nugget in there for someone loading the '06.

Guns are such individuals that data won't perfectly translate across from one gun to another but it would give a guy something to chew on.

Zeke

Exactly..

quote:

ZekeShikar
posted 29 September 2022 08:03
Good writeup and there should be a nugget in there for someone loading the '06.

Guns are such individuals that data won't perfectly translate across from one gun to another but it would give a guy something to chew on.

Exactly right. The poster gave an informative presentation of his results. A well conducted test. I've done similarly with one of my 30.06 rifles. Never tried RL16 but would with suitable opportunity. I remember testing Barnes TTSX 165 and 180 gn bullets and obtaining excellent accuracy with Norma URP. Went and bought several pounds of same batch URP that should keep me going a few years yet.