Just wondering if they are similar burn rates? I have data for both powders and will be using these powders in my .25-06 with 26" barrel. Right now I'm loading 4831SC but I was able to pick up a pound of RL-22 the other day for $22 so I thought I'd give it a try. Wondering if I should have bought the RL-25 which they had as well, because my load data shows similar velocities with the RL-22. I was looking for Retumbo to try but no luck there.

RL-22 is a bit slower and might work pretty well in the 25-06. I would think RL-25 and Retumbo would be much to slow of this cartridge. In looking over some of the manuals I have I've noticed the fastest loads seem to be using powders that are in the middle of the road burn rate wise. I use IMR-7828 or H-1000 in my 257 Wby which likes slower powders then the 25-06.

Ken....

Whether RL-22 is slower than H4831 depends somewhat on what lot you get. All of the RL powders (at least those made by Bofors in Sweden, which are identical to several Norma powders) tend to vary significantly lot-to-lot, and RL-22 has the reputation as the most variable. ON AVERAGE, it is only a tiny bit (about one grain in a given load) slower than H4831.

RL-25 is not a great deal slower than RL-22, but it is enough slower that it can be advantageous in the .25-06 when using the heavier bullets. I have no personal experience with Retumbo, but from the data I've seen I would have to disagree with Heat and say that it would be a good fit for the .25-06 using the 115 to 120- grain bullets.

I'm personally using IMR-7828 SSC in my .25-06 under 115gr Ballistic Tips. This combination is yielding 3125 fps and outstanding accuracy. I don't mention the charge because (1) I can't remember offhand, and (2) it would be different for your rifle, anyway.

The lightest bullet I have are the 110 grain Accubond, then I have 115 grain Nosler Partition, 117 Sierra Pro Hunter, and 120 Sierra GK. Just wanting to take advantage of my long barrel, since most data I have on the .25-06 is out of 22" barrels. I had read good things about Retumbo in the .25-06 with longer barrels 26+" that is the reason for looking for slower powders. I'll keep 7828 and H-1000 in mind as well.

H1000 works very well in the .25-06 with heavy bullets,it is about all I use any more.
C.G.B.

I've been a big fan of H4831 in the 270, 30-06, and 300 Win Mag that our family shoots. But I've heard some great things about RL-22 in those calibers and am interested in your results of the comparison. Keep us posted.

H4831 has always acted different for me in many cartridges, and I could never find an acceptable load using it. R-22 should be a good one, as well as R-25. Like Stonecreek, all I use is IMR7828ssc and 115-120grn bullets in the 25-06. He and I must use a similar load, for the velocity he listed is very very close to what I am getting out of three different rifles, all with 24" barrels.

I think one of the biggest differances is H4831 is less temp. sensitive. I used to use a lot of RL series powders, but have been switching most of my loads to the Hodgen Extreme Powders. H4831sc, H4350, plus H380 are my preferred powders.

I have had good luck in the velocity/accurracey department w/ RL22, but I have also seen velocity variations (slower in cold weather and faster in hot weather). I want a powder that is stable (i.e., uniform velocity) in whatever climate I may be using it in.

If neither the 4831sc or the Rel 22 work for you feel free to try the Rel 25 but be prepared to really compress your loads via bullet seating to get what may be your fastest velocties ever. I compress upto 72 gr of Rel 25 in my 30-06 Ackley Imp with 180 Nosler BT/AB's and get upto 3200 fps from 26" barrel.

I have loaded and shot RL-22 since it came out. I load it extensively in my .257 Wby, .270 WSM, 7mm STW, .300 Winny, .340 Wby, .358 STA, .416 Rigby, and others occasionally. I have shot it from -22 degrees in Colorado and Alaska to 105 degrees plus in Africa, and have never seen a discernable difference in performance because of temperature. Good shooting.

RL-22, H-4831SC, and IMR-7828SSC are equally best powders for my 25-06, with 115-120 grain bullets. They flat deliver accuracy.

Thanks guys! Glad to see I was on the right track with the powders I'm trying first. This is my first quarter bore, and I'm not trying to turn it into a .257 Wby just trying to find a flat shooting load with heavy bullets. I'm not really interested in going lighter than 100 grains in the .25-06, going to get a .250 Savage for that!

R22 is a bit slower. IE for carts such as 7RM, 300WM, 270Win, 25-06, etc I usually get 80-100 fps more speed from R22 when working up to the max of both powders. That is not a huge difference, but it is a difference. I'll usually do load work with both and pick the most consistent of the bunch.

Every powder can have lot-to-lot variances, I buy 5 or 8lbers to get around that problem.

Good Luck

Reloader

I shot a hell of a lot of H-4831 and Imr-7828 for years, then the SC variety and SSC variety respectifully. Good loads with each, then RL-22 came along and I got more speed and accuracy than both. I still shoot a lot of all three, but considerably more of the RL-22. Good shooting.

30+ years ago I obtained a custom makers load data for a/b 15 different cartridges. ALL using H4831. One was for the 25-06. It drives 120 Pars through whitetails stem to stern--literally--and shoots 3/4 or less thru a standard 700. I've never loaded anything else. Can't tell you the speed, only that it works.

I own two 25/06's. One with a 22" tube the other with a 24" tube. When it comes to accuracy and vel with 117 gr bullets, my best powder is IMR4831.