Who has loaded RL-17 was it good or bad from your experience. or should i stay with the 4350'S

So far it has been good in a 300 WSM with 165-200 grain bullets.
I think it burns cooler than IMR-4350 and the push in somewhat lessened.

It did really well in my 300 win Mag,pushing 180gr bullets a little over 3200fps.Also did well in my 270 Win pushing 150gr bullets at 2850fps.In my 300WSM using the same weight charge as I use with IMR-4350 and 165gr bullets,I was getting 150fps higher velocity,but not as good of groups as IMR-4350.I was able to get my highest velocities ever in the 300WSM,3220fps,but just would not group for me.You can load R-17 about the same as IMR-4350 and you will get a little higher velocity.My 300 Win Mag loves it.

I changed over from RL22 to RL17 in all of my short mags--270WSM, 7mmWSM and 300WSM. In my 300WSM I pushed 180gr Sierras up to 3150mv without any problem. I tried it in my 25-06 but accuracy was better with RL22 in this particular rifle.

Been using it with my 6.5x55 and 129gn Hornady Interlock. Got good speeds but a large standard deviation. Gone back to IMR 4350 and happy as a pig in muck...

Finman

RL-17 is great if you want Mediocre accuracy and like to cut your barrel life in half!

I had high hopes but my experiences have been lukewarm. I tried it in my 30-06, 7mm-08 and my son's 270 Win and in every case the velocities have been good but not the 100-200 fps extra claimed and accuracy has been about average. After I finish up these last 2 pounds I'll probably stick with other powders as the accuracy in each of those has been about 4-=5-% better in terms of group size and velocity variation. Perhaps it just works better in the short fat powder colums of the WSMs for which it was developed as I understand.
Paul

I can vouch for RL-17 in 300 WSM. I use 65.5 gr with 180 gr TTSXs and get 3080 fps with sub-MOA accuracy. I backed down a half-gr from 66 and accuracy improved with only 10 fps loss of velocity.

I also use it for 375 Ruger, 350 gr TSXs with 71 gr at 2380 fps. Max for me was right around 72 gr with very similar speeds. Accuracy was right at MOA for this load.

I am very pleased with this powder for these 2 calibers.

quote:

Originally posted by rcamulia:
RL-17 is great if you want Mediocre accuracy and like to cut your barrel life in half!

Ehhhhhhhhh! (sound of wrong answer buzzer instead of ding-ding for correct answer)

RL17 is a fast powder like the 4350 so should not be a barrel burner

Accuracy?

It's what I use in my 6.5x47 bench gun under 130gr Bergers.

I've had real good luck with R-17 in the 300WSM,270WSM,280AI,284 tried it in the 7x57 and 30-06 was so-so.

quote:

RL17 is a fast powder like the 4350 so should not be a barrel burner

Famous last words. .

In the hunting cartridges you load for, you may never load and shoot enough to see it, but I burned out a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel in half the time than everyone else does with H4350.

I now use H4350, have better accuracy, no temperature sensitivity, and am sure I will double my barrel life.

quote:

Originally posted by rcamulia:

quote:

RL17 is a fast powder like the 4350 so should not be a barrel burner

Famous last words. .

In the hunting cartridges you load for, you may never load and shoot enough to see it, but I burned out a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel in half the time than everyone else does with H4350.

I now use H4350, have better accuracy, no temperature sensitivity, and am sure I will double my barrel life.

Anecdotal evidence

You probably got a soft barrel

All indications are that the burn rate of RL17 is right there with the 4350's

It's touted as giving 150 to 200 fps more velocity than other powders (Which it does)

Do you think that extra velocity comes with no price?

It's a high intensity/energy powder that Alliant says "Remarks:
Similar burn speed to IMR 4350 with added velocity"

From 6mmBr:

quote:

Caution -- The 6.5-284 already has a reputation as a barrel burner. We can't predict the long-term effects of using RL17 and shooting 150-200 fps faster, but the higher velocities might cause barrels to wear even more quickly.

Here is something from 6br site comparing H-4350,R-17,H-4831sc in a custom 284.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek095.html

I should add my 284 is alittle different that the one posted above with 52.5gr/R-17 with 160gr AB I'm at 2984fps.

RL-17 has worked great for me in 30-06 (2 bolt guns) and 300WSM. Accurate and a boost in velocity over 4350.

That 6mmbr site suggests a grain-for-grain substitution rate for those 3 powders. Is that generally accepted when substituting RL-17 for H4350?

quote:

Originally posted by rcamulia:
RL-17 is great if you want Mediocre accuracy and like to cut your barrel life in half!

what kind of objective evidence do you have for these allegations?

Refer to the above.

quote:

Originally posted by Aggie:
That 6mmbr site suggests a grain-for-grain substitution rate for those 3 powders. Is that generally accepted when substituting RL-17 for H4350?

Wished I could tell you I ran H-4350 in my 284 but I didn't so don't have any idea if you can substitute grain for grain.

Alot of the guys on the 6br site are using R-17 in various caliber so be best to get on their forum.

quote:

Originally posted by rcamulia:
RL-17 is great if you want Mediocre accuracy and like to cut your barrel life in half!

I'll support that!