The Accurate Reloading Forums
RL17

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https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/5651021232

19 May 2017, 22:28
z1r
RL17
I was just offered an unopened 5 lb jug of RL17 at a price that is too good to pass up. Problem is I haven't a clue what cartridges is good in. I hear tell it's pretty good in the 9,3x62, wondering what else it may outstanding in?




Aut vincere aut mori
19 May 2017, 22:32
ramrod340
Pretty much any of the 06 based cartridges. 338-06 35 Whelen. My 380PDK (375 Whelen++) loves it.

Simply think of a slow lot of IMR4350.

For top loads you will be doing a touch of compression.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
19 May 2017, 22:47
dpcd
Right; it is on the slow side for 9.3 use, but if the price is good, buy it anyway. It will still work.
20 May 2017, 00:28
lawndart
It should do good work in your 9.3x64 with the heavier bullets. Also useful in your 8x68S. Jump on it.


20 May 2017, 01:12
McKay
my 375 flanged loves it.


Mac

20 May 2017, 03:27
30.06king
Impressive performance in my 30.06 and .300 Win Mag loads, both shooting Barnes TTSX 165 gn. One major advantage with RL17 and the long mono-metals that take up more case space than lead core projectiles is maximum fps can be obtained for the available case volume without unduly high pressures. Most times I find the Barnes TTSX most accurate at, or sightly over max book loads.
RL17 is one of my favourite powders. I would buy it in a heartbeat.


Hunting.... it's not everything, it's the only thing.
20 May 2017, 03:59
DannoBoone
I've used it in 7mmWSM, 25-06 and .243. In those cartridges, it does best with
heavy-for-caliber bullets, both in accuracy and speed. Would it have the same
tendency for larger calibers?......?
20 May 2017, 04:01
Ackley Improved User
It's kind of a "supercharged" (double base) 4350 and works well in many, many cartridges, across the board.
20 May 2017, 04:29
z1r
Thanks all. I'll be picking some up. Seems it'll work well in my 6mm Rem as well.

Knowing it'll work in the 9x,3x64 as well as the 62 is a bonus!




Aut vincere aut mori
20 May 2017, 19:25
memtb
z1r, It works great in my .375 AI, with both the Barnes 250 TTSX and the 270 TSX. memtb


You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
20 May 2017, 19:52
Ackley Improved User
With my 375 AI (26" barrel) I'm using 83.5 grs of Re17 with 300 gr TBBCs and getting 2830 fps at the muzzle. Case life is satisfactory, but this is a hot hunting load for Africa.
20 May 2017, 19:55
Dead Eye
I have used it in anything from a 260 rem up to 338 win mag with usually 50-100 fps gains over 4350 loads.
20 May 2017, 20:50
z1r
All great info. I heard it was very good in the 9,3x62 so I looking forward to trying it in one of mine.

Also, looks like it does nicely in the 6mm Rem.

Looking forward to trying it out.




Aut vincere aut mori
20 May 2017, 21:34
ramrod340
quote:
With my 375 AI (26" barrel) I'm using 83.5 grs of Re17 with 300 gr TBBCs and getting 2830 fps at the muzzle. Case life is satisfactory, but this is a hot hunting load for Africa

Scared me for a moment I was thinking Whelen AI shocker

For the H&H AI that would be a nice load.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
20 May 2017, 21:37
Jiri
Works great for me in .375 H&H (76 gr of powder for 300gr bullet) and 8x57JS (54 gr for 196gr bullet).

More info:

It is Swiss made nitroglycerine impregnated single based powder, sold as Alliant Reloader 17 or Swiss Reload 60. It is maybe sold under more different names/brands.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/p...owder/reloder17.aspx

https://www.reload-swiss.com/e...fle_powder/index.php

Works for me best when compressed a little.
Jiri
20 May 2017, 22:48
INTJ
I use it in my 450 Nitro Express and have used it in 338 Win and 340 Wby. It's also a good powder for the WSMs.
21 May 2017, 04:56
woods
I only use it in my

22-250 shooting 75 gr bullets at 3150
6.5 rem mag shooting 130 gr bullets at 3175
280AI shooting 160 gr bullets at 3050
30-06 shooting 200 gr bullets at 2725
375 Ruger shooting 270 gr bullets at 2850

other than that, it's pretty useless Roll Eyes


____________________________________
There are those who would misteach us that to stick in a rut is consistency - and a virtue, and that to climb out of the rut is inconsistency - and a vice.
- Mark Twain |

Chinese Proverb: When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.

___________________________________
21 May 2017, 05:33
richj
250 Savage
21 May 2017, 14:47
M 98
R17

3006 200 GN NOSLER 2725
180 GN NOSLER 2925

375 RUGER 260 PARTITION 3000 FPS
300 GN NOSLER 2700 FPS

416 RUGER 400 WOODLEIGH 2400FPS
21 May 2017, 18:52
z1r
M 98, the 416 Ruger info is encouraging. Thanks much!




Aut vincere aut mori
21 May 2017, 22:24
ColoradoMatt
The real guns dot com article on 9.3x62 has a lot loads for most available bullets. RL17 gets the fastest velocities for every bullet weight, and those velocities are incredible!


Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
22 May 2017, 21:55
Jiri
So my conclusion is:

It works from some .22 through .30, 8mm, .375, .416 up to .585 Hubel Express what I know. Giving great accuracy, consistency and excellent velocities in many calibers. Temperature insensitive, easy to load. Clean burning. What to want more?

Maybe the most usable rifle powder out there.

Jiri
23 May 2017, 00:30
Ackley Improved User
Here is a nice link..

http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html
23 May 2017, 02:39
Bob from down under
I like using it with 308 Win and 210 bergers.


Regards,
Bob.
23 May 2017, 17:05
Jiri
Official load data (RL17 and RS60 - the same powder):

http://www.alliantpowder.com/r...der.aspx?powderid=25

https://www.reload-swiss.com/e...er=RS60&hersteller=-
23 May 2017, 21:22
Ackley Improved User
In the beginning there was black powder. ... There are two basic types of modern smokeless powder: single and double base. Single-base smokeless powder is made from nitrocellulose. Double-base smokeless powder is a combination of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. Definition provided Feb 9, 2012
.
This is what the Swiss say about RS60 (Re17)...” RS60 is an extruded, single-based propellant powder based on nitrocellulose. A unique impregnation method using nitroglycerine
assures top performance.”

How can it be “single-base” yet contain both nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine? Doesn't this fit the definition of a double-base powder.
24 May 2017, 02:19
ramrod340
quote:
How can it be “single-base” yet contain both nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine

Confused Yep that confuses this old mine.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
24 May 2017, 02:39
Jiri
I believe (I don't know) that it has something to do with manufacturing process.

Single based is made out of nitrocellulose.

Double based is made out of nitrocellulose enriched with nitroglycerine (or whatever nitro ester). What I understand is that RL-17 is made from nitrocellulose as single based and later in manufacturing process it is "impregnated" with nitroglycerine. Maybe, the nitroglycerine is only shallow in surface and not in the core of grains.
24 May 2017, 02:57
ramrod340
Could also simply be marketing. To make the procedure seem new. coffee

With the bad press about double based being more temp sensitive and "harder" on the barrel. Amazed me how so many bragged about MRP but hate RL22. Roll Eyes Let's make RL17 sound different. Best of both worlds???

I don't really care. It seems to work well in several of my rifles. The can have a witch saying a spell over it I don't care. Big Grin


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
25 May 2017, 04:33
Nakihunter
Slightly off topic - I have never understood why some highly recommended powders never worked for me

MRP & Re22 are virtually identical and highly recommended for calibers such as 6.5X55, 280 AI etc. I averaged 100+ fps below target velocity. In one case it was more like 150 fps below.

I never got top velocities with these powders. On the other hand N560 - also a double based powder - has given me great results.


"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
28 May 2017, 20:04
Atkinson
Ive done a lot of work with the 9.3x62 and my best load is 63.6 grs. of RL-17 and any 286 gr. bullet, Its accurate and muzzle velocity is in excess of 2500 FPS by a tad...Its about 50 FPS faster than my old load of RL-15, and pressure is a little less apparently..Its a near max load in my gun so start 10% low and work up..

I used the old Balistic tips no longer available but the Accubond is supposed to be the same thing..I also shot the 286 Nosler partition and the 286 gr. HOrnady, all shoot about the same in my gun, A 24 inch Huskvarna with a Douglas barrel.

RL-17 gave me more velocity, apparantly less pressure it seems, and more velocity than any other powder, RL-15 and H414 gave a distant second place IMO, but RL-15 and H414 are still good powders in the 9,3x62..


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com