are these the same powders. One books says re22 and the other has rl22 . I just dont want to get confused here.

Most loading manuals will specify in the front what the re and rl means. I even seen some with rx i believe. Look in the manual, but i am alomost certain they are the same powder. But always check the manual. They should both be reloader 22.

It is the same powder but lots do vary.

The original Hercules line of powders was called "RelOdeR" with each of the capital R's spelled as the Rx symbol for "prescription" or "medicine". They were typically abbreviated "Rx-7" or "Rx-21", etc. They were originally made in the U.S.

The line virtually went away at one time, but eventually morphed into the current powders manufactured by Bofors in Europe and distributed by Alliant, the successor to Hercules. Reloader 7 is the only number still in use from the original line, and is now obviuosly a different powder, but has very similar burning characteristics to the original.

Various reloading manuals have abbreviated these powders as "Rx-", "RL-", or "RE-". Except for the pre-Bofors powders, all three of the references are to the same powder. So yes, the designations "RE-22" and "RL-22" are referring to the same powder.

Be advised, however, that this line of powders is famous for wide lot-to-lot variations, so even the "same" powder may not behave exactly the same as your last cannnister with that designation.

Thanks guys for the info. The bottle is marked ReLOdeR22 so i had no doubt of the powder, it was just the difference in the books i have, one book called for RE 22 and the other RL22. I just didnt want to make any mistakes here right before elk season.
Would hate to have waited all yr for Elk season and screw myself or someone else up by not asking the dumb question, which of course, is the one you dont ask.

Same stuff...