15 October 2006, 09:25
Rich SReloader 15
I've been experimenting with Reloader 15 lately, bought a couple of 1 pound cans and assumed they were from the same lot. The funny part is I've never shot a more accurate powder that is so inconsistant. After finishing the first can I switched to the second and immediately started throwing lighter charges through my powder measure. I adjusted the powder measure so it was throwing the same weight and accuracy has not changed. Through my Sako 22-250 Varmiter I'm getting 1 hole 5 shot groups at 100 yds and 1/2-5/8" at 200 with a load of 35 grains a 52 grain A-max and a CCI BR primer. I'm also getting superb accuracy out of my AR-15 with the 69 grain SHPBTM and 24 grains with the Fed match primer. On Bench rest central I've seen a lot of people claim that they'll never use this powder because of the variations in loading density and apparently inconsistant chamber pressures. How can powder that is so inconsistant be so accurate?
15 October 2006, 09:54
ZekeRL-15 is one of my favorite powders. I use it in 303 British, 308 and 300 Savage. Been using it for years.
That being said, it meters sporadically in my (insert laugh track here) Lee powder measure. Sometime meters fine. Sometimes terrible. I always blamed the measure and figured when I needed to use RL-15 again, I'd just chuck the "Perfect" powder measure and get an RCBS measure.
So maybe it's the powder, not the measure. Never noticed a difference over the chonograph using the same load and different lots.
Now I'm curious.
ZM
15 October 2006, 16:39
Mark TaylorThere you go hammering on your Lee again Zeke. It does work.
16 October 2006, 00:26
ZekeNot hammerin'
My bench is a sea of red!
ZM
16 October 2006, 04:05
PeterOK so will this problem go away if you weigh each charge? To be quite honest unless I am loading a whole bunch, I will set the powder measue to throw just under the weight into the scale pan, and then make up the rest with a trickler. I have a can of RL 15 and little use for it, so, I am interested in your 223 AR15 load.
Peter.
16 October 2006, 05:15
Rich SI also use the Lee powder measure and have since it came out. I never saw any reason to upgrade something that works so well. I weigh each load when I deal with extruded powders anyway so I set it a couple of tenths shy and use a trickeler to get it right. It shoots great out of my AR just keep the OAL to around 2.230 so it will function out of the magazine.My .223 load is either Federal comercial brass or Lake City surplus trimmed to .223 length 24 grains of Reloader 15 Fed Match small rifle primer Sierra 69 grain hpbt match loaded to 2.230 OAL. My AR is a Armalite M-15 20" national match flat top 1-8"twist.