I am loading .375 H & H for Africa and have got some very good test loads using RL15. However, at a recent trade meeting a rep from one of the competitive powder companies stated that his powder was more stable and temperature changes from North America to Africa would not vary while my Reloader 15 would. I didn't know that RL-15 was subject to variances? You guys have any experience with this??

First I would take any comment made about another powder brand by a sales rep with a huge grain of salt.

I was told this came from the Hodgdon site. I've never verified it.

POWDER TYPE/0-125* F EXTREME VELOCITY SPREAD (FPS)

1. H4350/4
2. Varget/8
3. H4831C/10
4. RL12/26
5. AA4350/29
6. AA2460/36
7. IMR4064/46
8. VV N550/49
9. RL15/50
10. VV N140/50
11. AA2520/63
12. IMR4350/ 67
13. RL22/75
14. RL19/94
15. AA3100/113
16. W748/114
17. VV N560/121
18. IMR4831/127
19. IMR4895/166

If you worked up a load at the ragged edge of pressure at 0 deg and was going to Africa at 125 I might be concerned. I use Rl15 in my 375H&H here in Houston at 105 and in CO at 20degs and again at 80. Same load. I have no issues other than the slight difference I would equate to elevation differences of 100' and 9300' above sea level.

quote:

temperature changes from North America to Africa would not vary while my Reloader 15 would.

BULL, take the RL-15 loads to Africa. It's a fine powder for African hunting in the .375 H&H

Your Re-15 will serve you well. Comments like that by competitors are commonplace, and, like Paul so correctly stated, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Drop JJ Hack a line over at www.24hourcampfire.com He's the moderator on their African forum and a PH in South Africa. He's been using RL-15 in his .375 H&H in Africa for years with no problems. In fact, it's his favorite powder for that caliber. He also uses this gun as a loaner rifle for clients and it has accounted for a ton of game.

There are probably more RL-15 loads going to Africa in double rifles than any other powder!
I use RL-15 in everything I can from .223 Remington to 404 Jeffery. RL-15 is position sensitive as most pwoders are. If you don't fill the case enough add a tuft of Dacron polyfil! I get very consistant velocities with RL-15.
If RL-15 will work in Texas heat it will work in Africa!

I always like IMR 4064 for my 375 H&H.

Varget, IMR 4064 and RL-15 are very similar as far as burn rate and application. I am seriously considering using RL-15 in all of my loads that currently have IMR 4064 and Varget.

I have been using IMR 4064 for a looooongtime (my first powder) and I don't take the switch lightly. Varget seems to vary so much lot to lot so it is not hard to abandon; plus it hasn't been around nearly as long, nor loaded very much by me. RL-15 meters so much smoother than IMR 4064 through my Uniflow powder measure and that may be the driving factor.

Perhaps I should have started my own thread instead of replying here?

Federal .470 Nitro Express is loaded with RL 15. You're being fed malarky. If that's what shoots best for you, load it up and go have fun.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Even if point of impact varied by 1/4 inch, it really would not matter would it? The limiting factor is generally how well one can hold the gun still instead of the variation in the velocity by the powder heating.

Have taken 9,3x62, and .375 H&H loaded with RL-15 more than once and never had the least bit of problem.

One should never develop loads in very cold temperatures and assume they'll be OK as the temp gets very high. Caution is a good thing!

"Temperature sensativity" is a red herring.

Besides, if I work up my loads here in Texas in the spring for a hunt in Namibia in July, the temperatures where I use them will be lower than the temperatures where I loaded them. People forget that most hunting in Africa goes on in the African winter, whereas most load development takes place in warmer weather.

Remember, too, it's not just temperature that affects a load's performance. Humidity and atmospheric pressure, which can be affected by both weather and altitude, also impact the a load's point of impact.

You should check zero anytime you will be shooting after traveling or in different weather, climate, or altitude.

LWD

Just back from Zim and use the RL 15 is both my 375H&H and 338-06. Both worked great. I have no problem with the powder in the heat of S. Texas or Zim.

+1

RL-15 works just fine in my 375 both here in Texas and in Africa.

Good Hunting,

Bob

RL 15 is a great powder in the 308 family of cartridges...

however, now seeing the price at $24.50 per pound locally....

personally I am getting a little sick of the gun supply industry just milking the distrust of the Obama Administration...

quote:

powder was more stable and temperature changes from North America to Africa would not vary while my Reloader 15 would

This argument is laughable...

even on powders that have some temp variations of say 100 to 150 fps or so, compare the point of impact change at say 300 yds, which is a lot further than most folks will ever shoot and be able to hit a game animal...

What do you get, a 3 inch difference in point of impact? most people are going to vary more than that with their recoil flinching...

I have one powder that I use in several cartridges, that has the widest velocity spread of anything I use... yet at 300 and 400 yds, it still is the most accurate of 15 powders tested in 3 different calibers...

if lying to customers is the basis some folks are trying to use to sell a product....I'd shop elsewhere...

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your input. I have a lot faith in my handloads, a lot of faith in my rifle and if I do what I am supposed to do, I will kill my game cleanly.

One more reassuring comment. I shoot RL 15 in my 416Rem. Used the same load from 45 degrees in Louisiana to pretty darn hot in the Selous. Never saw any changes in pressure signs or POI and the 416 Rem is suppose to be pressure sensative (another myth) I also use it in my 470 Nitro and its going to Zim with me in 57 days.

Use it with confidence.