I am currently using H4350 and H4831 and they perform consistently through our winter to summer.I have read a lot of recommendations on RL-22 for 300WM. I am wondering how sensitive is RL-22 to changes in temperature. Please advise.

Danny Boy

RL-22 is definitely one of my favorite powders. As far as temperature sensitivity, I have no personal experience (being in Texas) but have read that, yes, it is more sensitive than the Hodgdon Extreme's you're currently using. How much so, I couldn't say.



If you're hunting in Canada in the winter you'll likely be better off sticking with what you have. At any rate, H4831 and RL-22 are very close in characteristics/performance, so I don't think you're missing out on a whole lot, as it is.



Good luck,

RSY

About 10 years ago I hauled my Oehler 35P to Montana for an elk hunt. At the outfitter's ranch I chronographed my load for a 338 Win Mag which used RL22. I don't have the exact velocity handy at the moment but the load chronographed at just under 2900fps at the 1350' elevation of my range and at temperatures in the 60's and 70's. At an elevation of 8000'+ and temperature near zero, that load was exactly 200fps SLOWER than at home. For some time after that I added 1g of powder to the hunting loads when going into cold country. I don't do that any more.

In actual fact, the change in temperature and the disparity in elevation truly has not mattered. I don't and haven't changed any load in any way when going "up" to colder climes. The reduced atmospheric density and pressure seems to offset any reduction in velocity of any load, at least there's not enough to cause any accuracy problems at the 300-400 yards range in which I've had most of my shots at elk. "I dance with the one that brung me," and have never had a problem.

Most of my rifles shoot more accurately when loaded at or near book max. In Ontario, there is not much changes in elevation. Our temperature changes from 15*F to 95*F (I don’t go out shooting below and above those ranges). With the H4350 and H4831 the variation is not very noticeable.

It important for me to know the temperate characteristics of RL-22 before buy the powder in bulk and putting effort to develop a load.

Thanks…

Danny Boy

Danny:

Here is a link that may be of interest from 24-Hour Campfire:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=265705&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

RSY