Looking for those with experience with reloading for the .505 Gibbs with RL15 powder. I know that the Reloading Page on AR has a ton of information on the subject too, but looking for other experiences too to help validate the information on the Reloading Page. For 600 grain solids or softs, what loads with RL15 are most likely to get me around 2100 fps in a 24" barrel? Thanks in advance for your help.

Idaho Sharpshooter did some work with that load and V160 as well. Here's your Woodleigh 600 Grain SN in .505" Gibbs in the foreground.

Mike:

My Gibbs bbl is 23.5", and with 110gr of RL-15 and 600gr Woodleigh, the velocity will consistantly clock 2180fps.

I use a small foam filler on top of the powder charge, and the bullet sits on top.

Good luck

tsibindi,

Thanks. That is pretty darn close to the 2157 fps listed on Reloading Data page for 110 grains of RL15 with 600 grain Barnes Solids.

My plan was to start with 108 grains and see what that gets me and then tinker from there to get at the 2100 to 2150 fps.

Mike:

I have not tried this load, but Geoff at Woodleigh suggested 110 grains of IMR 4320 for app. 2220 fps with the 600 grain bullets. He also mentioned a slighly higher charge weight of IMR 4350 for a similar load. No filler needed per Geoff.

I decided to use the 540 grain GS Custom FN solids. Gerard has some options on their site www.gscustom.co.za I will probably start with 115 grains of Reloader 19 and should comfortably, if possible in a .505, obtain 2200 fps. I have acquired Jamison brass and will use Federal 215 primers.

Please keep us posted as to your results. If the GSC FN solids don't work well in my rifle, I will be trying the 600 grain Woodleigh FMJ.

Thanks,

RCG

Mike, I've found that RL-15 does kick less than the slower powders at that velocity. It has the added bonus of approaching 2600 in good, stout Jameson brass with 600 gr barnes solids.

I can't post the load for obvious reasons but ask Hogkiller about it's effectveness....

quote:

approaching 2600 in good, stout Jameson brass with 600 gr barnes solids.

quote:

ask Hogkiller about it's effectveness...

IT KICKS, HARD!!!

Keith

600grain aproaching a velocity of 2600-- I'm interested and will be experimenting with this cartridge also. I recieved a care package just yesterday with dies and a quantity of brass. Will be watching this thread and heeding advice from others with experience. Rodney.

you got the package, huh?

Go Rodney! Newest member of the "Life begins at 50" Club.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

The only thing left needed is a bushing to adapt the CH4D dies to a RCBS press otherwise I'm in bussiness. Will have a bushing and some loadings to play with by middle of next week. Would be working with it today but I'm taking a friend and his son hog hunting this afternoon. Thanks Rich, Rodney going hunting.

Rodney
You can borrow a bushing from me... i might have a spare, even,
jeffe!

Idaho Sharpshooter got me started with some loads for the 600 gn Woodleigh (Thanks Rich), and now I have a few to share from my own experimentation. I used AR2213SC (sold in the USA as H4831SC) and have achieved 2093fps with 130gn and up to 2381fps with 144gn. I have settled on 135gn for 2203fps. This is with Bertram cases and Federal 215 primers. My rifle is based on a Granite Mountain Arms action and has a 23 inch barrel. I tried lighter loads, down to 120gn of AR2213SC but velocity was a bit erratic until around 126gn (2016fps) (no filler used), and with this powder loads in the 130gn to 140gn range gave quite consistent velocities. If you want lighter loads try AR2217 (sold in USA as H1000), 130gn of this powder gave 1948 fps in my rifle, and 140gn gave 2135 fps. I can handle the 2200fps (135gn AR2213SC) load quite well, but as you approach 2400fps the recoil gets quite noticable. The velocity mentioned above (approaching 2600fps) would hit really hard at both ends, and I am not sure I really want to go there. Your rifle may behave differently, and different components can also change pressures, so please remember to work up from the low end, ie 126gn AR2213SC or 130gn AR2217 with the 600gn Woodleigh.

One caveat on the 2600 fps thing. This is only with Jameson brass and that is because the cross section is the same as for his 408 Chey Tac brass. That case is a much higher pressure round that is based on the 505 and I believe they use the same web dimension. If you buy new cases, be sure and confirm that is still fact.

I don't believe those pressures would be safe in soft Bertram brass at all. And while HDS is much better material, his are still to the original CIP case spec and much thinner in the web. I don't think they'd take many loadings at that peak pressure.

Last, both Hogkiller's implication and 338User's comment about recoil are true. It's not real shootable in a portable rifle. A quick follow up is certainly not likely. Its more of a stunt load to play with your buddies.

Jeff,

If you have a 1-1/4 x 12 thread adapter bushing I could borrow that would be great. My Lee press has a bushing for 7/8 x 12 dies and is set up for 1-1/4 x 12 dies without the bushing, but I need the bushing that steps the 1-1/4 x 12 down to 1 x 14. Otherwise I will call RCBS and get one on Monday. Let me know.