The Searcy is due out here tomorrow and I need a load for the 375 flanged right now so that I can have some to send down range tomorrow.

Any suggestions?

j

Call Butch and ask him what his regulation load was.....

Mac

Butch's regulation load is 63 gr of RL 15 with a 300 gr Woodie soft. In the 26" barrels from a friend's Searcy, those loads clocked a bit warm at nearly 2500 fps....the solids were a bit over 2500 fps. I spoke to Butch and he agreed....said to drop back to about 60-61 gr and see how she does. Haven't had that chance yet as the gun is not with me.
He got his initial load data from Barnes manual and they do list 63 gr...but I can tell you that is a warm load and I'd try 60 gr and go from there....I intend to.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Keep in mind as well that different lots of RL15 can have a lot of variation in burn rates. It is one of my favorite powders, but on 375 H&H sized cases I have had to use up to 4 grains more powder for the same velocity I used in previous lots.

Mac

Agree 100% Mac....luckily I have a 8# jug of it so my batch should last a while.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Once I seen how far off the new 5lb jug I bought was, I rushed out to find more of the same lot & bought the addional three 5 lb jugs I could find. I don't want to go through that again.....

Mac

Mac...4 gr is a lot....might be the reason for the hot loads my buddy got from Superior.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Some data from Norbert Klups:

Yes Gary, that was the biggest variation I have ever seen from any powder....

Mac

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:
Yes Gary, that was the biggest variation I have ever seen from any powder....

Mac

I've seen more with IMR 4350 - 5 grains. It isn't just RL 15. I've never had two lots of any rifle powder that were the same. I recently changed lots of RL 15 myself, and the final charge changed 3 grains, the most I've had yet with RL 15.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."