RL17 powder?

[syoungs]

Just picked up a new 6.5 creedmoor, and have been planning on running H4350 as my powder.
little did I know that powder is as scarce as 22lr was a year ago. instead of the constant search for a rare powder, I think I am going to give RL17 a try.

I haven't run any alliant powder in the past, and don't know how tempature stable it is. My hopes are to use the same powder for the 6.5, my 25-06, 30-06, and 338wm.

Bad idea? are the tempature swings terrible with this powder? any other comments on it would be appreciated.

[bobcat]

IMR 4451 would be another one to consider. It's sort of the replacement for H4350.

[theleo]

RL 17 is one of their newer powder and all the reports I've heard or seen is that it's pretty forgiving on temperature swings, whether it works for you or not is for you to try. As for making a single powder work in that list of cartridges, you can probably find one that works but it'll be a game of compromises.

[elkaholic123]

I used it in my 270 WSM and I was very happy with my results 👍

[bobcat]

From what I've seen Reloder 17 is one of the best powders for the 30/06. Not sure about the others.

[syoungs]

the 2 I really care about getting right are the 6.5 and the 338. Just about any powder ive ran through the 30-06 behind just about any 165g bullet has been satisfactory for that gun, to me.

I also don't need to run the same powder, but itd sure be handy!

Ill look into IMR4451 and see how plentiful it is, and what all can be done with it. Thanks for the info so far!

[kentrek]

Ive  had really good luck with rl 17

[Timberstalker]

They had 2 jugs of H4350 at Griggs 1 week ago.

With that said RL 17 has worked well in my 6.5 x 284. 

[syoungs]

I just hate playing the try to find game lol.

I think I'll grab a pound of rl17 and give her a go.

[b23]

When RL17 first came out quite a few years ago I talked to a guy that was using it in his 6.5-284 and was getting right close to 3200fps with 140 Bergers and was thrilled with it.  The one thing he told me about using it was he thought it was very sneaky with regard to showing pressure.  Said during his load development it would go along and not really show any pressure signs then he'd get a real heavy bolt lift and hard ejector marks.  I don't know if his experience with it was specific to his setup or not but it's something to maybe remember when doing your load development.

[700xcr]

Have good luck with RL17 in 375 Ruger and 243win.

[Timberstalker]

When RL17 first came out quite a few years ago I talked to a guy that was using it in his 6.5-284 and was getting right close to 3200fps with 140 Bergers and was thrilled with it.  The one thing he told me about using it was he thought it was very sneaky with regard to showing pressure.  Said during his load development it would go along and not really show any pressure signs then he'd get a real heavy bolt lift and hard ejector marks.  I don't know if his experience with it was specific to his setup or not but it's something to maybe remember when doing your load development.

This is very accurate information. I've seen similar issues in my load development.

[CaNINE]

In my experience RL17 is temp sensitive.  Develop your load in hunting temp conditions and you should be ok.  H4350 is a proven temp stable powder if you can find it.

[jasnt]

I have used a lot of reloader 17!  In 243, 270, 308, and 300wm. Acuracey has been great but tempature does have good effect on speed.  More powder in the load the more swing I had. With 243 I had about 100fps change from 20° to 100°.  With the 300wm I saw almost 200fps change in the same temp change.  But it swings pretty consistently and if you do the work it's easy to compensate for.  Shot the best group of my life with 87gr vmax and re17. 2.5" 5 shot group at 736 yards

[mazama]

I call RL17 my magic powder,I use it in my 284win and 338win mag,I get good accuracy and a little higher velocity than with imr4350,I have stopped using 4350.