Reloder Temp Sensitivity

[Mtnwalker]

Anybody have actual experience with Reloder temp sensitivity in a hunting situation? Got my super lite shooting super sweet with RL22 but of course read all the stuff about it being a temp sensitive powder, just wondering if anybody has dealt with this when hunting or if it's a non issue? Haven't had a chance to shoot it in hot weather yet

[h20hunter]

Tag. Picked up 3lbs of 26 today for future load use in 7rm.

[Magnum_Willys]

I'm not seeing any issues with RL-33 but I shoot at 30-55 degrees for load development and hunt typically 25-60 degrees.   

You do have to watch your chamber temps with it but I expect thats true across the board.  If you have a warm or hot rifle and you leave a round in the chamber for a minute you are going to get significantly higher pressures.  I get set on target then close bolt and shoot within 10 seconds and its not an issue.    With my carbon barrel rifle I don't have to worry about it as the chamber stays cool.

[CaNINE]

I've had issues with RL powders but it only becomes an issue if you're shooting longer ranges where extremely consistent velocity are required. The problem can be mitigated by doing your load development during cooler weather or keeping your test loads in a cooler on ice. If you shoot year round and at long distances like I do it becomes a problem and that is why I exclusively use H series powders.

[jrebel]

I loaded 6.5 creed with RL 17 during the winter months to develope  a load......shot amazing.   It was a pretty stout load.....later that sping in 75 degree weather I shot the same load and had pressure signs and accuracy issues.  Flat primer and difficult to extract brass.....also some extractor marks.    Needless to say I chose not to use the powder.   I imagine if you load and hunt in similar temps it a great powder. 

[bullfisher]

Reloder's temp stable powders are R16 and R23. If a manufacturer has a high velocity powder, like R17, its probably not temp stable. Of course they all have an array of powders to bridge the gap between velocity, stability and burn rates.

[Bill W]

with temperature sensitive powders I used to do load development in the summer months as I knew I wouldn't have any pressure issues during the fall hunting months.  Shooting location was in Kenmore so it didn't get as warm as eastern WA.

[hogslayer]

Reloader 26 does pretty well between 20-75 degrees.  The other stories I have read about rl 22 scares me with temp stability.  There are plenty of other powders close to that burn rate that should work.  I have always been a speed chaser.  But rifles I shoot the more I realize temp stability like H1000 and H4831sc have are worth way more than 75fps gain.

[jasnt]

Every powder has some temp sensitivity. Shoot your dope and confirm.   FYI re22 is not near as bad as re17. Both shoot well in my rifles.  Not difficult to learn your temp scale.

[j_h_nimrod]

I was using R22 at a max load in my .257 Weatherby that I worked up with great success at temps around freezing, but it seemed every time I took it out with temps varying +/- 15 degrees my point of impact and groups opened up over 100 yards. The powder just seemed erratic in general and, though I had 6lbs, I switched powders with good results. I was testing in 70 degree swings and saw way too much variation for comfort.

I am now using the powder in my .240 Weatherby with better results, though I have not tested in the temp extremes I was testing the .257 in. I tried to get a quantifiable measurement in the .257 using frozen, ambient, and warmed loads but my chrono went TU and I was not able to get enough data to make it worthwhile. I lost confidence in R22 for the .257 so have moved on. I have tried a few of the other Reloader powders with better results, but did not test them in temp extremes. The .240 has seemed pretty consistent over +/-40 degree swings.

All of that said, I wonder about the sensitivity of certain cartridges and bullets. I remember doing a ladder test at 300 yards (would have liked more but not possible) with the .257 and .220 Swift and seeing very little difference in 1.5 gr difference in loads, but when I tested again at +30 degrees the ladder went to crap in the .257 with R22 but the .220 still looked the same with H380 which is not known for great stability.

[Magnum_Willys]

Lot of variables can throw one off.  I know RL33 has reputation of igniting best at near max loads and with resistance - i.e. short jumps.   Combine it with a bullet that likes a lot of jump and you may not have a workable combo. 

[CaNINE]

It's all fascinating stuff and part of the fun of reloading. Once you have it dialed it's a great sense of accomplishment. And to think that some guys would rather spend time frustrating themselves to death on a golf course (trust me I know) - bah! I'd rather shoot those golf balls from 300 yards away!

[Magnum_Willys]

Yea I look at those bullet holes scattered inches apart for no good reason and have to remind myself - well it is 500 yards. Heh