Powder

[Buck2732]

Hi the esteemed members of the Hoard, just a quick powder related question.

Has anyone user RL-17 in any of their home loads? If so what results (good or pants) please share.

Many thanks in advance.

[CTone03]

I gave it a shot with 123 grain amax's -- the velocity was too slow. I don't have the data on hand at the moment, but I worked up into very compressed loads and was getting ~2,300 fps from an 18" barrel.

[bwaites]

To slow for the Grendel. The ideal would be about RE 12, but it isn't sold anymore.

RE17 works great for the 30-06, and some people have had success with it in 7mm WSM, 300 WSM, etc.

[skyfish]

bwaites knows what he's talking about. Its my go to powder in my 7mm SAUM. Way slow for the Grendel.

[richie301]

I have used Re-17 for three years and it is the perfect high performance powder for heavy bullets in the 260 rem, 7mm-08 or 6mm rem. You can get an extra 100 ft/sec out of those cartridges but the Grendel case is too small to take adantage of that slow a powder.

[blackfoot]

AWESOME results in 300WSM with 165 and 180's, but never thought to try it in the Grendel.

[bwaites]

bwaites knows what he's talking about. Its my go to powder in my 7mm SAUM. Way slow for the Grendel.

Its fast in my 7mm WSM, but its not as accurate as H1000. Its accurate and fast in my nephews 30-06 shooting 178 Amax's.

[LRRPF52]

I use RL17 in .260 Rem with 140gr projectiles, and it is super accurate with 140gr Barnes Match Burners. Doing ladder testing, I had at least 5 out of 7 rounds go through the same hole, and all of them had different charge weights.

I wouldn't even think of using it in the Grendel for the above stated reasons. Great for .270 Winchester, Magnums, .260 Rem...too large of kernels and too slow for the Grendel.

Try CFE223.

[Buck2732]

Getting hold of CFE223, this side of the pond, is like finding rocking horse snot at the moment.

I have RL-15, RL-17,IMR4320 and Viht N133.

I am also loading for a boltgun with a 22" brl.

Any thoughts?

[Bwild97]

Buck,

What weight class of projectiles are you looking to push from your tube?

[skyfish]

If the Vihtavuori powders are easy to get over there, go to AA website. They have loads for N540 and N530. Otherwise Accuate arms 2520 works good too. TAC will get you to the velocities needed as well.

[Buck2732]

Buck,

What weight class of projectiles are you looking to push from your tube?

I am trying to get within the stalking guide lines set over here which are;

"For all deer of any species - the bullet must weigh at least 100 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second AND a minimum muzzle energy of 1,750 foot pounds."

I have not put much thought into what projectile to throw down range yet but over here it has to be an expanding one. I like the look of the Barnes tsx as I use them in my AR15. So any thoughts on them would be most welcome too.

I would also like to the Grendel for some range work as well out to 1200m but more likely 500m as I have a sporter tube on my CZ527.

[ChellieWiles]

I am trying to get within the stalking guide lines set over here which are;

"For all deer of any species - the bullet must weigh at least 100 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second AND a minimum muzzle energy of 1,750 foot pounds."

I have not put much thought into what projectile to throw down range yet but over here it has to be an expanding one. I like the look of the Barnes tsx as I use them in my AR15. So any thoughts on them would be most welcome too.

I would also like to the Grendel for some range work as well out to 1200m but more likely 500m as I have a sporter tube on my CZ527.

The 100 TTSX IMO are the best bullets I have used so far in my 22" Grendel for hunting purposes. CFE 223 with about 33.8grns will get you about 2825-2850fps with this projectile and it's very accurate. My go to load for this caliber has been H322 at 29-30grns giving you about 2850fps-2950fps respectively. above 29.25grains the H322 is hard on all the brass I've tried except for Lapua. with the Lapua brass I get only slightly flattened primers at 30grns H322 but with other brass I have had some very deep extractor marks and case bulge at the primer end loading above 29.25grains. I'm waiting on some VVN530 right now as I believe I might be able to duplicate H322 or get very close without the pressure signs. The Grendel has an amazing amount of different handloads that work extremely well with all the projectiles available. The majority of my hunting is within 500 yards and both the CFE and the H322 has performed exceptionally in these distances with the 100TTSX. whatever your choice, you have a lot of experimentation that you can do regarding which load will give you the performance you desire.

[ErnestTX]

Rumor is that Norma 202 is basically RE-12 (if not exactly the same). Come from same plant, have very similar burn rates and load data. And, Norma 202 is one of the few powders that is semi widely available now.

[bwaites]

Rumor is that Norma 202 is basically RE-12 (if not exactly the same). Come from same plant, have very similar burn rates and load data. And, Norma 202 is one of the few powders that is semi widely available now.

HMMMMM.....RE12-13 would be very close to ideal for the Grendel. Can this be confirmed? RE 12 was discontinued sometime around the mid to late 2000's, and Bill Alexander and I have talked about it multiple times.