rl 17

oldscot3 · July 20, 2014, 04:02 PM

Anyone use Reloader17? Their site says it has a burn rate similar to Imr 4350.

I was thinking of trying some in my 270 and 338.

hooligan1 · July 20, 2014, 05:44 PM

I have a lb of that waiting for my 6.5-06 to get done and yes the burn rate is right around that of 4350, however if you use it start low and work up your loads to be cautious.
Im hoping it works for me..

Brian Pfleuger · July 20, 2014, 09:10 PM

I use it.

.243AI, 6mm Rem and 7mm-08. Possibly experimenting with it in .22-250 with 55gr V-Max, not sure yet.

It's too slow for the 55gr in .243/6mm but that's a light for caliber bullet. Should be ok for 55s in .22-250.

I load it under 110gr Barnes TTSX in 7mm. It does fine there.

stubbicatt · July 23, 2014, 08:29 AM

I think in the 308 if you were shooting heavier bullets you might find a load that works well. Typically, I find that the VarGet and RL15 propellants more suited for that cartridge.

I do not know enough about 270 to offer anything.

I like it in 6.5x47 with the 140 grain bullets, shoots pretty good with that combination.

603Country · July 23, 2014, 09:00 AM

I use it behind 120 gr Nosler BT's in my 260. Took me a while to get load min/max info. I'll soon (tomorrow maybe) try it out in my 220 Swift behind that new Nosler 64 gr Bonded Solid Base bullet, though deep in my heart I'm almost sure that it won't stabilize. Gotta try it though.

And yes, the burn rate is similar to that of IMR 4350, though it is supposed to produce higher velocities. I cannot confirm that it does.

Recently I've read that it's a powder that's sensitive to temperature and that extra caution should be exercised when using it. That's something else that I cannot confirm.

AllenJ · July 23, 2014, 09:42 AM

I tried it out in my .243 with 80 grain TTSX's and 95 grain Bergers, results were dismal. Using IMR4350 the 80 grain TTSX's shot 1/2 MOA and the Bergers would shoot sub MOA. I then tried it in my 7WSM with 150 grain Nosler E-Tips. Results were again horrible but other powders I tried with the E-Tips were not much better so I'm not faulting the powder. One final try with it in a 7mm Rem Mag using 160 grain Sierra Game Kings proved to be a winning combination. That rifle shot seemed to like it and would shoot right around MOA.

Clark · July 23, 2014, 11:06 AM

I have used R17 and got velocities I would have bet were not possible with long brass life:
22" barrel 270, 3033 fps 150 gr, 3228 fps 130 gr
But when I calculate my safety margins, and mostly because of temperature variation, I have to reduce the load down to what other powders will do.

And R17 temperature instability would have to be calculated into every long distance shot.

A lot of guys have figured out that temperature stability is important. That is why the jug of H4350 I got last month took a year to find.

std7mag · July 23, 2014, 05:57 PM

I use it in the 7mm-08. From 120gr. Hornady HP to Sierra 160 gr BTHP.

Tried it in the 7mm Rem Mag. Not bad, but prefer RL25, RL22 for that.

Paul B. · July 23, 2014, 06:14 PM

I just loaded up a test batch for my 7x57 with Re17. A poster on another site passed on his info for that cartridge and he's gotten some extraordinary velocity with the 150 gr. Nosler Partition. My work up starts with the starting load and goes to the limit of his max load and yes, I know enough to stop if I get pressure signs. He worked his loads up in an M70 FWT and I'll do the preliminary work with my FWT although the load is for a custom Mauser. That Mauser shows pressure signs much quicker than the FWT but I'm waiting for the scope bases to come in. Frankly, it I can come within 100 FPS of what he got, I'd be a happy camper.
Paul B.

July 20, 2014, 04:02 PM	#1
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	rl 17 Anyone use Reloader17? Their site says it has a burn rate similar to Imr 4350. I was thinking of trying some in my 270 and 338.

July 20, 2014, 05:44 PM	#2
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,619	I have a lb of that waiting for my 6.5-06 to get done and yes the burn rate is right around that of 4350, however if you use it start low and work up your loads to be cautious. Im hoping it works for me.. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

July 20, 2014, 09:10 PM	#3
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	I use it. .243AI, 6mm Rem and 7mm-08. Possibly experimenting with it in .22-250 with 55gr V-Max, not sure yet. It's too slow for the 55gr in .243/6mm but that's a light for caliber bullet. Should be ok for 55s in .22-250. I load it under 110gr Barnes TTSX in 7mm. It does fine there. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

July 23, 2014, 06:14 PM	#9
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,940	I just loaded up a test batch for my 7x57 with Re17. A poster on another site passed on his info for that cartridge and he's gotten some extraordinary velocity with the 150 gr. Nosler Partition. My work up starts with the starting load and goes to the limit of his max load and yes, I know enough to stop if I get pressure signs. He worked his loads up in an M70 FWT and I'll do the preliminary work with my FWT although the load is for a custom Mauser. That Mauser shows pressure signs much quicker than the FWT but I'm waiting for the scope bases to come in. Frankly, it I can come within 100 FPS of what he got, I'd be a happy camper. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

July 23, 2014, 08:29 AM	#4
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	I think in the 308 if you were shooting heavier bullets you might find a load that works well. Typically, I find that the VarGet and RL15 propellants more suited for that cartridge. I do not know enough about 270 to offer anything. I like it in 6.5x47 with the 140 grain bullets, shoots pretty good with that combination.

July 23, 2014, 09:00 AM	#5
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 4,039	I use it behind 120 gr Nosler BT's in my 260. Took me a while to get load min/max info. I'll soon (tomorrow maybe) try it out in my 220 Swift behind that new Nosler 64 gr Bonded Solid Base bullet, though deep in my heart I'm almost sure that it won't stabilize. Gotta try it though. And yes, the burn rate is similar to that of IMR 4350, though it is supposed to produce higher velocities. I cannot confirm that it does. Recently I've read that it's a powder that's sensitive to temperature and that extra caution should be exercised when using it. That's something else that I cannot confirm.

July 23, 2014, 09:42 AM	#6
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	I tried it out in my .243 with 80 grain TTSX's and 95 grain Bergers, results were dismal. Using IMR4350 the 80 grain TTSX's shot 1/2 MOA and the Bergers would shoot sub MOA. I then tried it in my 7WSM with 150 grain Nosler E-Tips. Results were again horrible but other powders I tried with the E-Tips were not much better so I'm not faulting the powder. One final try with it in a 7mm Rem Mag using 160 grain Sierra Game Kings proved to be a winning combination. That rifle shot seemed to like it and would shoot right around MOA.

July 23, 2014, 11:06 AM	#7
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have used R17 and got velocities I would have bet were not possible with long brass life: 22" barrel 270, 3033 fps 150 gr, 3228 fps 130 gr But when I calculate my safety margins, and mostly because of temperature variation, I have to reduce the load down to what other powders will do. And R17 temperature instability would have to be calculated into every long distance shot. A lot of guys have figured out that temperature stability is important. That is why the jug of H4350 I got last month took a year to find.

July 23, 2014, 05:57 PM	#8
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,611	I use it in the 7mm-08. From 120gr. Hornady HP to Sierra 160 gr BTHP. Tried it in the 7mm Rem Mag. Not bad, but prefer RL25, RL22 for that.