Reloader 22

[mleeber]

Afternoon Gents!
I have an opportunity to pick up some Reloader 22 at a good price. I have used other powders from Alliant but never RE22. I do have a 7mag and 300 win mag but I have been using primarily IMR 4831. I see that RE22 is slower. Has anyone used it enough to recommend it over or in addition to 4831?

Thanks!
Mark

[Doodlebugger45]

I'm still working on my first 1 lb can of RL 22 in 7 mm mag, so I can't say for sure if it's better than 4831. It might be slightly slower, but it's mighty close to the same burn rate. I still have test loads to evaluate, but in general it seems like the RL powders by Alliant might be slightly cleaner burning than their equivalent Hodgdon powders. Not enough to make a huge difference though. My thought on Hodgdon vs Alliant is that I will take whichever one is the best deal in the same burn rate. Well, almost always. For some weird reason my latest test load in my .308 using RL-15 was way better than the same bullet using Varget. Go figger.

[Mike / Tx]

I have burned quite a few pounds of RL-22 in the past 20 or so years. I use it primarily in '06 based cases however. In fact it is the only powder I use in one 25-06 anymore. For this sized case it is darn near perfect, with most medium bullet weights. IMO

I have not tried it in the bigger capacities, but I have heard others who like it very well in the 7mm RM. Most of the 300 shooters used something a bit slower.


Hope this helps.

[TheNatureBoy]

I've been reloading for a 7mm Rem Mag Sendero for the past 3 years using RE-22. Matter of fact its the only powder I use in it. Try this load out. Someone gave it to me and I'll share it with you.

63.5 grains/RE-22
160 grain Sierra Game King
160 Grain Nosler Partition
160 Grain Barnes TSX
168 Grain Sierra Match King
168 Grain Berger
150 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tip

Heck, I had loaded some 120 grain Barnes TTSX and it shot right in line with the 160 grain Barnes TSX @ 100 yards.

I used Winchester cases and magnum primers. Insane results!

[crowbeaner]

RL22 is one of my favorite slow burners. I use it in 7mm Mag, 300 WinMag, 25/06, 243, and others. I like the fact that it meters SOOOO much easier than IMR long grain powders. I usually throw my charges 1/2 at a time to make sure the rotor turns the same every time. Nice stuff, and about $5 a pound cheaper than 7828.

[Rifletom]

As soon as I get back from church and lunch, I'll put up a couple of loads with RL22 you might like. The NatureBoy has it pretty close tho.

[Miata Mike]

A guy I work with swears by Reloder 22. He has a pet .270 Win load that I am going to try and refine for my rifle. He also claims he intends to load for most of his rifles using using nothing but Reloder 22.

[Rifletom]

Yep, my loads are very close to TheNatureBoy.
63.0-63.5 RL22
154gr Hornady or 160gr Speer or 160gr Partition
Win cases
Fed LRP[mag]
Avg MV is 2925-2950fps, and very accurate.
This IS a good powder in the 7mm RM. Enjoy.

[PawPaw]

I've used it in .30-06, but went to a faster powder. (I don't think that you can put enough RL22 in a .30-06 case to hurt the rifle.) I use RL22 in .25-06 and .243 Win. I like it a lot for overbore cartridges. I haven't tried it in 7mm Mag, simply because the family only has one of those and we used IMR 4831 for load work-ups and found one load (64.2 grains IMR 4831, 140 Nosler BT) that's so accurate, it's the only load we use for that rifle.

On the Hodgdon Burn Rate Chart, IMR 4831 is listed at 120, and RL22 is listed at 128. I think they're a lot closer in speed than the chart indicates. There are a lot of powders that mimic that burn rate and they had to list them all.

My brother-in-law absolutely loves it in the .270 Winchester. It's also a good powder for the .257 Weatherby.

[mleeber]

Thanks for all the replies! I guess I am picking up 10lbs of RE22!