RL26 with the heavies in the 30-06

[Pathfinder76]

I had a couple of people ask for some updates on load development of 200gr Partitions in my 30-06. Here is the start, and wowzers I’m shocked at what I see. I know others are getting these kinds of velocities, but have now seen it with my own eyes. Keep in mind that the throat on my rifle is longer than SAAMI and that this powder is so dense that I’m not compressing charges at all.

[JBE]

RL26 Hotrod powder.

[brewster29]

Read on some US forums about 200's with RL26 in 30-06 but haven't tried it yet. Chuck's velocities are pretty much what you get with 180's.

My baby -06 (280 Rem) absolutely loves it. By far the best powder I have tried in that rifle.

[Dean2]

Those should make on stomping good game load and there sure isn't anything wrong with the accuracy. Good info for sure.

[Smokinyotes]

When I first started working up a load for my 270wsm I couldn’t get over 3000 FPS with H1000 or Retumbo without pressure signs. Switched to Reloader 26 and am getting 3247 FPS with zero pressure signs.

[buckman]

I have some but have not tried it yet. I saw something on you tube about it not showing any obvious pressure signs with great velocities. However it seemed to cause the primer pockets to open up a bit.

[Salavee]

Good load Chuck. RL 26 is a sleeper powder for the 30-06 heavies. I use it with the 220 Woodleigh RN in my 20 in. bbl Krico. Charge weights are around 61 gr and I`m getting in the mid 2500`s MV with good accuracy .

I tried it in the 338-06 and 35 Whelen and everything came unglued. Not enough case capacity.

[kujoseto]

Wow Chuck that’s some impressive results.
Got a whack of RL26 sitting around and haven’t tried it yet.
Might just have to pick up some bigger bullets in my aught six.

[prarie_boy1]

Originally Posted by chuck

I had a couple of people ask for some updates on load development of 200gr Partitions in my 30-06. Here is the start, and wowzers I’m shocked at what I see. I know others are getting these kinds of velocities, but have now seen it with my own eyes. Keep in mind that the throat on my rifle is longer than SAAMI and that this powder is so dense that I’m not compressing charges at all.

Thanks for the info that is gonna be one hard hitting combo in the tried and true 06. Out of curiosity how much longer is your throat then a std .30-06?

[Pathfinder76]

I’m about five thou off the lands with the above seating depth.

[kujoseto]

Are you going to try other bullets in the 190-210gr range?
Be an interesting combo out to 400m to lay a smack down on big game.

[Pathfinder76]

My goal with this load is short range spot and stalk bear and angry bear protection.

[kujoseto]

I would say mission accomplished.
That should smash out to 300-400 with some authority

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by kujoseto

I would say mission accomplished.
That should smash out to 300-400 with some authority

Agreed. And it holds five plus one and functions flawlessly.

[Dubious]

Reloaded 26 and vvn560 always forks for me for heavy bullets in my 25-06 and 300wm. Mostly use the 26 now but it can be a pain to find at times.

[Pathfinder76]

Load development done.

[hawk-i]

Originally Posted by chuck

Load development done.

Hard to argue against your 30-06 load, will stop anything in N. America..

RL-22 and 200 parts gives me +/- 2950fps from my 30 Nosler, so only 200fps faster.

[kujoseto]

That is one desirable cartridge setup. No need for bigger bore and magnum powder capacity.
1-10 twist?

[Pathfinder76]

This one is actually a 1-11

[kujoseto]

Chuck, based on your experience with RL16 and 168gr and this RL26 and 200gr, would you try RL26 with 180gr?

PM sent with more info

[Pathfinder76]

PM answered

[Duramaximos]

Originally Posted by kujoseto

Chuck, based on your experience with RL16 and 168gr and this RL26 and 200gr, would you try RL26 with 180gr?

PM sent with more info

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

[kujoseto]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

I’ve got some 175gr LRX loaded up and will keep you posted if I ever shoot them. Case capacity may become the issue. We’ll see how pressure and velocity compare to the ballistics software. It shows I may be low on the pressure side and run out of case capacity before getting where I want to.
I also have 180gr swift scirocco to compare to my RL16 load if the 175s work out.

[kujoseto]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by kujoseto

I’ve got some 175gr LRX loaded up and will keep you posted if I ever shoot them. Case capacity may become the issue. We’ll see how pressure and velocity compare to the ballistics software. It shows I may be low on the pressure side and run out of case capacity before getting where I want to.
I also have 180gr swift scirocco to compare to my RL16 load if the 175s work out.

I finally got to the range for about 30 minutes to test some velocities.
Tikka action so I want to fit mag length for hunting.
25” Jury barrel 30-06
Nosler brass was pretty full at about 63gr with the 175 LRX... I’m not one to use a drop tube or crush a compressed charge but I could probably get a little more powder in and I know I can seat the bullet a little further out (about 45 thou and still fit mag).
Very limited sample because of time and I got to the 62.5gr charge in my steps up and velocity hit about 2870 fps. Pressure seemed low when comparing load data software and that “feel” where recoil often gets more sharp when I’m hitting max pressure (if you know what I mean... not sure if others find a noticeable change there too in some rifles)
Gordon’s Reloading Tool suggests I should’ve been up about 100 fps with still having room to push the pressure.
This rifle was put together with an aftermarket 300 win mag dbm so I have a ton of freebore when I switched back to factory Tikka dbm. As a hunting rifle I’m not interested in loading ammo too long for the factory dbm.

I would say the 175/180gr bullets are better suited with the 4350 burn rate range but easily getting over 2850 fps with clean burning powder and pressure on the low end with that bullet weight in that case is something.

Sold off the 180gr scirocco before I loaded any with RL26

Now here’s a question for those with more experience...
do the Barnes bullets pressure up more than other conventional bullet designs of similar weight?
I’ve read conflicting claims from experiences and in load data. Some say use more powder as the grooves reduce pressure, others state use less powder as the all copper design pressures up.
My own limited experience is the pressure seems lower with Barnes and more powder often needed while the swift seems to pressure up a little sooner (which is a common claim online)

[Dean2]

Old model Barnes equal greater pressure. The current design with the three bands typically show lower pressure than conventional jacketed bullets at the same amount of powder.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

The short answer is no. If you have some RS Hunter, IMR 4350 or 4451 Enduron, try one of those.

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

Depending on your bullet choice I am pretty certain you will run out of case capacity before you reach maximum velocities. I use it in my 280 Rem with Barnes 145LRX pills (280 has shoulder moved ahead about .050" from -06) and max for me is around 62.5 gr, thru a drop tube and vibrated a bit, still a compressed load. Data I have seen indicates 63.5-64 gr with 180's in the -06.

Flat base lead core bullets may just barely work ok, mono metals likely not.

[brewster29]

Just to clarify my post above- I am not loading 62.5 gr with the 145's, that's the max I can possibly squeeze in, and that's well into the neck.

[REMINGTON JIM]

[QUOTE=Duramaximos;4311174]I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Yes it is ! Magic Pixie Powder ! RJ

[Pathfinder76]

[QUOTE=REMINGTON JIM;4316094]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Yes it is ! Magic Pixie Powder ! RJ

Have you ever used it Jim?