RL 26 / Large Rifle Primers - what caliber for this combo?

[Smitty192]

I have picked up several pounds of RL26 and several thousand large rifle primers.

What calibers would work well with combo?

Looking to buy a new rifle. With reloading supplies in such short supply, I want to use what I've got on hand.

Thanks in advance

 

[rustyinbend]

6.5 Creedmoor would be my best suggestion. That said, it really depends on distance and purpose.

 

[Carolina Hill Billy]

People have had decent luck with RL26 in 6.5 creedmoor. Probably easiest place to start.

 

[Smitty192]

6.5 Creedmoor would be my best suggestion. That said, it really depends on distance and purpose.

I am deep in 308, semi auto and a new bolt gun. That's the longest range rifle I have now.

 

[stewarmy01]

.270, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 270/7mm/300 WSM, 243, 25-06, 7mm Rem Mag, 338 Lapua, 300/338 Norma Mag

 

[db2000]

6.5 PRC also

 

[stewarmy01]

Very slow for 308 and almost too slow for 6.5 creed. Pretty compressed charges to get decent velocity are likely

 

[stewarmy01]

6.5 PRC also

Probably 300 PRC as well

 

[Smitty192]

Probably 300 PRC as well

I would love to do one...can't find any brass. Non magnum primers OK for those?

 

[stewarmy01]

You can go to Alliant Powders’ website. They have load data.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

www.alliantpowder.com

 

[Smitty192]

You can go to Alliant Powders’ website. They have load data.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

www.alliantpowder.com

Thanks, saw those. Thought some of the smart people here might be able to expand on their list.

 

[blksno]

I'd do the 6.5 Addiction with today's supply shortages.

Lapua 6.5x55 brass is always in stock and is less than $1/ea.

RL26 with Fed210s
I'm at 3230 with 135 ATips that are always available as well.
143 ELDx at 3150

 

[stewarmy01]

For sure, lots of great guys here. I think the WSM’s are great cartridges depending on your needs. No belt and great velocity.

 

[XLR308]

In 6.5CM 143eldx, 147eldm, 150smk lit with a magnum primer.

 

[rustyinbend]

I am deep in 308, semi auto and a new bolt gun. That's the longest range rifle I have now.

I admit it ... I'm a 6.5-CM "bigot". I feel like the component availability, price, performance, and flexibility ... are all great. I have a Tikka T3x TAC A1, LWRCI REPR Elite, and a Barrel Conversion kit for my Barrett MRAD .... all in 6.5-CM. I've taken the Tikka out to a mile. Highly recommend that particular rifle for quality and accuracy.

 

[memtb]

6.5-284! memtb

 

[GMZ]

What is “several pounds”?

7000 gr/lb how many rounds can you load?

How many bullets do you have?

Do you have or can you get brass?

Should also answer these questions before you jump but with RL26 you can get outstanding performance from 6.5CM and components are not quite unobtanium. Plenty of quality brass and bullets out there.

Or you could jump into a 6.5 or 7 short mag.

 

[DIBBS]

300 WM / 7mm RM

 

[1moaoff]

260

 

[sodakhunter]

6.5 or 300 PRC

 

[Smitty192]

What is “several pounds”?

7000 gr/lb how many rounds can you load?

How many bullets do you have?

Do you have or can you get brass?

Should also answer these questions before you jump but with RL26 you can get outstanding performance from 6.5CM and components are not quite unobtanium. Plenty of quality brass and bullets out there.

Or you could jump into a 6.5 or 7 short mag.

I picked up 12 lbs locally for a steal. Figured why not. Not totally logical...

So now I'm looking for a rifle. Hoping to get some options outside of the Alliant list and then I'll work options for brass and bullets from there.

 

[stello1001]

A lot of the magnum and magnum-like calibers may work well with R26. Some shooters use it in their 6.5CM and have good success with it along with insane speeds.

 

[MK3XXX]

I would say 6.5 PRC, but 6.5 Creedmoor is going to be much easier to find components right now

 

[Bmghunter]

Only brass or ammo I have found in good supply recently in the retail store were 270 win and 6mm creedmoor. That means at least those two would be easy to get brass for. And out of those 2, I suspect the 270 win is the easiest to get a rifle for.

 

[LRDD]

RL26 is fairy dust in the 300WM and 6.5 SAUM

 

[Cascade Hemi]

6.5 Creedmoor would be my best suggestion. That said, it really depends on distance and purpose.

RL26 is mediocre in 6.5CM. If you're wanting a .473 bolt face cartridge to load with it look at the bigger 6mm variants like 6CM, 6XC, and 243Win. Personally I'd rather save the RL26 for short magnums and full magnums since H4831 and H4350 have been relatively easy to find.

 

[Steel head]

Magic for 7 saum

 

[Smitty192]

Thanks for all of the great information.

Do you need magnum primers for 300 WM / 300 PRC?

 

[Rocketmandb]

I would love to do one...can't find any brass. Non magnum primers OK for those?

I use non-magnum in my 300 PRC, but I'm not shooting in cold weather. They work very well. Also, there are alternatives to purpose-built 300 PRC brass. I did a couple videos on how to prep and fire form RWS 8x68S brass into 300 PRC. I was using that until ADG came out with their 300 PRC brass and it got me quality brass when the only thing available was Hornady.

PM me if you want some info.

 

[Mr Tibbs]

Sierra has RL-26 data in 7MM Rem Mag from 130 Gr all the way up to 197 Gr . Personally if i was doing load development for may 7MM Rem Mag with this slow burner i would start with the 160 Gr SPBT and go up in bullet weight .

 

[B_w.]

I use r26 for 300 prc!

 

[Smitty192]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Great information.

 

[mahlv]

I've had success with 22-250 and heavy pills, 6creed, 6x47, 6.5saum. I just acquired some 7sst brass and dies and once I get a rifle together it will eat nothing but rl26. It wasn't ever any better performance than h4350 in the standard bolt face cartridges, and it ran really dirty, seemed like carbon rings came on pretty quick. It really shines in the short mags that I've loaded myself along with all the people I've helped out.

 

[Sirshredalot]

280ai

Shred

 

[Smitty192]

I've had success with 22-250 and heavy pills, 6creed, 6x47, 6.5saum. I just acquired some 7sst brass and dies and once I get a rifle together it will eat nothing but rl26. It wasn't ever any better performance than h4350 in the standard bolt face cartridges, and it ran really dirty, seemed like carbon rings came on pretty quick. It really shines in the short mags that I've loaded myself along with all the people I've helped out.

I'm a little intrigued by a 30-06 / RL26 combo. I looked at the Sherman rounds some time back. May have to revisit those.

 

[Rumblestrip]

280AI