RL16, RL17, or IMR 4350

[matchbook454]

Guys, I’m just getting into reloading and will start with my 6.5 Creedmoor. If I could find H4350 anywhere I would start with that however I cannot. After a little browsing I’ve found a few alternatives and am looking to get people’s opinions between the 3 above. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[straightshooter1]

RL17 or IMR 4350, which both have a burn rate very close to H4350. I like RL17 over IMR 4350 as it performs well for me AND it's relatively clean burning and low amount of copper fowling.

 

[Supersubes]

Easy choice, RL16. In stock at Graf’s at this moment in 1 and 8 lb.

 

[matchbook454]

Why do you prefer RL16 over the other 2?

 

[Supersubes]

Yep, it has great temp stability. I prefer it over h4350 too.

edit: It has met or exceeded h4350 for speed and accuracy across a number of different rifles and cartridges for me. I usually load it to my h4350 velocities, and it produces less pressure.

 

[I SHOOT]

Guys, I’m just getting into reloading and will start with my 6.5 Creedmoor. If I could find H4350 anywhere I would start with that however I cannot. After a little browsing I’ve found a few alternatives and am looking to get people’s opinions between the 3 above. Any help is greatly appreciated!

I tested H4350 & RL16
In my 65 Creedmoor
I found RL16 gave me slightly higher velocities with the same charge wt.
And lower ES&SDs

 

[I SHOOT]

Yep, it has great temp stability. I prefer it over h4350 too.

edit: It has met or exceeded h4350 for speed and accuracy across a number of different rifles and cartridges for me. I usually load it to my h4350 velocities, and it produces less pressure.

I agree
I've used the same charge of rl16 from 40ish to the mid 90s with very little velocity changes

 

[Codiekfx400]

RL16 for the reasons already stated.

 

[Steel head]

Easy choice, RL16. In stock at Graf’s at this moment in 1 and 8 lb.

This!
R17 is pretty bad with temps but makes good speed.
IMR 4350 is a good powder yet kinda meh, ok speed and somewhat ok temp stability.

R16 is good for speed and temp stability.
winner winner chicken dinner!

 

[I SHOOT]

This!
R17 is pretty bad with temps but makes good speed.
IMR 4350 is a good powder yet kinda meh, ok speed and somewhat ok temp stability.

R16 is good for speed and temp stability.
winner winner chicken dinner!

Lol
Winner, winner, chicken dinner
Still laughing ?

 

[jpcowboy]

Try rl16 and you will not use anything else from now on

 

[matchbook454]

Thanks guys - ordering something RL 16! No to decide what dies to get!?. That’ll be the last part of this for me for now.

 

[Supersubes]

Hornady match dies. $87 bucks anywhere, and very good quality.

 

[Codiekfx400]

Forster dies are top notch if you can find some.

 

[Average guy]

Guys, I’m just getting into reloading and will start with my 6.5 Creedmoor. If I could find H4350 anywhere I would start with that however I cannot. After a little browsing I’ve found a few alternatives and am looking to get people’s opinions between the 3 above. Any help is greatly appreciated!

RL16 is my favorite powder for any case it’s listed for. It’s my easy button.

 

[clcustom1911]

Why do you prefer RL16 over the other 2?

RL16 doesn't have the temperature sensitivity of R17. I have used both extensively. R16 gives same velocities as R17 without being finicky about outside temperatures like 17.

I have no experience with IMR4350.

 

[clcustom1911]

Try rl16 and you will not use anything else from now on

R26

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

R26

You put 26 in a creed? I got some for prc but might try it in the creed also if it's better than 16.

 

[Supersubes]

You put 26 in a creed? I got some for prc but might try it in the creed also if it's better than 16.

Kind of unobtainable at the moment, but the speeds with the 147 are pretty crazy. There are a few threads on it here.

 

[clcustom1911]

You put 26 in a creed? I got some for prc but might try it in the creed also if it's better than 16.

46.9-47gr under a 147 ELDm or 142 Matchking with 210m primers inside Prime or Hornady cases.

Work up to it and You're welcome.

@Vodoun daVinci gave me that load and it's an absolute hammer.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Kind of unobtainable at the moment, but the speeds with the 147 are pretty crazy. There are a few threads on it here.

I have 8lbs waiting to be picked up at the local Sportsmans Warehouse. May grab more if they got it.

 

[ditter]

Only ever used 4350 and 41.4 is my pet load out of my RPR. 2800fps and about 8-9 SD consistently.

I have 2lbs of RL16 picked up today. I've loaded up 39.7 to 43.0 in .3 increments and will chrono them this weekend. Hope I can match the good results i've gotten with 4350. But i like hearing others have had good results.

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

RL26 and Hornady 147 gr. ELD-M is magic pixie dust driving a sub MOA sledge hammer. If one is willing to do the workup I suspect one could get 6.5X47 performance out of 6.5 CM.

If yer shooting 6.5 CM and reloading you should at least give it a shot. or Two.

VooDoo

 

[jpcowboy]

46.9-47gr under a 147 ELDm or 142 Matchking with 210m primers inside Prime or Hornady cases.

Work up to it and You're welcome.

@Vodoun daVinci gave me that load and it's an absolute hammer.

i would like to try that if i could get some 26 but it"s hard to come by

 

[Steel head]

R26

I have plenty of both but there’s no way I’m gonna stuff R26 in my 260 when R16 is doing so well.
Maybe I can get it going faster but another 50 FPS doesn’t do really diddly squat and the really low temp influence of R16 along with easily getting 2800 with 147’s that load was impressive all last year shooting steel And broke my mile cherry with my own personal rifle.

 

[I SHOOT]

Only ever used 4350 and 41.4 is my pet load out of my RPR. 2800fps and about 8-9 SD consistently.

I have 2lbs of RL16 picked up today. I've loaded up 39.7 to 43.0 in .3 increments and will chrono them this weekend. Hope I can match the good results i've gotten with 4350. But i like hearing others have had good results.

147 ELD-Ms 41.5
2760avg
140 ELD-Ms 41.8
2810 avg
Hornady brass
26" barrel
.5moa loads if i don't twitch ?

 

[flyright]

RL26 and Hornady 147 gr. ELD-M is magic pixie dust driving a sub MOA sledge hammer. If one is willing to do the workup I suspect one could get 6.5X47 performance out of 6.5 CM.

"6.5x47 performance out of 6.5 CM."???

 

[clcustom1911]

Perhaps he meant 6.5x284?

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...l16-rl26-h4831sc-h4350-test-and-data.6887351/

I and several others have run 147 gr. 6.5 mm projectile >2900 FPS using ELD-M's and RL26 using 48+ grains of propellant. I consider that to be factory 6.5X47 territory. YMMV.

VooDoo

 

[clcustom1911]

You put 26 in a creed? I got some for prc but might try it in the creed also if it's better than 16.

Not really better per se than R16. I happened upon a fantastic R26 load and I've decided to stick with it for the next 17 pounds of this powder I have. R16 is an absolutely phenomenal powder with the 130, 140, 142, and 147 grain bullets I've used it for.

 

[Scwalker83]

R16 in my 2x creedmoors and h4895 in my dasher. When my 24lbs of h4895 dries up, I'm going to give rl16 a shot. Exceptional powder. Watch for carbon rings is only downside.

 

[I SHOOT]

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...l16-rl26-h4831sc-h4350-test-and-data.6887351/

I and several others have run 147 gr. 6.5 mm projectile >2900 FPS using ELD-M's and RL26 using 48+ grains of propellant. I consider that to be factory 6.5X47 territory. YMMV.

VooDoo

Are you saying it's possible to get a 147eld to 2900fps in a 6.5x47 lapua case.
Interested as my next barrel will likely be the 65x47

 

[Greenday4537]

I'm looking forward to testing R16 and IMR4350. Got a pound of both from Brownells when they were recently doing $0.01 hazmat fees. Unfortunately, FedEx keeps trying to deliver midday when I'm at work so I have to have it held at an office for pickup. And the closest one that will hold hazmat is an hour drive.

 

[Supersubes]

Are you saying it's possible to get a 147eld to 2900fps in a 6.5x47 lapua case.
Interested as my next barrel will likely be the 65x47

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...l16-rl26-h4831sc-h4350-test-and-data.6887351/

I and several others have run 147 gr. 6.5 mm projectile >2900 FPS using ELD-M's and RL26 using 48+ grains of propellant. I consider that to be factory 6.5X47 territory. YMMV.

VooDoo

No way will a 47 do 2900 with a 147.

 

[I SHOOT]

No way will a 47 do 2900 with a 147.

I would not think so.
Just looking for clarification on the reference he's making to 65x47

 

[TRG65]

I used RL 16 to push a 147 close to 2900 in a x47 on a 24" barrel. I think I was around 2880'ish. If I would only shoot 1 or 2 rounds I was ok. When I tried that load in a match I ended up with multiple pierced primers over the course of the day.

Also the same load in my wife's x47 was a self depriming load. It was very convenient and efficient saving a reloading step.......[please understand the sarcasm]

I ended up in the low 2800's for my final load and ran that warm or cold, sunny or raining, for the rest of the barrel. A 147 at 2800 isn't bad.

 

[Supersubes]

I would not think so.
Just looking for clarification on the reference he's making to 65x47

Ya, maybe he was thinking of 130’s or 140’s. Any time a 47 equals a creedmoor in velocity, it’s simply being run at much higher pressures, as TRG notes above.

 

[Steel head]

I used RL 16 to push a 147 close to 2900 in a x47 on a 24" barrel. I think I was around 2880'ish. If I would only shoot 1 or 2 rounds I was ok. When I tried that load in a match I ended up with multiple pierced primers over the course of the day.

Also the same load in my wife's x47 was a self depriming load. It was very convenient and efficient saving a reloading step.......[please understand the sarcasm]

I ended up in the low 2800's for my final load and ran that warm or cold, sunny or raining, for the rest of the barrel. A 147 at 2800 isn't bad.

I hit pressure at 2900 with 147’s in my 260 with a long loaded, extra roomy brass and a long freebore chamber with R16.
I can only imagine the pressure it takes a 6.5x47 to get there!

 

[BulletScientist]

Guys, I’m just getting into reloading and will start with my 6.5 Creedmoor. If I could find H4350 anywhere I would start with that however I cannot. After a little browsing I’ve found a few alternatives and am looking to get people’s opinions between the 3 above. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Reloder 16! So temp stable. Perfect burn speed for the Creedmoor case capacity. In my experience, it beats H4350 in temp stability, velocity SD, accuracy, and has lower pressure at a given velocity.

 

[matchbook454]

2 lbs. of RL 16 ordered. That’ll get me started. Thanks for all the input guys!

 

[Steel head]

2 lbs. of RL 16 ordered. That’ll get me started. Thanks for all the input guys!

It a great powder.
It’s the new mid volume 6.5 Standard like H4350 was for years.

 

[dzander]

Crap, I have 5# of RL17

 

[flyright]

RL17 is a fine powder. Creedmoor Sports used it in their rounds but that might have changed. A mid 2700 fps load shoots well for me in temps from about 55-95 degrees in my LRP and the velocity only varies by 25 fps in cool to hot. SD's in each are single digit with ES's around 10-15. I finally got around to developing a winter and summer load and those will more closely approach 2800 but it's more than good enough with the all weather loading.

 

[dzander]

What weight bullet?

 

[jinxx4ever]

does the RL16 work in the 6mm creedmoor?

 

[Supersubes]

does the RL16 work in the 6mm creedmoor?

Yep, I use it with 87 vmax in a 19” barrel all the way up to the 115 dtac in a 27”. Really a great powder.

 

[flyright]

ELD 140's and many sub half moa groups to 600 yds - a few at 5/8, very few at 3/4. It was all I used back in the H4350 shortage and really had no complaints. I've since switched to H4350 and RL16 but accuracy and SD's/ES's have stayed about the same. Temp stability is the only gain.

 

[dzander]

thanks , I'll have to burn some!

 

[jinxx4ever]

Yep, I use it with 87 vmax in a 19” barrel all the way up to the 115 dtac in a 27”. Really a great powder.

thanks, i've been sitting on 8lbs for a while now, i'll give it a try

 

[I SHOOT]

2 lbs. of RL 16 ordered. That’ll get me started. Thanks for all the input guys!

You'll be glad you tried it!