RL-17

I'm trying to work up a load with RL-17 but keep getting flattened primers in my 30-06.

Max load is 54.5 with a 180gr bullet. Alliant says you can use 4350 loading data which I do and minimum load from Nosler's book shows 51gr of powder and max of 55. I had a .40 3-shot group @ 100 with 53gr of powder

Savage 111
Winchester Bras
CCI 200 Primer
180gr Accubond
.010 off the lands

http://i55.tinypic.com/343qa08.jpg

I've loaded 50 and 50.5 and still get flat primers.

Any ideas? Do I really need to drop in the 40's?

Loaddata shows 54.5 gr as a max charge with a 180 gr speer at 3.25 COL.
52.1 gr with the 180 gr amax.
54 with the Speed deep curl.

My max load in 308 with a 208 gr amax was 48.7 gr.

What kind of primers are you using ??

I watch the primers, but generally dont pay so much attention to them.
I have seen factory ammo with such flat primers you would think they were way over max.

When I get around max I start looking for brass flow and back off a bit.
IE when you see the ejection hole mark on the brass.

It looks like you are very close to max.
Maybe work up in .2-.3 gr increments.

Also one time I got a pressure spike.
IE worked up a decent RL17 load in 40-50DF weather. Primers were pretty flat and I backed off .5 gr when I saw brass flow.

Went out one afternoon about 5 months later and it must have been 100DF in August.
Got brass flow and an extra 50 fps.

Try backing off the lands to .030" that should help with pressure. Retest loads.Looks like a little brass swipe too??

Which bullet ??

Is it just me, or does the 53.0gr primer look 'better' than the top two 51.0gr loads? Angle of the photo, perhaps? I'm also not seeing much if any ejector swipe.

Are you experiencing any bolt lift issues?

...Bump it to 53.3grs & see what it groups.. ;)...I don't see anything wrong with em...If the bolt lift is normal go with it..I usually set my load work with the time of year I'm going to be hunting in...That way the conditions should be the same when the time comes..

Noticing those marks that look like swipe marks. Is your bolt head in good shape and clean ??
Is your barrel properly head spaced with a go/nogo gage ??

...He can bump his die down some & take care of it.. :)

That was from a reload before this round, so ignore ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1Shot

...Bump it to 53.3grs & see what it groups.. ;)...I don't see anything wrong with em...If the bolt lift is normal go with it..I usually set my load work with the time of year I'm going to be hunting in...That way the conditions should be the same when the time comes..

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These were shot the other day with temps 80's

I'll keep playing it and see what happens.

53grs shoots about 3-4" higher than 51.5 @ 100. hehe

I got good vel and accuracy with this powder in my 6-5x284 but powder seems very temperature sensitive I worked up loads at 70 deg. then next week end it was a little over 85 deg. and I had too much preasure. Still held good group but loosened the pockets. two shots showed 1oofps faster but with preasure the other shot showed decrease in vel but stiff bolt lift and ejector mark. I your going to shoot on the top ene beware of this. I only going to use this gun for hunting so I want good performance around 2900fps with a 140gr bullet I think RL-17 will do this with the fall temperatures.

+1 on temp sensative.

I worked up some loads in 75d temps.

Went out one day at about 95dF and picked up another 50 fps and some brass flow.