Reload 17 for 300 WSM

[400bull]

I was at the local sporting goods store last night and was able to pick up a couple boxes of 168 TTSX for my 300 WSM at a screaming deal. I would like to use these bullets backed by Aliants Reloader 17 to see what the combination can do but I am finding it difficult to come up with safe reloading data for this combination. Aliant says that the burn rate for RL17 is comparable to IMR4350 I was wondering if I could use IMRs data to start my development. I would be sure to back off at least 10% from IMRs max listing and work up from there until I got the grouping I'm wanting or until I started seeing pressure signs. What do you guys think would I be OK in using IMR 4350 reload data as a starting point for RL 17?

400bull

 

[mtelkhntr78]

No! I wouldn't use any4350 data(IMR or Hodgdon) for RL-17. Even with similar burn rate they just flat out arent the same powder. My experience when it comes to Handloading is that it is no place for assumptions.
Go to the Alliant web site and they list a max load of 68 grs of RL17 on a 165gr Speer bullet.
I just got back from the range and I was shooting my 300wsm with 168gr ttsx in front of 67.5 grs of RL-17. Its a load that I have found works well in my gun and a few others on here have found works good for them too.
So just to be on the safe side of things hit up the Alliant website and verify what I told you was the max and then start %10 below that and work your way up.
Best of luck, hope RL-17 works for you!

 

[BobbyL]

Yes as he said its never good to compared just burn rates. I have tested both these powder and its safe to use them for each other buts that only because i started with lesser loads and worked them up the same. I was in the 65 grain area so its safe to say you can start with around a 62-63 grain charge and work your way up.

bobby

 

[TheHardWay]

I wouldn't cross reference powders either as it has the potential to be disastrous. Not saying it would be foe certain, but you don't want to find out the hard way!

I am working on a load using the 168 ttsx and RL 17. Right now I am shooting 67 gr of RL 17. The bolt is a little stiff to open after the shot. I am thinking of backing it down a little bit.

You would probably want to start our around the 64-65 gr area.

 

[BountyHunter]

Ton of data here, just do a search

Here is one.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/300-wsm-rl17-ttsx-wow-35230/?highlight=RL17+WSM

BH

 

[400bull]

Looks like I'll be starting my development at 62-63 gr. Working up in half grain increments until I find what I am looking for. For those of you that have already worked up a load using the TTSX what are you using for you OAL and how far off the lands are you? I was thinking about starting off at 30 thousandths (.0030) off the lands.

400bull

 

[BobbyL]

Usually you will find they like it the best between .01 and .03" off the lands. Just have to see. Most of the time i start at .01 and then go .005 either way. Its the best place to start that i have usually found a good spot right there.

 

[TheHardWay]

I read somewhere Barnes worked pretty good seated at 50 thousandths (.050) off the rifling. Problem for me was that they won't fit in the magazine then.

 

[brentc]

I've noticed some significant differences with different rifles. I have a Browning A-bolt that absolutely loves 67.5 grains of RL-17 and a 168 E-tip at 2.840 and 3200 fps with no pressure signs. I had to scale the load back a bit to run in a Win 70 300 WSM.

 

[lineman69]

i have a factory remington 300 wsm i can get 67 grains with a 168gr berger & a custom built 300 wsm i max out with same bullet @ 63 grains

 

[brentc]

I know some may argue, but I generally use burn rate as a starting point to work up loads when data isn't available. Using the burn rate of RL-17 I've noticed that my load charges are very similar to H4350 for each given rifle I've used it in.

 

[brentc]

Looks like I'll be starting my development at 62-63 gr. Working up in half grain increments until I find what I am looking for. For those of you that have already worked up a load using the TTSX what are you using for you OAL and how far off the lands are you? I was thinking about starting off at 30 thousandths (.0030) off the lands.

400bull

The TTSX will jump fine. As for seating depth I would try a general COAL at around 2.84 and see how that does. Once you find a potentially accurate powder charge you can start tuning the seating depth. Get your powder charge first. Your rifle will tell you what it likes. In my A-Bolt most of the bullets I shoot will shoot well seated between 2.84 and 2.85.

 

[400bull]

Did some measuring last night and my max COL is 2.965 (touching the lands). I was initially thinking of backing of off .03 so my first loads would be right at 2.935. From all the loads that I could find most were between 2.9 and 2.84 with Barnes manual suggesting 2.84. Should I start at 2.84 and work up a powder charge and then play with seating depth or should I start with my original plan of 2.935? I did put together a dummy round last night at 2.935 to see how if feed and if it would work in the magazine and everything seemed to work out fine.

400bull

 

[BountyHunter]

Unless your gun is a single shot, IMO your are wasting your time measuring the lands and working from there as the round will not fit in the mag.

Got to ask why?

Start at max magazine COAL and work from that.

the barnes are designed for jumps and big ones, at .03 and similar intervals you will wear out 5 barrels.

Make big jumps and then fine tune between the best nodes for an acceptable group for what you need. If .5 MOA works for your gun as hunting rifle, then do you really need to get to .4?

BH