Reloader 33 temp sensitivity and consistency

[Tumbleweed]

Hi guys. By now I'm sure that someone has done testing with RL33 powder to quantify it's temperature sensitivity or lack of. I would also like to know if you have found it difficult to get very low ES numbers of say 10 or under. I have a long barreled 300 RUM being built and am planning on going with Retumbo for this long of a barrel but have been reading good things about RL33. I would appreciate hearing your results on RL33 either way.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I'd have some #'s for you but it's been a prarie hurricane around here lately. I have been using rl33 with 225 hdy pills in my 300 rum since last fall but haven't gotten a chrono on them yet.
I can tell you that accuracy doesn't change. Accuracy changes between hot and cold mean a lot more to me than a few fps. You can account for velocity but if the accuracy goes to pot, well the show's over.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I'd have some #'s for you but it's been a prarie hurricane around here lately. I have been using rl33 with 225 hdy pills in my 300 rum since last fall but haven't gotten a chrono on them yet.
I can tell you that accuracy doesn't change. Accuracy changes between hot and cold mean a lot more to me than a few fps. You can account for velocity but if the accuracy goes to pot, well the show's over.

So you say the accuracy doesn't change, can you be more specific? Have you done tests at say 800-1000 yards to check for poi differences between low ambient temps and high temps?

 

[X-man]

So you say the accuracy doesn't change, can you be more specific? Have you done tests at say 800-1000 yards to check for poi differences between low ambient temps and high temps?

I have never tried RL-33, but I think what he is trying to tell you is he dials for powder temperature related velocity changes, but accuracy remains unchanged.

FWIW I find the same thing with RL-22 in my 300Winchesters...The bugholes are still there....They just happen a little faster or slower. Dial accordingly.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I have never tried RL-33, but I think what he is trying to tell you is he dials for powder temperature related velocity changes, but accuracy remains unchanged.

FWIW I find the same thing with RL-22 in my 300Winchesters...The bugholes are still there....They just happen a little faster or slower. Dial accordingly.

One thing I'm not interested in is dialing another correction for overly temp sensitive powder. I had a really bad experience several years ago using RL22 before I understood how temperatures effect most powders. I switched to Hodgdon H1000 shortly after that. I can shoot year around from 40 degrees to 90 degrees without worry of getting overpressure or having a poi change at long range. If RL33 is anything like RL22, no thanks. I'm sure someone on here has done the old cartridges in ice test and then compared to 100 degree cartridges through a chronograph?

 

[X-man]

One thing I'm not interested in is dialing another correction for overly temp sensitive powder. I had a really bad experience several years ago using RL22 before I understood how temperatures effect most powders. I switched to Hodgdon H1000 shortly after that. I can shoot year around from 40 degrees to 90 degrees without worry of getting overpressure or having a poi change at long range. If RL33 is anything like RL22, no thanks. I'm sure someone on here has done the old cartridges in ice test and then compared to 100 degree cartridges through a chronograph?

I understand H-1000 is less likely to cause a pressure problem over an extreme variation of temperature, but are you suggesting you can shoot from 40-90 degrees in the same hole at 1000 yards?

I use H-1000 in a lot of rifles and I can not?

 

[kaseyfied]

I get no change from 32 degrees to 95 with h1000 and retumbo.. and I shoot a long ways.. I have been meaning to try one of these cans of rl33.. I shall try it soon see what's up.. my es.. SD and velocity doesn't change but like +/-2 in that temp range with h1000 or retumbo

 

[Tumbleweed]

I understand H-1000 is less likely to cause a pressure problem over an extreme variation of temperature, but are you suggesting you can shoot from 40-90 degrees in the same hole at 1000 yards?

I use H-1000 in a lot of rifles and I can not?

Of course not! I'm talking about shooting a 1000 yard group in 40 degree temps and shooting another group at 1000 on a 90 degree day. Average the center of each group and compare groups.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I'm not getting into why or why not a certain powder is temp. stable or why (or why not) you should confirm your sights before you go afield. There is more to temp. stability than a sticker on the bottle though. The powder can't control any other aspect of your system, from the barrel to the stock to the shooter. Repeatable accuracy is paramount.

I will say I'm rather impressed with rl33 so far but my brother has the oehler squirreled away in his garage at present ( and I don't trust my CED much farther than I can throw it) so I can't really confirm uniformity, etc.. I've shot groups in multiple days at 100 and 200 yards so far and my 300 rum is doing right at .6 moa with the 225 hdy with 95 gr. rl33, rem brass, and a 215. The conditions haven't been perfect either, with gusty winds the norm..

Rl17, 33, and 50 are made by Nitrochemme, not Norma as the other rl powders are and they are doing some things differently chemically than a normal double base so I doubt any Norma made rl powder will compare directly. I haven't had trouble with rl 22 and 25. I've done most of my longer kills with either rl22 or 25 and the critters didn't write me letters of protest from the back of my pickup.