elkaholic
Well-Known Member
I got hold of some RL-33 and thought I would see what it would do with some heavier bullets. I started with some 230 Berger OTM's and loaded them with R 9 1/2 primers to a coal of 3.640, which was just off the lands. I hooked up the Mag speed and went to work. I only fired one round of each load, but velocities went up fairly consistently:
85 grains ...... 3024'......mild
86 grains....... 3075'......
87 grains....... 3113'......
88 grains....... 3138'...... primers starting to flatten
89 grains....... 3174'...... slight extractor mark with a little stiffer bolt lift*
*I have found that ANY stiffening of the bolt lift with the BAT action is more than the cases will take for long!
I wasn't shooting for group, but all five of the shots went into an inch.
I was running out of time but wanted to see if the 215 hybrids would like a case full. I loaded 90 grains which filled the case to the base of the neck. Obviously, the load was compressed, but not too badly, as was the case for the 89 grain load in the 230's.
90 grains........3213'......not max load. I could probably compress 91 grains and get another 40+ feet of velocity.
I hope to get some time later to work up some velocity loads. I was really encouraged with the velocity as a max load of H1000 probably is not over 3100' with the 215's. If it works out accuracy wise, I may be able to load with the same or more velocity with a lot less pressure than the H1000.
As a side note, I heard from our local sporting goods shop that Alliant has taken a government contract and the Reloader shelf powders are going to be hard to come by! ........Rich
85 grains ...... 3024'......mild
86 grains....... 3075'......
87 grains....... 3113'......
88 grains....... 3138'...... primers starting to flatten
89 grains....... 3174'...... slight extractor mark with a little stiffer bolt lift*
*I have found that ANY stiffening of the bolt lift with the BAT action is more than the cases will take for long!
I wasn't shooting for group, but all five of the shots went into an inch.
I was running out of time but wanted to see if the 215 hybrids would like a case full. I loaded 90 grains which filled the case to the base of the neck. Obviously, the load was compressed, but not too badly, as was the case for the 89 grain load in the 230's.
90 grains........3213'......not max load. I could probably compress 91 grains and get another 40+ feet of velocity.
I hope to get some time later to work up some velocity loads. I was really encouraged with the velocity as a max load of H1000 probably is not over 3100' with the 215's. If it works out accuracy wise, I may be able to load with the same or more velocity with a lot less pressure than the H1000.
As a side note, I heard from our local sporting goods shop that Alliant has taken a government contract and the Reloader shelf powders are going to be hard to come by! ........Rich
.......Rich
