RL16 is it the go to for 6.5 CM?
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LongWalker
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I don't know about better since I've never used H4350 but I'm running RL-16 in my target 6.5 Creed with the 140 ELD-M and in my 22" hunting rifle with the 140 Berger EH. Both have great accuracy and the Berger 140 has had great terminal performance.
gohring3006
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I switched to 4831sc with 147 grain.
TRG65
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- Dec 21, 2017
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For ease and accuracy if I wanted to shoot the most consistent load in a mid size 6.5, I'd run 4350 and a 140 Berger somewhere in the 2800-2850 fps range. That's what I ran for years, then Hornady came out with the 147 and was half the price of the Berger, and H4350 went missing, so I tried the 147 and RL16. You can get the combo to shoot, but it definitely took more fiddling than 4350 and a 140. I run RL 16 with a 147 in my son's 6.5 Creedmoor and have run it in my 6.5x47 and even have a load for it in my 6.5 Addiction.
Shortmagman
Well-Known Member
If you are looking for more velocity Rl-26 will give you more than Rl-16 or H4350, if you can find any to try. Speer has data for the 140's on their website.
PowellSixO
Well-Known Member
I just had my first experience with RL16 this weekend, and it looks promising so far. I loaded up enough rounds to go out and break a barrel in. I started low, and worked up to 42 grains of rl16 with the 147 eldm, and it produced a .5 moa 5 shot group. My next trip out will be more towards finding velocities, es, sd, and groups. But so far, I'm impressed.
gohring3006
Well-Known Member
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i run it in 147, my curiosity wants me to try it with 140s, I needed to make a drop tube.
Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
Interesting, I considered RL16 to be optimal with 135 gr Berger and lighter with RL 26 to be better with 140 grain and heavier, but maybe not.
SilverbulletMAG
Well-Known Member
In a few 6.5 Creeds that I reload for, RL16 is "better" in that it eeks out a few more fps and nets the same accuracy as it was previously shooting with H4350. For example, most 140-143 grain bullets would find a half MOA or better node around 2600-2700fps with H4350 and then fall apart if pushed harder. RL16 would push those velocities up to 2700-2800 with the same accuracy. Is a possible extra 50-100fps worth it? Up to you.
The other "better" piece is, at the moment, RL16 is easier to find than H4350.
The other "better" piece is, at the moment, RL16 is easier to find than H4350.
SilverbulletMAG
Well-Known Member
I've tried 4831SC in one rifle (6.5 Ruger American Predator), so small sample size. Tried OCW with 142 ABLR and 143 ELDX and didn't want to shoot much below MOA after a lot of testing. Same rifle did great with RL16, 26, H4350 and Superformance with easy to find 3/4 to half MOA loads with same bullets.
Wilderness Blacktail
Well-Known Member
I've only loaded Superformance and RL26 in mine. A 22" R.A Predator I had and a 26" XBolt HCLR. I got the same velocities with each powder but RL26 was more swirl-tap-swirl and SF just pour and seat.
I've shot these bullets: 100TTSX, 120ELD, 120GMX, 127LRX, 123 MK, 143ELDX, 147 ELDM, 147DRT and shot great groupswith very little tuning. Cloverleafs with most of em. I was mostly trying to see what the guns and bullets were capable of velocity wise. Both of these guns just plain easy to get to shoot well.
22" velocities rounded to 5: 143eldx/2810, 120eld/3000, 147eld/2770, 100ttsx/3230
26": 147eldx/2880, 147drt/2870, 100ttsx/ 3330(before breakin), 127lrx/ 2995, 120mk/3030
I know Superformance isnt known to be temp stable but it's not very sensitive in my experience with a handful of calibers.
Rl26 is purported to be temp stable (tho not the temp consistent claim made for rl23/16 etc) but has a rep of being spikey and erratic in warmer temps. Like 80+. I agree, I thot my chrono was actin up till I did a search.
That's my 13 months and 800rds of 6.5 creed experience.
I've shot these bullets: 100TTSX, 120ELD, 120GMX, 127LRX, 123 MK, 143ELDX, 147 ELDM, 147DRT and shot great groupswith very little tuning. Cloverleafs with most of em. I was mostly trying to see what the guns and bullets were capable of velocity wise. Both of these guns just plain easy to get to shoot well.
22" velocities rounded to 5: 143eldx/2810, 120eld/3000, 147eld/2770, 100ttsx/3230
26": 147eldx/2880, 147drt/2870, 100ttsx/ 3330(before breakin), 127lrx/ 2995, 120mk/3030
I know Superformance isnt known to be temp stable but it's not very sensitive in my experience with a handful of calibers.
Rl26 is purported to be temp stable (tho not the temp consistent claim made for rl23/16 etc) but has a rep of being spikey and erratic in warmer temps. Like 80+. I agree, I thot my chrono was actin up till I did a search.
That's my 13 months and 800rds of 6.5 creed experience.
Tyler Kee
Well-Known Member
I wrote this back when I was at TTAG. Apologies if crosslinking is forbidden, but it was a fun experiment to show that, yes, RL-16 is a more temp stable powder than H4350.
Since then, I've used it for 170gr class bullets in 30-06 and found that it's a bit faster (50 fps) or so than H4350. Subjectively, I *feel* like I can get to a more accurate load faster with H4350, but RL-16 still works really well and is a lot more available.
Powder Review: Alliant RL-16
When I first dipped a toe in the reloading pond, I started by concentrating solely on rifles, specifically bolt guns. At this point, I see no reason to stray as I don’t shoot the volume to ju…
www.writtenbytylerkee.com
Since then, I've used it for 170gr class bullets in 30-06 and found that it's a bit faster (50 fps) or so than H4350. Subjectively, I *feel* like I can get to a more accurate load faster with H4350, but RL-16 still works really well and is a lot more available.
