For long range hunting only! We don’t discuss match components!

IMR8133 is great. So is IMR7977. RL26? RL33? N565? N570? Accurate Magpro? Ramshot Magnum?
Ramshot LRT gets good reports. The new N568 powder claims to be good for the heaviest magnums (Lapua 338, Weatherby 378s, perhaps the bigger RUMs). I have some of each, will report load-development results for these powders with 230-grain A-Tip in a 28" 1:9 twist 300 RUM, as soon as I get that done (barrel is on order). From what I've read so far, N568 is slower but extremely accurate. (The mfr's web site says it produces a little less energy than N565 or N570.)

For years I've loaded and hunted the Berger 210-grain VLD-H at just over 3,000 fps in a 300 RUM (26", 1:10) with Reloder 33 (and before that, 26 and 25). Remarkably accurate load, great performance on game. Haven't been able to get any RL-33 (or N570, or Retumbo) for some time. Hoping the LRT will work well with 230-grain Berger Hybrids and the 230-grain A-tips. (There's a thread on this board about using this A-tip bullet for hunting. Naturally opinions vary.)
 
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Ramshot LRT gets good reports. The new N568 powder claims to be good for the heaviest magnums (Lapua 338, Weatherby 378s, perhaps the bigger RUMs). I have some of each, will report load-development results for these powders with 230-grain A-Tip in a 28" 1:9 twist 300 RUM, as soon as I get that done (barrel is on order). From what I've read so far, N568 is slower but extremely accurate. (The mfr's web site says it produces a little less energy than N565 or N570.)

For years I've loaded and hunted the Berger 210-grain VLD-H at just over 3,000 fps in a 300 RUM (26", 1:10) with Reloder 33 (and before that, 26 and 25). Remarkably accurate load, great performance on game. Haven't been able to get any RL-33 (or N570, or Retumbo) for some time. Hoping the LRT will work well with 230-grain Berger Hybrids and the 230-grain A-tips. (There's a thread on this board about using this A-tip bullet for hunting. Naturally opinions vary.)
Excellent info and look forward to your follow up. If you happen to do any testing with lighter pills in the 210 through 220 pleas post!
 
Excellent info and look forward to your follow up. If you happen to do any testing with lighter pills in the 210 through 220 pleas post!
Will do. You might consider the Berger Hybrid Target 215-grain. I know it's a target bullet, but folks on this forum seem to think this and the 230 Hybrid Target are perfect hunting bullets. . . .
 
Will do. You might consider the Berger Hybrid Target 215-grain. I know it's a target bullet, but folks on this forum seem to think this and the 230 Hybrid Target are perfect hunting bullets. . . .
Thanks will try it in my 300 PRC but have had real bad luck with Bergers in my 7 STW and 26 Nosler they don't like the velocities. Called Berger and they told me they were not a good fit for 3,250 and above. 26 Nosler with 156gr is 3,310 fps 7 STW with 168gr is 3,452 fps
 
Thanks will try it in my 300 PRC but have had real bad luck with Bergers in my 7 STW and 26 Nosler they don't like the velocities. Called Berger and they told me they were not a good fit for 3,250 and above. 26 Nosler with 156gr is 3,310 fps 7 STW with 168gr is 3,452 fps
Thanks will try it in my 300 PRC but have had real bad luck with Bergers in my 7 STW and 26 Nosler they don't like the velocities. Called Berger and they told me they were not a good fit for 3,250 and above. 26 Nosler with 156gr is 3,310 fps 7 STW with 168gr is 3,452 fps
They were blowing up 20 yards from the muzzle
 
Anyone use Retumbo in 338 win mag or 300 wsm? Have never seen any published charges but have for 7 mm rem mag and even 25-06. I am using RL 19 with 225 gr in 338 win mag , 78 grs, just wondering how Retumbo would compare.
 
They were blowing up 20 yards from the muzzle
Sounds like you need a bonded bullet. Accubond Long Range are bonded and otherwise have external ballistics that roughly match Bergers. The heaviest they go in a 30 caliber is 210, but that might be just the ticket for your PRC.
 
I am so far behind you guys, I'm still using H4831 ( or 4831 SC ) in My 270 Weatherby Mag with 150 Grn ABLR's, and 67.2 grns of IMR 4350 In the 270 Weatherby Mag with 130 Grn Ballistic tips for 3300 fps from the 26 inch Barrel hunting Mule deer /Antelope in Wyoming . In my Weatherby Ultralight in 270 Win with 130 grn Ballistic tips, I still use 59.5 grns of H 4831( or SC ) for 3050 fps form the 24 inch barrel, in the hills of West Virginia That's my whitetail deer load. Never changing that !!! I also still use H 4831 in my 300 Weatherby Mag with 180 Grn Bullets. I guess I should join the 21st century and upgrade to H1000 for the 300 Mag !!! Thanks Guys!!!
 
I am so far behind you guys, I'm still using H4831 ( or 4831 SC ) in My 270 Weatherby Mag with 150 Grn ABLR's, and 67.2 grns of IMR 4350 In the 270 Weatherby Mag with 130 Grn Ballistic tips for 3300 fps from the 26 inch Barrel hunting Mule deer /Antelope in Wyoming . In my Weatherby Ultralight in 270 Win with 130 grn Ballistic tips, I still use 59.5 grns of H 4831( or SC ) for 3050 fps form the 24 inch barrel, in the hills of West Virginia That's my whitetail deer load. Never changing that !!! I also still use H 4831 in my 300 Weatherby Mag with 180 Grn Bullets. I guess I should join the 21st century and upgrade to H1000 for the 300 Mag !!! Thanks Guys!!!
I use the QuickLoad software a lot to compare max loads for specific bullet/powder/cartridge combinations. When I actually shoot the loads, the muzzle velocity is always pretty close to the prediction, and differences correlate well enough to justify relying on the software's comparisons. You might consider spending the dough on the software, so you can see how much of a difference a powder change would give you. I'm a big fan of the Alliant Reloder powders myself, but for some of my loads the powers you mention still give state-of-the-art performance, and I still use them.
 
I have 16 lbs 8133, 8 lbs Ramshot magnum and N568 can't come close to my Retumbo and H1000 for my 300 PRC. 8133 is all over the place and hitting pressure 150 fps before I get lose to my load with Retumbo
That surprises me. I've come to prefer 8133 in my 300 win mag with 225 elds. It doesn't do any better truth be told but I also find it doesn't do any worse and most importantly, I can find it :)
 
My two cents worth: everyone's raging and raving all the time about the magic of rl26, and the usual h1000 and retumbo. You've already said you're not impressed with 8133 and sitting on a ton of it so I'll leave that alone.

can you by chance find old school imr 7828. They discontinued the original but the ssc version is still around. That or rl25. Boring old 7828 and rl25 are the most criminally underrated magnum powders out there in my opinion. They don't have the progressive burn rate voodoo of rl26 or the temp insensitivity of h1000 or perhaps not the top velocity of retumbo but dang it they're agreeable to work with, they just plain work, and the demand for them doesn't seem quite so psychotic these days. Look for 7828ssc or rl25, that's my opinion.
 
Would be great if any of those were available! I'm getting pressure signs in bot Lapua and ADG brass with 210 ABLR's at 2,750 fps with 8133 pushing them at close to 3,140 fps with both Retumbo and H1000
Your lot of 8133 sure is a different burn rate than the two pounds I grabbed over a year ago now. Not challenging your claim either, just legit surprised and feeling a tad nervous about buying more of the stuff if it's this wildly different from batch to batch. Thanks for the heads up.
 
My two cents worth: everyone's raging and raving all the time about the magic of rl26, and the usual h1000 and retumbo. You've already said you're not impressed with 8133 and sitting on a ton of it so I'll leave that alone.

can you by chance find old school imr 7828. They discontinued the original but the ssc version is still around. That or rl25. Boring old 7828 and rl25 are the most criminally underrated magnum powders out there in my opinion. They don't have the progressive burn rate voodoo of rl26 or the temp insensitivity of h1000 or perhaps not the top velocity of retumbo but dang it they're agreeable to work with, they just plain work, and the demand for them doesn't seem quite so psychotic these days. Look for 7828ssc or rl25, that's my opinion.
I agree. I loaded RL-25 for my 300 RUM to great effect, until RL-26 came along, and then RL-33 (unobtanium). I take care to develop loads in early spring or fall, when temps are around 40 degrees, so they're in the middle of the range I hunt (in the Rockies). I avoid hot loads, so if it's an unusually warm day when I'm out hunting my rifle won't explode. Temp sensitivity doesn't affect my hunting too much that way, and RL-25 works real well. Likewise RL-22, which in my experience usually yields a bit more speed than (the less temp sensitive) RL-23 in the 264 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, and 300 Win Mag. I think handling a wide range of temps without performance variation is simply asking too much of the chemistry. Just load to the middle of an intended temp range, and avoid real hot loads so you have a safety buffer.
 

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