Michael Eichele
Well-Known Member
I have always read how temp sensitive RL powders are versus H powders. Yet once again I have tried another RL powder in a new (to me) cartridge at extreme temp spreads and find it hard to believe that so many people hate RL powders because they are 'temp' sensitive.
My favorate line is "oh but they are ok until you get over 90 degrees...then the load becomes a bomb."
WTH???
Many of you know that I have recently been working with a 6.5x284. The other day I decided to test RL22's sensitivity to temperature. I had worked up a good load. 53 grains under the 140VLD. Velocity at 2962 on average. Then I decided to test them cold versus hot like I have several other calibers with various types of RL powders.
Loads were shot at 14 degrees F. and 114 degrees F. It is a total coincidence that they were exactally 100 degrees apart. Rounds were placed in a ziploc bag in the back of my truck with a reliable thermometer over night. At the time of firing it was 14 degrees.
The other loads had been placed in a bag with another reliable thermometer right on the heater vent on my dash for over 1/2 hour. They were at 60 degrees when they were placed there to begin with. The thermometer had read between 100-114 for quite a while. At the time they were fired, the thermometer read 114 degrees and had been there for a while.
And the difference was???????????????........
27 FPS on average with none more than 33. No sticky bolt lift, no blown primers, no nadda. Just a few FPS faster.
This has been the case for me every time I have tested RL powders. 308 win, 300RUM, 6.5x284, RL-15, RL-19, RL-22, RL-25 take your pick. They have all done very well in the extreme temp differences.
Sorry for the rant...
M
My favorate line is "oh but they are ok until you get over 90 degrees...then the load becomes a bomb."
WTH???
Many of you know that I have recently been working with a 6.5x284. The other day I decided to test RL22's sensitivity to temperature. I had worked up a good load. 53 grains under the 140VLD. Velocity at 2962 on average. Then I decided to test them cold versus hot like I have several other calibers with various types of RL powders.
Loads were shot at 14 degrees F. and 114 degrees F. It is a total coincidence that they were exactally 100 degrees apart. Rounds were placed in a ziploc bag in the back of my truck with a reliable thermometer over night. At the time of firing it was 14 degrees.
The other loads had been placed in a bag with another reliable thermometer right on the heater vent on my dash for over 1/2 hour. They were at 60 degrees when they were placed there to begin with. The thermometer had read between 100-114 for quite a while. At the time they were fired, the thermometer read 114 degrees and had been there for a while.
And the difference was???????????????........
27 FPS on average with none more than 33. No sticky bolt lift, no blown primers, no nadda. Just a few FPS faster.
This has been the case for me every time I have tested RL powders. 308 win, 300RUM, 6.5x284, RL-15, RL-19, RL-22, RL-25 take your pick. They have all done very well in the extreme temp differences.
Sorry for the rant...
M