I'm wanting to run 185 Berger BTTLR bullets in my new 30" CBI barrel FTR gun at 600/1000 yards. I haven't seen much load data with RL-17. Running QuickLoad I come up with 47.0 grs. of RL-17 with the 185BTTLR seated at 2.832 giving me a barrel time of 1.369ms which is right on the 4th NODE for a 30" barrel(1.368). Via QuickLoad, this gives me 2787 fps @57728 psi VS my Varget load of 44.3 grs. giving me, via QuickLoad, 2734 fps @ 60505 psi. and a barrel time of 1.372ms. I've never shot RL-17 before and wanting to know if there is a temperature sensitivity issue. I do live and shoot in south Florida and have tested both with success in 85-90 degree weather. Just trying to keep pressure down as not to beat the brass up so much. Thanks for any info regarding these loads.
F T/R Competition Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
- Thread starter teele1
- Start date
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
Try Alliant Power Pro 2000MR powder, 2800 ftps is attainable easily with your barrel length. I have been having great luck with it and the 185's.
Try Alliant Power Pro 2000MR powder, 2800 ftps is attainable easily with your barrel length. I have been having great luck with it and the 185's.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
Teele1, go to the Alliant powder site, look up loads for 2000MR and 185 projectiles. Mind you, I'm hBN coating ALL my stuff but using 175 Berger OTM I dropped almost 5 MOA to 600yds (15-16 minutes vs 11.5 minutes) using 2000MR. Previously I was using IMR 4895 and/or N150. My load is a bit hotter than suggested & I'm using it in a 30" Tubb T2K... nut it works !!
Teele1, go to the Alliant powder site, look up loads for 2000MR and 185 projectiles. Mind you, I'm hBN coating ALL my stuff but using 175 Berger OTM I dropped almost 5 MOA to 600yds (15-16 minutes vs 11.5 minutes) using 2000MR. Previously I was using IMR 4895 and/or N150. My load is a bit hotter than suggested & I'm using it in a 30" Tubb T2K... nut it works !!
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
remember, the heavier the bullet the more pressure is needed to get it out the barel. one weight may work well with one bullet but not with another. start at 45 and in .5 increments work your way up. see what you find. by the way, my rifle is fine with 43gr of varget pushing a 178 amax 2720 out a 25" kreiger.
remember, the heavier the bullet the more pressure is needed to get it out the barel. one weight may work well with one bullet but not with another. start at 45 and in .5 increments work your way up. see what you find. by the way, my rifle is fine with 43gr of varget pushing a 178 amax 2720 out a 25" kreiger.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
No info on RE-17 and 185 Berger LRBT's?
No info on RE-17 and 185 Berger LRBT's?
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
by and large people are using Varget. You might try over on AccurateShooter.com Another piece of advice, believe maybe 1/2 of what you read on the internet.
I'd suggest you get pound and see if it works. if it doesn't you'll see and you're out less than $30 for the powder. You're going to spend more than that on Bergers in your first match.
by and large people are using Varget. You might try over on AccurateShooter.com Another piece of advice, believe maybe 1/2 of what you read on the internet.
I'd suggest you get pound and see if it works. if it doesn't you'll see and you're out less than $30 for the powder. You're going to spend more than that on Bergers in your first match.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
He already has a pound. He may be testing today. I've heard of some success with 215's and RE-17.
He already has a pound. He may be testing today. I've heard of some success with 215's and RE-17.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
I have only been to one match but I have done a pile of load testing and I have finally come to accept something that all the fellas who have helped me, kept telling me over and over, but in my search for crazy high MV, I ignored..."stick with a temp stable powder"
I got some amazingly good MV's with Alliant 2000MR, 3150fps with berger 168 hybrids, 2935-60fps with 185btlr and 2770 with 200 hybrids. I shot the best group of my life with it and 200 hybrids..BUT I tried the same batch of ammo with a hot gun (like in a match) on a 20 degree warmer day and that was enough to up my MV out of my barrels node (way out) and make for hard bolt lifts.
So I am a believer. I have since found a very accurate load at a slower MV but with a temperature stable powder.
...from a newbie so just take it FWIW.
I have only been to one match but I have done a pile of load testing and I have finally come to accept something that all the fellas who have helped me, kept telling me over and over, but in my search for crazy high MV, I ignored..."stick with a temp stable powder"
I got some amazingly good MV's with Alliant 2000MR, 3150fps with berger 168 hybrids, 2935-60fps with 185btlr and 2770 with 200 hybrids. I shot the best group of my life with it and 200 hybrids..BUT I tried the same batch of ammo with a hot gun (like in a match) on a 20 degree warmer day and that was enough to up my MV out of my barrels node (way out) and make for hard bolt lifts.
So I am a believer. I have since found a very accurate load at a slower MV but with a temperature stable powder.
...from a newbie so just take it FWIW.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J--ROD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have only been to one match but I have done a pile of load testing and I have finally come to accept something that all the fellas who have helped me, kept telling me over and over, but in my search for crazy high MV, I ignored..."stick with a temp stable powder"
I got some amazingly good MV's with Alliant 2000MR, 3150fps with berger 168 hybrids, 2935-60fps with 185btlr and 2770 with 200 hybrids. I shot the best group of my life with it and 200 hybrids..BUT I tried the same batch of ammo with a hot gun (like in a match) on a 20 degree warmer day and that was enough to up my MV out of my barrels node (way out) and make for hard bolt lifts.
So I am a believer. I have since found a very accurate load at a slower MV but with a temperature stable powder.
...from a newbie so just take it FWIW.</div></div>
I haven't seen that so far with my 2000MR load but I worked up the load in the heat of summer (95 degree). I've shot it at 70 degree and didn't notice much change. I'm running the 185's at 2800 ftps and my brass looks good. Seems like you are pushing it VERY hard at the velocities you are getting. How did your brass look?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J--ROD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have only been to one match but I have done a pile of load testing and I have finally come to accept something that all the fellas who have helped me, kept telling me over and over, but in my search for crazy high MV, I ignored..."stick with a temp stable powder"
I got some amazingly good MV's with Alliant 2000MR, 3150fps with berger 168 hybrids, 2935-60fps with 185btlr and 2770 with 200 hybrids. I shot the best group of my life with it and 200 hybrids..BUT I tried the same batch of ammo with a hot gun (like in a match) on a 20 degree warmer day and that was enough to up my MV out of my barrels node (way out) and make for hard bolt lifts.
So I am a believer. I have since found a very accurate load at a slower MV but with a temperature stable powder.
...from a newbie so just take it FWIW.</div></div>
I haven't seen that so far with my 2000MR load but I worked up the load in the heat of summer (95 degree). I've shot it at 70 degree and didn't notice much change. I'm running the 185's at 2800 ftps and my brass looks good. Seems like you are pushing it VERY hard at the velocities you are getting. How did your brass look?
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
I am running 48.0gr of RL-17 with Berger 185 Juggernaut bullets. COAL 2.920" to fit my mag. 2730fps from a 26" barrel. This is still a mild load, but gave the best accuracy in my rifle. I was concerned about temperature dependence but my test of ammo at 50 deg and 100 deg showed no worse velocity change than with Varget.
I am running 48.0gr of RL-17 with Berger 185 Juggernaut bullets. COAL 2.920" to fit my mag. 2730fps from a 26" barrel. This is still a mild load, but gave the best accuracy in my rifle. I was concerned about temperature dependence but my test of ammo at 50 deg and 100 deg showed no worse velocity change than with Varget.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
GuinnessNM,
I believe this is the kind of info Jim is looking for.
GuinnessNM,
I believe this is the kind of info Jim is looking for.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
Possible... but not likely. 2800 would be a reasonably 'warm' load even with a 30" barrel - though I have heard of people pushing it harder, usually something starts to give (like brass life) fairly soon. I know some people have 'fast' barrels... and probably more have 'optimistic' chronographs
but in general terms you'd pushing awful hard to get there from a 24" tube.
Possible... but not likely. 2800 would be a reasonably 'warm' load even with a 30" barrel - though I have heard of people pushing it harder, usually something starts to give (like brass life) fairly soon. I know some people have 'fast' barrels... and probably more have 'optimistic' chronographs
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Golfy Sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is the maximum MV that I can expected to push 185 LRBT with Varget out of 24" barrel? </div></div>
I will have to look at my notes but when I shot these a long time ago had MV of ~2538fps using varget. I also tried rl-17 with a light load getting 2640 fps, I load my rounds to lowest SD possible not velocity. Also note at that time I was using nosler brass, which is generally a softer brass than Lapua. I find now that I can get substantially increased velocities with the Lapua brass.
Rifle was a Remington 5r 24inch barrel, 1:11.25 twist
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Golfy Sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is the maximum MV that I can expected to push 185 LRBT with Varget out of 24" barrel? </div></div>
I will have to look at my notes but when I shot these a long time ago had MV of ~2538fps using varget. I also tried rl-17 with a light load getting 2640 fps, I load my rounds to lowest SD possible not velocity. Also note at that time I was using nosler brass, which is generally a softer brass than Lapua. I find now that I can get substantially increased velocities with the Lapua brass.
Rifle was a Remington 5r 24inch barrel, 1:11.25 twist
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dgd6mm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No info on RE-17 and 185 Berger LRBT's? </div></div>
If you go the RL-17 route might as well go with the 190 VLD, you can seat the VLDs farther out. I had an 20fps increase over the 185s before pressure signs. My new bullet of choice is the Berger 168 hybrid shooting them over 46.5 varget mag COAL, getting 2740 fps with a 20inch tube.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dgd6mm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No info on RE-17 and 185 Berger LRBT's? </div></div>
If you go the RL-17 route might as well go with the 190 VLD, you can seat the VLDs farther out. I had an 20fps increase over the 185s before pressure signs. My new bullet of choice is the Berger 168 hybrid shooting them over 46.5 varget mag COAL, getting 2740 fps with a 20inch tube.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
I use to shoot RL17 with a 185 gr custom bullet. To be optimized it has to be pushed towards the limits of safe level. I don't have my notes with me but from memory primer pockets (Winchester brass) opened up, sticky bolt and extractor marks were more common on warm days. Not as bad as VV550 but enough to stop using it. Most that initially used RL17 have switched back to Varget or gone to something else in 185 grs or less. It is supposed to be good to go for heavier bullets (200-215 grs).
The pressures really sneak up on you so be careful pushing it as required. I shoot a 28" Obermeyer just for reference.
I use to shoot RL17 with a 185 gr custom bullet. To be optimized it has to be pushed towards the limits of safe level. I don't have my notes with me but from memory primer pockets (Winchester brass) opened up, sticky bolt and extractor marks were more common on warm days. Not as bad as VV550 but enough to stop using it. Most that initially used RL17 have switched back to Varget or gone to something else in 185 grs or less. It is supposed to be good to go for heavier bullets (200-215 grs).
The pressures really sneak up on you so be careful pushing it as required. I shoot a 28" Obermeyer just for reference.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Golfy Sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is the maximum MV that I can expected to push 185 LRBT with Varget out of 24" barrel? </div></div>
I was able to get mid 2600s with a Rock Creek 24" with about 44gr of Varget. My 24" rock Creek was 80FPS faster than a stock R700 26" barrel with the same load.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Golfy Sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is the maximum MV that I can expected to push 185 LRBT with Varget out of 24" barrel? </div></div>
I was able to get mid 2600s with a Rock Creek 24" with about 44gr of Varget. My 24" rock Creek was 80FPS faster than a stock R700 26" barrel with the same load.
Re: Berger 185 BTTLR and RL-17 for 600/1000 FTR
I do not want to use RE-17, teele1 does. I'm having good results with Hodgdon 4895.
I do not want to use RE-17, teele1 does. I'm having good results with Hodgdon 4895.
