Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

[Alan Griffith]

It's all here! New gun, scope, dies and components. My research indicates Reloader 15 is a solid performer with the 120-130 gr class of bullets for the 6.5x47 Lapua. I load Reloader 22 & 25 and am aware of it's sensitivity to temp swings. I read where some think Reloader 15 does the same. I'm not looking for heresay. I'm looking for individuals who actually witness temp swings when using Reloader 15.

Anyone!

Alan

 

[Unsichtbar]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

I have graphed RL 15 in .308 over a wide range of temo spread, which is at work at the moment. I worked out to .7 fps per degree increase or decrease from 75 F zero.

 

[Chanonry]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

Well i can't say I have tested it scientifically, but I do see a shift in POI between summer and winter - about a 20 deg C swing for me.

Up to now I have never really paid much attention to it, just sorted the zero and got on with it. Shift seems to be about 1 moa. I didn't understand what was happening at the time so i don't have velocity data.

Andy

 

[Chanonry]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

I found this in another thread on a similar topic

http://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/extreme/page2.php#top

 

[Bugholes]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

In 6 dasher RL15 is moderately temp sensitive. I have seen 40-50 fps diffrence between cool morning and warm afternoon

 

[Grump]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chanonry</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I found this in another thread on a similar topic

http://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/extreme/page2.php#top
</div></div>
The data from that chart (for .308, using the 168 SMK) is why about 8 years ago I was interested in switching from my previous standard load of 43.0 WW-748 to something different. Didn't know then than HALF my flat primer worries from shooting those at 110°F were from my cases being sized a bit too short for my chamber.

Not wanting to put my shooting at the mercy of foreign production, government(s), overseas shipping, or (however unlikely) changes in local import regulations/duties, I opted for IMR 4064.

For that bullet weight, that caliber, and the full 0-125°F temperature range, the RL-15 temp spread averages 0.4 fps per degree F.

My own recent testing with 4064 (average spread of 0.368 fps per degree F) between 45 and 75°F showed closer to 0.8 FPS/degree F. Perhaps there's a "flat spot" in its curve either at the lower temps or above 80°F???

Like the OP, I'm very interested in other people's results at specific temperature ranges and with specific bullet weights and calibers. Until shown otherwise, I'm NOT confident that any results with one set of variables can be easily translated to another caliber or bullet weight.

 

[dntfxr]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

I had some unexplained very low velocities last week with r15 and 150bt with temps in the 30s (barely). They were some 200 fps shy of what QL predicted??

 

[Captain Moroni]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

I have noticed when the temp is above 75 the MV 2640fps and from 55-60 down to -16 the MV is 2625 with 42.5 gr RL-15. I havent spent a whole lot of time with the chrono and themomiter but I think I may feel a new OCD habbit for me to play with my wife will be so happy.

 

[Grump]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dntfxr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had some unexplained very low velocities last week with r15 and 150bt with temps in the 30s (barely). They were some 200 fps shy of what QL predicted?? </div></div>
Did you fudge the ambient temperature with QL???

I'm not sure it's all that "on", as the changes seem very similar with all powders. The couple of variables I checked had WW-748 having about the same temp/velocity shifts as IMR 4064. That doesn't agree with Hodgdon's published claims and firsthand reports from people posting on this Board.

 

[dntfxr]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

Thanks for the reply Grump. I honestly didn't realize QL had an adjustment for ambient temp. I had it set on default whatever that value is. It had got down in the 20s the night before and the rounds were in my truck, so they were pretty chilly. I don't have anymore 150bt on hand to try, but I have some 168 Amax ready to try tommorow to see if I can figure it out. The btips were loaded to factory mag length with a very long jump, around .15, so I don't know if that would keep pressures too low or if r15 just doesn't like the light weight bullets. I put a long mag box in and the amax rounds will have about a .05 jump. The only other factor I can imagine would be neck tension, I'm trying the lee Collet dies. Or maybe try a hotter primer? Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
dntfxr

 

[BHP9]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

The US Army tested it at Iraq 1, in the "New" M118LR and it caused problems for the M14's, so it was downloaded to the current 43.1gr load.

I have found it to be temperature sensitive, but not to the temperature/pressure extremes experienced in Iraq.

My chronograph tests were conducted in May and again in August where I experienced a velocity increase.

 

[sinister]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The US Army tested it at Iraq 1, in the "New" M118LR and it caused problems for the M14's, so it was downloaded to the current 43.1gr load.</div></div>

Sir,

You have claimed this several times over the web without reference to your base source/report.

Reloader 15 was not used in M118LR until the Lake City GO/CO contract shifted from Olin to ATK, circa 2000.

 

[Michael]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

I've run it from + 112 degrees F down to + 18 degres F.
Below about 40-45 degrees dependent on load density there's a huge drop in velocity. I ran this powder over a 2 year time frame, shooting at least 1 full day each week. It moves too much for me, about 2x Varget (using the same load density) on average.

 

[Grump]

Re: Reloader 15 & temp sensitivity; who has tested ii?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sinister</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The US Army tested it at Iraq 1, in the "New" M118LR and it caused problems for the M14's, so it was downloaded to the current 43.1gr load.</div></div>

Sir,

You have claimed this several times over the web without reference to your base source/report.

Reloader 15 was not used in M118LR until the Lake City GO/CO contract shifted from Olin to ATK, circa 2000. </div></div>
I agree with the call for citation(s) to authority. I specifically want to see the .mil source(s).

Also, PUH-LEEEEZZEE quantify the effects observed. Temp X = Yfps, while Temp A = Bfps, so we can at least get a two-point line.

Either that, or shut up. You're not contributing anything hard or beyond vaguely useful for the collective knowledge base.