Reloader 23, 190 SMK's and .300WM

[CO00Z]

I've been lurking on the forum for years and this is probably my 3rd post. Due to the reloading supplies fiasco and trading, I wound up with a 8 pounder for RL 23 and around 1,200 190 SMK's. My go to for 300 WM is, like everyone else, H1000. I've been looking for data for the RL23 but haven't found much other than the Alliant website. The powder doesn't seem to appear in many manuals or discussions.

My rifle is a Rem 700 LR, 1/10 factory barrel, 26 inches. Favorite 190 load; 78.5 of H1000, COAL 3.470, SMK 190,, velocity 2960 fps, prints .5 MOA. Since I haven't been able to trade the RL23, my desired results are something similar to what I get from my H1000 load. If I can make that work, I can save my H1000 for heavier bullets for longer range days and I'll use this up between 600 and 1,000 yards on the range.

So here's the question, does anyone have any experience with the powder or any idea where to look for more detailed information?

 

[jet_lagged]

I jsut started with the Alliant data and worked up. Sako TRG with 27" 1:11.25 twist.

Winchester brass, 190 Nosler CC (190SMK clone), bullet seated long, but don't have the OAL handy. 75.3gn of RL-23 gives me good accuracy. Magnetospeed gave me average of 3160fps and SD of 12, but I find that velocity somewhat suspect verses the Alliant datat numbers of 3005fps for 75.5gn/24" barrel. Have not had time to re-chrono it with an conventional/optical chrono.

Nolser has data for RL-19, and RL-23 is supposed to be very close in burn rate, just more temp stable.

Nosler Load Data

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[Dogtown]

I don't shoot .300WM, but...

Here's your current H1000 load

And here's an RL23 load

And here are some charge weight variation predictions

And this is what Alliant suggests


So bottom line: RL23 is probably a good choice in your case.

Edit: replaced charge variants with smaller increments

 

[CO00Z]

@Dogtown That's a lot of data. Thanks for the research. That's a pretty good schedule to start working on. It is a faster powder than H1000 and seems to hit higher pressures pretty early. It makes me wonder about that 75.5 max load Alliant published.

 

[Dogtown]

Take it for what it is: an estimation. None of those numbers are hard facts in anyone's rifle; Quickload is just a huge timesaving guide. As for published load data, they tend to be on the conservative side for a variety of understandable reasons.

 

[CO00Z]

@jet_lagged My velocity are coming from a Magnetospeed as well. Like you, I'm not sure how much I trust it. The last time I checked against my buddy's conventional chronograph I was about 20-30 fps higher.

 

[cornhusker86]

This data is for the 200 grainers, but will get you started;

 

[CO00Z]

Ok. I went out today to work on my own problem. This is what I started with. I volume checked the cases. All once fired Federal from this rifle. The cases were sized and trimmed before they where checked. Filled to the shoulder/neck joint 82.88 gr avg. (H20). CCI 250 primers, 190 SMK's. COAL 3.470. I'm not sure what the jump to the lands is however this gun has a lot of freebore. Ten cartridges, RL 23 Starting at 72.5 gr going to 75.3 gr. Since I don't really trust the MagnetoSpeed, I shot 5 rounds of Fed GMM (190) for a control number. That came to 3018 fps avg. 2.25% higher than what the box says.

Results:

RL 23 190 SMK Weight Speed Speed @ 97.75% 72.5 2979 2912 73 3039 2971 73.3 3079 3010 73.6 3097 3027 73.9 3116 3045 74.2 3107 3038 74.5 3126 3056 74.8 3152 3081 75.1 3170 3099 75.3 3172 3101

There were no pressure signs on any of the brass. Recoil increases felt pretty consistent and no bolt lift issues. As far as speed goes, I do expect slightly higher velocities due to elevation. Most of the places I shoot at are between 6,000 and 6,500 feet above sea level. In addition, my rifle is a 26 inch barrel vs the 24 inch the load data is based on. For now I'm going to use the MagnetoSpeed numbers and start looking at groups between 74.5 - 74.8 grains.

Any other ideas?

 

[CO00Z]

Alrighty then. Here's the next report. I went to the range armed with my test loads. Ten rounds each 74.5, 74.6, 74.7, and 74.8 grains of RL23. COAL is my standard 3.470 with the 190 SMK.

74.5 74.6 74.7 74.8 Average 3115 3138 3146 3153 SD 14 8 8 6 ES 44 28 26 21

Once again, no pressure signs. The groups seemed to get better as the speeds increased. That could also be me just getting into the groove so to speak. I'm going to work with the 74.8. I see a lot of potential there. This was the tightest of all the groups, 10 shots in 1.375 inches. The 74.5 was the worst, 10 in 1.675 inches. In fairness it was also the cold bore group. The overall velocities with the MagnetoSpeed seem to be consistent with those tha @jet_lagged reported. I will have to verify the bullet speed either with another Chronograph or drop at select distances. However, if the speed holds, it's hypersonic to 1600 yards. WooHoo!

 

[jet_lagged]

Great info.

Looking back at my old notes (after I had posted), I had actually done the magnetospeed on a second range trip with new batteries in it after not trusting the first data set. So looks like your and my number were real and faster than Alliant predicts. And I can't think the extra 2 inches of barrel is adding that much velocity.

 

[CO00Z]

I imagine that elevation and dry, thin air have something to do with it. The other part is reloading data, at least from manuals, are based on test barrels and lab conditions that most of us will never see.

 

[NH4X]

Concerning magneto speed accuracy : Every ave. speed from magneto speed that I've used in ballistic app. ( horn 4dof ).......dupe has been dead on.........lots on different rifles / bullet Dia. ECT.........

Conclusion : I trust the numbers it's spitting out on display.......ymmv

 

[CO00Z]

Good to know