RL17 - pros/cons - Temp sensitivity / throat life

6.5BR

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 6, 2007
809
2
LA
Heard that this powder is less stable in higher temps, ok at normal and low temps, any word on this?

Also, throat life one person I read may have been shortened by use of RL17. Does it burn hotter? Wondering if it's true and meaningful - any difference in bbl life if used extensively?

What's the scoop/consensus on Types of powder, the heat and how that and/or size of granules affects throat/bore life?

Double Based, this, that, ball vs. stick? Anyone?

Are the differences significant or not? Thanks.
 
Re: RL17 - pros/cons - Temp sensitivity / throat life

did some testing with r-17.....generally thought it ran hotter.....but and however...there also was a whole schwack of what is now percieved as BAD steel that made it to a lot of barrels....and thus via a hawkeye made a LOT of barrels look like burnt charcoal....fire cracking all the way from the throat to the muzzle....fucking FRIED,TOAST,burned the fuck out.....


me thinks the 17 was not a total culprit....but others that have played with 17 thoufgt it also ran hot
 
Re: RL17 - pros/cons - Temp sensitivity / throat life

I hope my throat life hasn't been degraded, no signs of it yet.
I used RL17 this season. When I worked up my load in the Spring, I got decent results. Definitely the velocity I was looking for, OK SDs, good accuracy.
But, as I've used it in a number of matches where the temp swings from 55 degrees to 80 degrees, the velocity starts spiking on me at the higher temps. Where I was nailing everything when it's cool in the AM, I'm all over the place in the PM.
While I've seen others post similar experience, I know a few dedicated and well experienced LR tactical competitors that are sticking with it. I'm looking at H4350 & H4831sg myself.
 
Re: RL17 - pros/cons - Temp sensitivity / throat life

K, you running a 6 or 6.5? No intention to invoke fear in those using/have used.

Thanks for replies guys.