Thread: Is RL17 a barrel burner?

I forgot to say if it is a barrel burner, which I doubt. It is not a worry for me as I will be dead before it is an issue as I only use it in a hunting load.

I find my 284 likes adi 2213sc, couldn't tell you speeds but 140 gr gamekings are one large hole at 100meters.

got some RL17 to try with 162 amax when I get bored.

N550 is rocket fuel with 120gn slugs in my 25yrs old .284, 3350 and good hunting accuracy. Best performance with 140s has always come from a case-full of WW ball powder, currently 780. Mine has the standard short-throat and no doubt gives different results compared to that obtainable from long action conversions.

Originally Posted by killroy

N550 is rocket fuel with 120gn slugs in my 25yrs old .284, 3350 and good hunting accuracy. Best performance with 140s has always come from a case-full of WW ball powder, currently 780. Mine has the standard short-throat and no doubt gives different results compared to that obtainable from long action conversions.

Have you tried the N550 with 140gn projectiles? When I got my .284 I got a can of RL17, but now its running out I can't seem to find any anywhere, so am looking at other powders. Have heard that H4350 is also good. Any .284 users tried that?

Without to much of a thread steal has anyone used the Berger 140gn VLD Hunting projectiles on deer?

Originally Posted by Kudu

Have you tried the N550 with 140gn projectiles? When I got my .284 I got a can of RL17, but now its running out I can't seem to find any anywhere, so am looking at other powders. Have heard that H4350 is also good. Any .284 users tried that?

Without to much of a thread steal has anyone used the Berger 140gn VLD Hunting projectiles on deer?

@Kudu Yes i use them in my 708 and they are very forgiving, have had a couple hit a bit far back but yet dead on their feet due to the fragmentation of the projectile. Have shot animals from 15m to 350 and none have complained.

Well i have also gone .284, currently with Scott at mo. I will be looking to start with AR2209 as i have LOADS of it for my 708 but also have a look at a new powder that is due here soon. Details on Rifle and load etc to come

Hamish

Against everyone's advice I've just had a .284 built on a Rem 700 short action. Scott Trail did the work and unfired I'm very very happy. I can get a Amax in it with a reasonable OAL - I'll post photos and actual OAL tomorrow. It's got a older blued action, a fluted stainless barrel and a HiTech stock. With some heavy steel weaver rings and a Bushnell Elite 4500 3-9 she weighs under 7 pounds. If she shoots I'll change to Talleys and flute the bolt, I'll also change to the Tubb pin and shroud.

There's no way you can do this type of thing on the cheap!

Originally Posted by craigc

Against everyone's advice I've just had a .284 built on a Rem 700 short action. Scott Trail did the work and unfired I'm very very happy. I can get a Amax in it with a reasonable OAL - I'll post photos and actual OAL tomorrow. It's got a older blued action, a fluted stainless barrel and a HiTech stock. With some heavy steel weaver rings and a Bushnell Elite 4500 3-9 she weighs under 7 pounds. If she shoots I'll change to Talleys and flute the bolt, I'll also change to the Tubb pin and shroud.

There's no way you can do this type of thing on the cheap!

Why were people advising against it? its a great build. Scott did mine as well and very happy with his work. But mine was done on the cheap craig. Mine was just a Remington Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08 that he rechambered and with an extended mag box. A very easy conversion. A light and powerful conversion.

Originally Posted by Kudu

Why were people advising against it? its a great build. Scott did mine as well and very happy with his work. But mine was done on the cheap craig. Mine was just a Remington Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08 that he rechambered and with an extended mag box. A very easy conversion. A light and powerful conversion.

Don't use a short action is what I was told by quite a few people, almost put me off doing it. Glad it didn't!

We'll see how it goes and then I might free my self of the 7mm Rem Mag...

Originally Posted by craigc

Don't use a short action is what I was told by quite a few people, almost put me off doing it. Glad it didn't!

We'll see how it goes and then I might free my self of the 7mm Rem Mag...

That makes sense. Mine is a short action as well. With 140gn projectiles they JUST fit in the mag so I haven't bothered to go any bigger, but that doesnot bother me as there is nothing in NZ that I can't knock over with a 140gn projectile. (All my Sambar shooting has been done with a 25-06 after all!!!!)

Originally Posted by craigc

Don't use a short action is what I was told by quite a few people, almost put me off doing it. Glad it didn't!

We'll see how it goes and then I might free my self of the 7mm Rem Mag...

My 30/284 in a short action performs above expectations.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

My 30/284 in a short action performs above expectations.

Same with my 6.5SAUM

QuickLoad predicts the pressure on the muzzle using specific charge weight/bullet/barrel length.
IMHO, a load that exceeds 700 bars at the muzzle will burn your barrel/crown faster.

For those unfamiliar with Quickload this what it offers. This load is close but needs a few tweeks. My muzzle pressure is below the safe limit set by icebug

And a comment of burning/erosion - it is not caused by pressure although obviously high pressure may have an associated high flame level. Erosion works best in the leed area where there is a transition from no rifling to rifling and the angle of the rifling (no matter what angle it has been reamed to) inevitably presents sharp edges, which are exposed to the super hot gases and unburned/still burning powder. Some powders are more aggressive to the rifling than others via abrasion as well. To a lesser extent the primer compound will also erode. At the muzzle the gases are less able to abrade/firecrack as they are travelling in the direction of the parallel rifling ie no exposed edges at an angle to gas flow. Any burning of the crown will occur from the jetting effect of the flame as the projectile exits but will never exhibit itself the same as leed erosion.

Using quickload, what would be the predicted velocity for the same load but from a 22" barrel?

Originally Posted by kimjon

Using quickload, what would be the predicted velocity for the same load but from a 22" barrel?

@kimjon Unfortunately I don't run my own copy (a guy on an Aus forum did my 284 and my others another willing guy), and I am currently tossing up whether to buy my own. Otherwise I would be glad to run that thru.
Maybe @icebug would be willing to do it.
The results using my data and your 22" barrel would be indicative only but interesting to see.
It would be better still to do it for yours with some accurate data for your setup plus using maybe a different powder. My barrel is after all 33" long :-) (My one is longer than yours ha ha)