Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
Moderators: deerhunter338mag, Vaughan, stokesrj
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Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
Today, I have started load development for this combo and looking for opinions from more experience reloaded. Here’s my load data info:
- Blaser R8 300WM + Zeiss V8 2.8-20x56 + RL-23 + PPU brass 1F annealed + F215M primers + 180gr Accubond @ 3.340”, Redding S-Match Bushing dies, runout at +/- 0.0015”
- started with first 10 shots with powder charge from 71.0gr to 75.5gr in 0.5gr increments at 200yds (that’s the longest I can go at our range), taking breaks between shots, making sure that barrel doesn’t get too hot! No excessive pressure signs observed at max powder load and I’m not planning on going any higher than 75.5gr anyways ( I don’t think it’s necessary).
- from what I can tell there is a node at 71.5 - 72.0/72.5 gr, shots 2-3, possibly 4?(Nosler’s book has the most accurate load at 71.5gr) and then next one is most likely somewhere between 73.0 - 74.0 gr shots 5-7 with similar speeds and small vertical dispersion!
- powder charges 74.5 - 75.0 gr, shots 8-9 are very close in speed, but vertically they are almost 2” apart (could be me pulling a trigger even though it felt good as far as I can tell) - would you still consider it?
- my next session I’m planning on shooting loads - 3x 71.3, 71.6, 71.9, 72.2 gr and then also 3x 72.7, 73.0, 73.3, 73.6, 73.9, 74.2 gr, but maybe I should try this one first, since I like the speed I’m getting at around 3020 FPS?
What do you guys think? Am I on the right track or am I missing something here? Thanks.
- Blaser R8 300WM + Zeiss V8 2.8-20x56 + RL-23 + PPU brass 1F annealed + F215M primers + 180gr Accubond @ 3.340”, Redding S-Match Bushing dies, runout at +/- 0.0015”
- started with first 10 shots with powder charge from 71.0gr to 75.5gr in 0.5gr increments at 200yds (that’s the longest I can go at our range), taking breaks between shots, making sure that barrel doesn’t get too hot! No excessive pressure signs observed at max powder load and I’m not planning on going any higher than 75.5gr anyways ( I don’t think it’s necessary).
- from what I can tell there is a node at 71.5 - 72.0/72.5 gr, shots 2-3, possibly 4?(Nosler’s book has the most accurate load at 71.5gr) and then next one is most likely somewhere between 73.0 - 74.0 gr shots 5-7 with similar speeds and small vertical dispersion!
- powder charges 74.5 - 75.0 gr, shots 8-9 are very close in speed, but vertically they are almost 2” apart (could be me pulling a trigger even though it felt good as far as I can tell) - would you still consider it?
- my next session I’m planning on shooting loads - 3x 71.3, 71.6, 71.9, 72.2 gr and then also 3x 72.7, 73.0, 73.3, 73.6, 73.9, 74.2 gr, but maybe I should try this one first, since I like the speed I’m getting at around 3020 FPS?
What do you guys think? Am I on the right track or am I missing something here? Thanks.
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- Meister der jagd
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Re: Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
Can you get Norma MRP Powder? If you can get H1000 I have pretty good luck with that but the Norma is better.
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- Meister der jagd
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Re: Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
Norma 204 is also ok.
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Re: Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
I have RL-22 and RL-26 available, but no Norma! What’s wrong with RL-23? I prefer temp stable powders due to the area and climate where I hunt - Northern BC, Canada! I’ve seen other people using RL-22 with 180gr bullets with good results and I thought RL-23 would be a good options for my needs.
- stokesrj
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Re: Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
I think you likely have a good node around 73 grains and would load ten rounds and shoot two five shot groups and see what you get.
Robert J Stokes
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Re: Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
Dont know if you can get your hands on ADI 2213 powder, but I have loaded 180gr Woodleighs and 72grains of powder for my 300WM with very impressive groups. cheers
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- Meister der jagd
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- Meister der jagd
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Re: Help with R8 300WM 180gr NAB RL-23 load development
I think Bob may be right. Another option to loading ten at one load may be to shoot a Optimal Charge Weight from 72.5 - 74.5. That range is the most consistent that I see.
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