It's not your father's Reloader-7

535 Views
Last Post 4 weeks ago
Topic Is Solved

CBA Board

Glenn R. Latham posted this 04 August 2024

...with apologies to Oldsmobile (RIP).

I have been unsatisfied with the new jug of RL-7 I bought a couple years ago, and so took a closer look at the stuff. The first thing I noticed was the lack of the colorful powder granules that was kind of a hallmark of the Hercules, and if I remember right, the older Alliant powder as well. (I don't have an older can of Alliant RL-7 to compare anymore.) I did find an unopened can of Hercules RL-7 in the back of a box of powder. As you can see from the "photo" (actually a scan), the powders look quite different:

On the left is the Hercules product and on the right the new, "Made in Sweden" Alliant RL-7. Velocities and standard deviations are about the same between the old and new but I don't think I'm getting the accuracy with the new that I was used to with the old powder. Anybody else notice anything like this?

Glenn

Attached Files

Liked by

18 Comments

Order By: Standard | Newest | Votes

CBA Member

4060may posted this 04 August 2024

This will be mostly a memory reply, I haven't shot any of the Hercules flavor since 2010 IIRC, but anyhow

Reloder 7 is my go to powder in my 30-40Krag , No.3 Ruger, Martini with 4 groove GI barrel, !895 Win Japanese flavor, I have burned about 15 pounds of the brown flake version, and am on my third 5# jug of the Swede flavor, I have 1# of the Hercules powder unopened left, saving it for the Winchester, shot best in this one,RCBS 30-180-2p, LBT, 21.6 grains, using the new powder the POI and groups seem to be close enough for Silhouette both powders burn clean for me

The powder works well in almost any .30-32 cal rifles I have, I was using it in my .308 12BVSS Savage, 311299, 24grains, shooting the a local match against/with the jacketed guys, had to quit, recoil for me become too much, this load shoots well,

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

RicinYakima posted this 04 August 2024

FWIW

When Alliant re-introduced RX7, after they ran out of Hercules made stock, and when it was unavailable for a couple of years, they contracted with Norma.

Their first loading data stated that it was "very similar to Norma 200". It may just be like H/IMR powders sold with a different label. I have not seen new made Norma 200 for sale for at least 15 years.

Attached Files

CBA Member

lotech posted this 05 August 2024

I've used Reloder 7 for many years for mostly cast bullet loads. What I'm currently using is from a five-pound jug of Swedish-made RL7. While I don't recall any differences in accuracy or velocities in comparsion with the older powder, I'll have to look at my old notes for confirmation. I'm curious now, based on Glenn Latham's comments.

Attached Files

Liked by

Standard Member

Silver_Is_Money posted this 05 August 2024

Is Bofors the current manufacturer of the RL's?

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

admiral posted this 05 August 2024

The last can of RL7 I bought that was made in USA was back around '98. I've been shooting the Bofors made stuff ever since. The USA made powder I had was more of a yellow/brown compared to the Swede version but I never noticed any real difference in the 375 Win or 38-55.

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

Eutectic posted this 05 August 2024

Hercules RL7 was a double base powder. I wonder if Norma 200 is DB?

I wonder why Alliant did not just make a run of RL7?

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

RicinYakima posted this 05 August 2024

Both Norma and Bofors are brands of the Eurenco Corporation/Conglomerate of Sweden.

Attached Files

CBA Member

RicinYakima posted this 05 August 2024

Norma 200 is a double base short stick powder, as shown by Glenn's picture at the top. It is used in their 22 Hornet up to 7.62x39 ammo. Because the grain size is larger than ball or flattened ball powders not as much deterrent coating is required, so it burns cleaner at lower pressures.

Attached Files

Liked by

Standard Member

tomme boy posted this 07 August 2024

rl7 is the only powder that uses Nitroguanidine. Otherwise known as bat poop. It is a tri based powder.

Attached Files

CBA Member

mashburn posted this 5 weeks ago

RL7 Powder

When did this RL7 powder change take place? I shoot a lot of RL7 and really hate to hear that. I have quite an amount of RL7 that I bought a few years ago, so I guess I am fortunate to have done so. At my age I may have enough to last me the rest of my life, but to tell the truth, I hope I live long enough to use all of my old RL7 up. Ha

Mashburn

hen did this switch take place? Ii shoot a lot of RL7 and I hate to hear that. The RL7 that I am shooting now was purchased years ago and I have several cans that were also purchased quiet a while back and it sounds, to me, that I made a wise purchase. Thanks to those who brought this fact to print.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

Attached Files

CBA Member

Aaron posted this 5 weeks ago

We have all seen, over the decades, various powders made in multiple countries by differing companies. Look at Accurate powders for example. Made in Israel, Australia, and other locations. Those who make the powders use formulations to make either flake, ball, extruded, and various lengths of tubular powder to meet specific performance requirements in a closed bomb burn. It will meet performance criteria relative to pressure over time, temperature, Pmax, peak pressure, avg pressure, etc. It will resemble powder made by another but may exhibit slight visual differences to those observant enough, and with enough experience over time, to see any differences. So long as the powder meets the targeted performance specs, it’s the same stuff eh? A cake made with the same recipe in NC is the same as one made in MS.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

Eutectic posted this 5 weeks ago

The cake may taste the same but accuracy on a 100 yard target may be way different.

Attached Files

CBA Member

Hornet posted this 5 weeks ago

I would think that it would show up on the Safety Data Sheet if Nitroguanidine was used but it seems not to. Interesting...

Attached Files

CBA Member

Wm Cook posted this 5 weeks ago

Can anyone translate the Nitrocellulose and the Nitroglycerin content from the data sheet Richard posted into percentages? Bill C.

Attached Files

CBA Member

Aaron posted this 4 weeks ago

rl7 is the only powder that uses Nitroguanidine. Otherwise known as bat poop. It is a tri based powder.

I believe you will find that Nitroguanidine is a manufactured synthetic product. Guano is the natural bat by-product (poop).

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

Attached Files

CBA Member

Hornet posted this 4 weeks ago

The composition chart doesn't detail it specifically for Reloder 7 but Propellant Profiles (6th Ed) says double-based with about 10% nitroglycerine. I would expect them to consider the exact formulation to be trade secret. I recall hearing many years ago that the very early batches were 7% Nitroglycerine and several benchrest shooters had to hammer bolts open when the percentage changed. I've got a couple of the old pop-top square steel cans that I think are the very early stuff.

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

RicinYakima posted this 4 weeks ago

The Chemical Abstracts Service chart you posted is not what you think it is about. It is a chart of all of the percentages of all of the powders sold under the "Alliant" brand. The column on the right is the environmental and health risks of the chemical. HTH

Attached Files

CBA Member

Hornet posted this 4 weeks ago

Actually the chart was clipped from page 2 of the Safety Data Sheet for Alliant's Reloder series powders as noted above. https://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/reloder7.aspx And Click on the 'View the SDS' if you want all 11 pages. After nearly 40 years of refresher training sessions on HAZ-MAT and MSDS use I think I have a pretty good idea what they're about.

It's not your father's Reloader-7

Categories

Search

Popular Tags

This Weeks High Earners

Hot Topics