Alliant Reloder 10-X powder - Handloader

Guns Magazine, June, 2003 by Charles E. Petty

We used to go for many years without the introduction of a new powder but that surely isn't true anymore. They come regularly. It's a challenge because we almost always get the powder before we get much loading data. And this is where my problem arises.

We will not print loading data that has not been pressure tested. In the early days the manufacturer will provide a little, but it really takes years for the body of information to grow. My practice is to work with a powder for a while before writing about it.

I've done that here, but the cartridge I wanted to use it in is a wildcat--the 6mm PPC. This round is the darling of the benchrest shooters and one that I really like to work with, but there is little pressure test data. I tried l0-X in the 6mm with due care, and had it not been so promising I would have waited until a more suitable project came along.

My benchrest rifle has shown very strong powder preferences in the past and consistently gives it's best groups with Vihtavuori N- 133 and Norma 201. Loads with both of those almost always shoot groups of a quarter inch or less.

With that as a basis for comparison, I worked up some loads with Reloder 10-X and almost instantly got equal or better accuracy. Alliant presently has data for the .222, .223, .22-250, 6mm BR and .308 Winchester (but only with light bullets).

Reloder 10-X is an extruded powder with very small grains approximately .07-inch long and .04-inch in diameter. As such it meters extremely well. It is a double-base powder with nitroglycerine content of about 7 percent, and a bulk density of 88 grams/cc. It is made in Sweden for Alliant.

We can learn quite a bit by comparing velocities shown with the new powder to those in the various manuals. In this type of comparison the bullet make and weight are the most important factors, but unless the primer and case are also exactly the same we can only be very general in our conclusions.

Alliant's data shows only maximum loads, but when we compare the velocities for Reloder 10-X with those published in other books it appears as if it gives consistently higher velocities in .223 Remington loads: In the .222 Remington, velocities were consistently a little lower and in the .22-250 Remington they were about the same. My experience has been that the data published by the major companies tracks very closely with the published maximum pressure for the cartridge so we can compare maximum published loads with a good degree of confidence.

We have to be very careful when we talk about burning rate comparisons. Just because two powders lie next to one another on the chart does not guarantee any interchangeability of data at all but it can provide clues. Reloder l0-X seems to be very close to H-322 in burning rate which indicates that we might want to try it in cartridges where H-322 works well.

These are the PPC and BR cases, and especially the .223. We'll learn more with time, but the initial impression I've gotten is that I need to try it in those next time around. Alliant has data on their web site at www.alliantpowder.com, or your can call [800] 276-9337.

New Sierra Manual

With the proliferation of new powders the demand for new editions of loading manuals is ever present so it's great to be able to welcome the latest from Sierra. It's the Fifth Edition and follows the convenient loose-leaf format, but has combined both rifle and handgun data into a single volume. Information is available at: [888] 223-3006 or www.sierrabullets.com

More Norma Brass

After an extended absence Norma is back on the American scene with powder, bullets and brass. Norma brass is wonderfully consistent and almost always helps in the accuracy department. The latest offering of brass is for the new .300 Winchester Short Magnum. More information may be found at: www.norma.cc

ALLIANT LOADING DATA RELODER 10-X .223 REMINGTON

          Bullet             Max Charge  Velocity

     Speer 40 gr. JSP           25.3      3,680
     Speer 45 gr. JSP           24.5      3,502
     Hornady 50 gr. SP          23.6      3,319
Nosier 50 gr. Ballistic Tip     24.2      3,389
    Sierra 52 gr. HPBT          23.3      3,270