I was in a discussion with a local gun shop owner recently. I asked the owner why he carried alot of Norma ammo but not any powders. He stated that the only requests he gets are for MRP. He also claims that MRP is exactly the same as RL22. He said he was told this years ago by a factory rep. He also claims he called Norma distribution in the states and was told they couldn't confirm or deny the claim. He then says the person called him back in the evening after work and told him that off the record the powders were exactly the same. Do you long time reloaders believe this?

The reason I ask is that I'm probably going to build a 6.5-284 Norma on a Mauser action that I have. If you look in the domestic reloading manual it seems that they load this round well under max compared to the data online available from Norma. The Speer data I have is OK but compared to the Norma data it is still 2-3 grains less with RL22 than what Norma shows for MRP.

I find that very hard to believe. No powder is exactly the same.

People has said that for years. Alliant supposely does get this powder from the same plant that norma does. I have asked alliant tech that question and they said it is different.

One of my reloading manuals, though I'll have to check which one, states the same thing. I think RL-22 is made by Norma also. I have also read that RL-22 is the equivalent of the powder used in Swedish Prykskytte 6.5x55 military ammo, which would also lead me to believe that its the same as MRP. At any rate use published reloading info for RL-22 and not MRP for working up loads.

The following link would indicate that norma does not make the alliant powders such as reloader22.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/about/p...?releaseID=32&

No, cause norma doesn't make powder either. They all get it from Nobel. I will have to find the official name.

I don't know if they're identical, but they're very close to being so. They're both made by Nexplo Bofors in Sweden.

Thanks solitary, I couldn't think of the name off hand.

I have used both powders in my .340 Wby. Mag., and with a 250 gr. Hornady using RL-22 MAX: 84.7 grs. I obtained 2,890 f/s; using MRP MAX: 90.0 grs. I obtained 3,086 f/s. I also obtained smaller groups with MRP. The only powder that came close to the preformance of MRP is WMR. Good luck.

I once used some MRP in a .270, but wasn't thrilled with it, considering the expense. I've read that RL-22 was very slightly improved MRP, whatever that means. I don't have any use for such slow powders so can't say for sure.