mechdriver
Resolved
Looking for another powder with similar to BLC2.
Anyone with experience? If so, how close is it as far as load duplication?
Anyone with experience? If so, how close is it as far as load duplication?
WC846 anyone using it for 5.56 and 7.62x51
- Thread starter mechdriver
- Start date
- Replies 13
- Views 912
Yes, I got some wc846 and I've been trying to make up loads with both 308 and 556. I'm having better luck in 556 right now I'm close to a good load. For 308 I struggled a little bit but I think it was the projectiles and not the power.
Last edited:
OP
mechdriver
Resolved
How close is it to BLC2 as far as charge weight to velocity?
Keep in mind that bulk powders vary from lot to lot unlike retail powder. Your loads may vary from the retail powder a bit but it should still have very similar characteristics.
You should always start low and work up with bulk powders.
Last edited:
OP
mechdriver
Resolved
Thanks guys. This is my first foray into canister powder. Been reloading for about 30 years and just now trying it.
I tried some WC846 but failed to get decent results with it in both an AR-10 and a bolt gun in 308. Coulda been me, I'm not a great precision shooter and still a noob rifle reloader.
If you find something that works , post it up!
If you find something that works , post it up!
As I said on another post;
IMR 3031- 21gr 5.56 62gr M855, and 40gr .308 175gr BTHPM. My go to for keeping both in stock.
IMR 3031- 21gr 5.56 62gr M855, and 40gr .308 175gr BTHPM. My go to for keeping both in stock.
Last edited:
I have been loading WC846 since I bought my first 8-pounder back in the late 80's for $32. Sure wish I had bought more. American Reloading had a deal on it a few months back and I bought some. This had the lot #10461. I tried my usual charge of 26.0 grains behind a Hornady 55 gr. FMJ-BT and got 3,182 fps from a 20" H-bar Colt rifle. Military specs for the M193 round specify 28.5 grains of WC846 for 3,250 fps. I have an older lot of WC846 #5234 and 26.0 grains with the 55gr. Hornady FMJ-BT yielded 2,972fps. Using 26.0grains of BL-C(2) with the 55 gr. Hornady gave me 2,805fps. It reinforced the warning that some Military Surplus powders are declared surplus because they didn't meet pressure specification for their intended purpose. I have another lot of WC846 that has no lot numbers on it, but has loading data for 5.56 and .7.62x51. I have yet to try these out.
I tried the loads I worked up using WC844, and it was milder than the H335 that I have, by about 1 grain. That may just be a lot-to-lot variation.
In doing some searches, I found out that WC844 and WC846 are made at the Saint Marks plant in Florida. Not surprisingly, some of the Hodgdon and Western/Ramshot powders are made there. The jugs look like they came from the same mold the Hodgdon jugs are made from.
I beleive St Marks only makes ball power. Powders that Hodgdon sells are "spherical " and the power that Winchester sells are "Ball" powder HP38-W231. It seems Winchester branded powers are always slightly more expensive that Hodgdon.
I will look and see if I can find the sheet that has the Winchester and Hodgdon powders that St Marks makes.
If I remember correctly ST Marks 242 is Titegroup.
Tom
I will look and see if I can find the sheet that has the Winchester and Hodgdon powders that St Marks makes.
If I remember correctly ST Marks 242 is Titegroup.
Tom
Hodgdon cannot call their powders "ball" because Winchester has a trademark on "Ball Powder" Hodgdon HP-38 and Win. 231 are the exact same powder, one call Spherical and the other is ball, but they are the same and made in the same plant.