duplex WC860

[Harpman]

The M44 and 8MM, dont seems to be doing so good, would it be safe to put 1 grain of varget in first, then fill to ?......with the WC860, I'm using standard large rifle primers, all I have right now...or should I just go get some magnum primers for those calibers ?

[Maven]

Harpman, For both the 7.62 x 54R and 8 x 57mm, I use 48gr. WC 860, Win. Mag. primers and heavy CB's, Lyman #314299 in the former and a 195gr. LBT in the latter. Felix has suggested using ~5gr. 4198 or 3031 with WC 860, but you then have to reduce the [WC 860] charge by ~5gr.

[Buckshot]

The M44 and 8MM, dont seems to be doing so good, would it be safe to put 1 grain of varget in first, then fill to ?......with the WC860, I'm using standard large rifle primers, all I have right now...or should I just go get some magnum primers for those calibers ?

You can check the Castpic's website, Research & Data, then surplus powder loads. Click on 45-70 and you'll see duplex data for the 45-70. With that improved burning was seen at 3.0grs H4198 but I tested to 5.0grs. I would start with 1.0grs of an easy to ignite moderately fast type powder. It was to be slow enough to add to the main charge.

As an extreme, if you used Bullseye your main charge of WC ball wouldn't derive much benefit as an aid to burning.

...................Buckshot

[9.3X62AL]

Regarding the 45-70 and duplexed WC-860/IMR-4198, using the Lee 4054 grain RN plain base atop 48.0/3.0--accuracy was very good, still some trash in the bore after each shot, and velocities were quite low--around 1000 FPS. I shifted to 46.0/5.0, and the trash is now pretty much absent--recoil is more vigorous, so I'm assuming there's a bit more velocity--and accuracy is pretty much the same. POI didn't change much, if at all.

Duplexing here means the IMR-4198 goes in first, atop the primer vent--then the main charge, and the bullet is seated with 100% loading density to the powder column. The main charge weight/volume is adjusted to achieve the 100% density. My goal was to acheive accurate loads at black powder intensities, and I think I'm there. Some chronography would confirm that, so I need to get off my fat aspirations and get that done.