44 mag WC820 primer Question

[Jeffery8mm]

What primer should I be using to ignite 16 gr of WC820 in a 44 revo?? Been using a WLP.
Is a WLPM necessary?
Thanks
Jeff

[felix]

No, but increase to 17.5 using proverbial 250's. ... felix

[Jeffery8mm]

Why do you suggest that felix?? I am using the lyman K style 429421 250gr
Jeff

[Lloyd Smale]

820 does not burn well at the low pressures your loading. If you insist on a load that light use a cci 350 primer as there about the only one that will light off such a low pressure load. Felix is right about loading a little hotter. Id go even hotter then he recomends though. Ive shot a ton of it and with a 250 in a 44 mag it starts getting stable at about 18.5 grains and even then a cci 350 is best. When you get up to about 20 grains a standard primer is fine. As far as I know ww only makes one lg pistol primer and its a combo std/mag and in my experience its more of a standard primer then a mag.

[Junior1942]

+1 to what Lloyd Smale said. WC820 likes medium-high to high pressures. Otherwise, you'll get squib loads and a bullet stuck in the barrel. I stopped using it in 44 mag for that reason. For light to medium loads, use Unique or 2400.

[mike in co]

the problem is you guys are all ASSUMING his lot is hot like aa9 or so.....

not all lots of wc820 are like that. my 820 is 2 grains slower than a9.


so here is my answer...if it works why change ?

my personal experience is based on accurate data and my shooting.

cci lp for pistol and cci lp mag for carbine.

now i have been shooting heavies 280 -300.....so yes your milage may vary.


mike in co

[Dale53]

I have the original slow lot of WC 820. It is only ½ gr faster than H110 in the .44 magnum with the 240-250 Keith bullet (by actual chronographed velocities). I have shot a bushel of .44 mag loads with it (I use 23.0 grs for practice and 24.0 grs for hunting). Some lots have the same burning rate as AA#9 (MUCH faster burning). Failure to understand this can lead to dismantling your revolver.

The burning rate, since it is NOT a canister powder, is extremely important before discussing load data.

For the record, I have always used either WW LP or Federal 150's for primers.

FWIW
Dale53

[felix]

Actually, of four lots of this powder, the most accurate load is where the balls just go from the unfired "big" size to a very apparent fired "small" size. Look into the barrel using the 12 noon sun to determine this demarcation point. Over than more than a half grain of powder at this demarcation shows no velocity increase with the increase in case expansion at the base. Yes, true, 17.5 would be the least amount of powder with the 250 grainer using the fastest lot on-hand which is about like AA9. My slowest lot shows the demarcation point to be just at 20 grains using a gas checked boolit, which uses about one full grain less powder than an unchecked one. ... felix

[Jeffery8mm]

I will look at my notes later and post the speed of the 17gr laods. Maybe then we can determine the speed of this lot.
Jeff