WC857 - Anybody?

[Dutch4122]

I just noticed that Jeff Bartlett has this powder in stock. Burn rate is supposed to be similar to RL-25 or H1000. I may have a use for this stuff; but I'm not too keen on the price after HazMat & shipping for an 8# jug. Sure would like to hear if any members of this site have tried WC857. Anybody here have experience with this powder they care to relate?

[bearmn56]

Dutch,
Yes, I have used WC857. I bought about 15lbs of it in Great Falls, Montana some 30 plus years ago for $1.00 per pound. I have a couple of pounds left. It is a slow burning powder and the lot that I got had LOTS of graphite in it. Made a cloud when pouring the powder out.
Thirty years ago was before all of the great slow burning powders that we have now. We used it in the .257 Roberts initially. It gave better velocities than H4831 and IMR4350 and at lower pressures. (a friend had a very expensive chronograph...rare in those days). I always used CCI250 primers with it.
A few years ago I tried it in a 22/6MM with 75-80 gr bullets. It seemed to be slightly slower than H4831 and faster than AA8700 and H870 in that application.
A little dirty burning but otherwise fully useable.
Bearmn56
Montana Territory

[Dutch4122]

bearmn56-

Thank you for that information. It is very useful for my project. Looks like I need to get my hands on a pound of this stuff and give it a try.