powder for cast bullets

[inter1]

Hi.
Can someone recommend a surplus powder to take the place of IMR 4198 and Alliant 2400?
I have tryed WC860 but do not like all the unburnt powder left in the barrel plus it messed up the brass, made it looking like a car after going trough a hail storm.
I have an 8lb jug that eventually i will use up ,but really i would like to try something better.
Danny.





























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[454PB]

WC 820 is close to 2400 in burn rate. Can't help with IMR 4198.

[Maven]

For CB loads in rifles, you can't go wrong with AA 5744 since it is formulated for reduced loads. About WC 860 & powder dented cases: If you have a bolt-action rifle, you can minimize the problem by dry-patching the bbl. every 5-10 shots. Another way is to remove the bolt, insert one of those bore guides, cover the solvent port and blow through its rear. It works almost as well as dry patching.

[inter1]

Thanks.
Danny.

[Ricochet]

WC680 is pretty close to 4198 in its burn rate, but Ball powders are a lot less flexible. You're pretty much on your own finding loads for it. I've had good success with it for ~1500 FPS loads with about 35 grains under 325-340 grain boolits in .45-70, but haven't used it in anything else. There are posts here and there about using small loads of it in .308 and .30-06, and it's somewhat popular with shooters of big magnum pistol cartridges like the .454 Casull.

[RayinNH]

Danny, what caliber(s) are you trying to reload for...Ray

[inter1]

7.65 mauser,7.62x54R,8mm.7.5 french,6.5Carcano.
Mostly the 7.65 Argentine carbine and the 6.5 Carcano this two only are reloaded with cast pills,the 7.5 french is accurate at 50'.
This far the best result at 100' are with the 7.65 mauser.
Danny.

[RayinNH]

Danny, WC820 would be a good one. Maven has written quite frequently about it in rifle cases. Maybe he will respond when he sees what your reloading for. If you look a little further down the list of topics in this "Surplus Powder Data" area you'll find SR4759 clone.Click on it and read what is said. SR4759 is a classic cast boolit powder as is 2400, 4227 and 4198. Below is a link to Jeff Bartletts site. He carries both the SR4759 clone and WC820...Ray

http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html

[Maven]

Danny, While I think AA 5744 is an ideal CB powder, it IS expensive and can be hard to locate. WC 820, on the other hand, a milsurp powder and thus significantly cheaper than 5744, works quite well in the cartridges you mentioned. Its burning rate is somewhere between that of AA #9 & H 110, but follow the recommendations that come with your powder lot when (if?) you purchase it. Since you won't be using full case charges of WC 820, it is imperative that you check your cases for double charges, which can be disastrous. Also, you can use a pistol powder measure* (the kind with the drilled out "rotors" for a given charge) to dispense this powder, which is a huge time-saver.

Here are some starting load recommendationsfor WC 820:

6.5 Car., 14 - 16gr.

7.5 Fr., 18.5 - 20.5gr. with CB's up to 195gr.

7.62 x 54R, 18.5 - 20.5gr. with CB's up to 195gr.

7.65 x 53mm, 18.5 - 20.5gr. with CB's up to 195gr.

8 x 57mm, 18.5 - 21.5gr. with CB's up to 235gr.

These loads produce low pressures and extreme spreads and have been accurate in my rifles. Once again, if you use this powder, make especially sure you don't double-charge a case!

*Standard powder measures will work, but will soon bind as 820 is a very fine ball powder.

[inter1]

Thanks again for all the informations.
Danny.