WC820 and 45 ACP

[lead_her_fly]

I recently got a new Lee 6 cavity 452252 mold. I am loading it in 45 ACP cases. I wish my camera would take good enough pictures to post what they look like. The lot of WC820 I have burns like AA#9. I wanted some pins and plates bullets for my 625. I have a heavy crimp in the groove to prevent pushbacks. The old data website for Accurate Arms Powders gives a load for 45 AutoRim with AA#9 and this weight of bullet. Any thoughts from you more experienced casters? Should I be using a bullet that has a gas check? I need to chrono them but @ 21' I can put them in one hole two handed and double action.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Skip

[Ricochet]

Seems like a slower burning powder than I'd choose for .45 ACP. I've used Blue Dot in this cartridge, and it does leave a lot of partially burned flakes, but most of it blows out the muzzle and doesn't foul the action. In my 2nd edition Lee Modern Reloading I see #9 data for 240 and 250 grain bullets in the .45 Auto Rim. Hadn't particularly looked for it. I don't see any harm in trying it. If it gets unburned powder in your 1911, it'll clean out easily enough. They testfired those things full of mud and sand before they accepted them, didn't they? A little unburned Ball powder shouldn't hurt one.
:mrgreen:

[Lloyd Smale]

like richoet said its a little to slow for your purpose. Theres better surplus powders for the application. Im sure you can make it go bang but when you factor in all the powder your using it would be cheaper to use comercial bullseye or 231 and save your 820 for what i does well.

[Junior1942]

You'll get squib rounds with WC820 loads below high-medium pressures. Like Lloyd said, there's better powders for your application.

[lead_her_fly]

I should have added some more info I guess. I know it is a slow burning powder. I too have used Blue Dot and was unhappy with the left behind particles. I use Bullseye and W231 and AA#2 and others for my standard 38 and 45 loads. In the 625 though I wanted something with more meplat, heavier and faster for pins and plate loads. I like the way that WC820 leaves my firearm clean and the cases are super as well.
The main reason for the question was to find out if anyone had had experience doing the same thing. I understand the other issues, been reloading for years.

I mark my WC820 load boxes for "625 ONLY" too to keep my son from loading them in his SW1911. I was using a purchased RNFP Cowboy bullet for these loads but that will be a thing of the past real soon as I work on this loading.

[MikeG]

I use 12.5 gr WC820 and 250 gr bullets. I get 873 fps in my S&W 325 PD.

12.5 g is more consistent than 12 g. I think the 250 gr bullet will work better than a lighter bullet with this powder as it needs compression to burn properly.

Mike G.

[mike in co]

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR COST...

you are only burning about 62% of the powder with 9/820......

if you go with 5 you are at about 83% burn

just something to consider.....

[MakeMineA10mm]

Not sure if this is what Mike is saying or not, but I would consider the cost difference between 5.0grs of W231 @ $12.00/lb. vs. 12.5grs of WC820 @ $9.00/lb.

What the heck, I'm bored, I'll do the math for you:

For 100 rds:

100 x 5.0grs = 500grs = 1/14 of a lb. = $.86 (if the W231 is $12.00/lb.)
100 x 12.5grs = 1250grs = 17.9% of a lb. = $1.60 (if the WC820 is $9.00/lb.)

Now, let's say you bought the WC820 when it was $7/lb.:

100 x 12.5grs = 1250grs = 17.9% of a lb. = $1.25

I'd say the cheaper load is 5.0grs of W231 with a 240gr SWC, no matter how you cut it. Not to mention that the W231 will burn more efficiently/cleanly, as it is better-suited to the application. The WC820 will give you more velocity, marginally.

[MikeG]

If you got a bunch of the WC820 laying around, like I do, it will work and work well with heavier bullets. I also like the way it meters, much better than the #105 that Jeff was selling.

My time is worth something, a powder that meters well is worth plenty to me, not to mention consistent loads.

And I also doubt you can drive a 250 gr bullet @ 873 fps with W231 within pressure limits, as Winchester lists the 230 gr going @ 834 fps as the max load for the powder.

I don't care about cost when it comes to getting a load work to my desired level of performance.

I carry my 325 for self defense and I want a load/bullet that will blow clear through my adversary; and BTW I don't wish to hear from anyone about not using hand loads in a CCW or over penetration either.

Thanks,

Mike G.

[targetshootr]

Scoo-bee doo-bee doo...

:Fire:

[MikeG]

Scoo-bee doo-bee doo...

:Fire:

Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla

4059

[exblaster]

but @ 21' I can put them in one hole two handed and double action.


If pressure is OK that would be good enough for me.
Exblaster

[ace1001]

It takes 18.3 g behind a 250 g bullet to burn cleanly. I don't think you can get that much in a 45 ACP. If you want to save money try Red Dot. Ace