WC 820 in 7.62X39

[Denver]

Has anyone tried WC 820 in their 7.62x39 rifle. I'm loading the Lee 312-1552R boolit with 22grs RL7 in my Ruger 77 and getting nice 1 1/2MOA or less groups at 100yds using Win or Fed cases with Fed LP primers. Velocity is running about 1850 fps by my chrono. I'd like to try WC820, but wouldn't know where to start.

Denver :Fire:

[Maven]

Denver, I've used WC 820 with the LBT version of the Lee/C.E. Harris CB in my [Type 56] SKS for years and highly recommend it. 13gr. - 15gr. give me accurate results, but 13gr. may not generate enough port pressure to operate the action 100% of the time.

[Denver]

Thanks Maven. I'll start with 13 grs then, bein as how I'm the action operator anyway,:-D just to be cautious. I love that boolit. It's shot well in everything I've tried in in. Wish I had a 4-6 holer tho instead of the single.

Denver :castmine:

[Denver]

Preliminary results with WC820 look promising. With the Lee 312-155-2R and 14 grs of the above gave somewhat larger groups than with RL7, but maybe another grain will tighten them up. The real surprise came with the RCBS 32-115 FN with gator ck @ .311 which gave a dime size group at 65 yds using 15 grs of WC820. Not so however using the Lyman 311008 pb. Too much velocity for it without a check. I'm going to try a few more using R-P cases and small pistol primers. I've always gotten better accuracy using cases that take the large primers, but maybe with this powder, results will differ.

:Fire:

[Junior1942]

What ya reckon the velocity is on the 115 FN & 820 load?

[Denver]

Junior;

Didn't chrono these first loads as the battery was dead. As soon as I can I'll do the next batch tho and post em here.

:drinks:

[Junior1942]

Thanks, Denver. I've got an SKS, a group buy 115 FP on its way, and ~12 lbs of 820.

[Maven]

Junior, Go to CASTPICS and look for my article on Cast Bullets in the SKS. There are 2 sets of data that I developed using 14gr. of WC 820 (AA #9 burning rate) with slightly heavier CB's. You should be able to develop a load from them.

[Denver]

Went to the range today and shot a couple different loads at 65 yds with the Ruger 7.62x39. First was with the Lee 312-1552R and 15grs WC820 using Win cases and Fed 150 LP primers. Average velocity was 1774 fps for 5 shots.
ES was 102 fps. Group was a verticle string of 3 1/2 x 1 in.

Second was 5 shots using the RCBS 32-115 FNGC, R-P cases w/ 15 grs WC820, and Fed 100 SP primers. Average velocity was 2020fps and ES of 18fps.
Group size was much smaller with 3 going into 3/8 x 5/8 in.

With 15 grs in the case, there's still a lot of air space and this powder is obviously position sensitive. With the first group, the velocity was 1707 on the first shot. For the remainder of the shots, I raised the barrel to verticle to settle the powder and the average velocity was 1791 with an ES of 34.
With the second group, I raised the barrel before each shot and the ES was much closer.
Wasn't an extensive test, but gives a pretty good idea of what to expect.
My rifle likes the lighter boolit and this powder it seems. Just wish it would shoot the plain base boolits as well.

:Fire: :castmine:

[Jeffreytooker]

Denver, I've used WC 820 with the LBT version of the Lee/C.E. Harris CB in my [Type 56] SKS for years and highly recommend it. 13gr. - 15gr. give me accurate results, but 13gr. may not generate enough port pressure to operate the action 100% of the time.

I have been lurking for a while. I was looking at WC820 info on the list tonight. I was interested in 7.62 X 39 with Boolits. I have a 1909 Argie in 30 Kern (a blownout 7.62 X 39), and 8 lb of WC820. So I was very pleased when I found Mavens post (see quote). I will have powder to feed my Argie for a long time at 15 gr per round. The boolet is 175 gr Lee.

Thanks Maven:

Jeffrey Tooker
Paynes Ck. Ca.

[Ricochet]

Don't forget WC680. It was reportedly developed for the purpose of loading 7.62x39.

[Maven]

Jeffrey, You're most welcome! Btw, I use 18.5gr. of WC 820 in my Arg. Mau. with 195gr. CB's and highly recommend it. In fact, I use it in all of my .30cal. rifles (metrics too) excepting the SKS with CB's of 175gr. - 205gr.

[Jeffreytooker]

Don't forget WC680. It was reportedly developed for the purpose of loading 7.62x39.


Ricochet:

Thanks for the info. I have no WC680, but I have a jug of WC820 that I had not found a use for. I do not have large pistols. Now the WC820 will not go begging.

Jeffrey
Tooker

Paynes Ck. Ca.

[Jeffreytooker]

Jeffrey, You're most welcome! Btw, I use 18.5gr. of WC 820 in my Arg. Mau. with 195gr. CB's and highly recommend it. In fact, I use it in all of my .30cal. rifles (metrics too) excepting the SKS with CB's of 175gr. - 205gr.


Maven:

I have fodder for my 30's. I was thinking about the WC820 with the 8X57, and the Lee Karbiner mould bullet. Should be about 205-215 gr. 18.5/WC 820 should work as a good starting point.

Jeffrey
Tooker

Paynes Ck Ca.