WC 868 in 6.5 Swede?

[MarkK]

Anyon have experience with WC 868 in 6.5 Swede or? Seems to be a good deal on 8lbs at PAts. TIA, Mark

[MarkK]

According to Pat ... "its (WC868) a 20mm powder and is slower like the WC872 which we had for years, its similar to 860 in the fACT IT IS A BALL POWDER, THE 5010 IS A STICK POWDER"

[9.3X62AL]

No "time in grade" with WC-868, but lots of time with WC-860. Specific to the 6.5 x 55 Swedish, I have run a full case (55.0 grains) of WC-860 in the 6.5 x 55 using Hornady 140 grain spitzers (#2630) and WLR primers. This mix gave 2475 FPS in my Ruger 77R's 22" barrel. From what my cast boolit co-conspirator Buckshot indicates, that is very close to original spec ballistics for the caliber. These loads shot VERY accurately, also--7/8" to 1" at 100 yards repeatedly, 5-shot groups. The rifle is a laser beam with all 140 grain bullets, and the use of cheep fuel didn't degrade things a bit. I can safely pick up about 200-250 FPS more with IMR-4831 and retain accuracy, but I would take the WC-860 loads deer hunting without a question. I don't think a deer or elk could tell the difference, if I do my part.

I've wondered how well the WC-860 "Kingsford Charcoal With Attitude" would do with the 160 grain round nose bullets usually seen in the 6.5 x 54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer, loaded to similar speeds in the 6.5 x 55. Those "dull pencils" could sure do business in the M/S rifles at 2200 FPS. I shot a meat buck last year with the 140 Partition @ 2700 FPS, about 60 yards off the muzzle. Down he went in 20 yards, but I'm glad the shot was a little far back. Had the hit been behind the shoulder, there would have been meat loss from bloodshot. In the brushy areas I hunt locally, a spitzer bullet is gilding the lily about a 1/4 inch thick. That Hornady RN at 30-30 speeds makes a lot more sense, for close-up work at least.

Before I launch into a rave about the 6.5 x 55 and its versatility--I'll just shut it off here.

[MarkK]

Thank you for your response.

A full case of WC860 under a 140 j-bullet is indeed a wonderful thing in my M96 Swede Mauser - pie plate accuracy at 100 yards with iron sites :) Hope to try it on deer some day. I also have a couple hundred Hornady 160 gr JSP and methinks it would be an even better meat getter.

WC868 might just be the last surplus powder bargain and since it is similar to 872 it may prove a useful fuel in 6.5 Swede. I guess I'll have to buy some.

[BD]

I took the biggest buck of my life to date with a case full of WC860 under a 160 grain Sierra RN out of an old swede cut to 22". No idea how fast they were going but they didn't expand at all and it took three in the boiler room at 175 yards to keep him from making it back into the bog. Much better luck with the 140 grain Speers and RL 22.
BD