820 vs 2400?

[DanM]

Am pleased with my results with 2400 for general CB loading, but hope to change over to 820. I want to get some 820 from Pat's at the GSO show. How do they compare? Gharge weights and position sensitivity?

[felix]

Compare 820 to AA9, and the latter to 2400. ... felix

[454PB]

What Felix said. My lot of WC820 is very close in burn rate to 2400.

[DanM]

OK, but in practical application, if I am loading 20grs. of 2400 under my 180gr boolits in .303, and getting good results, what would be a good starting load for the same boolit with 820? Also, what about position sensitivity? Are yall using filler with 820? If it needs filler, I will probably pass on the 820.

[Junior1942]

820 needs pressure. Light to medium loads give squib loads.

[jonk]

820 doesn't ignite as easily. I use it in 357 and 30 carbine where it can mostly fill the case and it does a treat there, but otherwise not much. I've played with it in rifle cases- didn't get BAD results but not as happy as with the surplus 4759.

[shawn45]

20 gr in my 30-06 with a 170gr cast bullet and used it to kill a sow a in 2006. I have used it with 120 gr cast in the boys 308 with 10 gr and 16 gr for practice loads in the Ruger Compact 308. I can't really say as to 2400 because I haven't used it in years, since I started using 820, and I used to use a lot of 296 before the 820.

[Lloyd Smale]

like was allreayd said its slightly slower then 2400 and harder to ignite. 2400 is probably a better powder for lighter loads in a handgun or rifle but 820 with some tweaking can work just about as well and is alot cheaper

[DanM]

Hmmm....Having second thoughts on my change over to 820. No one has mentioned needing filler, is it position sensitive?

[felix]

All powders are position sensitive, and that is why fillers are needed. Some are more sensitive that others in differing applications, depending on millions of factors. In large case applications, the 80 percent rule is fairly accurate. Josey Wales: "I reccon not", for your specific application. ... felix

[DanM]

I have been assuming that SD is at least a partial indicator of posititon sensitivity. I am getting a SD of 10-12 with that 20gr load of 2400 in .303. That is without filler, and without weighing each charge, which seems pretty good to me. I realize that a load with a higher SD can still be accurate, but I do like to see those low SD numbers. I have gotten comfortable with 2400. Meters well in the Uniflow, and needs no filler with only a half full case giving consistant results. Yeah, I am lazy. Maybe I should just stick with what is working....

[DanM]

Maybe I should just be asking for recomendations, rather than sticking to 820. Pats shows the following surplus powders in stock. Are any of these among the best for .303, 7.5 Swiss, and 7.62x54 with my 180gr boolits? Looking for medium velocity, 1800-2000fps.

POWDER: WC844,WC844T, WC846, WC846T
Plus WC748, H4831SC, WC297 Pistol, Russian 45 Auto pistol powder, others from plant closing