Working up some loads for .223 w/WC 846, need suggestions.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I've picked uoa large batch of the privi partisan J-word bullets in 55 and 62 grain weights to do to some basic stock on my AR 15 larder. I'll be shooting these out of my 16" barreled carbine.

I've got 16 pounds of the surplus WC846 sitting on the shelf I'd like to use and have used with some other .223 stuff, but this time I'm wanting to work up some good loads.

What I'd like to do if someone else here has worked up loads in .223 is get a good starting point for this cartridge and good load "steps," so I don't have to use up so many of the bullets I have. I'm hoping to load 20 of each charge weight to give myself plenty of sighters and a ten round group.

Basically, I'm wanting to tweak my "work up a load" process down as fine as possible in order to minimize bullet waste.

Thank you in advance,

Dave

[Jason.223]

Few loads that I have tried out of my 20" inch barrel AR.

WC-846

62 FMJBT 25.0 wc846 win brass. win srp. ave vel 2742 fps
75 Amax 24.0 wc846 win brass. win srp. ave vel 2528 fps

seems light will bump them up few grains...but your lot of WC846 maybe faster/slow. So seems like thats a good place to start.


few other calibers with WC846

30-06 150 sp. 48.5 win. win LR. 2654 fps. slow light load
45-70 405 sp. 62 win. win LRM. 1882 fps
45-70 350 sp 65 win. win LRM. 1935 fps
303 brit. 147fmj. 46 win. win LRM. 2550 fps
243 70 sp. 41 rem. win LRM. 3497 fps....TO HOT IN MY RIFLE

Hope this helps some

Jason

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Thanks Jason,

I had decided to start out at 23 grains and work up from there, my lot seems to be very similar to BLC2 when I've used it before, so I figured that was a safe starting point. I've decided to go up a half grain at time with my 62 grainers first and stop around where you're thinking, as I 'm reasonably sure I'll find the load I want around 25 to 25.5 grains, maybe 26.

Regards,

Dave

[KYCaster]

With Hornady 55 FMJ I settled on 26.8 of WC846 lot #49948. It makes USPSA minor power factor out of a 20" DPMS with a bit to spare with several different brands of brass.

It works OK, but if I don't clean the bolt and carrier every 100 rounds or so I start having problems. Switched to Ramshot powder and can run 300+ rounds with no problem.

I've loaded WC846 in 30-30, 308, 30-06, 35Rem, 222 and 223 and it works fairly well in all of them, but it's not hard to get better results with other powders in all cases, so when this jug is empty I won't replace it. I suppose that's a moot point anyway cause I don't see it available at any of the surplus suppliers on my list.

Jerry

[vernm]

Dave.

I bought a couple of jugs of WC 846 from Pat's about the same time you did your group buy. My lot # is 406289. Is that the same lot you have?

I'm just beginning to develop a load for my bolt rifle that likes 26.0/BLC2 w/ a 55gr VMAX. Have not shot any yet and was trying to anticipate where I might expect similar accuracy. I loaded a few this afternoon. Started at 25.0gr.

I'm was hoping this WC846 might be a little faster than published data for BLC2. When the powder charge gets up close to the neck, it's hard not to spill powder with a progressive press. Ball powders seem to work best when close to max.

Vern

[Fat-beeman]

ya'all close to me. I got a bolt 223 and playing with min. load work up with 2400/red dot and some unique.
with 55gr, fn also reworking some fmj mil to cast 55gr hard cast no gc
stop in here or e mail me looking for a shooting bud.
Don

[Shiloh]

Be sure and work up loads carefully from lot to lot. Start low. Chronographing is almost mandatory with surplus powders.

24.0 grains from a lot purchased several years ago gave 3125 fps fom an AR-15 with a 52 gr match BTHP. Hodgdon data suggests 26 gr of BL-C(2), similar to WC846, gives 3090 fps with a 53 gr HP. There is a big difference here.

Shiloh

[toecutter]

WC846 pretty much is BL-C2.

Given the following:
M855 loads up with 26.1grs of WC844 (62gr bullet) 3025FPS@78ft
M193 loads up with 28.5grs of WC844 (55gr bullet) 3155FPS@15ft

M80 ball loads with 46grs of WC846 (147gr bullet)
M118 loads with 44grs of WC846 or IMR4895 (172gr bullet)

I would estimate a reasonable starting load would be in the 22gr range, and working up until a muzzle velocity around 3000FPS is acheived. Personally, I don't like squeezing that last bit of performance out of ammo unless I really have to, slower bullets are usually a tad more accurate anyways. I would guess a final load would be around the 25gr range (25.5?)

Let us know how they shoot!