WC820 notations from yesterday

[Jeffery8mm]

Decided to try the WC820 inthe 30-06. I did check my life insurance policy and say my prayers first!!!
All three groups at 50 yards
Handi Rifle with a 22" barrel
Lee 170gr FP GC LLA

18gr WC820 Av fps 1572 4 shots registered out of 5
1599 1524 1583 1586
Group was 1 1/2


19gr WC820 AV fps 1695
1732 1666 1655 1763 1671 1682
Group was about the same, Little larger. Lot of fps variation

20gr WC820 AV fps 1660
1705 1622 1700 1663 1612
Good grouping!!

No pressure problems evident in any load!!
Dont know if I will try yo use this load as I like Unique better.
Jeff

[leadman]

I have tried WC820 in seveeral rifle cartridges also. I agree with you on the Unique.

WC820 has worked real well in the 357 Mag. for me, also the 32 Mag.

[TCLouis]

I'd say the 19 grain load of WC 820 had an average about 169? fps, and if that is true, then it appears that 20 grains is above the point of diminishing returns.

This comment negated by changes in original posted data

[Jeffery8mm]

TC, Seem I wrote the wrong av fps on the 19gr load. Should have been 1695 fps and the 20gr should have been 1660.
Jeff

[pistolman44]

I use this powder for 44mag, 41mag,357mag and 45LC loaded hot in a Ruger Blackhawk.. Its a little dirty but I get good groups with this powder.

[Dale53]

I have used many pounds of WC820 in magnum pistol calibers. It is also VERY useful in the .32/.357 Dell and .32 Miller Short in schuetzen rifles (this class of ball powder is 1st choice in the short schuetzen calibers).

I would NOT be interested in using this class of ball powder in large capacity rifle cartridges. It has been known to cause serious pressure excursion problems (it is in the same class as H110/296) and these are NOT recommended for reduced charges.

Dale53

[Lloyd Smale]

I agree with dale. Well it certainly can be done as youve seen it isnt a good practice and theres other powders much better at it. the differnce in price between 820 and 2400 will be made up by the fact you will use less 2400 to get the same velocity.

[Maven]

As many of you know, I've been using WC 820 (AA #9 burning rate) in bottle necked rifle cartridges (.243Win. -> 8mm Mau.) and sometimes in the .45-70 for years with NO problems whatsoever: Excellent accuracy; no pressure signs; no hangfires; no scorched powder. However, the trick is not to use more of it than necessary. E.g. no more than 21grs. in the 7.5 Swiss, .30-06, and 8mm Mau., usually with CB's weighing at least 180grs. In the .243Win. and 6.5 Swe Mau., I use no more than 14 and 15grs. with 87gr. and 145gr. CB's respectively.

Is WC 820 the best CB powder in rifles? No, but it works well enough and the price was right. Will I purchase it again? I doubt it as other powders, e.g., H/IMR 4198 or 5744 work at least as well if not better (5744) than 820.

[TCLouis]

Maybe I will try this new lot of garbage (WC820) in rifle case, possibly the rifle primer with more brissance will set it off, WLP and WSP sure can't light it reliably.

[beagle]

I've shot a lot of WC820 in the .30/06 (Number 1 Ruger). 18.0 grains seems to be the sweet spot and gives the lowest SD.

Bullets used were the RCBS 30-150-SP and 30-180-SP (both the old and new versions).

Good accuracy at 100 yards./beagle

[TCLouis]

I gave up on my new lot of WC 820M in any postol case for now unless I can find a loading in the 357 Max where I have a WSR primer.

following the example above, I checked my life insurance policy, did some incantations and then started dumping some of my problem Lot of WC820 into 30-06 cases . . . . Yes it is scary, RIFLE cases.

I had one advantage, there was fresh snow on the ground and if they hurried they could beat the coyotes to the body parts and the blood would mark the location of each piece worth recovering.

Oh well as others have found, it was NO big deal.

Now the puzzler.
The preprimed brass I had on hand for the 1917 was primed with WLP primers, I tested 5 before I did much loading (one of the advantages of a range at home). All fired perfectly and sounded exactly the same. This is unlike my experience with this jug of powder in the 357 and 44 Mags where there was a notable difference in sound between the shots.

Groups were not great, but it was hasty experiment, not load development. Yahoo, tomorrow will be some load development with the 150 grain GB Boolit.

Well WLP primers will light this stuff in a 30-06 case with no effort to worry about powder location in the case.