WC860 or 5010 in K-31

[green mountain boy]

i have a K-31 and some WC860 and 5010 both, looking for cast loads using 170-210 boolits. who all has tried these combos ?

[John Boy]

Wrong powders ... http://stevespages.com/308_14_165.html.

[green mountain boy]

no, it has been done....just looking for how they did it. i know it is not the best choice by far. thank you !

[zarrinvz24]

I don't think that its a bad choice at all, as its impossible to load too much of that slow powder. It likely will require duplex loading. First one must find out how much WC860 the casing can hold. Fill the case until you achieve light compression when seating a bullet, then pull the cartridge back apart and measure the powder loading. You could try firing a full case of WC860 and see how it functions. Likely there will be many unburned flakes strewn throughout the barrel and action. Duplex loads are the solution to this problem. Substitute 3 gr of WC860 for 3 grains of a fast burning rifle powder, like 4895, TAC, or something like that. The fast burning rifle powder will act like a large primer and light the WC860, resulting in a more complete burn. Some compression is necessary to light the WC860 and to prevent the powders from mixing.

[Maven]

gmb, Yes, those are the wrong powders for most of the cartridges we load, but we knew that in advance + long ago the prices for them were astoundingly low. Although I still use WC 860, I haven't ever tried it in the 7.5 x 55mm. However, if you go here http://castpics.net/dpl/ and the to its Reloaders' Reference section, I think you'll be able to extrapolate a load between the 7- and 8 mm Mausers and the .308Win. Btw, you'll need large rifle magnum primers with either propellant.

P.S. IMR 5010 will burn cleaner if you use a small amount of filler such as Cream of Wheat, corn meal, Grex (if you can find it) or Spherical Shot Buffer.

[John Boy]

7.5x55R Sierra 168HPBT/46.6gr 4350
7.5x55R Berger VLD/47.5gr 4350
7.5x55R Ideal 311413/ 44gr 4350
7.5x55R Ideal 311413/46.6gr 4350
All shoot accurately to 1000 yd

311413 The Squibb gas check bullet for the Springfield and other .30-06 rifles. Perhaps the most accurate gas check bullet yet produced. Excellent for target practice up to 600 yards. Has also been largely used for small game shooting in the Northwest, particularly for ducks at long range. Makes a most excellent load where one wishes to save the wear on his barrel from the full charged factory cartridge. Powder charge 16 grains Du Pont No. 80 powder, or 23 grains Hercules Lightning powder. Also very good for other 30 calibers. (GC, SP, 169 - TP is 413)

[green mountain boy]

wonderful ! thank all of you, i do have lots of better powders yet the 860 and 5010 keep calling saying "what are you waiting for ? we have been ready a long time".laughing. Maven, thank you sir...and i will try the grex as well.

[Maven]

You're most welcome, gmb!

[green mountain boy]

i do have the 311413 i have been playing with in the K31, 18-20 grains of 4759 is REAL sweet. now i will have the knowledge to try the duplex loads. besides i have 50 new 7.5x55 ppu and 50 new 7.62x54r that need to enjoy a trip to the range.....

[relics6165]

gmb:

Have you looked at this? Yes, you're looking at the "wrong" powder, but you can make it work. The duplex loads mentioned here seem to work best with Unique. Cheap and available seems to work better in times of scarcity, rather than abundance!

Have fun, let us know how it goes.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...3-5-56-Yes-But

[green mountain boy]

relics6165, yes i had read that, and i went back and read it again as per your sugestion. it is an interesting read....i will try both powders with and without the kicker charge. thank you for the reminder.

[Maven]

gmb, WC 860 and the 7.62 x 54R cartridge play well together with a heavy CB such as Ly. #314299 sized to fit your bore. If you use a filler, store the loaded rounds with their noses down so the slippery fillers don't migrate into the powder charge and don't store them too long as fillers have been known to form an obstruction of sorts if heavily compressed. Btw, I used 46 - 48gr. WC 860 with Ly. #314299 in my M28/30 and M 39...with LR mag. primers and no fillers.

[nelsonted1]

I love 860 and the other sloow surplus powders in my 3006 and 308 range loads. They are slow but very accurate in all my rifles but who cares when all one has to do is adjust the sights. I use 4 grains of 3031 on top of a standard primer then a full case of 860, 870, 5010' etc. I deer hunt with my .376 steyr with a full case of 869/3031 and a 270 to 300 grain cast bullet. There are dozens of posts from the start of this forum on the powder. People condemn using machine gun powder but they are commonly ignorant.

[zarrinvz24]

I love 860 and the other sloow surplus powders in my 3006 and 308 range loads. They are slow but very accurate in all my rifles but who cares when all one has to do is adjust the sights. I use 4 grains of 3031 on top of a standard primer then a full case of 860, 870, 5010' etc. I deer hunt with my .376 steyr with a full case of 869/3031 and a 270 to 300 grain cast bullet. There are dozens of posts from the start of this forum on the powder. People condemn using machine gun powder but they are commonly ignorant.

I agree wholeheartedly, most reloaders fall into one of these two categories: Cautious to the point they are unwilling to consider new solutions to problems, or unwarrantly reckless (some is good = more is better). Proceed with caution, and make sure that you read as much as you can about duplex loads. Many others have trod this road and been successful, but it is important to remember that the pressure will increase immensely with small variations in the kicker powder. Start low and work up until your objectives have been achieved. WC860/867/872 is a great option IMO, especially with the current component shortage.

[green mountain boy]

wonderful ! thanks again for your input ! thanks Maven thats the powder i will start with.

[Mark Daiute]

wonderful ! thank all of you, i do have lots of better powders yet the 860 and 5010 keep calling saying "what are you waiting for ? we have been ready a long time".laughing. Maven, thank you sir...and i will try the grex as well.

Duplexing aside, I use magnum primers with 870, 872 and 5010.