[jaimeshawn]

I tried some of that cheap WC860 $36/8# powder from Hi-Tech Ammunition in my Garand, and it seems to cycle it fine. For bullets I was using 147 gr FMJBT M80 ball, and 4cc (58 grains) of powder. Seems to work great and drop the brass exactly where my normal loads do. I'll make up some more for an accuracy report.

I had been using Indian .308 at 8 cents each from CAI as pull-down powder and bullet doners but I am running out of it: Plus it was a lot of work sorting the Indian bullets into heavy and light bullets. This is getting close to the same cost at about 6 cents each for powder and another 6 cents each for bullets.

[bogie]

This MAY NOT BE A GOOD IDEA.

If I recall correctly, 860 is kinda slow.

Which means a longer pressure curve.

Which may toast op rods, etc., on some auto rifles...

The guys usually have some ball-c or 4895 equivalents...

[Captal_de_Buch]

According to what I can find on the web WC860 closest commercial equivalent is Hodgdon H870 and Accurate 8700.

Hodgdon doesn't list a 30-06 load with H870 and their website reloading data cautions that "If loads are to be used in a semi-auto, especially the Garand, H4895 should be the powder of choice to protect the operating rod"

Accurate doesn't list a 30-06 load with 8700 on their website.

I personally stick with Varget and IMR4895 in my Garands. Op rods are hard to get.

On the other hand, If I had decent bolt action 30-06 with a 24-26 inch barrel I think I would try and work up a 30-06 load with WC860 just to see how well it worked.

[bogie]

I'd guess you'd only get good results with heavy bullets, and a compressed charge.

[road.warrior]

So where can we buy this powder for this price?

[Captal_de_Buch]

So where can we buy this powder for this price?

http://iidbs.com/hitech/

I'm pretty sure there's hazmat on top of that..

[bogie]

Yeah, it's cheap. I think it is pulldown from some .50 BMG rounds.

But I'd save it for magnum cases, or bolt actions.

Again, I WOULD NOT USE THIS IN AN AUTOMATIC RIFLE. The pressure curve is likely not going to be friendly. The powder is slower, if I recall correctly, than IMR-4350, and you DEFINITELY do not want to use 4350 in a Garand or M14 type rifle.

Yup. Just checked. It's a .50 cal powder.

So, in my not so humble handloading opinion, DO NOT USE THIS FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAGNUM OR OVERBORE CARTRIDGES WHICH WILL BE FIRED IN STRONG BOLT ACTIONS. You may not kill your Garand or your M14 on the first clip/magazine, but it is NOT good for it.

[timuchin]

WC846 in my .308s and .223s. 44 Grains in the .308s with a 147 FMJBT, and 24 Grains in the .223s with 62 grain ss109s. If you order from Widener's (http://www.wideners.com) They will pay the Haz-Mat if you order 4-8lb kegs. You can order up to 8 at a time. Am working on my third 32lb order. It goes quick. the loading data says It is roughly the same as BLC-2. I shoot 44 grains in my 8mm too, but it is kind of a weak load. I'm just too lazy to reset my powder measure and work up a load.

[bogie]

Yeah, there's some nice powder out there.

Just to reiterate, these are NOT the same powders - nowhere close. Please do not make the mistake that I saw one day - a fellow had been told to shoot a bunch of W296 in his .44 magnum. He didn't have any. So he substituted a different Winchester powder. W700. Blew the top of the cylinder off.

Also, use the RIGHT powder for your cartridge. I had a friend who was loading a .300 Winmag using 4895. Paying attention to all the data, etc., and it was a lot cheaper to load with it - you didn't need to use nearly as much as with 4350. Only problem was that it didn't have enough powder in that big case for reliable ignition.

I've got a .308 bolt gun that I load with 4350 with 180s. Compressed load, but it shoots with the heavy rounds. I would NOT run those in an M14.

In the case of loading WC860 in a .30-06, you're going to have to compress the load, and you're still going to have a lot of unburned powder mess. Couple that with the destructive pressure curve, and you've got more than a few excuses to just spend a few more pennies/round, and use 4895 or Ball-C like is intended. If you really want just shoot cheap, buy surplus ammo, and clean a lot.

[Clark]

WC860 would be amoung the best 1% for:
257 Roberts Ackley Improved 117 gr bullet
7mm Rem mag 175 gr bullet
243Win 107 gr bullet

WC860 would be amoung the best 25% for:
30-06 220 gr bullet


It would be very hard for me to work into my act.
The IMR4895 from:
http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html
would be a better idea.

[calpoly93]

I was going to buy some of that powder....but not for a Garand. I was thinking it might be a MUCH less expensive way to feed my .416 Rigby (Ruger). As stated elsewhere, the WC846 is better suited for the gas-rifles. I prefer one of the 4895's for my Garand's though.
Calpoly