luzyfuerza
Member
I scored an inexpensive 8 pound jug of WC 820 a couple of months ago. The label says that it is similar to H110 (and presumably, W296), but of course, that doesn't mean that it is IDENTICAL to H110/W296 and that I can blindly use H110/W296 load data.
To figure out how my batch of WC 820 behaves, I put together some 300 blackout and 30 carbine rounds using identical cases, bullets, primers, trim lengths, OALs, etc. I loaded half of these cartridges using WC 820 and half using W296.
Here's the data:
300 Blackout
Brass was formed from Lake City .223 cases, 147 grain pulled projectiles, and Wolf .223 SR primers. Case length and OAL were consistent from case to case. Gun is generic 300 blackout upper on a stock Bushmaster lower.
15.0 grains of W296 produced 1722 fps, SD=9
15.0 grains of my WC 820 produced 1795 fps, SD=30
15.8 grains of W296 produced 1829 fps, SD=34
15.8 grains of my WC 820 produced 1915 fps, SD=9
30 Carbine
Once-fired Privi Partisan cases, Remington 110 grain JRNSP bullets, and Wolf SR primers. Case length and OAL were consistent from case to case. Gun is a WWII IBM M1 Carbine.
14.5 grains of W296 produced 1870 fps, SD=15
14.5 grains of my WC 820 produced 2017 fps, SD=10
Clearly, my batch of WC 820 produces higher velocity than an equivalent weight of powder from my canister of W296. That's good information, but it doesn't get me all the way to where I want to be. Three questions:
1) For those of you who have successfully used military surplus powders, how did you establish loads that you felt were safe for your guns?
2) For those of you who have used WC 820, did your batches of WC 820produce higher or lower velocities than the comparable canister powder? Is there a canister powder that you found was a closer match for your WC 820?
3) I have assembled some test loads in .41 magnum using WC 820 and W296but I haven't shot them yet. In your experience, is there anything you'd expect to be different in a magnum handgun round versus the rifle rounds I've looked at so far?
(Other factoids: all W296 charge weights are less than maximum. No fired cases showed any signs of overpressure. Both rifles functioned well with each load. My WC 820 looks very different than my W296 (color, grain size, etc.).)
To figure out how my batch of WC 820 behaves, I put together some 300 blackout and 30 carbine rounds using identical cases, bullets, primers, trim lengths, OALs, etc. I loaded half of these cartridges using WC 820 and half using W296.
Here's the data:
300 Blackout
Brass was formed from Lake City .223 cases, 147 grain pulled projectiles, and Wolf .223 SR primers. Case length and OAL were consistent from case to case. Gun is generic 300 blackout upper on a stock Bushmaster lower.
15.0 grains of W296 produced 1722 fps, SD=9
15.0 grains of my WC 820 produced 1795 fps, SD=30
15.8 grains of W296 produced 1829 fps, SD=34
15.8 grains of my WC 820 produced 1915 fps, SD=9
30 Carbine
Once-fired Privi Partisan cases, Remington 110 grain JRNSP bullets, and Wolf SR primers. Case length and OAL were consistent from case to case. Gun is a WWII IBM M1 Carbine.
14.5 grains of W296 produced 1870 fps, SD=15
14.5 grains of my WC 820 produced 2017 fps, SD=10
Clearly, my batch of WC 820 produces higher velocity than an equivalent weight of powder from my canister of W296. That's good information, but it doesn't get me all the way to where I want to be. Three questions:
1) For those of you who have successfully used military surplus powders, how did you establish loads that you felt were safe for your guns?
2) For those of you who have used WC 820, did your batches of WC 820produce higher or lower velocities than the comparable canister powder? Is there a canister powder that you found was a closer match for your WC 820?
3) I have assembled some test loads in .41 magnum using WC 820 and W296but I haven't shot them yet. In your experience, is there anything you'd expect to be different in a magnum handgun round versus the rifle rounds I've looked at so far?
(Other factoids: all W296 charge weights are less than maximum. No fired cases showed any signs of overpressure. Both rifles functioned well with each load. My WC 820 looks very different than my W296 (color, grain size, etc.).)