wc 846 30-06 150 grain load in garand question

[BELTFEDJASON]

I use wc846 for .223 .308 and 30-06. When I shoot the 30-06 150gr fmj and 45 gr of wc846 3.30 oal out of a M1 I get a louder than average report out of some maybe 40% of the rounds which chronograph 2650 fps. This louder than average report is almost always absent from the same ammo in a 1903. The case has a lot of empty space from this amount of powder for instance in .308 I use 43gr with a 147fmj and get 2700fps and nothing out of the ordinary.

Do you maybe know of a reason for this the only one I may have is the extra space in the case. I have removed quite a few rounds after chambering and before firing and the bullet is not set back so that is out as an answer.

Thanks in advance for any input you may have

Jason

and a reply form Reloadron in pm

Jason

I can't say I have much experience with WC846 but would not use it in 30-06 for a Garand load. My read and limited experience was using the powder someone gave me in 223 and about the largest case I would consider would be 308 and then for my bolt gun. I am not saying it is a bad or poor choice only that I lack the experience to give you any dope I would be comfortable with.

When loading for the Garand I pretty closely follow the listings here:

http://www.bearblain.com/Service R...0Loadings.html

The powder is along the lines of BLC(2) but using BLC(2) data should be downloaded around 10%. Do not hold me to that. Again, personally I find the powder to be a little too fast for 30-06 in a M1 Garand gas system. While your chronograph numbers are good I am just not sure what the actual pressure curve looks like?

Hopefully another member can offer up more. I can't explain the level of the bang? That is peculiar. Have yourself a real nice and safe holiday season.

Ron

 

[243winxb]

Powder burn rate is to fast for a 30-06?

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

I shoot the 30-06 150gr fmj and 45 gr of wc846 3.30 oal out of a M1 I get a louder than average report

Could the action be opening to soon? Looks like there are 3 different lots of wc846? Maybe all different burn rates ? http://www.gd-ots.com/download/BALL%20POWDER%20Propellants.pdf Check 7.62mm military load data on page 11-19 here. They are using about the same amount of powder in a 308 that your using in a 30-06.

Propellant:
Type ........................ WC 846 and
IMR 4895
Weight ..................... 44 gr Page 11-23 .

http://www.tuffsteel.com/manuals/armyammodata.pdf

3.30 oal

Are you seating to a crimping groove, if there is one? Using a magnum primer? I dont own or load for a M1, so get more opinions

 

[joem1945]

I would not use that powder for a M1 Garand. There are numerious acticles on the effects of excessive port pressure and may result in damage. If you must use that powder get a adjustable gas plug.

 

[243winxb]

OP link not working, try this one. http://www.bearblain.com/Service%20Rifle%20Loadings.html

 

[BELTFEDJASON]

I do not believe the action is opening too soon. Everything seems to be operating normal, with my loads, LC 1968 ammo and Korean PS from 1974 and 1975.

This batch of wc846 is similar to the 4 other batches I have used over the last 10 or so years. I always rework my loads of each new batch of powder this is pull down so the batches may and do vary somewhat. Yes this is a lighter load for 30-06 but I always chrony loads as I work them up. I use 43 in .308 with a 147fmj for 2700fps for comparison and 26 in .223 with a 55fmj.

I did some more internet searching today and in another post on another forum from a while back a fella posted he gets the same flashy boom I get sometimes with wc846 in an M1 he attributes it to the powder being throw to the front of the case as the cartridge is loaded from the magazine. Resulting in a slower ignition and some slight hang fires which I also have when it is cold like below zero cold. I usually do not shot my M1s in the winter as I do not like to pick my brass out of a snow bank.

And yes I am seating to a crimp groove and am using CCI #34 primers.

It is just peculiar and always get a comment or two as I am shooting these rounds with the extra flashy boom sometimes. I have shoot close to 1500 of these rounds through 2 m1 rifles and other than the flashy boom the group great and seem safe.

 

[BELTFEDJASON]

I do not have to use this powder just have in the past. The extra boom never really concerned me that much. I have to load 30-06 again and figured I would try to find an answer to this issue and a solution. A Schuster plug may be something to try or just get a proper powder. I figure it will only add about $.15 to the cost of each round by using new powder vs the wc846 that I have now. Just have to get it by the Chief Financial Officer at home.

 

[243winxb]

Resulting in a slower ignition and some slight hang fires which I also have when it is cold like below zero cold.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/

We tested loads at both maximum normal pressures and at the starting loads (some labs calculate start loads—we shot them). Standard primers caused no ignition issues at the max load but posted higher extreme variations in pressure and velocity in the lower pressure regimes of the start loads. In extreme cases, the start loads produced short delayed firings —probably in the range of 20 to 40 milliseconds but detectible to an experienced ballistician. Switching that propellant to a Magnum primer smoothed out the performance across the useful range of charge weights and completely eliminated the delays.

Changing powder is a good idea, as you seem to have the correct primers. Or maybe avoid starting loads or lower?

 

[243winxb]

Ball powders may flash at the muzzle, depends on the air fuel mix. But hang fire is not normal, as you know. http://www.firearmsid.com/Feature%20Articles/McCord_gunpowder/

Flash suppressants interrupt free-radical chain reaction in muzzle gases and work against secondary flash. They are typically alkali or alkaline earth salts that either are contained in the formulation of the propellant or exist as separate granules.

 

[Sunray]

"...The powder is along the lines of BLC(2)..." WC846 supposedly is BLC(2. One of the powders the .308/7.62 x 51 was developed to use.
"...extra space in the case..." Doesn't matter.