WC867 powder for .308

[brettboat]

I see alot of this cheap 50 BMG powder online and HEAR of people mixing this slow burning powder with a fast burning powder matched with a magnum primer. Does anyone have any advice on this? I'm just looking to make some cheap plinker ammo for my HK91 so I can go out more often.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would NEVER mix powders especially none canister pull down powders. You can never know what the pressure curve will be without having your own ballistic laboratory. Mixing powder yourself is a very dangerous practice and IMO it's not if something bad will happen but when something bad will happen when shooting the mixed powder.

WC846 is the exact powder the military uses in the .308 so why reinvent the wheel? (especially if that wheel can blow up)

 

[brettboat]

I was under the impression that WC867 was for 20mm and 50 bmg. I'm having problems find any data on this powder. I was under the impression that it was a VERY slow burning powder

 

[GLOOB]

Id be interested in hearing about others experiences, good or bad. But seems like this forum all youll get is 100 iiterations of "you'll shoot yer eye out, sonny boy!"

 

[JLDickmon]

Id be interested in hearing about others experiences, good or bad. But seems like this forum all youll get is 100 iiterations of "you'll shoot yer eye out, sonny boy!"

you only get two.. they have to last a lifetime..

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was under the impression that WC867 was for 20mm and 50 bmg. I'm having problems find any data on this powder. I was under the impression that it was a VERY slow burning powder

You are correct, those 2 powders are for the 50 BMG and 20mm but I didn't say they weren't. Look a little closer, I wrote WC846 is the .308 powder.

 

[brettboat]

See what happens when I drink beer and surf the web at the same time?!

 

[GLOOB]

Delete

 

[FROGO207]

If there WAS a SAFE WAY to do this there would be a bunch of us doing exactly that. BUT the wisdom is that the old timers that tried this and failed make mixing propellants not worth the risk. I am sure there are those that will try such things and hope that they do not hurt themselves before they give up. Most duplex loads that they used years ago were measured amounts in each shell "stacked" and separated by paper disks so that it was more predictable. I can not see this happening in a 300 WSM for example. If you have an older design cartridge that is basically straight-walled that used black powder those duplex loads using the then limited types of smokeless propellant with black powder would have enhanced their performance. Now with all the available choices of propellant to try that step up so closely to each other there is no need to risk life and limb IMHO.

I also like to save every penny I can but sometimes the risks will not outweigh any possible benefits. Buying in bulk will save you more money than mixing propellant would ever accomplish. Your firearms and body to be responsible for so you take the risk but IMHO Darwin is hard to cheat out of a victory.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

I havent heard of that one. But I have heard of WC872 and 3031 in 308.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=503784
Here is a ref.

I am not brave enough to try it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sorry but, even though I would much rather pay $39/8lbs. of surplus powder than $100/8lbs. I also enjoy having all the parts I was born with still attached to my body. Just think though, $100/8lbs is much better than $148 to $161/8lbs for commercial powder.

It's just too dangerous for too little savings.

 

[Jasper1573]

the wisdom is that the old timers that tried this and failed make mixing propellants not worth the risk.

It's just too dangerous for too little savings

+1

I only have two reloading manuals, but both manuals clearly state that it is dangerous to mix powders and in no uncertain terms tell the reader not to do so. There may be someone out there who can quantify without doubt the effective outcome of mixing two powders, but chances are it ain't you, and I know it ain't me.

The book of Proverbs in the Bible was written thousands of years ago, and the wisdom therein still stands the test of time. I suspect that the common wisdom on mixing powders will do the same.