[DOK]

An experienced .44mag shooter I've had several recent email exchanges with referenced his use of WC820 powder. I indicated I had not heard of that particular powder and he reponded that it's a Military surplus powder that is the same as H110 and much cheaper. I checked with his referenced source and they have it in 8lb containers for &#3654 (plus shipping and hazzard cost). That would make it about half the price I'm paying for my W296/H110! The shooter indicated his experience was it matched H110 loads and performed very well in his hunting loads.

We folks here in Eastern Iowa lead a shelterd life, so wondered if any of your more worldly folks had experience with WC820?

Dan

 

[Contender]

DOK,

Been using it in the 44 mag and am about ready to use it in my 357. This is the cleanest burning powder I have ever used bar none. As I've stated before, I used it in brand new brass and after firing, you could still see the shine in the inside of the case!

I will caution you that there are a few different lots out there with different burning rates. Having said that, this powder runs about the same charge weights with the standard weights in the 44 mag in my experience. That is to say, it exhibits higher pressures as the weights go up say past the 265 gr mark. This powder is NOT the same as H110/296. It's pressures peak out sooner with the heavier bullet weights.

With the LBT 280 WFN GC bullet, I use 20.0 grs. with WC820 for 1390FPS avg. out of my 8" chop barrel Contender pistol. 22.5 grs. of H110 does about 1424 FPS average with the same bullet. However below that weight of bullet, charge weights tend to be comparable with each powder.

Hodgdon is now selling a powder called H108 and I've been told that it is the same as WC820 surplus. So there is some load data out there now to help. I would caution anyone to not just blindly use H110/296 data with this powder. It definately has a different pressure curve especially with the heavier bullet weights.

WC820 is a NON-canister powder meaning that it is not blended like a canister grade available on the commercial market for handloaders. Different lots can exhibit different burning rates more so than commercially available powders.

My lot is "pulldown" from loaded ammo and is the most reasonably priced of all. This is an excellent powder and a boon to us all if used properly and carefully. You probably will not get the highest  possible velocities with the heavier bullet weights but it sure makes for very economical shooting.

This is an extremely fine ball powder and will give some difficulty in drum type measures. I use a dipper myself and it is extremely uniform when measured this way.

I've also seen it used in reduced velocity cast bullet loads in rifles like the Swede.

I've got 16 pounds to work through now myself. :biggrin:

Regards, Ray

(Edited by Contender at 7:52 pm on Sep. 8, 2001)

 

[hubbard63]

i also have some wc820 powder which i have been using for some time. in my guns it seems to fall between 2400 and h110. i would not assume that is the same as h110 so start low and work your way up. it is an excellent cast bullet powder for me.

 

[DOK]

Contender/hubbard63,

Really appreciate the information and I do plan on ordering some on Monday.  The gentleman I referred to has also offered the warning that different lots may vary and to work up my loads for each different container.  

I plan on using 272gr. SWC GC bullets, and will cerrtainly "work" the load up. And using Ray's loads as a bench mark, I'll start at 20.0grs. -- this is based on the assumption that the "don't reduce more than 3%" holds true for WC820 also?

Thanks again,

Dan

 

[hubbard63]

something i failed to mention in my first post is to be sure to use magnum primers in any  load. i've had to drive out several stuck bullets with std. primers not igniting the charge, but  never with mag. primers. it's taken me several days to find the original post so i could add this.

 

[DOK]

hubbard63,

Excellent reminder re the use of magnum primers, appreciate the follow-up.

Contender also came to my rescue and furnished me with two source web addresses:

"www.powdervalleyinc.com" and "www.gibrass.com"

I hadn't been aware of the surplus and/or substitute powder availability. If I'd been more investigative, I would have found one of Marshall's older posts offering insights on the surplus stuff also.

As hubbard83 and Contender have commented, start lower that listed loads and don't assume, even though the literature says so, that these are "identical" to the factory performance. I noted that notes on the web sites indicated the powder may vary from lot to lot and a conservative trial run is the way to begin.

Again, thanks to Hubbard63 and the Contender for a real cost savings opportunity. As Contender indicated, get several friends to go in with you and the volume makes the haz. charge pretty minimal.

Dan

 

[DOK]

Anyone interested in comparisons of WC820 to H108, H110 and W296, please check the post  in this same forum on "Hodgdon - H108?"

Dan