WC 844 powder results

[moboy56]

i recently decided to see if i could develop a load for my 6x6.8 SPC and .243 LBC with WC 844 surplus powder. i had some good results IMO. From my 22” 6x6.8  Tac Ord barrel i could push a 87 gr Vmax 2991 FPS. ES was 41 and shot just over an inch at 100. I shot it out to 700 yds today and it did very well. i hit 11” steel 3 times in a row out of 5 once i got it dialed in. and it did pretty well in a light wind. No pressure signs in my rifle @ 29.7 but at 30 grs primers were cratering. start low work up. 
Load data:
Cartridge: 6x6.8 SPC 22” barrel
87 gr Hornady V-max
COAL 2.260 
S&B case 
No. 41 primer
Powder: WC 844 29.7 grs. (max for my rifle)
Velocity: 2991 ES 41 (3 shots)
Group size 1.046 (5 shots)
since it’s a non canister grade powder different lots could very well give different results. so if you have WC 844 start low, i think i began with 25 grains. 

I also explored a load for my .243 LBC with 105 gr Hornady BTHP. No pressure signs but i consider it max in my rifle, since more powder didn’t give more velocity. 

Cartridge: 6MM LBC 22” barrel
COAL: 2.240
Bullet: 105 BTHP
Case: Starline
Primer: S&B small rifle
Powder: WC844
Charge: 27.7 (max for my rifle)
Velocity 2651 ES 2
group size .878 @ 100 yds (5 shots)

[GLSHOOTER]

Great stuff. The smart man buying surplus like that will buy 8 to 20 pounds of the same batch if he can. A bit of a gamble but in the old days one that paid off more often then not. Even blending commercial stuff was often a smart move. Now our lot to lot variations seem much less extreme.

Greg

[moboy56]

I had finally got my 6x6.8 Tac Ord 14.5 inch barrel and started load development for it. i plan on shooting 65 gr Vmax for coyotes this winter. I had a heck of a time getting the gas block tuned ( its a Superlative block). i was having good luck with all brass except Starline. It would fire one just fine then the next 2 or 3 would stick in the chamber and rip the rim off. i finally gave up on the Starline and just used every other brand,, from FC to both types of Hornady, to S&B. All worked fine with the two powders i used. H322 and WC 844. I had to zero at 25 yds but they were stacking bullets so no reason to think they won’t shoot at 100. and i did hit a 6” steel at 450 after playing around with some of the ammo. but nothing definitive. 
Cartridge: 6x6.8 COAL 2.218 (this barrel has a very short throat IMO)
Case: Hornady, S&B, FC, Starline. 
Bullet: 65 gr. Vmax
Primer: No. 41 SR
Powder: H322 29.0 grs. Velocity 2968,, ES 22
Powder: WC 844 31.0 grs Velocity 2965,,, ES 66
   I need to add that after tuning the gas block with WC844 powder, i revisited the H322 load with Starline brass. It was the load that gave me the most trouble. After tuning with WC 844 i loaded up 4 Starline cases and they all functioned perfect. no pressure signs, and no ripped off rims so i think i solved that issue. 
    

[GLSHOOTER]

That's a good report. It almost sounds like you were over-gassed with the ones that were sticking and ripping rims.

Greg

[moboy56]

actually the issue the case rim tearing off was this barrel wasn’t right either. the chamber was rough, and had no lead or throat the bullet went straight into the rifling and was cutting copper rings off the bullet (see photo). i had a bore scope look at it and you can see the ring at the shoulder in the chamber. and the results on the case when fired. So i called them for the 3 rd time and spoke with the product manager and he said he would make me another and it would be correct this time. i hope so. 

[GLSHOOTER]

I've made those rings in the past when I had sized the neck down too much and shoved a bullet in the neck that was not properly chamfered. I've done it on several cartridges from 223 to 6.5.

Greg

[moboy56]

i can assure you these are from the chamber and throat issue. you can see in the top photo no throat. just a squared edge at the rifling. and the ridge the arrow is point at is what is causing the deep groove in the brass at the shoulder. but i know what you’re saying, the issue really became apparent when i started firing more than 3 to 5 shots. then it was ripping rims off, the copper rings started stacking in at the rifling causing issues,, etc. they’re making a new one,, again. 😂

[GLSHOOTER]

I'm glad to hear the barrel is being redone. That's good CS.

Greg