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Need surplus gunpowder info

inspectorknuckleheadinspectorknucklehead Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
I am thinking of buying some surplus powder (WC844) to load some blastin' ammo for my AR. Surplus powder seems to be so cheap and a great way to save some funds. Problem is... I've never loaded with it and can't find any loading data. I don't own a chronograph, so I can't work the load up from scratch, and I sure don't want to damage my rifle!
I'd like to match the Lake City M193 load. I have a buttload of L.C. brass and a couple of thousand 55gr FMJ pills.
Anyone have any recipes they'd like to share or advice on the use of surplus powder?
If anyone has any input on this I will certainly appreciate it.

John Colson

Comments

  • Ronald J. SnowRonald J. Snow Member Posts: 1,346 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Went to my search engine and typed in WC844 and came up with www/gibrass.com/gunpowder.html, this should give you a base from which to start as they list starting loads for 55 & 62 grain bullets.
  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    IKH -
    I've never used a chronograph either; except for to know how fast your bullet is going I never saw the point (and I'm not that courious). Every powder is going to affect your barrel harmonics differently due to burn and expansion rates ... and a whole lot of other stuff I don't concern myself with ... just because one powder makes a good group at a peticular bullet speed, doesn't mean another powder pushing that same bullet at that speed will result in equal performance or group size ... at least thats what the I've been told by both Allient, Accurate and Hodgson (I recently changed to Accurate powders for the same reason, both 2200 and 2230 are less than $60 for 8 pounds).

    When I'm working up a load I start at 1/2 way between min and max load and work up in .3 grain increments. When my groups start looking like this I stop:



    Personally I wouldn't buy a powder that the seller didn't have load data for.

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
  • inspectorknuckleheadinspectorknucklehead Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks Ronald. Jeff@gibrass.com is where I was going to get the powder. He has a lot of WC844 that was pulled from ammo made in 2000. The problem is I don't know the velocity of this load without buying a chronograph and testing it myself. The BDC in my scope is set for a 55gr. bullet at 3100fps. I'd like to stay around that speed so I can still use the BDC.
    I guess I need to bite the bullet and get a chrono.

    John Colson
  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    gibrass.com shows the following
    quote:WC844PD Original application is U.S. 5.56mm NATO Ball M193 (55gr) & M855 (62gr), plus Tracer M196 & M856. Typical 55gr load is 26gr, and 62gr load is 25gr. A ball powder which can be loaded using Hodgdon H335 data. This is pulldown powder. 5% discount for 12-jug orders. $64/8# jug.

    If you are going to do a lot of reloading, you really should have a chronograph. While the Kid is right if you are only going to shoot at a known distance and are going to stay within published limits, if you are going to shoot at various ranges or 'explore the outer limits' or play games involving "power factors" - you need a chronograph.

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
  • inspectorknuckleheadinspectorknucklehead Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks everyone, I think I'll get a Chrongraph.

    John Colson
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