Surplus powder burn rates

Ruger007

Ruger007

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I am having troubles finding a burn rate chart that has the WC series of powder in it for comparison.

I have a bunch of surplus WC 860, 867, 872. Trying to figure out where abouts they are at in comparison to today's newer powders. Bottles say use H870, or wet newspaper. But they all say that.

Seeing how slow powder is providing difficult to get these days. Figured bust out the surplus.

Surplus can be inconsistent I know. But have 2 jugs of each in the same lots so not worried about that.

But want to try them in a 28 Nosler with heavys. 175gr+.
Was originally going to try them in the 7mm RUM. But brass proved too difficult to find. Was cheaper in the end to rebarrel it to 28 Nosler and buy loaded ammo to get brass. But that is beside the point.

1-8 twist. 26". The Nosler brass should have enough capacity. Averages 95gr of water.

Anyone have a better idea? I'm trying to avoid a big powder and barrel burn out. Perhaps my shoulder also.

Thanks
 
Even if you had a good burn chart, you would still have to test and start low because these are not canister grade powders. You lot could be quite fast or slow.

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I know the 872 is a slow burner. I used it in the 264 win. Ran out of case. Basically the higher the WC number the slower the powder. Just thought if someone had a better starting point than 10% less than H870 as it says on the bottle. Considering they are all different numbered powders.

H870 data isn't much around anymore. Maybe US869?
 
WC867 is very close to H870 and AA8700

I used 72.0 grains of WC867 over CCI250 magnum primers, under 140 grain Nosler Partitions. Out of a 25 inch bbl this was my accuracy load, around 1m0a, right out to 450 yards.

Velocities were around 3000fps with very little dispersion.

Lyman 49th edition lists AA8700

69.5 - 2732fps - 39,400psi with Rem 9 1/2 M primers

73.5 - 2880fps - 46,000psi with Rem 9 1/2 primers

The pressures developed with these loads is on the low side. Likely because the barrel steel used for some older rifles tended to have their throats burned out rather quickly with hotter loads?

The cartridge was offered during the late fifties and was considered to be quite fast at the time. By today's standards it's around the middle of the pack.

Barrel lengths being equal, the old 6.5x55 Swede, with IMR7828ssc, in a MODERN ACTION can generate velocities within 100fps of the 264WM.

You don't mention when your rifle was manufactured, or by whom, it likely has a 1-9 twist rate which means you have to push those bullets quite fast to stabilize them properly, especially if you're using boat tails.





The quickness rate is slightly slower than RL25 and Retumbo, or it's supposed to be.

As Ganderite pointed out, these powders change quite a bit from lot to lot. I have two different lots of WC867. One is quite a bit faster than the other. I used the slower lot for my accuracy load.

The faster lot was showing pressure signs (heavy bolt lift after firing) with the same load. Wasn't as accurate and had up to 70 fps dispersion shot to shot.

The faster powder was fine in larger bores.

I actually shot out the throat, to the point it wasn't worthwhile to set back the barrel and rechamber. 264 WM brass was getting difficult to find so I went to a different cartridge and ended up selling the rifle to a friend. Nice Model 70.

Let me give you an example of how much the quickness of these surplus powders can vary. I have some WC852. The box it came in said to use H450 as a start point. Luckily I have older reloading manuals that list H450, which is very similar to H380. This powder was quite a bit slower, closer to RL19. That isn't a bad thing at all but it definitely changes what that powder is most suitable for.
 
Ruger007 said:
28 Nosler 1-8 custom barrel. 700 action.
Click to expand...

I should have read your post a lot better. The load I gave you was for an M70 Winchester, chambered for the 264WM.

H870 type powders really shine in 7mm magnum type cartridges. They may not give the best velocities but they are usually extremely consistent if the load density is right. I've seen cranky 7mm Rem mag rifles tuned right up with H870 equivalent powders.
 
big boar said:
Maybe it's my old eyes but I can't find WC845 on the list? Did I miss something? Thanks for the post. BB
Click to expand...

WC845 is the equivalent of H335 and BLC2

Each lot is quite different from the other and if memory serves, there were four different lots. I asked Tom Higginson why he just didn't blend all of the lots into one big lot. He said it wasn't worth the time he would have to pay for to do the job and unless he could be there to make sure it was done properly he didn't want to attempt it.

I blended three different lots into one big lot. It's a good, useful ball type powder.
 
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