WC 845 Gunpowder from Higginsons

[Dutchie]

Well, I tried some .308 loads of this surplus powder from Higginson's. It is fairly accurate, (I was surprised) and it meters very well.

My load has been 44 grains using R&P brass, Federal Primers, and 147 Grain FMJ bullets. I did get a 3/4 inch group @100 yards using this powder, and was pretty happy with it, as it was very cheap to buy bulk.

I'll get back and report the velocities as soon as I can chrono them.

I would reccomend this powder if anybody was wondering wheather or not to buy it.

Still looking for load data for SP83, if ANYBODY has some....

 

[Andy]

WC-845? When did you buy it, because all that has been listed for a year + is WC-735.

 

[p-17]

I bought a few pounds of that 845 about 7 years ago, myself, when it was still available, and I have a little bit left.

I found that it burns very close to IMR 3031. Higginson said it burns about 10% faster than H335, which works out to about IMR 3031 speed. I agree that somewhere between 42 to 44 grains is about right for a .308 with a 150-grain bullet.

I have found that this stuff burns dirty, however, and it gives wide variations over the chronograph, so I just save it for plinking.

 

[david doyle]

I found that it burns very close to IMR 3031. Higginson said it burns about 10% faster than H335, which works out to about IMR 3031 speed.

As per the sales flier.

 

[Dutchie]

Yes Andy, I did purchase it over a year ago. I just saw that it is no longer available. You never know where you're going to run into it, so I posted that it was working for me. I was quite immpressed so far. It'll be interesting to see the variations in velocity like P17 said when I do get to Chrono it. I use it for my practice ammo only, saving my varget for the BTHP bullets.


Does anybody else recommend another powder other then Varget for tighter groups in .308?

 

[Eagleye]

I Have and use this powder in my 222 Remington. In this smaller case, I have not noted the velocity variations that are mentioned here by P17. Perhaps it is more apparent in the larger case? I have found it to deliver very good accuracy in my 700 Classic 222. I had also used it previously in a 223 I had. Accuracy was good, but I did not chronography any loads. Regards, Eagleye.

 

[brotherjack]

Does anybody else recommend another powder other then Varget for tighter groups in .308?

Reloader 15 has been the very best in any of my 308's I've tried it in. However, Varget is such a very (very) close second, and it's notably cheaper, so I generally shoot Varget more/less exclusively for my accuracy/hunting loads.

 

[Andy]

Reloader 15 has been the very best in any of my 308's I've tried it in. However, Varget is such a very (very) close second, and it's notably cheaper, so I generally shoot Varget more/less exclusively for my accuracy/hunting loads.

Varget is my #1 for the 308 and I heard that RL15 is super as well, but I have not tried it (although it's my #1 in the 35 Whelen).

I have tried Benchmark and H380, and they're both very good in the 308.

 

[Dogleg]

Is there any more of that 845 around? I could use a ton of it (figuratively speaking.) In .223 the loads usually worked out at 1 grain less than where ever H335 shot best.