WC844?

[allen2259]

Thinking of using this product any advise out there.

[bender152]

Back when WC844 pull-down powder was available for $100 per 8lb jug, I was using plenty of it to reload .223 and .308 plinking ammo. However, the days of $100 jugs is long gone. All I see now is "new production" WC844 and it sells for close to the same price as name brand powder.

Given that there's not much savings in buying 844, I don't bother with it anymore.

[bigdawg86]

I picked up 16 pounds because it was free shipping / hazmat... Haven't tried it yet and only chose this because 167 shipped per #8 still decent.

Here is load data.

https://www.americanreloading.com/img/AmericanReloadingWC844-5.56NATODATA.pdf

[rg1]

Good info from the military load data sheets BUT you should not use their load data. Most of it is way too HOT for use as reloading data. With 844 work up using H335 data. Since 844 will vary in burn rate, start at 23.5 with 55 gr. in .223 Rem caliber and work up being careful going above 25 grains. You never know if your 844 is faster or slower than H335 unless you're testing with a chronograph while working up loads and carefully watching for pressure signs which sometimes don't show in AR's until pressure is really too high. Again, not worth the hassle with surplus powder when H335 is equal or less than 844. Used to be able to get 844 from $60-$80 per 8 lbs. but no more. Even when prices were cheaper for surplus powder I switched to H335 to avoid the hassle of working up loads with a new lot. I've loaded about 5 different lots of WC844 with a couple lots faster than H335, a couple lots nearly equal to H335, and one lot much much slower than H335. You really need a chronograph fooling with surplus powder. The only surplus powder now worth the cost is 50 BMG powders where it gives only around 33 rounds per pound of powder.

[bigdawg86]

Good info from the military load data sheets BUT you should not use their load data. Most of it is way too HOT for use as reloading data. With 844 work up using H335 data. Since 844 will vary in burn rate, start at 23.5 with 55 gr. in .223 Rem caliber and work up being careful going above 25 grains. You never know if your 844 is faster or slower than H335 unless you're testing with a chronograph while working up loads and carefully watching for pressure signs which sometimes don't show in AR's until pressure is really too high. Again, not worth the hassle with surplus powder when H335 is equal or less than 844. Used to be able to get 844 from $60-$80 per 8 lbs. but no more. Even when prices were cheaper for surplus powder I switched to H335 to avoid the hassle of working up loads with a new lot. I've loaded about 5 different lots of WC844 with a couple lots faster than H335, a couple lots nearly equal to H335, and one lot much much slower than H335. You really need a chronograph fooling with surplus powder. The only surplus powder now worth the cost is 50 BMG powders where it gives only around 33 rounds per pound of powder.

So if this is new powder, not pulled surplus, why is there a different burn rate across lots? I would imagine that being military powder if would been to be as consistent, if not more consistent than commercial. I'm not arguing, but just plain curious.

[rg1]

Manufacturers mix a blend for the military and ammunition makers test it. They either add more or less of the blend to reach a certain velocity with pressure testing during the test. If the batch doesn't meet the necessary velocity and pressure it get's sold to the public often. Commercial powders are blended and kept as close as possible from one batch to another. Not the same with military powders. Since reloaders don't have the pressure testing equipment that ammunition manufacturers do, they need to make all commercial powders the same from lot to lot. They don't go to that trouble when making tons of powder for the military. They just try to get close enough. You could be buying a powder not up to snuff for military ammo or you could be buying excess powder from an oversupply. Not an expert on powder or military manufacturing or loading. Just know surplus military powder of every kind will vary from lot to lot. I've read that WC 844 varies from a little faster than H335 to as slow as BL-C2???

[edgerly779]

I am still using up 8 lbs i bought year ago for $130 shipped.

[allen2259]

The reason for the thread is 335 is very hard to find in riverside county calif.
Buying online is very expensive with shipping and tax and haz fee.