Wc-846 question

[problemchild]

I found (another member pointed it out) a fairly good price for some surplus powder. Is it worth buying or not? I have about 3k 308 brass and 2k 223 brass to load on a dillon 650. The price of reloading is stupid high right now. So a few questions about the powder.

My concerns are:

Excessively fast burning for anything over 147g in the 308
Dirty powder
Heat unstable
Cold unstable
Accurate?

Pros

Price
Meters well in a 650 press
Loads both 308 and 223

[FLIGHT762]

WC844 and WC846 are great powders for the .223 and .308. My personal favorite is WC844 (H-335) for both.

In the .308, I've gotten very good accuracy with bullets up to 180 grains. WC844 is very flashy in the .308, but accurate. Been using it for both for 35 years.

The surplus WC844 and WC846 are older versions of the powders and are likely a bit temperature sensitive as most double base ball powders are. Many newer powders like Varget, XBR8208 and the finnish VV powders are temperature stable and are better to use for the most accurate, Match grade ammunition.

I've used lots of H-335/ WC844 for Varmint and plinking / target loads.

For about $100.00 for 8 lb. jug, they are worth it. Just buy enough at a time to make the shipping and hazmat worth it.

[problemchild]

Thanks for the 844 info.

Anyone shooting 846?

[joelogic]

I use it for my FAL with 150gr bullets and my Savage with 168gr bullets. All I can tell you though is that the powder works fine. I havent really checked for accuracy.

[problemchild]

I use it for my FAL with 150gr bullets and my Savage with 168gr bullets. All I can tell you though is that the powder works fine. I havent really checked for accuracy.

Groups? Shooting at? Pros/cons?

[problemchild]

OK so here is an update for everyone who is interested.

I loaded 70 rounds with blc2(wc846) last night and shot them today. Besides being a smidge dirtier powder the rounds were accurate and I had no problems. I am satisfied this is a good powder.

[Gunsrruss]

846

I have 70lbs of 846. I will occasionally use 4895 for the .308, but the 846 does real well. I load all my .223 with 846. It is all surplus but I load it for competition shooting. It's a winner. I shoot Hornady 75 match. 24.7gr with OAL of 2.255. 80gr Nosler 24.5gr with OAL of 2.435. These OAL are important. I will be happy to assist you any time...

[joelogic]

I was shooting at C zone steel targets at 200 yards and hitting with iron sights. Other than that I really havent tried for smallest group on paper. Powder seems to burn clean enough but I only shot 100 rounds. Sorry I couldnt be of more help. I bought the powder because it was cheap and I want a cheap plinking round.

[rsrocket1]

I have 70lbs of 846. I will occasionally use 4895 for the .308, but the 846 does real well. I load all my .223 with 846. It is all surplus but I load it for competition shooting. It's a winner.

Are all 70 lbs from one lot or do you work up loads when you move on to a new jug?

[Gunsrruss]

Lot

Are all 70 lbs from one lot or do you work up loads when you move on to a new jug?

They seem to be all from the same lot. For once I did look at the numbers on the jug. Once I found that load I bought a ton of powder because it was cheap. I was paying $60 for 8lbs, then it was $79. Now it is $95. If you buy 4 you get it for $400 for 32lbs to the house. No haz mat. That's from Hi-Tech ammo

.308 I use 44gr of 846 for the long range loads with an OAL of 2.84...This is with the Nosler 175gr custom competition bullets. The 846 is a slower powder than 4895. It works well for the bolt guns also. I shoot it in my Rem 700 PSS all the time

[problemchild]

They seem to be all from the same lot. For once I did look at the numbers on the jug. Once I found that load I bought a ton of powder because it was cheap. I was paying $60 for 8lbs, then it was $79. Now it is $95. If you buy 4 you get it for $400 for 32lbs to the house. No haz mat. That's from Hi-Tech ammo

Yep thats where I got it. They do Mil de-mil jobs on loaded ammo. If the Mil ammo does not meet one of eleven specs it gets de-milled. They also sell LC 147g projectiles. I picked up 32lbs and 1k projectiles. I will post back in a week or two with a review.

[Gunsrruss]

Bullets

Yep thats where I got it. They do Mil de-mil jobs on loaded ammo. If the Mil ammo does not meet one of eleven specs it gets de-milled. They also sell LC 147g projectiles. I picked up 32lbs and 1k projectiles. I will post back in a week or two with a review.

I loaded up 147gr bullets for the guy next door using 846. OAL was the canolure. He was shooting them through an old Styer Mauser and loved them. I loaded those at 45gr of powder.