WC-846 worth buying for 308 loads?

[problemchild]

I found 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.

My concerns are:

Too fast burning for anything over 147g in the 308
Dirty powder
Heat unstable
Cold unstable
Not accurate

Pros

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

 

[problemchild]

Re: WC-846 worth buying for 308 loads?

I figured someone would have used this before...

 

[RottenII]

Re: WC-846 worth buying for 308 loads?

Ive used it for my FAL's for general range blasting loads. Nothing precision. Lots seem to vary as the 16lbs I bought a few years ago is a good bit faster than the BLC-2 that they claim you should use as a reloading "guide".

 

[mtrmn]

Re: WC-846 worth buying for 308 loads?

Don't know about 846, but I've used WCC844 for years in .223 with excellent results. You just have to back off and work up to the load again anytime you change lots or containers. I got some excellent accuracy and it meters like water(844). I'm going on the assumption that WCC846 is a ball powder as well. I'd say buy it before it goes up again.

 

[Grump]

Re: WC-846 worth buying for 308 loads?

I've used both 844 and 846 and would not hesitate to use either again, for bullets up to 168 for both and 175 for 846.

AFIK, 846 was the "other" powder used in original M118 stuff for years.

I suppose both are more temperature sensitive than extruded powders. I know WW-748 goes up and down in velocity with the thermometer, but groups were always good.

 

[bohem]

Re: WC-846 worth buying for 308 loads?

My experience is akin to Grump's.

I have 844 and 846 and have shot it in 223, 308, 30-06, 7.62x54R, 8x57, amongst others.

The 846 works well up to 175gr bullets in the 308 and 150gr bullets in the 30-06.

It should be cautiously approached like H335, not BLC2 until you've verified it to be slower, as opposed to hotter.

I still use 846 for my medium weight bullets in 223 and light bullets in the 30-06 for plinking duty. It works well, meters well, and shoots plenty "goodly" for hitting steel plates at moderate distances.

 

[Wind50cal]

Re: WC-846 worth buying for 308 loads?

WCC844 and WC846 are essentially the same powder. The difference is the amount of Calcium Carbonate in the two powders, the amount was reduced in the WCC 846. Calcium Carbonate is used to reduce the amount of heat a powder produces, thus extending barrel life for the firearm. Downside is, Calcium Carbonate is also Hygroscopic resulting in the burnt powder residue of 844 turning gummy when it absorbed humidity in the air. This was determined to be one of the main reasons for the M-16 failures during the Vietnam war. Tight tolerences, no cleaning BS, and an incompatable powder! The M-16 was actually tested with an extruded. They found this out,discontinued WCC844 and began production of WCC846 which is in very short supply. It is a good service rifle powder, if you have a lot that your rifle likes. I have seen 1/2 grain changes make some significant group size differences. I would work with it, get me a good load and shoot it out to 300. For 600 yard and 1000 yard work, stay with extruded powders.

Wind