Ya i work all my loads up, i ussually dont hot rod anything too much now. I have had it awhile & putting together another ar for my son so Im going to crank up the dillion so we can at least have something to shoot
What caliber are you looking for with the 844? For 223, I load 22.5 to 23 grains behind a 55 gr fmj with the 223 primer or small rifle magnum primer. +WC-844 is supposed to be near H-335 and WC-846 is supposed to be near BLC-2 The 846 and BLC-2 are both pretty temperature sensitive in my experience, but the 844 appears to be more tolerant of temp changes in my experiences.
I've settled on 24 grains with Hornady 55 fmj's with my current jug. It seems right on par with 25 grains of H335. My last jug was 24.6 grains. From what I've found unless from the same lot they're all a little different. YMMV.
On my load data, I should have indicated that I shoot these out of contenders, bolt guns and ar-15 style rifles. The AR gas system bleeds off a little pressure and if I load to the standard load for it, the pressure is too high in the contender or bolt gun. That's the reason I am a little lighter on the loads. They still work fine in the AR. You also have to be careful duplicating the military 5.56 load if you have a 223 chamber. The tighter lead into the rifling jacks pressures up quickly.
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Here's some info I have you might be able to use.
Somewhere on the net I read that 844 and BL(C)2 and H335 were the same critter, just depended on if it was Surplus, which is H335, or new, which would make it BL(C)2. Even if this is not the case, they are all so close to the same that a hand loader will probably not tell the difference.
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I have been using WC846 for my 223 for a thousand rounds and have had no problems. I load 25 gr. for a 55 FMJBT in my bushmaster. This powder appears to be not dirtier than the WW748. It is cheep and when combined with RVO prepared brass, is the best value I have found. I have also used it for 30-06 rounds with no problems
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My experience tells me what you are saying about them being close is true. I haven't used H335, but was using W748 before trying the WC844 and WC846. The velocity (in the batches I have) range for identical charges is very close; within the ranges of deviation I had experienced with the W748. I'm getting about 2940 more or less with a 55PSP and the same charge of each of the three, with the deviation of the WC844 being a little less than that of 748. I haven't worked with the WC846 as much (in .223) but it appears to be extremely close to the others. I haven't reached the point of seeing any pressure signs with either powder and will work up a bit more. Accuracy is the same for all three. I'm shooting a 16" RRA carbine.
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I have load over 11,000 rounds of 223 with WCC844 it is about 10% hotter then H335 and it's very good 24GR of WCC844 with a Hornady 55GR FMJ and wolf primers chronos about 3040fps works just great and cost less then H335.
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844 is primarily 5.56 while 846 is 7.62. Tracer or ball the same powder is used for both.
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I've been using 24.2gr. - 24.5gr. of WC846 powder with both my 62gr. and 55gr. bullets without any trouble in my AR15 chambered for 5.56x45 NATO.
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It appears that WC846 is very similar to BL-C(2). For 55 gr. bullets, starting load is 25.5 gr. and max is 27.5 gr.
Also for 55 gr. bullets, WC844 is similar to H335 with starting load of 23.0 gr. and max of 25.3 gr.
For 62gr.-63gr. SS109 bullet, WC846 start = 24.0 gr. and max = 26.0 gr., WC844 start = 24.0 gr. and max = 25.5 gr.
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I like to use 62 gr. SS109 bullets, RORG 92 brass, CCI 400 or CCI 41 primers, and 24.5 gr. of WC846 powder. This load works very nicely in my 20" barreled AR15
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Be aware that WC844 and WC846 supposedly have the same burn characteristics, but represent different ends of the spectrum of acceptable calcium carbonate concentration. WC846 is from pulled 7.62x51mm ammunition, which can tolerate much more CaCO3 than is recommended for AR15/M16s. The idea is CaCO3 buildup in the gas tube of an AR leads to poor reliability. WC844 has a lower specified CaCO3 content.
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The following is a pretty decent performer in my 'Target AR'. It produces velocity similar to Military Loads. I can pick up (at least I used to) bulk 62 grain FMJ's at the gunshow pretty cheap. Pat's Reloading has them sometimes too.
62 grain bullet. 25.5 grains WIN748. CCI 400 primer.
However, if you want cheap blasting ammo, you can't beat Pat's prices on WC 846 powder, CCI milspec Primers, and surplus bullets. If you buy enough, he'll pay the hazmat fee. In the past, I've usually dropped between $500 and $1000.
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I use BLC-2 in both calibers in my M1-A and AR-15. I have had excellent results with both. I use it for both match grade bullets and as you put it surplus type loads. I stay pretty much right in the middle of the load charge from the Speer manual. I use whatever brass and primers I have on hand.
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Few loads that I have tried out of my 20" inch barrel AR.
WC-846
62 FMJBT 25.0 wc846 win brass. win srp. ave vel 2742 fps
75 Amax 24.0 wc846 win brass. win srp. ave vel 2528 fps
seems light will bump them up few grains...but your lot of WC846 maybe faster/slow. So seems like thats a good place to start.
few other calibers with WC846
30-06 150 sp. 48.5 win. win LR. 2654 fps. slow light load
45-70 405 sp. 62 win. win LRM. 1882 fps
45-70 350 sp 65 win. win LRM. 1935 fps
303 brit. 147fmj. 46 win. win LRM. 2550 fps
243 70 sp. 41 rem. win LRM. 3497 fps....TO HOT IN MY RIFLE
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With Hornady 55 FMJ I settled on 26.8 of WC846 lot #49948. It makes USPSA minor power factor out of a 20" DPMS with a bit to spare with several different brands of brass.
It works OK, but if I don't clean the bolt and carrier every 100 rounds or so I start having problems. Switched to Ramshot powder and can run 300+ rounds with no problem.
I've loaded WC846 in 30-30, 308, 30-06, 35Rem, 222 and 223 and it works fairly well in all of them, but it's not hard to get better results with other powders in all cases, so when this jug is empty I won't replace it.
Somewhere on the net I read that 844 and BL(C)2 and H335 were the same critter, just depended on if it was Surplus, which is H335, or new, which would make it BL(C)2. Even if this is not the case, they are all so close to the same that a hand loader will probably not tell the difference.
--
I have been using WC846 for my 223 for a thousand rounds and have had no problems. I load 25 gr. for a 55 FMJBT in my bushmaster. This powder appears to be not dirtier than the WW748. It is cheep and when combined with RVO prepared brass, is the best value I have found. I have also used it for 30-06 rounds with no problems
--
My experience tells me what you are saying about them being close is true. I haven't used H335, but was using W748 before trying the WC844 and WC846. The velocity (in the batches I have) range for identical charges is very close; within the ranges of deviation I had experienced with the W748. I'm getting about 2940 more or less with a 55PSP and the same charge of each of the three, with the deviation of the WC844 being a little less than that of 748. I haven't worked with the WC846 as much (in .223) but it appears to be extremely close to the others. I haven't reached the point of seeing any pressure signs with either powder and will work up a bit more. Accuracy is the same for all three. I'm shooting a 16" RRA carbine.
--
I have load over 11,000 rounds of 223 with WCC844 it is about 10% hotter then H335 and it's very good 24GR of WCC844 with a Hornady 55GR FMJ and wolf primers chronos about 3040fps works just great and cost less then H335.
--
844 is primarily 5.56 while 846 is 7.62. Tracer or ball the same powder is used for both.
--
I've been using 24.2gr. - 24.5gr. of WC846 powder with both my 62gr. and 55gr. bullets without any trouble in my AR15 chambered for 5.56x45 NATO.
--
It appears that WC846 is very similar to BL-C(2). For 55 gr. bullets, starting load is 25.5 gr. and max is 27.5 gr.
Also for 55 gr. bullets, WC844 is similar to H335 with starting load of 23.0 gr. and max of 25.3 gr.
For 62gr.-63gr. SS109 bullet, WC846 start = 24.0 gr. and max = 26.0 gr., WC844 start = 24.0 gr. and max = 25.5 gr.
--
I like to use 62 gr. SS109 bullets, RORG 92 brass, CCI 400 or CCI 41 primers, and 24.5 gr. of WC846 powder. This load works very nicely in my 20" barreled AR15
--
Be aware that WC844 and WC846 supposedly have the same burn characteristics, but represent different ends of the spectrum of acceptable calcium carbonate concentration. WC846 is from pulled 7.62x51mm ammunition, which can tolerate much more CaCO3 than is recommended for AR15/M16s. The idea is CaCO3 buildup in the gas tube of an AR leads to poor reliability. WC844 has a lower specified CaCO3 content.
--
The following is a pretty decent performer in my 'Target AR'. It produces velocity similar to Military Loads. I can pick up (at least I used to) bulk 62 grain FMJ's at the gunshow pretty cheap. Pat's Reloading has them sometimes too.
62 grain bullet. 25.5 grains WIN748. CCI 400 primer.
However, if you want cheap blasting ammo, you can't beat Pat's prices on WC 846 powder, CCI milspec Primers, and surplus bullets. If you buy enough, he'll pay the hazmat fee. In the past, I've usually dropped between $500 and $1000.
--
I use BLC-2 in both calibers in my M1-A and AR-15. I have had excellent results with both. I use it for both match grade bullets and as you put it surplus type loads. I stay pretty much right in the middle of the load charge from the Speer manual. I use whatever brass and primers I have on hand.
--
Few loads that I have tried out of my 20" inch barrel AR.
WC-846
62 FMJBT 25.0 wc846 win brass. win srp. ave vel 2742 fps
75 Amax 24.0 wc846 win brass. win srp. ave vel 2528 fps
seems light will bump them up few grains...but your lot of WC846 maybe faster/slow. So seems like thats a good place to start.
few other calibers with WC846
30-06 150 sp. 48.5 win. win LR. 2654 fps. slow light load
45-70 405 sp. 62 win. win LRM. 1882 fps
45-70 350 sp 65 win. win LRM. 1935 fps
303 brit. 147fmj. 46 win. win LRM. 2550 fps
243 70 sp. 41 rem. win LRM. 3497 fps....TO HOT IN MY RIFLE
--
With Hornady 55 FMJ I settled on 26.8 of WC846 lot #49948. It makes USPSA minor power factor out of a 20" DPMS with a bit to spare with several different brands of brass.
It works OK, but if I don't clean the bolt and carrier every 100 rounds or so I start having problems. Switched to Ramshot powder and can run 300+ rounds with no problem.
I've loaded WC846 in 30-30, 308, 30-06, 35Rem, 222 and 223 and it works fairly well in all of them, but it's not hard to get better results with other powders in all cases, so when this jug is empty I won't replace it.
Welcome to the group mtnboomer, I have shot many thousands of rounds loaded with the milsurp stuff, it is my belief that the higher percentage of calcium carbonate in the WC-846 is responsible for the decreased round count before having to clean the bolt. I bought some of the WC-842 powder from David out of Tennessee a couple of years ago and like it pretty well. It is not a milsurp powder, but instead was a batch of powder from St. Marks powder that Hodgdon rejected. It contains the copper fouling reducer found in the CFE-223, but it is NOT cfe-223. I have developed several loads with it and it is now my favorite powder for 223. When the weather gets warmer, I will be going back to the range with loading gear and chrono to work up some additional loads. Good info.. Thanks
