Fellas, you guys have positively RUINT me! THANKS! I want to get some of these surplus powders, now. Have never tried them, though, so was wondering if you've noted any general characteristics with any of them, such as larger than expected pressure excursions with relatively small increases in charge wt. I know ball powders of ALL types, regardless of make, are sometimes noted to produce large pressure increases with small increases of charge wt., so just want to be aware of any such observations you've noted.
Specific powders I think I may be interested in getting are WC-820, WC-680, and IIRC, WC-844 and 846 (the H335 & BLC2 rated milsurp powders). Any info on the others would of corse be appreciated by myself and others who hang out here, too, though, so ALL info you can contribute would be appreciated, I know.
Re the comment about ball powders, I think ALL powders CAN give some unexpected results, and that's one of the values of having a chrono. Once got some VERY large (over 100 fps!) variations with IMR-4320 in my Ackleyized Whelen with 250 gr. bullets, and THIS is "THE" classic powder for the std. Whelen, so I want to acknowledge and make CLEAR that I know that ALL LOADS WITH ALL POWDERS MUST BE SUBSTANTIATED AND THIS INQUIRY AND ALL ANSWERS THERETO MUST BE CONSIDERED AS INDIVIDUAL INSTANCES AND NOT NECESSARILY AS GENERALIZED CRITICISMS OF ANY OF THESE POWDERS.
I know most in our world today LIKE to think of every pursuit as being foolproof, but that just ain't so, and this thread and all responses to should be considered on their own individual merits and NOT misapplied across the board without good and substantial reason. My 4320 load for my Whelen is just one example of an individual powder/load combo that for some as yet unknown reason didn't work in MY gun, but MAY work in yours.
There, did that do a half decent job of acknowledging that I'm just looking for any warning signs you've all run into? Thanks for any observations you can provide.
That 820 sure seems to be a fine powder for the big revolvers, particularly the magnums like the .357 & .44.
Anyone noted where, pressure wise, 846 & 844 tend to give best accuracy in most applications you've tried it in? I, for instance, have noted that IMR-4064 tends to shoot best at just under max, while 4350's tend to shoot best (most often) right at max in most guns I've tried.
Accuracy/pressure considerations are what I'm mainly after, but all other worthy observations are appreciated.