I'm getting to shoot alot more, lately, and powder is costing me a lot of money. I'm looking to get some 8lb lots of surplus.

I'm shooting
223 (BL-C2, Varget, H335)
270 (4350)
8*57 (4350, 4895)
7*55 (Bl-C2)
25-06 (4350, 4831)
308 (Varget, 4895)
243 (4350, 4831, 760)
30-06 (4350, 760)
338 win (4350)
222 (h335)

WC 844 and 846 seem like good choices,any preference? 846 looks a bit more useful in the bigger cases.

What about something slower for the 25-06 and 270? WC-872 is cheap, will it shoot well?

4895 seem pretty obvious, too.

Anything else I should look at?

Thanks

I just ordered 8# of Accurate Data Powder 86 - Extruded price is right , I'll see about performance .www.powdervalleyinc.com

I've been using WC-846 (BLC-2) for four years now with great success in my .222 and .223. At times you can find 4831 equivalent which should work just fine in several of the other rifles you have listed.

You should try some Accurate Data 86 from Powder Valley, Inc. Can't beat the price at $59.75 for an 8 lb keg. It should perform quite well in your 25-06, 270, .243 and .338. It may be adequate in your 30-06 with heavy bullets. I am loading it in a 6.5x55 Swede and .270WSM. It has a burning rate close to Accurate 3100, they say it is similar to 4350 and 4831, but in my brief time with it, I would say it is closer to 4831 and seems a bit slower than 4350. As for you others, I would think Accurate 2230C would also be a good option at $68 for an 8 lb keg. Of course, the WC-844 and 846 are reputed to be decent for the .223 and .308, and 4895 is very flexible in almost all calibers, as long as you don't demand maximum velocity in cases like the .270 and 25-06. The surplus IMR-4895 is a bit pricier than the Accurate powders, I see Wideners has it for $79 for an 8 lb keg. If it were me, I would grab one each of the Accurate Data 86 and 2230C and see how they work. Should run around $160 including shipping and hazmat and that works out to $10 per pound delivered for 8 lbs of good extruded slow burning yet flexible powder and another 8 lbs of faster, .223.308 type powder. Natchez also has Accurate Data 79 powder for just $59.95 per 8 lb keg (if you order at least 2 of them) and supposedly has applications for the 22-250 and 30-06, kind of sounds like a medium burn rate that might work well in the 8x57, 7x55, .308 and '06. Good luck and be sure to let us know how whatever you decided on worked out.

2nd timer do you have any results you can share on the data 79? This is one I haven't used yet. roger

On Powder Vallys website what is the difference between the Accurate 2230 and Accurate 2230C? The 2230C is quit a bit cheaper.

Thanks
Big-un

quote:

Originally posted by big-un:
On Powder Vallys website what is the difference between the Accurate 2230 and Accurate 2230C? The 2230C is quit a bit cheaper.

The 2230-C is a mil. surplus and has a little slower burn rate. roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
2nd timer do you have any results you can share on the data 79? This is one I haven't used yet. roger

Roger, I haven't tried any of the Accurate Data 79 yet. I almost ordered some, but then the Data 86 became available from powder valley and sounded like a better option for my .270 short mag, so I went for it instead.

Go to Accurate powders web. Go to surplus powder. Interesting

Thanks everyone.
I think I'll try the 2230c and 86. A local guy has 844 and 846, so I might try them, too.

I also ordered 500 Varmint Nightmare, also. Thanks for the review, Roger. Hopefully they won't end up with the 250 55g fmj that shoot shotgun patterns from a 223 that shoots everything else well.

Bartsche,
Do you have any exsperience with this powder? I would like to find somthing cheaper than Reloader 15. It will be for a 22-250 and 25-06. Any other cheap powders with close to the same burn rate out there?

Thanks
Big-un

quote:

Originally posted by big-un:
Bartsche,
Do you have any exsperience with this powder? I would like to find somthing cheaper than Reloader 15. It will be for a 22-250 and 25-06. Any other cheap powders with close to the same burn rate out there?

Accurate Data 86 should be perfect for the 25-06. Currently I don't have a 25-06 but when I was using one I got great results with acc. 3100 which is awfully close to the 86. Three of use are using the 86 in 22-250s with some really nice performance. I've been getting 6 and 8 shot 1/4" groups at 50 yards with it and 55gr Varmint Nitemares and 55 gr. Win psp bulks. We've got as much as 40gr. compressed into the cases, WLRM primers and almost 3300fps.With 62 gr Law Enforcement bullets ,same loading, we get over 3400fps. Now that tells a story ; doesn't it? roger

Have you tried www.gibrass.com? They usually have good prices on brass and powder. Jeff is a nice guy to deal with.
Butch

An update.

I bought 8lbs of WC 846. I've tried it in 7.5*55 with surplus 147g fmj and Rem corelokt.
30-06 with 147g fmj
223 with 55g Varmint Nightmare.

Nothing good yet. I think the .308 147 stink. in the 30-06 (a 1903 springfield) I got 1" groups until a certain level until they opened to 4" long before any pressure signs. I loaded a bunch at the most accurate weight, and started getting hangfires and unburned powder. I found the light charge was position sensitive, If I pointed the rifle up first, no hangfire. So, I conclude that this powder and bullet combo won't work, at least with standard primers.

Better luck with my k-31's. With 147 fmj and reformed 284 win brass, I stopped getting very sooty cases at 47g. No extraction issues up to 51.5g, but some primers flattened at 49.5g. Accuracy not great, 2-3 inches at 50yards with issue sights ( I can do 1" at 50 with other loads, sometimes.)

223. I have not found a best load with the 55 g Varmint Nightmare yet. I've used BL-C2 data starting to a bit over max, no pressure signs yet. No accuracy signs yet either, .9-1.5" at 100 yards. This rifle does under .5" often with other loads. The 55g Varmint Nightmare did not do too well with lighter loads of Blue Dot either, but improved as charges increased.



I'm going to order a jug of Accurate data powder 86. There is no listed data for 25-06, so I was compareing loads on their list to loads in Lee's manual (data submitted by powder manufacturers). In several loads, charge, velocity and pressure were Identical to xmr-3100. I also noticed pressures and velocities listed for 270 win seemed very low. Anyway, It seems that 3100 starting data should keep us out of trouble.