Gents!
Previously I have had problems with BL-C(2) when using it in .375HH for 200gn bullets. Although using magnum primers the powder was just not going bang, and when it went bang it had unusually low velocities and incomplete combustion.

I still have powder left and thought about using it for 200gn bullets in 308W as it is the powder that shall give the highest speeds for a heavy bullet in that caliber.

Does anyone have any info or good or bad experiences of this powder in this caliber?

Hodgdon lists 41-43,5gn for 200gn bullets in 308w.
The components I have at hand is PMC NT LRM primers, norma brass and Norma Oryx bullets.

Any and all suggestions are most welcome!

Sincerely

Daniel

FWIW, my dad-in-law tried it for a target rifle, along with VARGET -- settled on RL-15 so it now belongs to a nice guy in Leona, TX. (Hey, rodbuster1!) Claude's targets show less accuracy with 168-grainers.

BL-C (now BL-C2, mil spec WC 846, and commercial WW 748) was originally formulated for the .308 Winchester and works well in this cartridge. While it was designed for 150-165 grain bullets, it should be adaptable to bullets as heavy as 200 grains, although I wouldn't personally find such a heavy bullet useful in a .308.

I find that BL-C2 is somewhat erratic in larger capacity cartridges and would not think it appropriate for a .375 H&H. However, just because it is erratic, it should not fail to ignite. It is possible that the lot of powder or the lot of primers you have are in some way defective or have been exposed to something in the environment that has damaged one or the other.

Maybe it's just too friggin cold at 68 degrees north latitude!

Sierra lists 38 - 40 grains with their 200 grain bullets in a.308 Winchester. 2200-2300 fps. I wouldn't call it an optimal load but to use the components you have on hand it would suffice.

I shot many pounds of it in 308 300 sav 30-06 works great with bullets in the 147 to 168 gr range.

When loaded to near max. pressure WCC846 Has produced fine results in the .243 varmint, .257 varmint, 22-250,.250-3000, .308 and others. It does get sooty at low pressures and it has a loud distinguishable muzzle blast.
Reduced loads have produced a lot of gas in the face. In the .358x404 IMP with a number of primers it has contributed to a lot of hang fires. That case will hold 100 grains of many powders. ( That isn't to say you can safely load 100 grains of many powders.)
I have found it widely versitle. roger

I've had excellent results with WC846 and 150gr NBT's in the 308.

Gents!
Thanks for all input and replies!
I feel more confident to use the powder now.

I can understand that it might not be an super-powder for the weight in question, but it is what I have available at the moment, and the legislation here puts a maximum weight of home storage of powder at ca 5#, that creates a bit of a problem for me as I reload everything from .32acp to .375hh...

According to the manuals I have at hand BL-C(2) should produce the highest velocities with a 200gn bullet in both .375 & 308. I would love data for powders for heavy bullets in .308.

For the .375 I wanted a light and fast varmint load to be able to hunt some seals as the legal requirements are head-shot-only and open water makes judging the distance hard. If the BL-C(2) data for .375hh were correct I would have a +-2" trajectory from 0-250yd, thus eliminating the need to compensate for bullet drop and ricochets when taking head shots in the water.
Unfortunately it was a lot of hangfires and misfires when the case was filled with powder.No primers have failed to ignite so far. The primers ignited in the failed cartridges as the gunpowder was partly discoloured and burnt.
It was the powder that failed to ignite. It might have been a bad lot, or too much small grains for the primer to safely ignite it.
I am sad that others have had problems with hang- and misfires when using BL-C(2) in larger cases, but it also reassures me that my previous problem is not a insolated incident. IF it also fails in .308, it is a bad powder lot.

For 308w I would like a bullet with a SD above 0.3 for deep and straight penetration. It is unlikely that any shot with this combo will exceed 100 yds. 2300-2400 fps would be enough here. It will be used for moose and brownies in dense pine forests.

Legislation issues creates an environment where the reloader has to be innovative to be able to continue expanding the versatility of the weapons in the safe. I am trying to follow the letters of the law, and at the same time create ammunition that surpass the factory offerings while still staying well within safe and reliable reloads. Meeting all criteria is a challenge, but also a good learning process!

Sincerely

Daniel

I understand Daniel, I'm in the UK so we also have to cope with lots of laws that cause problems for reloading and shooting. I have one of the 308W load books and can only find 2 loads for BL-C(2) and 200 grain bullets in 308W:

Sierra BL-C(2) 38.0 - 40.0 grains

Hodgdon - BL-C(2) 41.0 - 43.5 grains

I note that you posted one of these loads above and Sam posted the other so none of this is news to you but hopefully you will have some success with the powder in 308.

From Metallic Cartridge Reloading 3rd Edition: BLC#2 in 308 Win 'is of noted choice for accuracy and performance.'

200gr bullet in Remington cases...
37.5gr start to 40.0gr max.

200gr bullet in Winchester cases...
40.0gr start to 42.0gr max

200gr bullet in GI military cases...
37.0gr start to 39.0gr max

I've shot BL-2(C) in my .308 with 165 & 180 gr bullets. While it gave satisfactory results...I have always for something more accurate...like Varget...or IMR 4064...

I've shot a whole lot of BLC-2 in both the .223 and 7.62 NATO (.308W). I've found it best for the lighter weight 130 - 155 gr bullets in the .308W. If you really want to use it with 200 gr bullets in the .308W then i suggest starting at 37 gr and working up not exceding 40.5 gr. I was using Winchester cases, WLR primers and Speer 200 gr bullets. Quite frankly I considered BLC-2 to be too fast burning for that heavy a bullet in the .308W and did much better accuracy and velocity wise with both 4350 and RL19.

In the large capacity .375 case BLC-2 is not a good powder as ignition problems abound, as you found out.

BLC-2 excells in the .223 with 55 gr bullets.

Larry Gibson