.44 Mag Load data with WC820 powder

[EddieCoyle]

A while back I bought a bunch of surplus WC820 powder (the original application was for the .30 Carbine). This stuff is supposed to load somewhere between AA9 and H110. I decided to do some experimenting to find a .44 Mag load for my 8" Colt Anaconda. Here are the results.

I used 240gr Hornady JHP bullets, CCI large pistol magnum primers, and new Starline brass. As a benchmark, I compared it to some Magtech factory ammo with 240gr JSP bullets. I fired 20 shots of each load over my chrono from a rest.

Magtech ammo:
Avg velocity = 1251 fps - Velocity spread = 95 fps - Standard Deviation = 29

WC820 Loads:
19.0grs: Avg = 1297 - Spread = 67 - SD = 18
19.5grs: Avg = 1320 - Spread =110 - SD = 31
20.0grs: Avg = 1340 - Spread = 64 - SD = 30
20.5grs: Avg = 1374 - Spread = 55 - SD = 17
21.0grs: Avg = 1410 - Spread =107 - SD = 30

The best accuracy was obtained with the 20.5 grain load. I shot a 4" group at 50 yards while I was tired; these will probably shoot better than that.

 

[BIG GUN]

I have gone through around 2&1/2 8 pounders of 820 using 255G Keith style cast gas check bullets over 22G of 820. I shoots clean & w/ no excessive pressure. I was told to use 2400 data when I bought it, and it is close.
There was a guy from Maine that sold ammo, and jugs full of leftovers. I haven't seen him at shows for quite some time. To bad, because the last jug I bought from him was supposed to be IMR4895, but when I went to use it, it had some sphericle powder mixed in so I burned it.