I really like the WC846 and the 45-70. Shoots really nice. First load I tested was the 405HP over 45 grains of this stuff. DJ was kind and had sent both 405 HB's and 405 HP's, I had run out of the 405HB yesterday. 4 of five shots make a group 1"wide 3/4"tall, I pulled one low and left that makes the group 1 3/4" tall and 1 3/4" wide. Not bad at all, esspecially as the average velocity is 1472, the high of 5 shots being 1513 and the low 1438. Trigger in this frame is heavy, and I have not got round to a trigger job, so I know the gun can do better, but I also need to adjust to the recoil, something on the order of 24 foot pounds.
Next tried again was 54 grains under the Lee 340 grain cast. Once again I pulled a shot, but four make a smiley that is 1" wide and 3/4" tall. The pulled shot is 2 1/4" low of the main group. Velocity is just right...1611 fps, but the spread is 1717 for high and 1563 for low. This powder really needs a heavy bullet to make it burn consistant, but it gives great groups. Both of these boolits are plain base and both are lubed with a home recipe.
Next to try out was the 357 Maximum. I have been over a year now searching for a cast boolit and load that gives good accuracy and velocity above 1300 fps. I've come close. 25 grains of WC 846 gives a velocity of 1400 with a 158 grain cast boolit and about 1450 with the Lyman 200 grain round nose. (bullet was designed for the 35 Remington originally) Both boolits shoot into 2", the Lyman boolit shooting a 5 shot group that is 1 1/4" wide and 15/16" tall. Three can be covered with a nickel. the same load in my 44 Mag with my modofied Lee 310 boolit (265 grains) shot 5 into a group 3/4" wide and 1 1/8" tall at a velocity of 1115 fps.
The #107 powder (available from Jeff Bartlett @ gibrass.com) is a flake powder that weighs out the same as Blue Dot but is a bit faster, which is in keeping with the suggestion of using AA#7 data. None of the loads here will be found in any book.
7.6 grains under the Lee modified 310 shot at 860 fps and into a group of about 2". Nothing great or surprising. The same load under the 158 grain boolit in my Maximum shoots a tad over 1100 fps, cutting back by .4 grains reduced the velocity right at 100 fps but did nothig to improve the group, shooting 8.3 grains of it drives the boolit a tad over 1300 fps but does nothing for the group. All three loads shoot around 2" give or take a little. (All groups fired at 75 yards) They all make good cheap loads but so far nothing to jump up and down and call home about. I can easily use Blue Dot in the 44 and 5744 in the Max and get groups of less than 1 1/4" on demand. But the loads with the #107 easily rings a 6" steel plate, which is plenty good enough for off hand hunting practice.
All in all, these powders are so far proving to be a good investment.
