DJ, My lot is 5234, got it about 3 months ago from Jeff Bartlett. Hodgdon shows 37 grains of BL-C2 for 150 grainer in 30-30. My fired cases show a slight smoking around the case neck, and the primer protrudes from the case slightly retaining the original shape of the radius at corner. I can only surmise that the pressure is relatively mild, as the case is not even being worked hard enough to completely fill the chamber.
Before I get my bung ripped, a protruding primer is not nessicarily a bad thing. Primers flatten as a result of pressure driving them into the breach face, generally, a full pressure load will also streach the brass enough that it reseats the primer. that the corner radius remains unchanged strongly suggests that the load is mild indeed as pressures go. However, DJ is correct and well within bounds to express his experience with a diferent lot # of the same powder. While such variations are common with surplus powders, cannister grades are generally manufactured to a tighter tolerance. Many get get away with using the sam load data over a period of years, but it is always wise practice to start over and work up from a starting load when changing lots of the same powder. My thanks to DJ for sharing his experience with his lot of WC 846, I am sure I will get more of this powder and willbe doubly cautious about working with it. I am getting 2360 fps or so from this load, and while I may go up a grain or so, not more than that. SAMMI (factory guidelines) dictate that a load can be within a pressure range or a velocity range, but a load cannot exceed the velocity range even though it may not yet meet the pressure range. The effects of temperature dictate this practice, so if I am within the velocity I should expect froma cartridge/bullet it is time to stop. 2360 is within 60 fps of maximum velocities one will find published.
To make the point even firmer, Hodgdon lists 2360 or so as the velocity reached from a max load of BL-C2 of 37 grains. So even though the case says I can push for more, I am already as fast as BL-C2 and under max loads by 3.8 grains. This says the powder is a little faster than BL-C2. (As Dj points out, more like H335 as velocity goes)
Thanks for the heads up DJ. I do appreciate it.
Vance, I think Mag primers with those powders are going to show a pressure increase. That may or may not affect the accuracy of the load, nd it could go either way, making it better or worse. Once again stepping into a lot of hot water, I don't think the primer itself is significantly hotter pressure wise than a standard primer. What it does have is a flame that is both longer and of greater duration, this, at least in theory, gives better ignition. More of the powder is exposed to flame and consequently the initial pressure curve develops faster. I think it isithe combination of a more complete ignition and the quicker ignition that give higher pressure readings. 3031 and 4198 are in my opinion too fast. They reach full pressure before reaching the full achievable velocity. H335, BL-C2,
748 and Reloder 15, are the range I look at for this case. 3031, 4198 and such are in my opinion (for whatever that may be worth) much better suited to cases like the 45-70, big bore straight walls where you need a fast powder to make up for the expansion ratio. they are good powders, and have served the 30-30 well for many years, it is just that there are better powders. Kind of like running regular, and Sunoco 104 Hi Test
