Just getting my new 1050 set up and I am using Hornady 55gr fmj boolits over the pulldown WC844 powder.  I know they say to use data for H335 for this powder.  What has been your actual real life range with this powder?  Whats a good starting point?  24.0?  Any sweet spot?  Do you have velaocity data?

Just looking for a nice accurate mild load....not chasing velocity  

Thanks fellas

I been loading 25 or 25.5gr with common 55's, and up to 26.5gr, which have a nice USGI kinda "bark" when fired.. upward of 27gr I was getting really flat primers.. 20" COLT 1x7 barrel for chrono test here

WC844 varies lot to lot. I have two different types and they're considerably different. You'll need to work up a load over a chronograph.

I took the 4 bottle I had years ago (4 bottle-3 lot) and dumped them in 5 gallon pail,, stir really well, and put back as 1 lot in 4 bottles.. 1 work up for 25+ lb powder

Checked my old notes, the lot I got was good

at 25.0 grains.  I'd gotten 16 labs but it's all been used.

Didn't record the lot number so no help there.

sdshooter............

I use WC-844 in 4 different calibers. The current 8lb container I am using is closely matching H-335 data.

In .223 with Hornady 55gr bullets I actually found 2 accuracy nods between 22 and 25 grains. Since  velocity means nothing to me for this load I decided to use the one that uses less powder.  

BTW: While load testing with the WC-844 and Hornady 55s I did a side by side comparison between CCI-400s and CCI-450s and found no significant difference between them using these components. The brass was all LC-11

Motor

I've loaded about 5 different lots of WC 844 with Hornady and Winchester 55 FMJ's. All lots 24 grains would be a safe start load. Two lots almost exactly matched H335 results. Two lots were a little faster than H335 and one lot labeled "virgin" never loaded was much slower. Really handy to have a chronograph when working with surplus powder. Two lots faster than H335 took 24.6 grains to match H335 at 25 grains. Two lots equal to H335 I loaded at 25 grains which is a common H335 load level with Hornady 55's. The one slow lot I worked up to 26 grains and still didn't equal H335 at 25 grains. I wouldn't try working up this slow lot any higher than 26 grains. All testing in a 20' 1/7 AR with RP 7 1/2 primers and RP, WC, and LC cases.

I use 24 grains of WCC844 and 55 grain bullets, this works good for me in several AR's and a Mini-14 rifle.

I've been at 26.5gr W844 wtih 55fmj for a long time, but can't say for sure that i paid much attention to lot numbers.  I used this as 5.56 blaster ammo for machine guns and it works great.  It's not quite as hot as M193.

That's interesting. I would have never thought to make one lot by combing 3. Has everything remained consistent thus far?

H335 is essentially a much more lot-consistent version of WC844.  But that's a HUGE oversimplification.  St. Marks puts out tons of the stuff, and blends H335 to be as consistent as possible from lot to lot and year to year.  Military loaders don't need that level of consistency because they adjust the powder charge for what they actually get, with LOTS of testing along the way.  One lot of M855 may have a completely different powder weight than another simply because the powder in each lot is different - just a bit, but enough to make a difference.

If you have a buttload of WC844, then your loads will be consistent with that lot.  Start with H335 starting load data for the bullet you are using, take your time and work up to where you want to get.  Then crank out all the rounds of that load you can, but keep in mind that you'll have to test and re-work the load when you run out of that batch of powder.

Shot an 8#er of wc844 using 24.2gr per load with hornady 55gr fmj, iirc.  Now that the pulled powder is the same price of h335, I have reverted back to h335.

I agree, surplus powder for .223/5.56 loading isn't worth the hassle. I've switched to H335 and will not use surplus again. Don't have to work up loads every time you run out of a lot and WC844 is nearly the cost of H335. Now for 50 BMG it's still a bargain with only 33 rounds per pound of powder.

Thanks for all of the feedback so far.

I got the new PM drop up to 24.0 and loaded up some test rounds on the 1050.  I think I'm going to bump it up to 24.5 and load some up at that drop as well.

I have a chrony so I will test these out and post some results next chance I have to get out.

I agree on the ridiculous prices on the pull down powders.....in todays dollar values, better to load up with 335 and be done with it.  I bought a shit-ton of the 844 back in the day when it was a killer deal from Hi-Tech.  It was stupid cheap with free hazmat to boot!.  Nowadays I wouldn't be paying what people are asking for 844....it's stupid!

Thanks fellas

Using 55 grn  Hornady FMJs, over WC-844T (yes "T") my lot was noticeably hotter than Hodgdon H335.

Start low.  This can't be emphasized enough.