WC 860 in my SKS with a ~162gr. C.E. Harris designed CB

[CZ93X62]

What Ian said, in its entirety. I give about 1/16" of compression, just to snug things up and keep the kicker charge in place.

Only the 45/70 has required a kicker. When I load WC-860, I load it like black powder--by volume, and not charge weight. I do scale the charges to get a "read" on actual weight for purposes of communication with others, but actual loading and charging is done with a Lee dipper for the 6.0 x IMR-4198 kicker, and enough WC-860 to give a powder column height to allow that 1/16" of snug-up I spoke of above. Accuracy is first-rate, about 1.25" @ 100 yards with the Ruger #1 and 1.75"-2.00" with the Marlin 1895 (Ballard rifling). Lee 405 grain bullets.

The only anomaly observed involves brass with 10-12 shot histories. At the point where the bullet case rests in the case, a small burn-through occurs that looks very much like the burn-throughs we used to see on paper shotshells where the hull met the edge of the brass base. I heard from one source that similar things happen with BPCR brass that gets long in the tooth, but I have little time-in-grade with BPCR.

 

[Maven]

It's been almost 2 yrs. since I retested WC 860 duplexed with Lil' Gun and today, with Hodgdon Clays. First the bad news: In spite of using 1 gr. more WC 860, i.e., 21gr. + 3.1gr. Clays, I got neither the accuracy or ejection that I'd wanted. OTOH, 20gr. WC 860 + 4gr. Lil'Gun gave 100% ejection and a fairly clean bore. Accuracy wasn't there today, mostly because I used a smaller, 1" red target dot instead of the larger one as in the past. In short, I had aiming issues. The good news is that I shot the rest of my loads using 22.7gr. IMR 7383 and found better accuracy with the ~160gr. Harris CB + GC: Ejection was mild. This load is fairly accurate, but 9.0 - 9.5gr. Unique is so far the most accurate in my Type 56 "as issued" SKS, but that load won't produce enough gas pressure to operate the action. Btw, the Harris CB is sized to .3155" and lubed with Lar's Liquid Xlox. Lastly, there was no bore leading with any of the above.

 

[Maven]

It has taken awhile, but I finally followed up on Ian's suggestion to use a bit more of Lil' Gun and a bit less of WC 860 in my Type 56 SKS (as issued). To wit, I used 4.5gr. Lil' Gun + 19.5gr. WC 860 + WLR Mag. primers and was rewarded by the group (15 shots @ 50 yd.) below. Additionally, the gently ejected cases were clean and generally within 5 ft. of my bench. Btw, I used the Harris designed CB @ ~160gr. and sized to .3155", then seated to 2.125".

Thanks Ian, this one's a keeper! 9.3gr. Unique? Not so much.

P.S. Both the Lil' Gun and WC 860 charges were thrown using a Lee Perfect Powder Measure, which is truly easy to set up and use.

 

[Ben]

You and Ian joining efforts really paid off !!!!!!!
That's nice.

Ben

 

[Missionary]

This was a good read ! We shoot SKS rifles. Probably have 2 jugs of caliber 50 powder in storage. Be a good way to have some other option when we get out to the SE, AZ area in a permanent way next spring.

 

[CZ93X62]

All of this recent talk of WC-860 and duplexing sorceries & heresies prompted me out of the nice air-conditioned Casa Del Osos and out to the hot garage where the dark arts and witchcraft are conducted. Lo & behold--2 full 8# caddies of WC-860 remain in inventory. It still smells fresh & nice, too. Delightful. I wonder what WC-860 and Barnes TTSX in 6.5mm flavor will produce?

I have a mission.

 

[Maven]

Casa del Osos. I love it Allan! Oh, and good luck with your mission too!

 

[Maven]

I took the SKS apart for cleaning yesterday was happy to find very little unburned powder (WC 860) in the chamber, under the bolt, in the receiver, and especially in the gas piston and its housing. The barrel, btw, was immaculate other than a bit of soot, but no leading to speak of. The magazine well, where unburned powder often collects, was clean enough: a swipe of a rag got most of it.

 

[Rockydoc]

All of this recent talk of WC-860 and duplexing sorceries & heresies prompted me out of the nice air-conditioned Casa Del Osos and out to the hot garage where the dark arts and witchcraft are conducted. Lo & behold--2 full 8# caddies of WC-860 remain in inventory. It still smells fresh & nice, too. Delightful. I wonder what WC-860 and Barnes TTSX in 6.5mm flavor will produce?

I have a mission.

Casa del Osos ? “House of the holes” ??

 

[462]

Casa del Osos ? “House of the holes” ??

Bears.

 

[CZ93X62]

Casa del Osos ? “House of the holes” ??

Bears......inside family joke. Holes is usually OJOS or AQUJEROS.

 

[Rockydoc]

From Latin “os” means opening or hole. “Osso Buco”. Bone with a hole in it , slice of leg bone. I think that is an Italian dish.

 

[Rockydoc]

Or maybe it’s the other way around, os means bone and buco means hole.

 

[RBHarter]

Os , osteo , as in osteoporosis being porous bones .......but my Greek and Latin is only helpful from my early teens and reading the dictionary......

 

[CZ93X62]

Latin and Spanish often agree, unless they don't. I'm not consulted, I'm advised. Growing up where I did in San Bernardino you need to know Spanish just to know what's going on around you. It has been part of my world since i was very small. I took two years each of Latin and Russian in high school--50 years ago. Some of that sticks with me.