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Posted: 4/16/2007 6:00:04 AM EDT
| can anyone tell me who publishes a manual with load data for .50 bmg. I am using WC860 powder and loading ap, api, and ball. Bartlett says that AA8700, andH870 is close to equivalent but neither has load data for the .50. Also, does anyone know what WC860 looks like? I opened a .50 cal ball that I bought from sportsman guide and the powder is cylindrical and about 1/32 long. The WC860 Ive got is a very very fine round like powder. I bought it from bartletts reloading page. Its not that I dont trust him but I am new to reloading and want to learn everything I can before loading my first round. My watson .50 has a catastophic combustion chamber safty but I dont want to find out if it really works. Thanks for taking the time to read this long post. |
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The surplus powders most often used in remanufactured .50bmg ammo are IMR5010 a'stick' powder, and wc860 a 'ball' powder. Both are loaded to virtually the same specs, but 5010 burns hotter and used mostly for positively igniting tracer type projectiles. 5010 has a slight accuracy edge too. Burn rates from the different lots will vary somewhat from pulldown batch to batch, so you should work up your own MAX load whenever you buy a different lot. Basically, you can start at 210gr to 215gr safely in most bolt guns. Max in usually at 225gr to 230gr. Other .50bmg suitable commercial 'cannister' powders that have published load data are: H50BMG US-869 VV20N29 |
| can I use those starting loads for everything from 647gn to the barnes 800gn solid? I also need to know the coal for the barnes 800gn solid. I know that all the other surplus projectiles is about 5.450. But the barnes projectile is a good bit longer. Thank you for repling. |
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for 800gr projos you should use a slower powder like the VV20N29 for best results. A good starting load from my experience is 220gr. of VV. COL will vary due to the many different chambers available. The other starting loads/powders will work Ok for any projo up to 750gr. You don't necessarily have to seat/crimp a bullet to BMG specs unless you're trying to feed them through an M2HB beltfed or from a semi-auto magazine like the 82a. I'd never seat them SHORTER than spec for certain though! My BFG likes AMAX projos seated to 5.65" for example. |
| Thank you very much. I have only loaded one round so far. It is a 697gn ap with 215 gn WC860 with a c.o.a.l. of 5.45. I used a lee factory crimp die to crimp the neck in the groove. Until now I had been scared to shoot it. After talking to you I feel more confident. Again, thank you so very much for the information. One more question, who makes the VV20N29 powder? |
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VihtaVuori is the manufacturer. It's kind of in short supply right now. I usually buy it direct from the distributor (Keltron-Pettibone) in bulk, but there appears to be a change over to Hodgdon right now, so supplies are limited. I did find this link to a possible source in the interim: www.eabco.com/VVuori01.html |
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