Reloading .50BMG Ammo w/ WC867 Surplus Powder!

FloridaAKM · 04-28-2024, 08:23 PM

I completed all the calibers of ammo that I had been saving for retirement to reload. The only caliber left is the .50BMG & that is affordable only since the supplies were bought many years ago.

Got started on it this morning & realized that all my reloading equipment will suffice without purchasing anything else. The press is a RCBS .50BMG 2 & the powder measure is an ancient rotary RCBS drum type measure. Two throws equals one charge & all charges are checked on a balance beam scale.

After an hour or so of getting everything adjusted, I loaded a dozen rounds of M33 650 grain FMJ-BT w/ cannelure ammo into once fired cases with CCI 35 primers. The powder volume will be left out as requested by moderators.

The finished rounds were tested for correct fit into the rifle that they are being loaded for since I don't have a case gauge. I stopped @ a dozen as any reloader knows, you test your ammo before loading up 5 or 600 rounds to make sure they work as needed & not get stuck with rounds that won't fit the chamber.

Now off to the range to test them out when I get a chance.

RetVet · 04-29-2024, 06:42 AM

I believe I have some of that same powder bought years ago with the plan that some day I would come up with a 50BMG rifle. Even snagged a couple hundred AP bullet. Still no rifle, but someday.....

REDOAK · 04-29-2024, 06:59 AM

I still have about 6500 cases to load. Once fired, primed pulldown and new primed cases. Lots of FMJ Ball, AP, API and spotter tracer. Very few AP sabots.

FloridaAKM · 04-29-2024, 08:45 AM

Such fun with big bullets, no more looking for little bullets when you drop the projectile on the floor or your foot.

My only problem is the range I shoot on here @ home is only 100 yards long & I don't want the fired rounds to go thru the backstop & into the adjoining county.

4thIDvet · 04-29-2024, 09:05 AM

A fun shop just off Rt.75 Ocala Fla. you can see the store on the west side. They had a full auto .50 cal. for sale for $50,000 grand. That was about a half dozen yrs. ago probably gone now?
A gold plated gatling gun at the Florida Gun Exchange in Orange Ct. Fla. not sure of the price?

Sanders · 04-29-2024, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaAKM

Such fun with big bullets, no more looking for little bullets when you drop the projectile on the floor or your foot.

My only problem is the range I shoot on here @ home is only 100 yards long & I don't want the fired rounds to go thru the backstop & into the adjoining county.

One of the nice things about having wide open public lands in the West. Want to try your luck at a mile long shot? I know where to go. Just leave the tracers at home.

FloridaAKM · 05-01-2024, 02:48 PM

For initial testing for functionality & loads actually doing what they are supposed to do, my 100 yard range will do fine. My back stop will stop any rounds directed into it as long as they hit it.

There is an 800 yard range about 12 miles down the road from me, but they want you to join, take classes & pay dues every time you show up. My last trip there years ago, they tried to double charge me upon entering & leaving, which left a bad memory of their facility.

I do want to get the rest of my prepped cases loaded either with M33 Ball or any other flavors bought years ago as a friend needs to borrow my press to load his prepped cases. His problem is that he has misplaced 48#'s of WC-867 to do the loading with, granted, it was purchased 12 years ago.

FloridaAKM · 05-05-2024, 11:47 AM

My Wilson case gauge for .50 bmg was delivered Friday, so I was able to check the already loaded rounds. They all fit as perfectly as possible, so its off to the range to check out my handiwork.

My reloading bench has case gauges for all the calibers I reload, but just not the .50 bmg. Now that is rectified, I need to get back to reloading.

FloridaAKM · 05-11-2024, 01:55 PM

After finding about 150 rounds of API that is not sized, a .510 sizing die is needed. Midway gives birthday discounts, so I emptied my wish list from them & got a few other odds & ends along with the .510 & .224 sizing dies. A couple of the .50 caliber magnum loading blocks will help keep stuff sorted out.

Running those .50 caliber projectiles thru the sizing die using the Rockchucker was pretty much not a workout, but about ten of them reminded me of what its like to stick a brass cartridge in a die & rip the base off. They all sized well & are not going to be fired till hurricane season when things are soaking wet!

04-28-2024, 08:23 PM	#1
FloridaAKM Military Truck Collector Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 681	Reloading .50BMG Ammo w/ WC867 Surplus Powder! I completed all the calibers of ammo that I had been saving for retirement to reload. The only caliber left is the .50BMG & that is affordable only since the supplies were bought many years ago. Got started on it this morning & realized that all my reloading equipment will suffice without purchasing anything else. The press is a RCBS .50BMG 2 & the powder measure is an ancient rotary RCBS drum type measure. Two throws equals one charge & all charges are checked on a balance beam scale. After an hour or so of getting everything adjusted, I loaded a dozen rounds of M33 650 grain FMJ-BT w/ cannelure ammo into once fired cases with CCI 35 primers. The powder volume will be left out as requested by moderators. The finished rounds were tested for correct fit into the rifle that they are being loaded for since I don't have a case gauge. I stopped @ a dozen as any reloader knows, you test your ammo before loading up 5 or 600 rounds to make sure they work as needed & not get stuck with rounds that won't fit the chamber. Now off to the range to test them out when I get a chance.

04-29-2024, 06:42 AM	#2
RetVet Statistical Error Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Homeless Posts: 43,711	I believe I have some of that same powder bought years ago with the plan that some day I would come up with a 50BMG rifle. Even snagged a couple hundred AP bullet. Still no rifle, but someday..... __________________ ^^^ For entertainment purposes. Use only as directed. ^^^ III

04-29-2024, 09:05 AM	#5
4thIDvet slug Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Astor Florida Posts: 48,544	A fun shop just off Rt.75 Ocala Fla. you can see the store on the west side. They had a full auto .50 cal. for sale for $50,000 grand. That was about a half dozen yrs. ago probably gone now? A gold plated gatling gun at the Florida Gun Exchange in Orange Ct. Fla. not sure of the price? __________________ God Bless Americas Veterans. All who are serving and have served.

04-29-2024, 06:59 AM	#3
REDOAK Intelligent Posterior Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,717	I still have about 6500 cases to load. Once fired, primed pulldown and new primed cases. Lots of FMJ Ball, AP, API and spotter tracer. Very few AP sabots.

04-29-2024, 08:45 AM	#4
FloridaAKM Military Truck Collector Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 681	Such fun with big bullets, no more looking for little bullets when you drop the projectile on the floor or your foot. My only problem is the range I shoot on here @ home is only 100 yards long & I don't want the fired rounds to go thru the backstop & into the adjoining county.

05-01-2024, 02:48 PM	#7
FloridaAKM Military Truck Collector Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 681	For initial testing for functionality & loads actually doing what they are supposed to do, my 100 yard range will do fine. My back stop will stop any rounds directed into it as long as they hit it. There is an 800 yard range about 12 miles down the road from me, but they want you to join, take classes & pay dues every time you show up. My last trip there years ago, they tried to double charge me upon entering & leaving, which left a bad memory of their facility. I do want to get the rest of my prepped cases loaded either with M33 Ball or any other flavors bought years ago as a friend needs to borrow my press to load his prepped cases. His problem is that he has misplaced 48#'s of WC-867 to do the loading with, granted, it was purchased 12 years ago.

05-05-2024, 11:47 AM	#8
FloridaAKM Military Truck Collector Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 681	My Wilson case gauge for .50 bmg was delivered Friday, so I was able to check the already loaded rounds. They all fit as perfectly as possible, so its off to the range to check out my handiwork. My reloading bench has case gauges for all the calibers I reload, but just not the .50 bmg. Now that is rectified, I need to get back to reloading.

05-11-2024, 01:55 PM	#9
FloridaAKM Military Truck Collector Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 681	After finding about 150 rounds of API that is not sized, a .510 sizing die is needed. Midway gives birthday discounts, so I emptied my wish list from them & got a few other odds & ends along with the .510 & .224 sizing dies. A couple of the .50 caliber magnum loading blocks will help keep stuff sorted out. Running those .50 caliber projectiles thru the sizing die using the Rockchucker was pretty much not a workout, but about ten of them reminded me of what its like to stick a brass cartridge in a die & rip the base off. They all sized well & are not going to be fired till hurricane season when things are soaking wet!