I am intrseted in running some IMR 8208 XBR through a 223. Has anyone tried this powder and if so what powder chargers and bullets did you use. What typr of results did you get...accuracy, velocities.
Thanks

Posted this on April 18 in the reloading section.
Had around 60 rounds down the tube since I cleaned it last.


Been wanting to try some IMR 8208 XBR in the old spare parts rifle. See how it would do.
The wind has been blowing like crazy last couple weeks. Got out Sunday a week ago. It had laid to a modest 6-10 mph blowing from 10 to 4 from where I was shooting.
Just for shits and giggles here are six different bullets (loaded per book spec). All were shot off bench at 100 yds.
Enjoy
GWB


















and 4 more groups shot yesterday April 28th.





I plan on using the 70 Gr. TSX's and maybe partitons on hogs. Haven't decided on the load yet.

Used 22gr. 8208 with 50, 55, 64, 69, and 75 gr. bullets. All had nice groups but were mild. 24 gr. of 8208 behind a 50 gr. FB hp Berger was mild and accurate at 3250 fps. roger

Testing in my bolt varmint gun showed no benefit vs benchmark so I stayed with that one which I also use in 6br and 6 dasher.

I haven't found it to be ideal in any caliber I have tried it in. The .223 Remington loads I use are loaded with either RL-10x, Benchmark or TAC.

IMR 8208 comes in way behind RL-10x in the 204 Ruger.

I haven't tried it my various 6mm PPC rifles yet, but that was the caliber it was supposed to shine in, so while expectation is there - we will see.

I posted the loads above in response to the OP's question.

I am not as impressed with it as I had hoped, either.

I've not sat down and viewed it against other loads as to groups and velocities.

I've now tried it in 20 vartarg, 222 rem, 223, 22-250 and 308.

Perhaps I've not hit on the right combos. The different loads I tried were base on loads taken from the 2010 Hodgdon Annual, Hornady 8th manual and Barnes#4.

I did not exhaustively wring it out, in that I typically tried a single load density and book OAL where possible.

One thing that did surprise me was that the 150 grain 308 win book load out of a 26" barrel for both ballistic tips and sierra spitzers clocked well over 2900 fps. That's fast to my way of thinking.

GWB

Little cases (Fireballs and such) stick to what you have gotten used to. 222Mag, 223 and, velocity increases, accuracy increases...........???? Intermediate cases (22-250, 243, 6mm) can generate speed and accuracy that hasn't been seen before.(Speed anyway!!) Bigger cases and projectiles................haven't used it in tests. Is it better than VARGET, BENCHMARK, Re-10 accoss the board...........not enough testing to discern an opinion! Definitely an "expolratory voyage" whenever time(work) and time (perrsanal responsibiltieso allow!! GHD

quote:

Originally posted by groundhog devastation:
Little cases (Fireballs and such) stick to what you have gotten used to. 222Mag, 223 and, velocity increases, accuracy increases...........???? Intermediate cases (22-250, 243, 6mm) can generate speed and accuracy that hasn't been seen before.(Speed anyway!!) Bigger cases and projectiles................haven't used it in tests. Is it better than VARGET, BENCHMARK, Re-10 accoss the board...........not enough testing to discern an opinion! Definitely an "expolratory voyage" whenever time(work) and time (perrsanal responsibiltieso allow!! GHD

Now how can I make any decision if I don't have all the facts? roger

Bartsche,
isn't doing nothing a decision? Just think of all the bullets, powder, primers and time that you save.




GWB

quote:

Originally posted by Geedubya:
Bartsche,
isn't doing nothing a decision? Just think of all the bullets, powder, primers and time that you save.GWB

Talk about a worth while perspective. Nice shot Bro. roger

Burn rate is to be the same as H 322, which has been around for decades.....

Why re invent the wheel...

RL 10 is pretty much the same burn rate also..

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
Burn rate is to be the same as H 322, which has been around for decades.....

Why re invent the wheel...

RL 10 is pretty much the same burn rate also..

Maybe that's because 8208 IS the original H-322.

When Hodgdon's began selling H-322, it was a powder from Australia (8208) sold in the U.S. as an American (Hodgdon) powder. Same is true of 2208, which was the original name & source for a powder later introduced by Hodgdon into the U.S. as Varget.

Well that would make sense of why they have the same burn rate....