8208xbr

[wapiti16b]

Their were a few posts on the scout/hide but I don't think they made it to the current site so here goes .
I did an OCW test today using 8208XBR in new LAPUA 308 brass , FGMM primers and BERGER 168 Hybrids .
Hodgdon lists max grains @ 43.3 for 2.8 coal , my loads are @ 2.882 coal ( mag length ) and are as follows 44.3, 44.6 , and 44.9 with no pressure signs other than a slightly flattened primer @ 44.9 .
I started low @42.3 and that was OK , they started to spread until I got to 44.3 and when I placed targets 44.3 through 44.9 on top of each other they shared grouping and some of the same holes , sub MOA groups for 44.3-44.9 !
I plan on pushing it beyond 44.9 on my next test and then playing with seating depth afterwards . When I decide on my OCW & seating depth I'll post some velocities from the magnetospeed .
I'm shooting a FN SPR with a 20" barrel in a McMillan A4 , Vortex GEN II 3x18 in ARC rings .
If anyone else is going down this Rabbit Hole please post your specific load/rifle combo and share your findings .
Happy Shooting !

 

[MtnCreek]

Hodgdon is based on win brass and most likely 168 smk. Your brass would probably put you about a gr below their charge and your bullet is shaped different, less surface in the rifling. One working against you, the other might be in your favor. I'd get a velocity before going further. Mic the heads looking for a xpansion?

 

[wapiti16b]

Will do , I measured case length and saw .003 between 42.3& 44.9 on virgin brass . I failed to mention these loads were my first using David Tubbs HBN on the Bergers .
You are absolutely correct about the Hodgdon information , WIN brass& SMK .

 

[mrbig]

my 700PSS 26 inch 12 twist shoots the 155 Scenars and 46 grs 8208 at 2910 fps and shoots in the .5 MOA range,,it has taken over as my favorite 308 load,,

 

[squirrel_slayer]

43.3 with 168 Amax's shot .39 moa from my rifle with zero pressure signs. an 42.7 with 175 rdf's were .6 moa but es/sd was 1 and .8 got 2630 with the 168's and 2577 with the 175's both from a 1:10 18.5" barrel. it is also great with 77's in 5.56. my new go-to powder for sure. didn't have any luck with the 155 tmk's though.

still have to confirm my 175 rdf load, just haven't had the time.

 

[wapiti16b]

Yep ! , I'm way behind you on the RDFs , I'm still waiting for them to arrive ( back order ) where did you get yours ?
In the meantime I'm using the BERGER 168 Hybrids I have on hand . Let me know about your RDF load when you can , BC between the two isn't all that great a difference !
What are you shooting ? , bolt or a gasser ? & what is the max COAL on your 168s & the RDFs . I've been using it for my LMT piston AR for bullet weights 69g- 77g also and for uniformity and ease of loading it can't be beat IMHO . I've loaded it for Sierra 155g Palmas and it was not as fast as some but the SDs I've seen are hard to match !
Thanks

 

[lte82]

I'm using 8208 for 223, 308, and 6brx with excellent results. Works well with lighter 108-123 gr bullets in 6.5 creedmoor too. It meters great too if you run a progressive press.

 

[squirrel_slayer]

Yep ! , I'm way behind you on the RDFs , I'm still waiting for them to arrive ( back order ) where did you get yours ?
In the meantime I'm using the BERGER 168 Hybrids I have on hand . Let me know about your RDF load when you can , BC between the two isn't all that great a difference !
What are you shooting ? , bolt or a gasser ? & what is the max COAL on your 168s & the RDFs . I've been using it for my LMT piston AR for bullet weights 69g- 77g also and for uniformity and ease of loading it can't be beat IMHO . I've loaded it for Sierra 155g Palmas and it was not as fast as some but the SDs I've seen are hard to match !
Thanks

shooting a savage bolt. has a douglas chromoly 1:10 finished at 18.5"

I haven't tried to find the lands with the rfd's as it was intended to be my mag length load. I was going to give the 225gr eld-m's a try with 2000mr and swap the barrel over to a long action that I started building but I had a nice .260 barrel fall in my lap so it's going on the long action.

I haven't had a chance to go back out with the rdf's and 210m's to do a seating depth test but with the br2's I was getting smaller groups with 42.1 and 42.7 being the nodes. however I tried 210m's and my es/sd was unreal. my 42.1gr load was actually es 0 and sd .1 but it shot over moa, the 42.7 was .61 moa but like I mentioned the es 1 sd .8 and I picked up 47fps is why I'm going that route. the br2's were 18-21 on the es and sd was 9-14

I'm using hornady match brass 2x (3x on the 210m loads) trimmed 2.005" neck sized
8208 xbr
175 rdf seated 2.860"

my 168 amax load was
1x-3x hornady match brass neck sized
43.3 8208 xbr
2.815"
br2
2630 ft/sec avg sd was 8 can't remember es off hand shot .39 moa

77gr 5.56
1x lc09
wolf srm
23.2gr 8208xbr
77 nosler CC 2.245"
light lee crimp

shoots 3/4 moa from a 14.5" larue stealth don't remember velocity but it was a 11-14 fps faster than black hills mk262 and my brass looks a lot better pressure wise than the BH has single digit sd. shoots great out to 600

even load 80gr 5.56
1x lc09
wolf srm
22.5 8208xbr
80 nosler cc 2.308 (in stainless asc mags)
light lee crimp

again don't have velocity figures on hand but it shoots the same drop at 600 as the 77's and is noticeably better in the wind. waiting for my suppressor before I finish that load development. I did work up to 23gr with no signs of pressure

I got my rdf's' from shooter pro shop cosmetic blemished on black friday

 

[squirrel_slayer]

I'm using 8208 for 223, 308, and 6brx with excellent results. Works well with lighter 108-123 gr bullets in 6.5 creedmoor too. It meters great too if you run a progressive press.

that's good to know. I want to build a 6brx and was hoping 8208xbr would work well. are you shooting 105's? I was planning on setting mine up around the 105 rdf

 

[BearNaked]

I'm running this in my 223 Bushy and works great. meters awesome. Just curious how it will work in a 260 rem. i know 4350 is the end-all powder so i cant find it anywhere.

 

[lte82]

that's good to know. I want to build a 6brx and was hoping 8208xbr would work well. are you shooting 105's? I was planning on setting mine up around the 105 rdf

I'm using 108s @ 2950 fps or so. Varget will get you a little more velocity but the accuracy is excellent with 8208.

 

[BlackFenix]

I have seen a lot of 8208xbr load data for 155 grain 308 but has anyone tried it for a 175 grain pill out of at least a 22" barrel? I am interested and have thought about trying it out instead of Varget.

 

[lte82]

I have seen a lot of 8208xbr load data for 155 grain 308 but has anyone tried it for a 175 grain pill out of at least a 22" barrel? I am interested and have thought about trying it out instead of Varget.

Yes. In a 24" bartlein I've been able to get 2700+ with a 175 but it was most accurate around 2630-2650. Start around 40-41 gr and work up.

 

[wapiti16b]

I'm running this in my 223 Bushy and works great. meters awesome. Just curious how it will work in a 260 rem. i know 4350 is the end-all powder so i cant find it anywhere.

I haven't loaded it for a 260 but if you can't find H4350 , try H4831SC for your 260 , works great !

 

[sierracharlie338]

I use XBR in my 223 bolt gun and 69 SMKs. It shoots lights out no doubt. Really impressed with its performance so far.

 

[Flyingbullseye]

I have seen a lot of 8208xbr load data for 155 grain 308 but has anyone tried it for a 175 grain pill out of at least a 22" barrel? I am interested and have thought about trying it out instead of Varget.

Used it on a 25in .308. Loaded 42.5g with the 175 smk at 2.800 COAL and was getting 2810fps. It grouped about 0.5-0.6 moa at best. Didn't play with it too much. Might when my 4064 jugs run out.

 

[Bull81]

Anyone ever tried any in 6.5x47? My stock of H4350 is running low and I can't find any, I have around 10lbs of 8208 and it readily available locally.

 

[wapiti16b]

Hodgdon is based on win brass and most likely 168 smk. Your brass would probably put you about a gr below their charge and your bullet is shaped different, less surface in the rifling. One working against you, the other might be in your favor. I'd get a velocity before going further. Mic the heads looking for a xpansion?

Finally got a few minutes to check the heads on my LAPUA brass for these 8208 loads and case head expansion is no more than any other loads I've done so far , checked new bras with 5x fired brass and measurements are exactly the same . I still plan on going another .3 grains above and getting some velocities for the middle OCW load I have so far and will post findings Saturday weather permitting .

 

[BearNaked]

I haven't loaded it for a 260 but if you can't find H4350 , try H4831SC for your 260 , works great !

That is another powder i was looking at. it is readily available here from what i can tell.

 

[BlackFenix]

Used it on a 25in .308. Loaded 42.5g with the 175 smk at 2.800 COAL and was getting 2810fps. It grouped about 0.5-0.6 moa at best. Didn't play with it too much. Might when my 4064 jugs run out.

Nice! I may have to give it a try. I was getting 2640 with 43.9 grains of Varget.

 

[Citius7]

use IMR 8208 XBR on the following:

6mm Dasher Norma: 26 inch 8 twist MullerWorks barrel, 80 grain Berger Flat Base .105 FB 31.5 grains goes 3105 fps SD of 9. less than half MOA. Also shoots a 105 Berger VLD Hunter at 2909 fps with 31.7 grains right at the lands and shoot better than the 80 grain bullets. LIGHTS OUT!

6.5 Grendel: 130gr. Berger AR 25.5 grains gets it to an unimpressive 2500~fps shot sub-MOA from a gas gun.

6x45: 18 inch Shilen Barrel, 25.5 grains, using 69 grain Berger High BC FB bullet goes a sweet 2800 fps and 3/4 MOA out to 300 yards.

5.56: Rock River Arms operator, 50 Grain V (or Z) Max bullet at 3000 fps using 25.8 grains shoots under 3/4 MOA out to 200 yards easy.

223 Wylde: Used on Rock Creek 8 twist (gain twist) 26 inch trainer for our TL3 build: will use 75 grain A-Max Hornady with 24.5 grains of XBR. COAL of 2.484: not shot yet.

An amazing powder!

 

[Flyingbullseye]

Nice! I may have to give it a try. I was getting 2640 with 43.9 grains of Varget.

You're welcome.

Same barrel I was getting 2680 with 41.7g of 4064. Never tried varget in that barrel, kind of wondered how it would do.

8208 XBR is good stuff. I kind of see it as a mini varget of sorts. Similar structure just smaller kernels, extremely temp stable with good accuracy and velocities.

 

[wapiti16b]

So far this is what I've come up with 44.4 g 8208XBR , FED 210 Match primers , BERGER 168g Hybrids , new LAPUA brass . I have about 60 rounds of this treated with HBN through the barrel so far .
ES of 19 & SD of 7 . Temperature was 34 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity was 42% with a light snow falling , elevation 5,200 ' .
MV measured by Magnetospeed averages out @ 2,750 fps .
Rifle is a 20" barreled FN SPR .

 

[wapiti16b]

P.S. , group was MOA @ 100 yards off bipod and bag with really cold hands . I hope it shrinks under more comfortable conditions ! , if not I'll start messing with seating depths .

 

[wapiti16b]

Please if anyone has any information about this powder and the NOSLER 175 RDFs share with us all , I'm torn between the BERGER 168 Hybrids & the 175 RDFs , also please include your elevation .
My range is @ 5,500'
Thanks !

 

[jtake]

42.2 8208, 175 smks, LC brass, Fed 210M primers. About 2700 fps out of my 24" AI AE III. Pretty consistently 0.5" at 100y, almost stupidly easy.

 

[supercorndogs]

I'm running this in my 223 Bushy and works great. meters awesome. Just curious how it will work in a 260 rem. i know 4350 is the end-all powder so i cant find it anywhere.

Have you tried 4831SC. It works well in the 6.5 Creedmore[mine to be specific]. I love 8208 for the 223 and 308, it would probably be good for light bullets in the .260.

 

[BearNaked]

Have you tried 4831SC. It works well in the 6.5 Creedmore[mine to be specific]. I love 8208 for the 223 and 308, it would probably be good for light bullets in the .260.

not yet. i dont have the barrel in just yet. maybe this summer. just trying to prepare for the materials i will need. I think i am going to look at a few different powders while i break in the rifle.

 

[r.tenorio671]

...8208XBR was what I could find at the time, here's the initial load test results, brass is 1x LC various years. AR platform using 16" Ballistic Advantage Hanson profile w/SLR Sentry AGB. This is my initial tests for pressure, FPS and grouping before the tweaking begins... Your Mileage WILL Vary..

 

[digrazir]

I like 8208 XBR for 155s. Varget or 4064 for 168s and heavier..Ray

 

[wapiti16b]

So far this is what I've come up with 44.4 g 8208XBR , FED 210 Match primers , BERGER 168g Hybrids , new LAPUA brass . I have about 60 rounds of this treated with HBN through the barrel so far .
ES of 19 & SD of 7 . Temperature was 34 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity was 42% with a light snow falling , elevation 5,200 ' .
MV measured by Magnetospeed averages out @ 2,750 fps .
Rifle is a 20" barreled FN SPR .

So , it's starting to warm up quite early for ABQ NM and possibly Wednesday I'll get a chance to compare loads in the predicted 78 degree weather !
I won't be able to blame my groups on cold hands this time , I just hope I don't find any pressure signs as I'm above max load according to HODGDON ! and do not want to pull any bullets .