8208 xbr in dillon xl650 for 223 precision ammo,,,expectations?

[rockwind1]

first off, full disclosure....no, i am not going to single stage load 223 ammo for an ar. i really would only prefer info on progressive loading and the powder measure effectiveness. yes, i am sure single stage loading would be more precision oriented.

i have been dabbling in "precision" ar's a bit lately, i have 2 with jp barrels 16" and 18" and am messing around with a thrid with a 20" criterion.

i can get 1/2 moa with corbon match 223 ammo (lapua brass/77 gr)

prime ammo 77 gr, is a close second, then fiochi, imi, magtech (also 77 gr) are all fairly good but the best, corbon and prime, are expensive. i should mention i did try fgmm 69 gr and it really sucked.

tried a bunch of hornady and others, one thing stood out and that is the 77 gr hollow point bullets all shot great.

onto my question. using the stock dillon powder measure with 8208 xbr, has anyone had good success with low es/sd? any tips.

using 1x fired lake city brass, fed primers, 8208 powder,

second question, actually i might put this in another thread to not be confusing.

 

[rwj]

If 8208 xbr is similar to Varget in terms of metering, expect powder charge weight variation to be +/- .1 grain. Higher if you let the powder level get low, not visible thru the plexiglass cylinder on the powder measure. I use AR ammo assembled on a progressive press for plinking... rarely check velocity...

 

[Ned Ludd]

8208 XBR has beautifully small kernels, about half the size of Varget, so metering should not be an issue at all. It is a very good powder for .223 Rem. I think you'll be very pleased with the results.

 

[Rsadams]

The Dillon powder thrower works great.... When doing .223 I size them on my single stage , run them through the tumbler to get the lube off etc , trim and do all the work that needs to be done on the brass , then use the Dillon to drop powder , seat bullets and crimp.....

 

[wboggs]

The Dillon powder measure is very good. It is as accurate as my Harrell. Just weigh the first 5.or so charges
It may settle to the correct one on the second or third cycle. If you make adjustments or change something weigh the next two. I was surprised at how accurate it is

 

[RampedRaptor]

I load my 223 precision rounds on a 650.

8208 meters fantastic. It’d be atypical to see any set of charges with a ES of more than 0.1. Most the time it’s right on. Need to be consistent with your handle pull and I like a 2 -3 sec pause on the end of up and down stroke.

 

[F Class John]

Not sure if this helps but back in the day when I was using a progressive for much the same reason I removed the actual powder measure and modified a powder funnel on top of a Dillon powder measure adapter. Then I ran a digital powder throw and manually dumped during the progressive process. It still kept it plenty fast and far or accurately consistent. You have to order the piece that Dillon uses so an RCBS powder measure can be added. Doing it the way you see in the photo means there’s no threads exposed where powder can get hung up.

 

[akajun]

It meters beautifully , way better than varget or rl15 in my 550.
I use this powder to load the ammo for myself and my Jr highpower team. 23.1 to 23.2 gr behind a 77 nosler/Sierra/ Berger or hornady 75 all shoot the same poa, and are sub moa loads out of a NM AR with mixed Hs brass.
Btw I’ve been shooting a lot of 9x cleans , a 10x clean as well lately in rapids and cleaned the 600yd reduced 200 target the other day with 14x. Yeah thAt load shoots.

 

[rockwind1]

It meters beautifully , way better than varget or rl15 in my 550.
I use this powder to load the ammo for myself and my Jr highpower team. 23.1 to 23.2 gr behind a 77 nosler/Sierra/ Berger or hornady 75 all shoot the same poa, and are sub moa loads out of a NM AR with mixed Hs brass.
Btw I’ve been shooting a lot of 9x cleans , a 10x clean as well lately in rapids and cleaned the 600yd reduced 200 target the other day with 14x. Yeah thAt load shoots.

thanks!

 

[1lnbrdg]

I ran a check with several different extruded powders once on the Dillon and again on a RCBS, 50 throws with each.

Varget .7 +/- for either
H-4895 .6 +/- for either
IMR-8208 .4 +/- for either

Saying that, either measure with those 3 powders would throw consistently enough shoot cleans with a service rifle at 300 yds, fairly forgiving target as far as accuracy goes. Precision of the shooter, that's a different story . . . .

 

[Nature Boy]

I did these calculations with my 650 a few weeks ago:

Powder was H4895
Scale was an A&D FX 120i (0.02g resolution)
Population = 15
High = 26.06g
Low = 25.74g
Sample SD = 0.0979
Mean AVG = 25.89g

99% confidence level = 25.83g - 25.96g

 

[Reloading Guy]

Using standard metering with a good stick powder, I think one can expect SD to range from 15-25. Doing precise loads, with similar case capacity brass, and Gempr0250 style individual same grain loads, with quality bullets all weighing the same, with a quality BR primer, one can expect SD using same stick powder under 10. The difference between 10 and 20 SD? Not much until your at decent range. I would estimate based on experience, you can do significantly smaller group size averages using precise method than metering anything, even on a Dillon. (Speaking rifle only). IF your OK with ~.8-1" groups at 100 yards using a match quality AR, then metering is great. If you want .5-.7 size groups at 100, precise method is better.

 

[Zero333]

Small stick powder diviates up to 0.4 gr going through the xl650 powder throw. Tho most of it is within 0.3 gr

I just use W-748 through the Dillon powder dispenser for 223r and 308w. Accuracy is superb and flows like water through the dispenser.

Problem solved.

 

[karrarararararar]

Shot some 80 smks with 23.2 grains 8208 that were loaded on my lock n load. I'm pretty happy with how well they shot

 

[ToddKS]

If I were going to load 223 with 77gr bullets on a Dillon 650 I would run a ball powder. I have had good luck with AA2520 in 223 with 77gr SMK's but that powder is temp sensitive in my experience. I load to a lower node for that reason.

 

[karrarararararar]

These were loaded on my lock n load earlier today. Avg/std Dev./ES

 

[Nature Boy]

If I were going to load 223 with 77gr bullets on a Dillon 650 I would run a ball powder. I have had good luck with AA2520 in 223 with 77gr SMK's but that powder is temp sensitive in my experience. I load to a lower node for that reason.

Varget works if you don’t try to go too fast

 

[Twdmar]

8208 meters well enough thru the Dillon meausre that you dont have to worry about it for shooting anything the size of the 10 ring on a highpower target.
Of you want you can polish the bottome of the hoppers, square up the powder bar very lightly, polish the powder funnels and try to be consistent in your manipulation of the handle on the press. I also attach an aquarium bubbler to the powder measure to vibrate the powder down and leave the case up in the powder die a second or two. Finally as the shellplate travels down put your left hand along the side of the shellplate so it doesnt jump around and shake powder out of the case mouth

 

[rwj]

Finally as the shellplate travels down put your left hand along the side of the shellplate so it doesnt jump around and shake powder out of the case mouth

You can also cut one or two coils from the shell plate ball detention spring...

 

[Twdmar]

You can also cut one or two coils from the shell plate ball detention spring...

I have not tried that. I did put that plastic detent ball which seems a tad smoother though