Hi all I’m a commercial shooter running a howa 26” ss 223AI and due to the drought in ammo supplies in Australia I’ve had to change from my usual load of 27.4gns of benchmark 2 with nosler 55gn BT. All I’ve been able to get a large amount of is ADI 8208 and have had to go to Speer 52gn hp as the is literally nothing available in BT in over a 100pack. Anyone had any experience with the 52’s and 8208 in an AI?? Any load suggestions? I can’t even find a start load for ADI 8208 for an AI
223 AI 8208 52gn Speer HP loading
- Thread starter Ozshot
- Start date
With the 8208 being a slower powder I would start with that charge that you used with benchmark 2 and work up to around 28 to 28.5 but use caution
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
I shoot a 22/204 Ruger which has similar capacity as the 223 AI....similar. My load is 29.2g of xbr 8208 with a 55g at 3700 fps and amazing accuracy.
Ozshot, use a thick cup primer if you have any.
Use caution, with the 223 AI with the 8208, you are going to have a case full of powder and you may have to use a long drop tube funnel.
Ozshot, use a thick cup primer if you have any.
Use caution, with the 223 AI with the 8208, you are going to have a case full of powder and you may have to use a long drop tube funnel.
Wow thanks for the great responses,I very much appreciate it!! we are all over the shop with primers too. I religiously used REM 7 1/2 but you can’t get them here anymore, tried fiocchi but found they didn’t like the AI loads and so am just settling between federal match and CCI 400s as that’s all I could come across. Do you guys have a preference between those primers?
Ozshot, just changed to ~25gr of 8208 pushing my favorite 50gr BT's in a suppressed 223 Rem Model7 and the results look quite promising. Ran a few Speer 52gr pills for shits and giggles but groups were very disappointing.
For years have only used 2207 at 23.7gr but the case fill % is higher with 8206.
Still more work to do with 8208 but first impressions are I'll be staying with it.
Oh, and using Hornady brass and LCD neck sizing. CCI primers are also part of the current recipe.
For years have only used 2207 at 23.7gr but the case fill % is higher with 8206.
Still more work to do with 8208 but first impressions are I'll be staying with it.
Oh, and using Hornady brass and LCD neck sizing. CCI primers are also part of the current recipe.
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
The CCI 400s are a thinner cup primer (0.020") vs the Rem 7 1/2 of 0.025". So you are going to see primer deformation at lower pressure.
Unless you are running nuclear loads, I would just use the primer that groups better. I had stellar accuracy from the Speer 52 HP years ago. Good luck !
Paul
Paul
All the things I’ve read seem to suggest you either love or hate the 52’s! I haven’t had much experience with under 55’s and interested to see how they handle the wind over 2-300yards I wish I could still get the 7 1/2’s I’d never had issues before I had to change. I’m using once fired Winchester and military brass and fire forming from there
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