8208 in 20 practical

[BradY]

Have recently had Benchmark 8208 released here in Australia. Im of the understanding its the same as IMR8208.

Anyway I got a bottle and have been trying it out in the 20 practical.

I started at 25gr of powder since I have a load with benchmark (Benchmark 2 for us) at that weight and the 8208 is slower burning. 25gr and 25.5gr were mild and accuracy was about 1/2MOA. I then loaded 26gr of powder in my 223 remington brand cases necked down to 20 cal, cci 450 primers and 39gr sierra blitzkings, and chrono'd the load to run around 3880fps in my 24" 12 twist lothar walther barrel.

Previously I was using 23.6gr of reloader 10x for around 3750fps and got pressure signs in warm weather. Also used 25gr of Benchmark which was a bit milder. But this new load shoots faster, hits harder and drops very little- plus there are no pressure signs at all- could keep going but staying with what is accurate- 1/3MOA for 3 shots which is good because I rarely get extra shots at nervous rabbits and foxes . Rabbits this afternoon were being thrown everywhere when the little green tipped pieces of fury hit them.

In my remington 223 with 8 twist krieger I usually load 26.5gr of benchmark in lapua cases and 50gr nosler BT's but I think I have enough powder for 20 or so more reloads before I work up a new one with this new powder.

I predict this summer its going to be hard to choose which one comes out shooting!

Please note all loads listed are worked up in my rifles and may not be safe in yours. Read hodgdon or ADI reload data and work up from minimum in your own rifles.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I have getting very good speed and accuracy in my 20-222 with IMR 8208 and 32 Gr. Blitzkings.

 

[BradY]

Yes it appears to be a great small case varmint powder. Going to try it in a friends 17 fireball in a couple of weeks.

 

[WillinDenver]

I use 2 different loads using IMR 8208 XBR. The first is 26 grains and the Hornady 32 VMax, that gives me around 3,850 fps, near one hole at 100 yards, and not HOT. The second is a little less 25.5 grains, same bullet, but around 3,750 fps, and close to one hole.

I've shot many hundreds of prairie dogs with both loads, most using LC cases and Small Federal cases. If you don't know the Small Federal cases were the crimped in primer case made for the military. I did try some of my friends loads using the same data and Winchester brass but only showed around 30 fps difference (lower).

I have shot some HOTTER one's, no real reason to, using Benchmark, AA2015, and Ramshot TAC.

I like my 20 Practical, I wrote an article about it in the Varmint Hunter Mag #80.

 

[BradY]

They are a great round thats for sure. Ive never bothered with light bullets in it though- ballistically the 39gr sierra eats everything else for dinner that will stabilise in a 12 twist. They are perfect for foxes that we shoot here as well as feral cats and rabbits.