8208 XBR is nice!

[jscandale]

I recently read many posts about 8208 being a great choice. The manufacturers website touts it as the "dream powder". So far, I cannot disagree. I tested some at the range today with the 6mm WOA Improved in an AR match rifle, and I was very satisfied with its performance so far. It is a small kernel and meters very very well. The case capacity is 37 gr of H2O and with 29.5 grains of powder, I can slightly hear powder shake inside the loaded case. At 30.0 grains, no more shaking, so anything more would be a compressed charge which I am not particularly fond of.

I loaded 5 rounds of 5 different charge weights from 28.0 to 30.0 in .5 gr increments behind a Sierra 107. Average velocity for the 29.5 gr load was 2865 fps with an astounding extreme spread of 7 fps. 30.0 grains was just a bit hot resulting in slight extractor marks in the brass but did yield 2904 fps. I was very pleased with the extreme spreads of all of the charges. So far, I can say that 8208 has fulfilled my expectation and may very well be the "dream powder" after all. ;D

JS

 

[40X Guy]

Awesome powder in my .308 with lite bullets, very lo ES and SD numbers.

Frank

 

[rcw3]

I cannot speak as to results with it in the 308 Win, but in a variety of 6mm AR uppers (6mmAR and Turbo 40) I found the powder to be a little too fast in burn rate and not able to (without undue pressure) to perform as well as powders like H4895, RL15, N540, etc. It was originally targeted by Hodgdon as a powder suitable for short range bench rest shooting, an N133 replacement, and it is, but N133 runs a bit faster in burn rate than the other powders I mentioned. I found that it shoots great and gives ES and SD numbers that are good as well, but with the heavy bullets (105-108 gr) it seemed like the pressure curve on it went up fast (i.e. higher chamber pressure) and dropped off faster down the barrel. Sometimes when I read of results by others I also wonder whether there is a fair amount of lot to lot variation, since the 8lb jug I have does not seem to respond in the same way as some others find the powder to be. My jug seems to be right around an N133 burn rate.

Robert

 

[Laurie]

It was originally targeted by Hodgdon as a powder suitable for short range bench rest shooting, an N133 replacement, and it is, but N133 runs a bit faster in burn rate than the other powders I mentioned.

I asked a friend who competed in last summer's World BR Championships in France if anybody used 8208, but apparently not, or if not at all, there very few and none of them in the top placings. It seems N133 still rules in this discipline so far.

We've only recently received it in any quantity here in the UK and I'm looking forward to giving it a try in 6PPC and .308W / 155-175 next year. The temperature stability issue is much less of an issue than in US BR matches, so much so that many competitors now use pre-loaded ammunition, or pre-weighed charges if loading on the firing point. We rarely if ever have to adjust charge weights to suit big differences in ambient temperatures.

 

[jscandale]

It was originally targeted by Hodgdon as a powder suitable for short range bench rest shooting, an N133 replacement, and it is, but N133 runs a bit faster in burn rate than the other powders I mentioned.

I asked a friend who competed in last summer's World BR Championships in France if anybody used 8208, but apparently not, or if not at all, there very few and none of them in the top placings. It seems N133 still rules in this discipline so far.

If I'm not mistaken, 8208 only hit the US market this year, I think. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

JS

 

[NateG]

I think it arrived at the beginning of last season. I used it this year in just about everything, and last year (2010), I got a couple pounds at Perry to experiment with.

 

[rcw3]

Late 2009, but not really widely available until early 2010. Here's the release info on it:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/10/hodgdon-releases-impressive-new-imr-8208-xbr-powder/

 

[amamnn]

You can find posts of results experienced by REAL BR shooters at benchrest.com. They are not the same as the claims by the manufacturer.

 

[jscandale]

You can find posts of results experienced by REAL BR shooters at benchrest.com. They are not the same as the claims by the manufacturer.

What do the bonified br shooters say about it?

JS

 

[lpreddick]

52 gr fowlers and 8208 in my 223 ackley punches one hole! same bullet and powder(less charge) in a les baer custom ar and another small hole! great powder!

 

[rcw3]

FWIW - I don't think there's anything wrong with the powder, but it's not an ideal powder (burn rate wise) for a cartridge with a smaller case capacity using heavy bullets where some of the powders a little slower that it (RL15, H4895, N540, Varget) can work and fit. Great powder with lighter bullets in .223, 6PPC, 308, 6BR, etc.
Robert

 

[racesnake]

I tried it in my 308 tac rifle with 155 Berger VLD's. It performed wonderfully in the 2750-2800 fps range. I had one 5 shot group the measured 0.206" with an ES of 2fps!. However, when I increased the powder charge, groups opened and pressure signs went up dramatically. I'm guessing that it would be an excellent powder for the 223, which it was probably designed for.

 

[NateG]

FWIW - I don't think there's anything wrong with the powder, but it's not an ideal powder (burn rate wise) for a cartridge with a smaller case capacity using heavy bullets where some of the powders a little slower that it (RL15, H4895, N540, Varget) can work and fit. Great powder with lighter bullets in .223, 6PPC, 308, 6BR, etc.
Robert

I agree with you completely that it's well faster-than-ideal. Anything that was originally hyped for use in the 6PPC by benchresters is going to be fast compared to the normal HP powders... it's just that it works quite well with palma and HP loads. But you'll certainly get no argument out of me (or anyone else, I suspect) that it's on the fast side.

 

[spclark]

I agree with everything said so far on IMR'S 8208 XBR, I'm using it for Palma, long & mid-range and OTC shooting in my 6RAT. Surprisingly it's superb in 6XC behind Berger's 105VLD out to 1,200 yards. N540's great stuff - my #2 choice in fact - but at the current price I won't be using what I have sitting in storage anytime soon.

 

[in2deep]

Curious how accurately does this powder drop from a powder measure compared to N-133 etc. and what shape are the kernels?
Thanks.

 

[jscandale]

Curious how accurately does this powder drop from a powder measure compared to N-133 etc. and what shape are the kernels?
Thanks.

The powder meters very nicely! the Kernels look like N540 but the diameter seems to be a bit smaller.

JS

 

[justinp61]

Has anyone loaded it in a 22-250?

 

[racesnake]

spclark...what's the powder chg that you are using in your 6xc behind the 105 smk's? I would like to try it in mine.

 

[spclark]

Check your PM racesnake - I'd rather not post load info (that's safe in my rifle) for general viewing.