8208 XBR

[James EPS]

I am wanting know if anyone uses 8208 XBR and what cals it works best in for benchrest accuracy, real world information please.

Thanks

 

[GSPV]

I use it in a 6BR behind the Berger 87 grain hunting VLD. I like it *a lot*. I've done well with it in the last two matchs. It's pretty clean. It meters great in my ChargeMaster.

Some guys are using it in a 6PPC, but it didn't seem to quite catch on there. The first batch was right, the later are too slow for the PPC.

 

[James EPS]

How temp sensitive is it? Will a load hold accurate during normal temps?

 

[lpreddick]

the best i'v tried in a 223 lbc varmint shooting 52 gr fowlers. great in my 223 ackley,2 gr more than the 223 with same bullet.

 

[SmokinJoe]

To add a little about temp sensitivity, it is supposed to be similar to the Hodgdon Extreme powders. I have used 8208 in 223, 223AI, 204 Ruger & 6BR all with good results.

 

[GSPV]

I haven't conducted an all out experiment to determine the temperature function. I've shot it in two matches. I can't speak to temperature sensitivity in the benchrest context. It certainly didn't go to heck in a handbasket, though. I finished third in the first match, 6th in the second (shooting VERY conservatively).

I loaded <yadda> grains, started with the bullets kissing the lands and shot it. All that I've changed is tweaked the seating depth to be 5 thou into the lands. It's done so well that I've seen no reason to change anything. Edit: Per Forum Boss request, I'm deleting the weight of the throw. It's in a 6BR, 87 grain Berger VLD Hunting, Federal 205M primer. See the Hodgdon site for a starting point with similar *weight* bullets.

It chrono-ed 3096 for me. Low extreme spread. That's naked bullets, 205M primers, once fired gold box Lapua brass with a 269 bushing. That's not much tension. Might not work after a couple of firings in my no-turn neck.

My only gripe is that I'm not at 100% case fill. I might try coating bullets to try to get closer.

As always, Your Pressure May Vary. Start low and proceed with caution.

 

[Steve Blair]

I've used it in 6BR with Berger 105 Hybrids. It shot very well, but this barrel likes H4895 better. It is outstanding in .308 with 155-class bullets. My 26" tactical rifle gets 2990 fps with Berger 155.5 FULLBORE bullets. Brilliant accuracy, low ES and no noticeable temperature change.

 

[spclark]

I'm using it for Palma w/Berger's 155 Hybrid & love it. Also in 6XC for mid- and long-range with Berger's 105VLD & a little with their 105 Hybrid. Very good accuracy.

As for temp sensitivity: this past June at Midwest Palma I shot with it all week w/ load confirmed earlier in April. Initial testing was at ~ 45 F, June matches saw temps 90 & above. Had no issues whatsoever.

Admittedly Palma's NOT benchrest, but from what I've seen I wouldn't hesitate to give it a good tryout.

Some of our highpower juniors used 223 ammo loaded with it for the season just passed & did very well too.

Some folks were wary of my using it in 6XC soon after it was made available for testing. The comment that first batch was faster may be telling; my first lot (1 lb's) was consistent with the next two (8's) & if it'd been any faster likely I'd have had some trouble. Meters well in Harrel's measure, case volumes will usually be much less than with other propellants so avoid thoughts of "just a little more won't hurt" 'cause it might....

 

[Forum Boss]

It is outstanding in .308 with 155-class bullets. My 26" tactical rifle gets 2990 fps with Berger 155.5 FULLBORE bullets. Brilliant accuracy, low ES and no noticeable temperature change.

+1 on this. Our "master fabricator" Mark switched from Varget to 8208 in his tactical .308 tubegun shooting 155.5gr Bergers. Just as sleepgator says... with 8208 Mark gets more velocity than Varget, very low ES, very tight vertical and no reduction of accuracy. Mark is very happy with the 8208 in his .308 Win.

 

[Laurie]

It is outstanding in .308 with 155-class bullets. [Sleepygator]

as per Steve and Forum Boss's remarks. I've managed to coax nearly 2,900 fps out of a 22-inch factory barrel Howa 1500 I'm developing as an 'affordable F/TR rifle', alongside almost as good groups as I've seen with any other 308W suitable powder. This is in RUAG/RWS (ex NRA of GB TR ammunition) brass which is similar weight / capacity-wise to Lapua.

I've kept looking to see pressure problems as I just can't believe the velocities are being produced safely, but so far everything seems hunkey-dorey. That's 100-150 fps more than works well or safely with other powders and 155s in this rifle.

It's an interesting and very useful powder, but I've yet to hear of any GB or European BR shooter whose switched to it from Viht N133 in the 6PPC yet.

Temperature induced pressure variations are only rarely an issue for us in the UK, so I can't comment on this aspect.

 

[Blaster-37]

Donovan,
Quality interesting information, thank you.
Have you tried a variable time with the round in the chamber before firing? It concerns me when the wind starts to change with a fresh round in the chamber. You can't back out if you are on the lands and have to shoot through it with a sick feeling in your stomach. If you wait, it will make a sure vertical flier with most powders . This attracts me to the 8208 temp stability.
Sally Bauer's record load with 8208 made me set up and pay attention to all the aspects, http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/09/sally-bauer-sets-pending-ibs-1000-yard-hg-score-record/
Greg

 

[Bradley Walker]

Greg -

The XBR8208 impresses me as well. Very predictable, high energy, and nice density.

I cooled the cold rounds at 8-F for 4-hours and then brought them up to 28-F for 1 more hour.
The hot rounds I warmed to 140-F for 4-hours and and then brought them down to 116-F for 1 more hour.
This assures the ammo to be tested are truly cold & hot, through and through.

I use an ice packed cooler and a warmer. I then only remove the ammo a few seconds before firing each round. I use a temperature gun to read the barrel and only fire the test rounds at equal barrel temps, and firing each round immediately (with in 5-seconds) of chambering them.
Sort to speak, with in 10-seconds from grabbing a round from the cooler or warmer, it is chambered and fired. Then monitoring the barrel tells me when to fire the next round to be tested.

Happy Shooting
Donovan Moran

Dang man.... What a cool test... That is some real good work there brother...

 

[Blaster-37]

Greg -

The XBR8208 impresses me as well. Very predictable, high energy, and nice density.

I cooled the cold rounds at 8-F for 4-hours and then brought them up to 28-F for 1 more hour.
The hot rounds I warmed to 140-F for 4-hours and and then brought them down to 116-F for 1 more hour.
This assures the ammo to be tested are truly cold & hot, through and through.

I use an ice packed cooler and a warmer. I then only remove the ammo a few seconds before firing each round. I use a temperature gun to read the barrel and only fire the test rounds at equal barrel temps, and firing each round immediately (with in 5-seconds) of chambering them.
Sort to speak, with in 10-seconds from grabbing a round from the cooler or warmer, it is chambered and fired. Then monitoring the barrel tells me when to fire the next round to be tested.

Happy Shooting
Donovan Moran

Thanx Donovan.
I did the cooler/warmer thing with the V V powders. I will test 8208 against 4895 and RL15 this winter. If I find a glitch, i'll let you know.
Greg

 

[Forum Boss]

Donovan -- Very interesting data. Would like to chat with you about releasing these results, with your permission. Please PM Forum Boss.

 

[1shot]

Has anyone tested it in the 308 with 185 class bullets?
Lloyd

 

[spclark]

Has anyone tested it in the 308 with 185 class bullets?

Yeah I tried it with 185SMK's in a 1:11 twist, my older Palma rifle. I never really gave it much of a wringing out, preferring instead either N550 or H4895 behind Berger's 185 Hybrid or LRBT/Juggernaut.

On a side note - anybody else have a chance to look at Berger's latest website? Attractive, easy to find data & there's a cool new "twist rate calculator' on the bullet spec pages.

 

[waterdog]

Great test, Donavan...Thanks for sharing the results with us.

I too, am impressed with 8208XBR. It seems to do well with a wide range of bullet weights in a BR as well as a BRX. Have done some work with it with in my 6 x 47 Lapua with 87gr and less weight bullets and the results look promising.

Used it in my 6BR with 105 Hybrids to win the last 600yd Light Varmint match at Piedmont with a 2.053 agg. This stuff works. James Coffey has also used it in his 22BR to win some at Piedmont..We are sold on it.

Larry Isenhour

 

[Dave T]

I've used 8208XBR in my 22-250 in our club matches and it doesn't fill the cases but is very accurate in my gun.
Dave T

 

[johara1]

Donovan, Your the man .....Hope to see in Jan. jim

 

[big bad bill]

8208 XBR is my favorite powder for the 6PPC since I shoot in the summer and winter. The LV Lilja 14T, 3g likes 28.9g for the Berger or Bart 68s and 29.5 for the Column. An HV shoots best with 28.7g for the 68s and 29.3 for the Column.
Bill