Opinions on IMR 8208 XBR consistancy?

[1KBR]

When 8208 XBR first came out, it was touted as being the powder of the future, was going to be awesome etc etc. Now it has been out for a while, has any one found any problems with it? Ive heard that it can be accurate if you space your shots apart consistantly, but if you wait out a change, or start a new target with one, it takes a while to settle down. Has anyone found this. How about temperature sensitivity? It was supposed to be totaly temp sensitive, have people found this?
I intend to try it out in 308/155gn and 6BR/95gn.

 

[oldman570]

I've been reloading the XDR8208 powder in 308 and have had good results with it. The powder is made mainly for smaller caliber guns and as far as the temp goes I haven't had any trouble with it so far.
I've loaded the 308 with 165,175, and 180 GRN. bullets and worked up loads for them with real good results. 100 yd - 5 Rd's. touching, 200 yd. 1.5MIA, 300yd. 4.0MIA, 400 yd. 6.0MIA. Sighted Tika T3 308 MT with Vortex 4x16 PST scope off bench @200yd zero.
Tried it in 30-06 Sako and give up on that after talking to tech at Hornady. Was told that could only load up to 165 gran. bullets as test showed to high chamber pressure. I tried everything from 110 gran to 165 gran. bullets and couldn't get any to group less than 4"@100yd. in the 30-06.
As far as I can see the XBR8208 powder will work as good as any other if the gun likes it. I plan on trying to find a loads using it in 222 Rem. for another Sako that I own, as I like to tinker with reloads and get the most accurate load I can for them. It sure PI-S the other guys, at the range, off when I get the 308 out and hit the 6 in. bull @ 400 with the first 5 shots. Of course diffrent guns like diffrent things, and not all will shoot the same. You have to Tinker till you find out just what the gun likes.
I'd try the 165 gran bullet out first in the 308, and temp didn't bother as I have shot it in IL. durning July and in the end of October as well with the same results.

XBR8208 seems fine with me,
Oldman570

 

[82boy]

I have shot a lot of it in a 6 PPC, I found it to group well. In BR we have a tendency to shoot fast when conditions are switch, I found that it holds groups well under fast fire. I have shot score with it, and found that it holds zero, hitting the center of different targets every time. I usually clean after every 10 rounds, and found that from first shot to last shot it hit the same POA. I found it to be sensitive to temp, the load needs tuned as temp's change, but like any powder. I will say that this new powder shares nothing in common with the old IMR 8208, The old stuff is a lot hotter. I would say that it is closer to burn rate to 4895. This new stuff you cant get enough in a PPC case to cause pressure, now try that with the old 8208 and you will get in trouble fast. I have found that it burns dirtier than other powders. It shoots well, but it just don't have the edge that N133 has, so that is why I don't shoot it.

 

[Heavies]

I have tried 3 different lots since the new powder came out. The first mix of the line seemed slightly faster than that of the next. However, just as accurate for me in my 6mmbr using 95-107 projectiles.
The third lot of powder is the same as the second, I did not need to change a thing. The powder burns very clean for me. I changed from RL15 and Varget because of the consistency and temp stability of this powder.

I have done a quick workup in my brother's .308 PSS which was very accurate and consistent results using this powder with 155 AMAXs @ 100 yrds.
I am working right now on a load for my new .308 with 155SMK palmas, I hope to use this for 600 to 1K F-class. So far I am seeing good results. I want to get some chrono numbers today, this will help me make my decision.

 

[jo191145]

I have some from the first commercial batch/lot. Not the expierimental stuff but the first lot available to consumers.

Personally I've found every problem you mentioned to be true.
In "limited testing" subfreezing weather my PPC shot zeros and ones easily with a huge node to take advantage of. I was thrilled.
Put it away until spring and I never found that node again. Nor any other reliable node for that matter.
Throughout my testing in warmer weather I could'nt help but notice any pause in firing would result in flyers. Takes 2-3 shots before it will settle in to a tight group again. Not my cup of tea.

I noticed while cleaning the barrel the last dry patch always feels sticky in the bore. Other, more expierienced shooters have noticed the same thing and coined the term "made with little green army men".
It does feel like the bores fouled with plastic.
Too many additives to bring a certain batch of powder into spec? I don't know. It is a strange green color ;D

I watched with dismay as my Kreiger 308W Palma barrel climbed 200+fps as I was steadily reducing the charge during the last 20 rds of testing. Screwed the lid on pretty tight after that.

Oddly enough I'm gonna try it again in a 204R 11 twist "yard gun" I'm building.
Why?
Well no sense getting it right the first time and maybe, just maybe it'll work. Its been well over a year since the caps been off that jug and nobody at the club wants it. I'll try again one more time.

I can honestly say this. Its no miracle powder.

 

[Shynloco]

1KBR,
From personal experience, this past summer I can tell you I found very good performance similar to what HEAVIES found with IMR 8082XBR pushing 168's and 175 in my .308. I tried using 155 Palmas but the results were terrible, but that was the same with RE15/Varget/VVN150 & 160. My 1:10 barrel just doesn't like 155 Palmas. But I've also used 8082 XBR in my .223 Model 12 Target rifle also and had good results as well. SO I think its a good powder, but like anything, all other factors of reloading (bullet, seating depth and # grs) have to match up as well for YOUR PARTICULAR RIFLE to get that ultimate accuracy, which is what I seek in all of my rifles.

 

[amamnn]

Re: Opinions on IMR 8208 XBR consistency?

From what I have read of posts on Benchrest.com the powder seems to have a serious lot to lot variance between the experimental lots and the commercial lots, at least when used in the 6PPC. I bought a couple of pounds shortly after it was made available to us mere mortals. Hodgon began listing loads for the .223 rem. and oddly, it seemed to me, the .243 WSSM. I happen to shoot both. When the 8028 loaded in my 6 BR did not exhibit any improvement over my regular N-135, I tried the 8028 in the other cartridges. It worked quite well for me, though it seemed to be sensitive to large changes in humidity, which can happen in my area..

 

[Heavies]

Worked up to 3150 FPS with this 8208 and 155 SMK Palmas, with just slight primer flattening. 30" Bartlien 5r, Barnard S action. Wow!

 

[ar15topgun]

Lot numbers of the powder you are refering to would be very helpful to others considering this powder. Thanks.