Anyone use XBR 8208 with heavy 223 bullets (80 grain)

[icker96]

I have a Savage 223 with an Apache Gunworks heavy contour 26", 1:7 twist barrel. I will be shooting 80gr Nosler Custom Competition loaded to about 1.930 ogive length. I have a ladder of bullets loaded with TAC that I am going to try, but I would also like to try the XBR 8208 since I have a lot of it, and I really like it in my AR with lighter bullets.

The only published load data I can find is on the Hodgon site. My Nosler book does not list it for the 80gr. The Hodgdon site shows load data for the Sierra MK from 19.0-21.0. That seems awful light to me. I was expecting loads to be in the 23-24 grain range.

Anyone have experience with this powder with the heavier bullets?

[Texas10]

FWIW: Last week I shot 69 gr SMKs with 23.6 grains of 8208XBR, pretty close to max load (24.0) in my 26", 9 twist 223 model 12 producing 2950 fps. Shot extremely well at 750 yds, but that's about the end of it's range at that velocity. Hardly moved the steel at all.

[Mozella]

.......... snip...........Anyone have experience with this powder with the heavier bullets?
I shoot a .223 F/TR gun at 600 yards. I built it with a Savage Target left port action, a 26" Shilen match select barrel, 1:7 twist, on a McMillan stock.

The smallest five-shot group fired (so far) out of this rifle was a MOA of 0.167 @ 100 yards using Berger VLD 80gr bullets and 21.05 gr IMR 8208 XBR. This load nearly always shoots better than .400 MOA and has a muzzle velocity of around 2545 fps.

However, in competition I normally shoot these 80gr Bergers with Vihtavuori N-140 at around 2725 fps with smaller average 5 shot groups and a much better SD. The best 5-shot group with the VV is 0.183; not as good as with the IMR 8208 XBR, but the averages are quite a bit tighter.

[icker96]

Thanks for the replies. I made it out to the range today and shot some initial groups with TAC and XBR 8208. Both showed promise and I will test further. First 5 targets in picture starting top left and going across then down) are TAC 6-shot groups. Next 5 targets are XBR 4-shot groups

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160216/e1291ce5fe0e472a1053fdb50507e493.jpg

[Topsail]

23.2 gr 8208 is popular with High Power shooters for both 77 and 80 gr.

[adammiddagh]

When i had my ar. 77gr cust comps liked 22.7 gr.

The 1/4 mile 8" gong was a no miss target with them.

off the top of my head, i think i was getting .4-.6 moa.

Nordic components 18" rlgas 1:8.5" twist.

[geezerhood]

icker96, I tried to send you a private message but your PM in box is full - you need to delete some messages, or just click on my name and send me an email.

Thanks

Don

[Bill C]

I personally do not. However when I was searching for a varget replacement it was 8208 vs AR comp.

So, I posted a thread on the national match forum asking about each powder and 8208 was definitely the most popular. The folks over there had lots of pet loads using every bullet out there.

Bill

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk