IMR 8208 XBR Powder

[Rifleman51]

I have tried this new powder in my .223 and found that it has given me the best accuracy with the 69 grn MK bullets.

It was an old match powder that IMR stopped making some years ago and brought back not too long ago.

For the smaller cartridges, it's really worth trying.

The new Hodgdon 2010 annual reloading manuel has devoted a lot of pages to this new powder.
If you have not tried it yet, you may want to. It's for the smaller cartridges. It says it can be used with light bullets in the .308, but I have not tried this yet.
Good stuff.
John K

[GaCop]

Looks like I'll be picking up a pound to try in my 223.

[shovelheadave]

Looks like I'll be picking up a pound to try in my 223.


was thinking the same thing.

[82boy]

Many have reported the new 8208XBR to work great in the 223 Cartridges. Please don't confuse it with the old 8208 because the two powders are as different as night and day. The old 8208 was mil surplus powder most of it coming out of pulled shells, many was 223's, or purchased from the military. IMR never made the powder they just sold it, (This was how Hodgdon got their start, buying mil surplus powder and reselling it) when the military supply dried up they ran out of product to sell. I do know that Bruno's does have a small bit of this powder left.

The new 8208XBR was developed at the request and funding of benchrest shooters. It was tested by select shooters before it was offered to the public. It did well at the supershoot. I have shot a lot of the new 8208XBR, and some of the old 8208 in a 6PPC. My finding is in the PPC you can not get enough new 82008XBR in the case to have a pressure problem, the old 8208 I could not do the same, I was getting sticky bolt lift with 2 grs less powder. It is hard to find a burn rate chart that list both powders, but I remember when 8208XBR came out seeing that it was just under 4895, and the old 8208 was hotter listing it above H322.

I have talked to a few shooters that have shot 8208XBR in other calibers, and many complain that it burns dirty. (In my testing I have not see this.) Many shooters have also reported the powder works well in the 6mm BR. I have found that in the PPC 8208XBR shoots good, but it does not hold the accuracy that N133 does. I would also HIGHLY recamend N133 powder to use in a 223, I have had excellent luck with it, and I have seen several shooters do VERY well with it.

[GaCop]

Looks like I'll have to order some VV 133 too. The local shop doesn't carry VV powders.

[viper9696]

Chris Hodgdon said that imr8208xbr was made for the military,that special forces are using it because of the great temp stability and now has crossed over for the benchrest shooters.

[Rifleman51]

Comp shooters begged Hodgdon to make the power, they wouldn't until a comp shooter with a lot of money bank rolled the inital expenses to produce it. I'm sure the military has picked up on it for 5.56 and 6.8 use as it has outstanding accuracy and as you said is not affected by very wide changes in temp, making it the ideal powder for use in small caliber military rounds.

John K

[82boy]

Comp shooters begged Hodgdon to make the power, they wouldn't until a comp shooter with a lot of money bank rolled the inital expenses to produce it.

This was the story I was told about 2 going on 3 years ago.

[sha-ul]

When I finally get my loading bench set up, I will be loading 223,308win& 300whatever, I wonder how this powder would work for these cartridges.

[82boy]

When I finally get my loading bench set up, I will be loading 223,308win& 300whatever, I wonder how this powder would work for these cartridges.


Was told by a fellow benchrest shooter is shoot OK in his 308 A10 but it was one of the dirtiest powders he had ever tried. He said he got mechanical problems because of it. I would say the powder is too fast for anything bigger than 308.

[Warthog]

When I finally get my loading bench set up, I will be loading 223,308win& 300whatever, I wonder how this powder would work for these cartridges.


Was told by a fellow benchrest shooter is shoot OK in his 308 A10 but it was one of the dirtiest powders he had ever tried. He said he got mechanical problems because of it. I would say the powder is too fast for anything bigger than 308.



I have a 10FCP in .308. I would think a .223 using dirty powder would be more of a problem than the .308, but I really don't have experience with a .223 ( I have a M60 in Nam). However I do have some .308 data I will share. I was fooling around with 208gr Hornady A-max, Primer was a rem 9 1/2, with a 2.800" COL. Powder is IMR-8208-XBR. Each load is five shots.
XBR FPS
gr average SD
35.5 2251 70.3
36.5 2244 13.88
37.5 2299 6.26
38.5 2365 13.37
39.5 2428 16.47

For those who prefer the FPS spread, the 37.5 gr (sd=6.26) measured FPS as follows;

2310, 2298, 2298, 2296, 2294

I wonder if the cold barrel threw off the first reading?

I hope this helps.
Warthog

[Nefarioud]

I've spent a lot of energy and bullets trying to find a good load with this stuff. The .223 and 708 like it. It's a bit fast for the long skinnies in the 243.

I got it because it's supposed to be temp stable (haven't tried THAT part yet) but I keep going back to old loads when the shooting counts. I guess I'll mess around some more.

Note the Hodgdon site numbers were VERY conservative for my guns but the stuff spikes up pretty quick so work up to max pressure in small increments.

[82boy]

I have yet to try it but I think it would be the perfect powder for a 22BR.

[GaCop]

I'm going to give it a try in my 223AI, 6mm Norma BR and 308. I down loaded the load data for all three from IMR's data site.

[kenbo776]

I ordered this powder from my local shop....he knew nothing about it tell I mentioned it. I have tried it for the past month in my .308 FCP and found it to work very well so far. I have shot .4 inch groups at 200 yards with it, using Nosler match 175 gr bullets. Just shot it at 700 yards the other day and hit the gong fairly easily. My rifle seems to really like the 175 gr stuff, and also the Hornady A-Max in 168 or 175 gr.
Oh...was using 40 grains of XBR 8208 with new Winchester cases, 175 gr Nosler match, and benchrest primers...forgot which brand. No pressure sighns, has a healthy kick but not bad. Have tried it in my varmit grade AR , but had some scope issues and have not been able to really get on it yet.

[RustyW]

I tried some IMR 8208 XBR in my 22-250 today. I purchased the bbl from a forum member and the action/stock is from a factory accutrigger .223. 34gr with a 52gr matchking 2.35 oal seemed to be the ticket. It was about 45 degrees, distance was about 90yds & I was using the spare tire as a rest. I used a RCBS uniflow and it meters a lot better than 3031 or 4895. I tried some H414 which meters great and it suprised me in shooting better than I thought it would.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/RWoolever/Image0080.jpghttp://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/RWoolever/Image0083.jpghttp://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/RWoolever/Image0084.jpg

[GaCop]

I just picked up the latest Hornady #8 manual. It has 8208 XBR loads listed for 223, 6mm BR and 308 (what I currently load) along with many other calibers.

[A_Gamehog]

Nice loads RustyW

What is the twist on your 22-250?

Thanks for the info.



I will give you my most accurate varmit load for the 223

26.5 8208XBR
34 Grain Midway dogtowns..
right at 3700+ FPS

This powder on the "Burn rate scale" is very close to Tac,