8208 xbr / 178 ELD in 308

[Pickle Rick]

Going to work up a load using the 178 ELD and 8208 XBR. Hornady has load data with a max load of 40.5 gr. Sierra has data for the 175 smk (which I already know is shorter) but lists 42.5gr. Has anyone tested this combo? If so, where did you see pressure signs? I just don’t want to work up to 42.5 and then have to pull a bunch of bullets. That seems very high to me.

 

[fxdrider]

Going to work up a load using the 178 ELD and 8208 XBR. Hornady has load data with a max load of 40.5 gr. Sierra has data for the 175 smk (which I already know is shorter) but lists 42.5gr. Has anyone tested this combo? If so, where did you see pressure signs? I just don’t want to work up to 42.5 and then have to pull a bunch of bullets. That seems very high to me.

I ran your numbers in QuickLoad, and with the brass I'm using (Star-Line) and loaded to a COAL of 2.817", pressure is a bit over the SAAMI limit of 62000 psi, coming in at 62791. Depending on case capacity of the brass you're using, the COAL you're loading to, and the burn rate of the batch of 8208 XBR you have - pressure could be more...or even less. All that said, Quickload is just a rough guide. There's really no substitute for working up your load cautiously.

 

[LRDD]

You will hit pressure with 8208 with that bullet before you get the velocity your looking for.

 

[st1650]

You will hit pressure with 8208 with that bullet before you get the velocity your looking for.

Yeah 8202 is pretty fast for 175s. I keep mine for 150s.

175 is a better match with varget or IMR 4064.

 

[Billl223]

With Sierra 175s, 42.7 8208 I got 2569 from a 20" barrel. Shooting 178 ELD and 43.6 Varget I got 2539 from the same gun. OAL on both loads was 2.80"

 

[Hayn Lo]

late to the party.been working up loads for my 308 with xbr.tested today .got exellent results with 150grn hpbt and 168 hornady amax both sub moa .42.5 for thr 150 and 42.0 for the 168. but my test loads for the 175 smk shot like shit 3 or 4 min groups.back to the drawing board for those was at 41.5 and 42.0 for those horrible

 

[Hayn Lo]

my gas gun shot the 175s not horrible but not great .my bolt gun did not like em..rem 700 20 inch barrel with a break.magpul hunter stock .got 2626 avg fps from the bolt gun and 2567 out of the gas gun (18 inch barrel with armalite muzzle break)

 

[RHMF308]

Little late but. Im running 40.5gr behind a 178eldx col 2.8 and hornady brass, and am getting 2600fps out of a 1-10T 22” remage rem700. 1 hole @ 100yds and have shot them out to a mile. Use at your own risk and work your load up i think i hit pressure at 41.5-42.5 cant remember as its been a long while iv ran more than 500 rounds through MY RIFLE. Also worked really well with a sierra 165 spitzer BT game king at 40gr.

Really good temp stable powder and meters really well through my charge master.

 

[Rhed]

You can squeeze out free velocity by more neck tension, seat deeper, or get a longer barrel.