8208 xbr questions

[fairchase]

I've been trying this powder in a 223 WOA 18" spr barrel and it's showing promise. Here are some observations , and questions on this powder.

Per Hogdon data.

60 gr bullet

Powder------------- Burn rate number---------Max charge
Benchmark----------------80-------------------24.6 gr
H 335--------------------81-------------------24 gr
8208 xbr-----------------85-------------------23.6 gr
Per Sierra Data

60 gr bullet

Powder--------------Burn rate----------------Max charge
Benchmark---------------80--------------------25 gr
H 335-------------------81--------------------25.6 gr
AA 2230-----------------83--------------------25.1 gr
Tac---------------------86--------------------25.8 gr


Hogdon Data

77 gr bullet

Powder---------------Burn rate---------------Max charge
Benchmark---------------80------------------------22.8 gr
H 335-------------------81------------------------22.6 gr
8208 xbr----------------85------------------------23.2 gr
Varget------------------99------------------------23.7 gr

Sierra data

77 gr bullet
Powder--------------Burn rate---------------Max charge
H 335-------------------81------------------------22.6 gr
AA2230------------------83------------------------23.4 gr
Tac---------------------86------------------------24 gr
Varget------------------99------------------------23.9

The 8208 xbr data for the 77 gr bullets looks alright to me compared to other powders near it's burn rate.

However the 8208 xbr data for the 60 gr bullets doesn't look right to me ( seems conservative). The powder 5 slots faster than 8208 xbr on the burn rate chart is maxed at 1 gr more.
Does the data for the 60 gr bullets seem conservative to you ?

The 8208 xbr has shown good accuracy for me , but only at max or slightly over charges.

23.5 grs 8208 xbr with the 77 gr NCC and SMK shot sub moa at 2650 fps. This was the same velocity I was getting with 24.3 gr Re 15 and 24 gr of tac.

24.5 grs 8208 xbr with the 60 gr sierra varminter shot sub moa at 2860 fps. This load seems to shoot identical (accuracy and velocity) to 26 grs of Varget.

Anyone else have any experience with 8208 xbr their willing to share ?

 

[5R Milspec]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

I am getting great results with it shooting a 69gn NCC useing 24.0gn.and seems to be really clean.so I mande it the got to powder for that one bullet.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

I wouldn't get to wrapped up in things, as evidently Hodgdon is going to reformulate XBR 8208 once the initial 20,000 pound batch is sold.

It's evidently not a duplicate of the original powder, from what I understand after speaking with a buddy who talked to Hodgdon.

Remember, powder burn rates behave differently in different cartridge cases. Burn rates are not linear jumping from cartridge to cartridge.

XBR might be 100th on one chart because somebody used the 308 case for testing, whereas it's ranked differently on another chart that used the 223 Remington.

Chris

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

Tried it for 6PPC in short range BR. It has shown to be hit or miss, depending on weather conditions.
Tried it in 7MM08 with 162 Amax. It was highly accurate but lacking on FPS.
Tried it in 308 with 175 SMK. Again it was very accurate but a little slow.
I shot a few 223 heavies but was not impressed.
+1 on the comment that it is not the same as the original. But really doubt that Hodgdon will change it.

 

[81sfo]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

I tried a load another guy was using at a local match and it worked for me.It was on the hot side but only saw flattened primers so I used it.Rifle was a RRA ar15 national match 20" 1-8 tw, load I used gave me sub moa groups at 2875fps was lake city brass ,cci primers ,77 smk ,25 grains xbr.Out of the several years I had that rifle I never saw one hole groups at 100 yds as I got with the xbr.Again that load was over max but seemed safe in my rifle.use caution.

 

[fairchase]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

<span style="color: #FF0000">I wouldn't get to wrapped up in things, as evidently Hodgdon is going to reformulate XBR 8208 once the initial 20,000 pound batch is sold.

It's evidently not a duplicate of the original powder, from what I understand after speaking with a buddy who talked to Hodgdon.

Remember, powder burn rates behave differently in different cartridge cases. Burn rates are not linear jumping from cartridge to cartridge.[/i]</span>[/color]
[/color]
By the original powder do you mean the old 8208? I didn't think the two were ever supposed to be the same.

Are you saying they might reformulate it to make the 2 the same ?

 

[Seawalker]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

Son, my findings are similar to yours. In 223, 8208 is somewhat lacking in velocity at the charges shown by Hodgdon.

With the 60vmax, I had to go to 24.4g to get above 2,900fps, and that is .8 above the max listed. No pressure signs and low es and sd with sub moa (.8) accuracy in a Savage bolt with 22" barrel. That is not impressive accuracy or velocity in this rifle. As an example, Benchmark at 24.6g gives a velocity of 2,970fps and shoots sub .3 moa. Varget at 26.7g gives 3,100 fps and shoots in the .4's most of the time. These loads are not recommended for any rifles except my own.

Just as an aside, in 204 Ruger, 8208 gives excellent accuracy and velocity with both 32 and 40 vmax without going over max.

 

[BsChoy]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

In my opinion from what I've read on this powder it's too fast for heavy bullets in 223 or 308. Thats why your FPS's are hurting...

 

[81sfo]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

Additional loads with xbr powder.
Ai Aw 20" 308 factory barrel 1-12 tw 155 scenar ,46gn xbr ,cci 250,lapua brass 2845 average ,no pressure signs ,low es and sd .
Ai Ae 24" factory 308 barrel same load as above averaged 2945 fps.no pressure signs either.
Ai Aw 260 rem broughton 24" barrel 142smk ,39 gn xbr ,rem brass ,cci250,2750fps extremely accurate load.one hole at 100 yds and single digit es and sd .

 

[Unsichtbar]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

Please Read carfully this load is out of a two bolt guns 26" barrel 24.7 8208xbr 80 gr Berger at 3000 fps, vertical at 300 yds 3/4" Work up slow this is over listed max and once again in bolt gun

 

[bubbapug1]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

So why use XBR over Varget? Does it meter better?

 

[longshooter70]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

My experience with XBR is that it meters a lot better than Varget and does not have the lot to lot variances that Varget has had. XBR has been really good in my rifles with certain applications. If Varget was more reliable between lots, I'd probably stay with it.

 

[Grumulkin]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

IMR 8208 XBR meters better than Varget and almost anything else. I've had excellent results with it in a 270 Winchester shooting 130 gr. Remington Core-Lokts (that's right, not match bullets).

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

After trying the recommended Varget loads for several calibers and having less than acceptable results I was ready to give up on it. Then along came a new found passion for the 308 Winchester a few years back. Out of all I have tried Varget has been the shining star. It has given me the best accuracy, consistency and velocity of all others.
Now for IMR8208XBR. I got talked into buying and 8 pound can by my short range BR buds. After all, 8208 was the holy grail of BR shooters. It has not, for me and others, lived up to its expectation. I have yet to find a caliber that I've tested it in (223, 308, 7MM08) that Varget won't perform better. And, I find Varget to be more "forgiving" with environmental changes.
Will it provide accuracy? In short, yes. Will it do it day after day regardless of conditions? IMHO, no. Will it give the needed velocities to go long? Again, not in my experience.

 

[Varget 7-08]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Longshooter70</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My experience with XBR is that it meters a lot better than Varget and does not have the lot to lot variances that Varget has had. XBR has been really good in my rifles with certain applications. If Varget was more reliable between lots, I'd probably stay with it. </div></div>

X2 I'd love Varget if it was more consistent.

 

[bubbapug1]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

I had a buddy attach a fish tank pump to his dillon 550 powder hopper. The vibration acted on the Varget to the point where in packed in tightly each time on the powder bar. He claims his consistancy for metering is now +/- 0.1 grains. Thats better than I get with Varget. Maybe a pool pump is the way to go.

 

[fairchase]

Re: 8208 xbr questions

Electricity attached to a powder measure full of powder? No thanks!