8208XBR loads for .223

[pdogdown]

I haven't seen much info on .223 loads yet. I am looking for 75 A-max and 75BTHP loads. I started and have noticed some promise at 22.8g with the BR4 primers cutting the groups down from the Fed 205 Match primers with the 75BTHP. I am getting about .3 with those where I was .5 with the 205Ms.
Has anyone else noticed the BR4s working better with the hotter, heavier .223 loads? I think I can go up a little higher since I wasn't getting pressure signs and I am hoping 23.0ish does the trick in my wife's rifle.

I am impressed as .5 was the best I could get with Varget in my rifle before seeing pressure signs. I wish I could get just a little more oomph to push the round all the way into the next node and getting it to shoot one hole like the 69SMKs, 70 and 73 bergers.

Savage 12 1:9" 26" Barrel

What loads has everyone had luck with in the 1:9" and the 75s? I know the twist is right on the line to push them and I guess I will have to be happy with .3-.4 due to the wind bucking capability of the BTHP if I can't get the Amax's working.

Also, anyone try any XBR in .260 or .260AI with the 140 class bullets?

Thanks,
Justin

 

[PSYOPS]

Re: 8208XBR loads for .223

OK OK...

I want to try some out...Anybody know where some XBR is at??

 

[esorensen]

Re: 8208XBR loads for .223

I have found that the CCI primers work better with Varget. It stands to reason that the IMR 8208 would work best wit the CCI as well. It seems as though Hodgdon has made 8208 to have the same characteristics as Varget except burn rate and kernel size. I can't smell the difference between the two either in the canister or when fired.

 

[pdogdown]

Re: 8208XBR loads for .223

Yeah my heavy bullet development is leaning towards having to start over with the cci's it is looking like. I think I cut myself short. Well that and only being able to find the 205s for a long stretch. What about the 41s vs the BR4s? Would that be considered like halfway between SR mag and SR as one local guy suggested? Anybody use them in bolt guns with any success?

 

[pdogdown]

Re: 8208XBR loads for .223

Nobody has any XBR .223 loads already. Guess I'll have to go ahead and start a trend. That's scary.

 

[4Rail_Gunner]

Re: 8208XBR loads for .223

Let us know how it goes. Looks like the powder has alot of potential. Its just very hard to find right now.
I seen an 8lb jug at Bruno's available the other day.
Everyone else was out.

 

[pdogdown]

Re: 8208XBR loads for .223

Well got back from the range yesterday and it was so windy I couldn't set up my new chrony but I did get to check my new nosler brass out. It was all within a .5 grain spread and the lenghts were all within 2 though. Pretty impressive. A friend said it worked great in .22-250 but didn't allow for as many loadings in a larger caliber *he did say he ran them super hot.

23.6-23.9 of XBR with BR4 primers all seemed to be in one really good size node pushing the 75 amax's I couldn't get to run in my wife's 1:9" Savage 12. They all had the same point of impact and were 1/4 or smaller 4 shot groups. I think the BR4 primer was the ticket over the fed match SR primer. Gave it just enought to bump the velocity to where I needed. 2.396 OAL puts me at the lands.

I am also going to try it with the LC 09 brass I have sorted.

Additionally I am gonna see what my 25.6g of Varget load is going to do with the BR4 primers pushing the Amaxs. It did really well with the 75g Hornady BTHPs (less than 2/10 5 shot groups in a really strong breeze at 100).

Hopefully next time less wind so I can get my chrony up and running and see what we are looking at for es and sd.

 

[pdogdown]

Re: 8208XBR loads for .223

Got the load chrony'd with Alpha Master in my wife's Savage 12 LRPV w/factory 26" barrel w/ 1:9 twist in a McMillan A2 stock off the bipod and rear sand bag.
23.8 g XBR over BR4 primer
New Nosler brass with nothing done to prep it.
75g A-MAX

2901 average. 32 ES. 8 SD. over 25 shots.

No pressure signs. I haven't chronied my a-max 25.6 varget load but iirc, backwards from my mil to 600 put me at 2715fps.

Pretty promising stuff. Still pretty windy out but 5 shot groups were in the .2s to .4s. Could have been mostly two's and teens if I had a sled or front rest instead of the bi-pod.

Good stuff.
Justin