IMR8133 - It Has To Be Good For Something... Right??

[lamhladir]

Hello All,

I've read many a post. This is my first time actually posting, though. So, here we go!!

Ok. We're all in the same boat with the powder shortage. It sucks. We're all doing the best we can with what we have... What *I* have, is a lot of IMR8133. It was the only damn thing I could find when I first purchased and started loading for my Ruger RPR in 300 PRC. But, my results pushing bullets in the 212gr range up to 250gr have been really disappointing... Everything from accuracy, to SD has been all over the place. I figure, there *has to be* something this powder is good for. I'm wondering if anyone has been able to crack the code of how to get this stuff to perform... Should I be running close to case capacity/max loads? Does the slow burn rate not like extra room in the case? If anyone has experimented and been able to pull consistency out of this stuff, I'd love to hear about it.

Good luck and good hunting everyone...

-Nate

 

[mtang45]

Just picked up my first bottle of IMR 8133 and have yet to try it with anything. So, not much help. However maybe you could elaborate a little on the issues you experienced with your 300 PRC and what changes you worked through to try and make it work.

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

This may be a bit off, but using IMR 7977 in my .25-06. Same series just a bit faster. With 115 Berger VLD Hunting bullets velocity is the best I have achieved with that rifle and accuracy has been almost at target rifle quality. I am wondering if there is an issue with the seating depth. That said, the rifle is Very picky about the bullets shooting. Load some really nice Hornady ELD-X bullets and you get a nice pattern. Same with other makes of bullets excepting the 117 Sierra. My favorite hunting bullet the 115 grain Nosler Partition, shoots terrible (but when it hits, it really hits.)

My RPR in 6.5 chickmagnet shoots just about every powder just fine. I have been using both the 143 ELD-X and the 144 Berger Hybrid. Both show excellent accuracy Regardless of powder chosen. I suspect it is a problem with seating depth or brass.

all that said, the IMR7977 fills the .25-06 case full. and that may be your issue. Finally, are you using magnum primers? CCI or Federal large rifle magnum primers do a good job of getting these slow burning powders burning.

 

[lamhladir]

Just picked up my first bottle of IMR 8133 and have yet to try it with anything. So, not much help. However maybe you could elaborate a little on the issues you experienced with your 300 PRC and what changes you worked through to try and make it work.

So, compared to H1000 and Reloder 26, IMR8133 is really substandard. My SD is very high (variations that are between 80-150fps difference each shot). Group size for my Ruger RPR using the same bullets and brass were much bigger.

I will provide more details once I get my targets and look at all my Lab Radar Data. But, rather than get stuck in the weeds, I was hoping to hear from literally anyone who had used that powder with success. My feeling is that it's a complete dud. I'd love for someone to prove me wrong with loads that were highly accurate with low SD.

 

[Schw15]

I have been using imr 8133 for over a year. My last cal was 7mm-300 win mag 197 smk couple loads from 2855 to 2980. The sd on all these different loads were from 6.7 7.7 and 10. Those were 9 to 15 shots and great accuracy. I really like the powder and imr 7977 but i have found they both are lacking speed with pressure.

 

[Schw15]

Also i have used in 7mm rem mag 197 smk sd was 3 on a 5 shot group. Amazing accuracy. Also used it in a 7 max very little not as good results. I will be using it alittle bit in a 25 prc once i get my back order bullets.

 

[Ckleeves]

I had good luck with it in a 28 Nosler. It worked OK in .264 win mag but got kinda jumpy at the top end. From what I have seen it will never give the speeds that Retumbo or N570 will. It’s certainly not my first choice but I didn’t think it was a horrible powder. Basically Retumbo with less velocity.

 

[Schw15]

I also used it in a 28 nosler. Yes i plan on losing 100 to 50 feet easy over the other powders. In my 7 mag i mocked my h1000 speeds and it took 5 more grains same speed but in that setup i had issues with the h1000 in hot weather the imr 8133 worked perfect in all temps in that rifle.

 

[supercorndogs]

Looking load data from Hodgdon, it looks like you should be able to get a little more velocity with 8133 than h1000 with 200+g bullets.

 

[Yote Klr]

I also used it in a 28 nosler. Yes i plan on losing 100 to 50 feet easy over the other powders. In my 7 mag i mocked my h1000 speeds and it took 5 more grains same speed but in that setup i had issues with the h1000 in hot weather the imr 8133 worked perfect in all temps in that rifle.

So would you say it's just slightly slower than H1000 but faster than Retumbo?

Do you think its bulkier than H1000 grain for grain?

 

[Schw15]

You can def get more imr 8133 than h1000. Easy 4 more grains in my 7 mag with 197. But it is slower than h1000 and its roughly a touch slower than retumbo. I actually start with retumbo loads but usually slower than retumbo speed wise

 

[abn31c]

8133 gives me great numbers in 257 and 270 weatherby. Have to treat it a bit different. Best numbers for me have come at near max loads. As you work up, pressure will show at once.
I have found this true with 7977 and 4955 also.
8133 has been great in my 6.5 saum also.

 

[Bulletsmith]

Used IMR-8133 in my 37XC 400gr. solids and 350gr.Sierra's and it shot fantastic. Very low SD's (Below 5FPS) Maybe it just does not perform well in your particular gun.