Imr 8208

[Clay M]

Just used some of this to load for my .204 Ruger.
I understand it is slightly slower than H4895, but not sensitive to extreme temperature changes.

Do any of you have any experience with this powder?

I bought it to primarily use in my .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, and .22PPC

[twc1964]

I use that powder for .223. Works very well in my at and is quite accurate with true fmjvand the true Sierra game kings. I hesitate giving out any load data in this powder because I have found that factory load data is really conservative. Suffice to say that I load a fair amount warmer than book data with great accuracy and no overpressure signs. Ymmv.

[twc1964]

Please pardon the weird wording of my last post. Stupid phone likes to change up my words lol

[swheeler]

H322 comes to mind

[Clay M]

I am currently working with Benchmark, IMR 8208XBR, and Vit 135.
Tomorrow I will load for my .22PPC.
I am also looking forward to trying these three powders in my old Sako .223

There are other powders which are similar. I believe H335 is similar to Benchmark,
H4895 is also similar to the 8208,and the Vit 135.
I have always had great results with H4895
Will be interesting to see how these extreme powders perform.

[MT Gianni]

I was very pleased with it in the 243 Encore.

[BCB]

I’ve used 25.0 grains of it in the 223 with the Hornady 50 V-max. Velocity was 2890 fps from a 16” Contender barrel. Accuracy is acceptable for groundhogs out to 250 yards with a really good rest. I can hit my groundhog-sized steel silhouette at that distance the vast majority of the time. But, I think there are better powders for the 223 Remington…

I also use it in the 6.8mm SPC cartridge fired from a 23” T/C carbine. Twenty-eight grains with the Hornady 129 SST for a velocity of 2450 fps. Not a speed demon but quite accurate. Not as accurate as the 223 load, but still a good deer round to 150 yards. It will shoot M.O.A. at that distance. It is the best powder I have found for the 120 SST bullet and the 6.8mm SPC…

Good-luck…BCB

[leadman]

I load it in my Encore 6 PPC pistol and it does and excellent job. 4" groups at 485 yards have been attained.

[osteodoc08]

It has been my go
to powder for my 308 Sig 716. It is producing sub MOA groups out to 200 yards with a 168gr Amax. It burns clean and seems to be quite consistent. I have yet to put it over a chrony. My next venture will be in 223 with that powder. I have really liked Benchmark in that role previously. I've got about 20# of it and will pick up another 8# jug when finances and opportunity allow.

[pmer]

I think you'll like 8208 too. If loaded a bunch of 8208 and H335 for .20 Practical and 17 Mach IV.

[Clay M]

Just loaded some 8208 in my .22PPC with Sierra 53 gr Matchking bullets and Norma brass.
The loaded rounds came out weighing within 1/2 gr of each other.

I have high expectations for this powder in the PPC

[mikeingeorgia]

I've gotten pretty consistent results with the 8208 in a .223. I would definitely give it two thumbs up.

[Blackwater]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but has anyone tried it in the Whelen? It and BLC-2 seem to give some extra velocity. If the accuracy comes with it, it'd be neat. I got one can recently, but gave it to a buddy for his .204. If I can FIND another, I'll try it in my AI Whelen. Am curious. Just got some BLC-2 to try in it and some others.

[leadman]

Just to put it out there, newer H4895 powder is a Hodgdon Extreme powder not supposed to affected very much by temperature.
Should work ok in the Whelan but might depend on the boolit weight.

[Clay M]

Just to put it out there, newer H4895 powder is a Hodgdon Extreme powder not supposed to affected very much by temperature.
Should work ok in the Whelan but might depend on the boolit weight.

So far H4895 shoots the best in my .22PPC . I have tried many other powders.
IMR 4895 shoots well too.

[Ken in Iowa]

IMR 8208 has an interesting history. It was originally developed in the mid 60s to resolve the early ball powder fouling issue in the M16. It's a fine grain extruded powder that metered well in automatic loading equipment and could meet the insane government velocity requirements at acceptable pressures.

After Olin got their act together, ball powder replaced IMR 8208 in 5.56 ammunition and the remaining stocks were surplused.

The benchrest crowd discovered it and it quickly became a favorite.

When supplies ran out, Hodgdon was talked into reproducing it. They partnered with ADI in Australia who improved the temperature characteristics. Hodgdon chose to market the powder as IMR 8208 XBR in deference to it's heritage.

[brassrat]

I see it for $35/lb. It was a lot less when I got some. Works good in my Mini 14 at max or so.

[Clay M]

I have noticed that some stores price gouge for this powder (more than other powders).
It is the same price as other powders online .
So far I am having better luck with Benchmark in the smaller calibers, but I am not through testing yet.

[GrocMax]

In 6TCU light bullet (58) on a grain for grain basis fastest to slowest-

2200 (velocity king by a LARGE margin)
2015
H322
Norma 201
Benchmark
8208XBR

In a 223AI 53 vmax-


2200
H322=2015 tie same velocity same POI at same charge weight.
Benchmark
And a BIG step down to-
H335


Powders don't always react the same in different applications.

[Hickory]

I bought a pound last year for testing. Seem to shoot quite well, I have no complaints, nor did the groundhogs complain.