IMR 8208 powder

[Tokimini]

I'm getting ready to start reloading my for 204 (Remmy 700SPS). I called Hodgdon for a recommendation and they said IMR 8208 would work very well for 204 Ruger. Does anyone have any experience with this powder?

[Joe O]

I was getting good results with Varget for the 39gr Sie BK,When IMR 8208 XBR became available,I switched,mainly because it is the least temperature sensitive powder,on the planet I got improved accuracy with 32gr and 39 gr BK bullets,higher velocity and less pressure,at max loadings.In my gun(Savage lrpv,Ruger K1V,and G2 Contender),for the 32s I load 28gr and the 39s 27.3gr. The powder meters great from all types of dispensors.I call it cubed powder,or super short stick.You'll like it.

[Tokimini]

Thanks Joe. I'm planning on loading both the 39gr BK and Hornady 40gr Vmax and see which one my gun likes.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

I was getting good results with Varget for the 39gr Sie BK,When IMR 8208 XBR became available,I switched,mainly because it is the least temperature sensitive powder,on the planet I got improved accuracy with 32gr and 39 gr BK bullets,higher velocity and less pressure,at max loadings.In my gun(Savage lrpv,Ruger K1V,and G2 Contender),for the 32s I load 28gr and the 39s 27.3gr. The powder meters great from all types of dispensors.I call it cubed powder,or super short stick.You'll like it.

Dangit, Joe O, you are sorely tempting me to go out and buy a bottle of the stuff. My Savage shoots RL-10X like a house afire but it is awfully persnickety about temperature.

[Silverfox]

Tokimini--My Savage target action in .204 Ruger has been fed nothing but IMR 8208 XBR since the first shot down the barrel. This is a right bolt left port short action that I had Fred Moreno time and true. It is one smooth action. I have a 26" stainless steel #6 contour Lilja barrel on this rifle. It is a 1 in 12 twist (Lilja doesn't make a 1 in 11 like I wanted) and 3 grooves. The stock is an H-S Precision Pro-Series 2000 in tan color with black webbing. The scope is a refurbished Nikon Monarch 6-24x50mm with side focus and a duplex reticle. I've posted photos of the rifle before, but can't resist posting one again



I use Nosler brass that I turned the necks on so the neck walls are .0110" to .0111" thick. The chamber is cut with a .230" neck. I use Remington 7½ primers and hBN coated 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKing bullets seated about .004" off the lands for these initial test loads.

Remember, any loads I list here are safe in my rifle and may not be safe in yours!!! The first loads I tried were loaded with 27.4 gr. of 8208 (I believe 27.3 gr. is listed as the max load). Shots 6 - 10 out of the barrel gave me a .377" 5-shot group measured from center to center and an average velocity at 12 feet from the muzzle of 3,913 fps.

I have been known to push the envelope a wee bit and tried a load of 27.8 gr. of 8208. The group opened up a wee bit to .548" center to center and the average velocity went up nicely to 3,975 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle. I had one shot in that group that I wiggled on as I squeezed the trigger. Without that one shot, the group measured .303" center to center. There were no signs of excessive pressure, but my next test loads were done with 27.3 gr. and 27.4 gr. I played with the seating depth too and finally wound up using 27.3 gr. of 8208 and seated the bullets at .010" off the lands. My velocity with this load have been averaging 3,871 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle and that gives me a muzzle velocity with this load is 3,887 fps. It is deadly on prairie dogs!!

I have also tried IMR 8208 XBR in my new/used Savage 12VLP in .204 Ruger with a 26" SS super match grade 1 in 11 twist 3-groove Pac-Nor barrel. All of the bullets I shoot are coated with hBN. I have tried that powder with 40 gr. V-Max, 39 gr. Sierra BKs, 35 gr. FBHP Bergers, and 32 gr. V-Max bullets. I'm using WW brass and Remington 7½ primers for all my loads.

I shot 43 of the 39 gr. Sierras and 27.4 gr. of 8208 is the most accurate and gives me 3,846 fps at the muzzle and accuracy as good as .308" for 5 shots, but most of the time the best I can do is just under 1/2".

I shot a total of only 22 of the 35 gr. FBHP Bergers and had those seated .010" off the lands. I only tried 27.7 gr. and 28.0 gr. of 8208 and the 28.0. load shot the best, giving me 3,952 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle and one 5-shot group that measured .313" center to center and one 4-shot group that measured .460" center to center.

I wasn't real interested in the 32 gr. V-Max, but just curious as to how they would shoot. I only shot 4 shots and didn't have my chronograph set up for them. I had the bullets seated .010" off the lands and used 28.5 gr. of 8208. That 4-shot group measured .580" center to center.

The bullets I was most interested in using for this 1 in 11 twist Pac-Nor barrel were the 40 gr. V-Max. I tried loads of 8208 at 26.8 gr., 27.0 gr., 27.2 gr., 27.4 gr., 27.5 gr., 27.6 gr., & 27.7 gr. Many of those loads were quite accurate, but on one trip to the range I tried 27.2 gr. of H4895 instead of IMR 8208 XBR and that turned out to be my go-to load. The muzzle velocity of this load is 3,841 fps. Five-shot groups are consistently under 1/2". The 39 gr. Sierras shoot slightly smaller groups, but they cost a tad over $20/100 and I just bought 1,000 of the 40 gr. V-Max for $15/100 including shipping. So while the 39 gr. Sierras shoot a wee bit smaller groups, it isn't worth 5¢ per bullet to me, so I'll use the 40 gr. Hornadys. They really do a number on prairie dogs and are deadly on coyotes as well.

Well, there I went and got carried away and got a wee bit off topic, I hope it wasn't too far off

[Tokimini]

Silverfox, thanks for all the great information. I'll definately try some of your loads. That is a beautiful rifle.

[Silverfox]

Tokimini--Thanks for the compliment on my rifle. I would strongly advise you to start at 3/4 of a grain of powder below my listed loads and work your way up slowly, like no more than .2 of a grain at a time. Watch carefully for obvious signs of excessive pressure. Also remember, loads that work great in my rifle may not necessarily shoot well in yours. These rifles are an entity unto themselves, so you'll need to spend quality time at the range and at your reloading bench fidgeting with seating depths and various powder charges. Good Luck in your quest!

[Tokimini]

Silverfox, I appreciate the advice. I am definitely going to start my loads below the suggested max amount and watch carefully for any signs of over pressurization.