SmallCaliberCentral

Nice day for testing at the range, mid 60's w/5-10 quartering wind. That's good for Wyoming.
I went with Broncs & Whiskey to the very nice Douglas facility.
I have been getting good groups with 27 grains of 8208 and 39 SBK's but didn't have velocity results, so I was reluctant to call it a good load.
Today I had 27 grains loaded behind 40 vmax, 40 berger, 39 sierra--no moly. The Berger's and SBK's shot very well in my Ugly Stick(Browning a-bolt, gray laminated stock, Shilen stainless in the raw) with nice 1/2 inch groups of 5 shots. Vmax's were under 1/2 from my Savage VLP. The Shilen is 1:10 twist 25 inches long. Velocity from low 3700's to low 3800's. The Sierra's were the slowest, Berger's fastest, and the Hornady's right in the middle. Pact chronograph pooped out on us before the Savage velocity could be checked in the 1:12 26 inch factory barrel. I expect it would have measured a slightly higher velocity.
I've never gotten good groups with the 40 vmax before. The loads shot to the same point of aim in the Savage and also to the same zero as my pet load (39 sbk-moly, 24.8 R10X often in the .3's). 40 vmax load was an inch left of the other loads in the Ugly Stick, same elevation. I just switched scopes on it so I didn't compare to the old zero. This rifle also likes the pet load, but like many $2,000 vasrmint rigs it's just not as accurate as a Savage.
I'm ready to declare this powder a good one. All my 204's will be loaded with it next season. Moly coated 39 sbk's will be the bullet of choice-no reason to change that.

By the way clean up was a breeze.

Shane put together a Savage made up of parts laying around(swap meet factory barrel and action from a sporter weight used bargain rifle)put them in a Medalist stock and he outshot me, as usual, first time out. He used 39 sbk's with 25.5 grains of Benchmark to do that dirty deed to his father-in-law. I didn't offer to let him shoot the test loads, probably would have shot 1/4 inch group.

Nice.

When I get back to MT, plan on loading some of the new wonder powder in 204, 223 AI, and 222 AI.

Some say this powder does not like the heavier bullets, but we shall see.

Would have been a GREAT day to shoot PD's in Nebraska today...except for the 20 gusting to 30+ wind. Guess I could have broke out the 300 win mag???!!!???

The guys with little ones over on Saubier say 8208 works well in 17FB with medium to heavy bullets.
HSM is using it for lots of 308Win loads.
I'll try it in 220Swift next year, got all the brass loaded for the season.
Maybe this is the wonder powder.

I passed on a chance to get my hands on some of this stuff. After consulting my reloading notes from day 1 on what my remington likes to eat I came to the conclusion that another powder is going to make an already LONG good load list even longer! Spent all winter hunting with a load of 25.5 grains of benchmark and the 39 grain BK to excellent results! Shots came from as close as 50 yards with the longest checking in a 5 yards shy of 500 and this load performed superbly. For all out accuracy and speed the remy likes 10X even better so this winter my cases with be filled with one of several fifferent charges of that powder and the 39 grain BK and I am sure the results with be stellar. Only had 1 clean miss all winter long.....can't argue with that!

Looks to be VERY hard to find at this point. I'm looking to get my hands on some here in WI. Thing is do I try for the 8# jug right away or dabble with a single pound?

Change of plans.....a friend of mine picked up 3 pounds of the stuff and asked me if I want one and I said YES! Already loaded up a batch with 20 grain Vmax's and 25 grain bergers for the 17 fireball going to give them a go on the weekend. Not sure if I even want to try the stuff in the 204 yet. I have SOO mnay good loads for it with various bullets not sure I need any more work done here but I am sure curiosity will get the better of me before to long......

I found a store that said they had 14# of this. I haven't checked price plus it's an hour and a half away.