Thinking about switching powders.

kam582

kam582

New member
I have been using Benchmark for my .223's, and Varget for the 22-250. I am fairly new to reloading, about a year now, and am still experimenting. While I will probably never use anything other than Varget for the 22-250, and will probably start buying it 8 pounds at a time instead of 1 pound bottles, I am still looking for the .223's. My brother has had very good luck with IMR 8208 xbr in his AR. Anyone else using that powder with good results?
 
Win 748 in a 223 is an old stand by that always works, 27.5g with the 50's, 26.5 with the 55's, and 25.0g with the 69's.

Benchmark is hard to beat, along with H322, AA 2230.

The very fastest velocity with accuracy in the 223 that I have got with the 50's is with N-133 and with the 55's is N135.

I have yet to try Tac, which everyone raves about.
 
I just came in from another test load 25gr 8208 and ended up with a 1 3/4" group,that with wsr primer,55gr hornady sp
unless I can find the magic number I think I'll stick to benchmark. This was fired in my 16" 1/7 spikes lower,LMT upper.
 
Thanks ackleyman, I had not considered N135. My AR seems to shoot 55's better than anything else. I would stick with Varget for the .223's, but I am uncomfortable at this stage with compressed loads. I used Varget for awhile in the 223, but wanted more speed. Not really a speed freak, just wanted a little flatter rife. Now for the 22-250, as I said, I will probably always use Varget. I am still curious about IMR 8208 xbr.
 
H335 has been very good to me, my 223 also really likes imr 4895, I know alot of guys dont use that powder in a 223 but I tried just for something to do and it gave me better results than varget or h335.
 
Wow, Danny-L, that's not what I was looking for. My brother has done much better with his AR, but it's a Rock River 20 inch heavy 1/7. Mine is a plain jane S & W with a 16 inch 1/9. Closer to yours I think if I interpret your post correctly. Maybe I will stick with Benchmark.
 
I started reloading with varget in my 22-250 and 204 and was not all that happy with it. I then decided i would either try 4895 or 8208 and I ended up switched to 8208 xbr with stellar results. I also use 8208 in 204 and 300 wsm with very good results as well. I loaded some 243 wssm with 8208 was was not impressed with how it worked and switched to Re-17 for my 243 wssm. I highly recommend trying 8208 in 22-250,204 and 300 wsm.
 
Originally Posted By: kam582Wow, Danny-L, that's not what I was looking for. My brother has done much better with his AR, but it's a Rock River 20 inch heavy 1/7. Mine is a plain jane S & W with a 16 inch 1/9. Closer to yours I think if I interpret your post correctly. Maybe I will stick with Benchmark.

Didn't mention that it was only 50yds,optics eotech xps2-0 w/3x magnafier. I just came in from trying the same load in my rem.model 7 same distance results were 1 ripped up hole (5 shots)raining so shots were only about 10-15 sec.apart. Maybe my AR just doesnt like the 55gr hornady,with the benchmark I've been loading 55gr speer and it groups them at 3/4" give or take.
 
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I have run benchmark in the 20pr and starting to switch the 223 over to it. In the 6x45 I run 8208 but had some good results with benchmark also. I'm hoping that the 6woa will shoot either benchmark or 8208 well. I have also had really good luck with h-322 in the 20pr and 6x45. But have not played with it after first groups.
 
Im using 8208 in my 6.5 grendel AR... Getting ready to try it in the .223 AR. I am using Benchmark in it right now with good results. Just going to try it since I already have some to try.
 
8208xbr shoots great in my R-15, but it has a 24" barrel. 8208xbr has a burn rate between AA-2460, and TAC [medium ish' rate]. With your 16" tube, faster powders like RL-10, H-322, and Benchmark will probably shoot best. IMO. You need 19 inches of barrel length minimum to get the benefits of medium to slower burn rate powders. Varget wouldn't do well in your case either, I would guess.
 
+1 for tac but i like H4895 for the lighter bullets. tac for anything 60+
if your not getting the accuracy you want with your varget load, back it off a grain and try a magnum primer. i had better luck with 26gr varget and a magnum cci than a 400
 
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I use 8208 in my .223 and .243 and get great groups with both. I will also be using it in the 264LBC if it ever gets here.

The .223 I get just as good of groups as I do with Benchmark.

Here is a 3 shot group with 8208 with my Sweet 16! I have another target with a 5 shot group that I ended up pulling one shot thanks to the guy next to me with his EXTREMELY loud rifle!!
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Originally Posted By: Darkkerfor the 223, Win 748!! Start at 26.6 grains behind a 55gr bullet.

+1 on the 748. Also IMR3031 and Xterminator.
 
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