338 federal with IMR 8208 xbr?

[Shedmaster]

I have an older Rem700 bdl in 7mm08 22” rifle in the process of becoming re-barreled to 338 federal. Plan is to remain with same profile 22” barrel in order to keep the gun light and flickable.
In the meantime I’ve been researching my options with some of the powders to get good results with using nosler 180 accubonds.
As I have lots of them on hand, I plan to find a powder that will get me decent velocities closest to the 60k psi. From my reading looks like IMR 8208 xbr does that. Without becoming compressed. I have to keep in mind I cannot afford to seat the bullets out to far as the rem 700 short action magazine is short thus limiting my bullet seating depth and choices of bullet designs.
So question? If anyone is using 8208 I would like to hear some results.

 

[Bare]

I have used it with the 160gr ttsx but not a 180gr bullet. 3000fps with the 160gr.
I ran out of that powder and switched to Reloader 7 and get the same results.

TAC is also a great powder with the 180 and 200gr bullets.

Wish I had more info for you but your on the right track with that powder and bullet combo

 

[gunrunner8]

I have LH custom Ruger 338 Fed with 21" long barrel.
IMHO loading the cartridge with bullets lighter than 200gr and making it the long range outfit is a mistake.
I use case full leverevolution powder under 210gr Nosler partition for 2600fps that gives me easy 300yards reach.
TAC and H4895 would be also good choice to try.

 

[jethunter]

I have an older Rem700 bdl in 7mm08 22” rifle in the process of becoming re-barreled to 338 federal. Plan is to remain with same profile 22” barrel in order to keep the gun light and flickable.
In the meantime I’ve been researching my options with some of the powders to get good results with using nosler 180 accubonds.
As I have lots of them on hand, I plan to find a powder that will get me decent velocities closest to the 60k psi. From my reading looks like IMR 8208 xbr does that. Without becoming compressed. I have to keep in mind I cannot afford to seat the bullets out to far as the rem 700 short action magazine is short thus limiting my bullet seating depth and choices of bullet designs.
So question? If anyone is using 8208 I would like to hear some results.

Many powders will make 60k psi in that cartridge/bullet combo. Velocity is a product of pressure, powder volume, and time, not just pressure. If pressure was the only variable Bullseye would be the only powder we need.

Compressed loads are fine, don't worry about compressing.

That's a light bullet for that cartridge. 8208 might be OK but I would also run numbers on 4895ish powders through quickload if you have it.

 

[todbartell]

I used IMR 8208xbr in my Ruger m77 338F with Barnes 185TTSX (2.88" OAL). 46.5grs did 2722 fps from the 22" barrel - - 48.5grs under the shorter 185 TSX did 2775 fps

46.5grs with 200gr Accubonds ~ 2675 fps

 

[DGY]

I have an older Rem700 bdl in 7mm08 22” rifle in the process of becoming re-barreled to 338 federal. Plan is to remain with same profile 22” barrel in order to keep the gun light and flickable.
In the meantime I’ve been researching my options with some of the powders to get good results with using nosler 180 accubonds.
As I have lots of them on hand, I plan to find a powder that will get me decent velocities closest to the 60k psi. From my reading looks like IMR 8208 xbr does that. Without becoming compressed. I have to keep in mind I cannot afford to seat the bullets out to far as the rem 700 short action magazine is short thus limiting my bullet seating depth and choices of bullet designs.
So question? If anyone is using 8208 I would like to hear some results.

Can I ask you what barrel you went with and who is doing the work? I have a Ruger m77mkII that I would like to convert from 30-06 to 338 federal. I think I will go with a 20”-21” barrel…..

 

[BlackRam]

My LH Sako 86 Finnlight II 338 Federal wears a 22" Wilson carbon fibre barrel and wass rebarreled by Rocky Mtn Rifles at Corlanes. My Winchester Model 88 has a 20" Krieger barrel on it (also done by RMR).
I have QuickLoad data listed for the 180 AB, 185 TSX and 200 Hot Cor using XBR 8208, but have not tried it as yet. (I do have the powder on hand.)

The Federal 180 gr AB load did not shoot great in my Sako rifle (2"+ 3-shot groups at 100 yards), but the 185 TSX shot sub-MOA (.821"). The 200 gr blue box ammo shot well at .654". The 210 Partition provided .893" (and 1" in the lever action). And the 200 Trophy Copper proved most accurate to date at 0.457". The 200 Trophy Bonded Tip went 1.683".
Until I acquired some of thee Trophy Copper ammo, I was hunting with the 200 gr blue box ammo, and took moose, caribou and stones sheep with it. Now, I am hunting with the Trophy Copper ammo. The 25 yard shot on my last moose was not a great test for this bullet and the moose fell about 15 yards from where it was shot.

I hope to find a good load with the 200 AccuBond, and the powders I will be trying are : BL-C2, CFE223, Win 748, Big Game and Re-15. Max loads should get me in the mid 2600 fps range from my 22" barrel.
Looks like the XBR 8208 can get just over 2600 fps when raising the pressure to 64K in a modern action with the 200 gr AB, and mid 2700 fps with the 180 gr AB.