D8208 XBR- Anyone Experimented Yet?

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coleman1495

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Has anyone done any experimenting with CanAm’s D8208 yet?

I just started playing with it in 223. So far I’ve been using Hornady 68gn BTHP and 55gn BTSP. This D8208 seems to be a lot faster than IMR 8208 is in Quickload or Johnny’s Reloading Channel. My starting load of 21.5gn under a 68 BTHP is giving me 2925fps and already seems above the accuracy node. For the 55gn, 22.6gn seems to be pretty close to the node and is about 3140fps.
 
I'm on the tail-end of extensive three week testing of this powder (lot #16) in .308win, .223Rem and 6.5 Creed.
Once I've got all my results together I'll post my findings here in your thread.
It certainly is faster overall than 8208XBR and shows a narrower pressure curve.
 
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I have found it to be faster during my very limited trials. Shared a lb with a friend just to try. I haven't had much luck with the D or the IMR. So I gave up on it.
The D4895 is excellent. Kicking myself for not getting more of the D4064.
D4350 is definitely slower. Closer to a 4831 or RL19
 
I have 5lbs of it, but haven't shot any yet. Have some loaded up for 6.5 Grendel and 308 Win to compare against IMR 8208xbr loads of same charge weights
 
I worked up loads with D8208 in 223 and 68gr BTHP unfortunately had a glitch and lost the crono data. Now my range is snowed in so no more testing till spring.
 
I've cranked D8208 pretty hard under a 75gr Hornady BTHP in a 26" Savage 12. My COL hitting the lands is 2.35" but I loaded them at 2.255 to see what I get at an AR mag length. I tried up to 24gr in IVI brass (30.4 gr H2O capacity) which is way over book max for 223. CCI 450 didn't pop and primer pockets were good. Slight ejector marks at 24.0gr. It was pretty accurate at 23.6 and 23.8 gr, less than 1" group at 200 yards. Not bad for just charge weight testing with a long jump to the lands. At 23.6gr I got 3044 fps with 5.6 SD. The same load and COL under a 77gr Nosler CC gave 3015 fps.

These loads are pretty hot so experiment at your own risk. That Savage chamber has as long a throat as a 5.56 AR15 barrel that I checked. Again: 95 thou jump from AR mag length. Some 223 chambers could be much shorter and the pressure will increase significantly.

I've never used IMR 8208 so I can't compare to that.
 
I recently did a bunch of accuracy testing using my Ruger American Ranch 5.56 rifle I bought back in the summer. My best loads with D8208SSC were as follows, all loads using LC brass and Federal 205M primers, cases were full sized:
55gr Hornady SP (Bulk) - 23.5gr D8208, OAL 2.215", 0.45MOA
73gr Hornady ELD - 21.8gr D8208, OAL 2.260", 0.55MOA
75gr Hornady AMAX - 22.7gr D8208, OAL 2.490, 0.59MOA
The most consistent, accurate powder I tried was H4985. In addition to the above bullets, I had no trouble getting between 0.5 and 0.9 MOA with these bullets using H4985: 55gr Hornady VMAX, 68gr Hornady BTHP Match, 69gr Sierra HPBT and 80gr VLD Berger.
 
I run 22.7 gr of D8202BR in .223 (.223 match chamber) with 75gr Hornady BTHPs seated at a COAL of 2.350" in Rem cases. Gives me about 2920fps out of a 26" 1:7.7 Krieger. D8208BR is definitely quite a bit faster than IMR8208XBR. I tried it in .308 (with 175 RDFs) but couldn't get close to the speed I get with Varget (2730fps in a 26" barrel) without hitting pressure. It meters well, seems relatively temp insensitive and is generally available.
 
Done some more testing with D8208. This stuff is nowhere near IMR8208 in burn rate. It definitely requires a smaller charge!

Getting excellent results with a 53gn Hornady match bullet. Around 22.6gn seems perfect. I think this powder is better for lighter bullets than IMR8208.

With a 68gn Hornady BTHP around 21.2gn seems good. I got okay results I think I should do a little more tweaking as it still seems a touch speedy. I also have some 70gn Bergers I’d like to test.

This powder meters good and doesn’t take much case capacity. I’m looking forward to testing it with 75gn bullets. Even with the bullet seated fairly deep there’s plenty of space.

I’m surprised theres any of this powder left. It looks like an excellent 223 choice!
 
I loaded a bunch with good results in a 223 bolt action with 52 grain hollow points. Haven't chronographed them, but they're pretty close to book max and shoot well. I loaded up some 308's today to try, but probably won't be able to try them for at least a couple weeks. Hopefully they work good. I haven't shot the rifle with anything else either, so I have no baseline accuracy to compare to.
Kristian
 
I haven't shot a lot of D8208BR yet, but it is indeed faster burning than IMR. No problem, it will stretch that 5lb jug just a bit further yet :)
 
Imo, it's so far off from 8208 xbr in burn rate, that they shouldn't even be using 8208 in the name. Not saying it isn't a good powder....but it's no where close to xbr.
I ran D8208 head to head with Benchmark under both 40 grain varmageddon's and 55 grain spbt's. Same cases, same primers, same powder charges. I was reaching pressure signs with D8208 when the Benchmark loads were still mild. I'd put it's burn rate close to H322 or maybe aa2015.
 
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