Reloading 223 with IMR 8208 XBR

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grinder08

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I am looking for loading data for IMR 8208 using 55gr FMJ BT. As usual Hodgdon doesn't give info on 55gr FMJ bullets, can't figure out why they don't have load data for about the most common 223 bullet out there. Sigh.

It is for use in a 14.5" barrel AR15. I have been using 25.0gr of H335 but have a lb of 8208 I thought I would try. Superficially the load data for H335 and IMR 8208 look pretty similar.

Thanks in advance.
 
I use 8208 for 77gr sierras out of mine. Running 23 grains of powder and no pressure signs.
Wrong bullet weight I know.... that might get you in the ballpark though
 
Code: 
Cartridge          : .223 Rem
Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady FMJ-BT w/c 2267
Useable Case Capaci: 28.626 grain H2O = 1.859 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch = 57.40 mm
Barrel Length      : 14.5 inch = 368.3 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 50000 psi, or 344 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 103 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

7 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 85%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------

Hodgdon H335                        91.1     26.2     1.70    2854    93.9    50000   12751   0.768  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 8208xbr                         98.2     25.9     1.68    2827    90.4    50000   12487   0.769  ! Near Maximum !
 
Strongly suggest you buy some manuals, Hornady and Nosler are both good and are not expensive. Lyman and Sierra are good as well. I usually shoot Hornady projectiles so I always buy their manual. For the cost of 100 projectiles or a pound of powder you'll have a manual you can trust.
You can also find some Nosler, Sierra and Hornady data online.
Most data you find online is worth what you pay for it. Be careful you don't just load what someone else says is a good load, you never know what you are getting and what it will do in your rifle.
 
So far so good.

The 8208 doesn't seem to metre quite as well as H335 but close enough. Maybe need to be a little bit more patient. So far I have tried:

23.5 gr 8208. CCI 400 primers. Velocities very similar to H335.
24.0 gr 8208. Both CCI400 and 450 primers. Again very similar to H335. The powder is slightly more bulky. The 400 primers seem to be a little more consistent in velocity than the 450's but there is only a small difference in velocity between the 400 and the 450's. Within the margin of error.
24.5 gr 8208. Both 400 and 450 primers. Velocity spreads are starting to reduce and again minimal velocity difference between 400 and 450's. Surprises me a bit I expected a bit more ooomph from the 450's. Consistency is improving with more powder.
25.0 gr H335 my standard brew. With the 450 primers this seems to be about the limit. Getting some very slight bulging with 6 reload Winchester cases. I will experiment a bit more as it could be just the older cases.
 
grinder08 said:
So far so good.

The 8208 doesn't seem to metre quite as well as H335 but close enough. Maybe need to be a little bit more patient. So far I have tried:

23.5 gr 8208. CCI 400 primers. Velocities very similar to H335.
24.0 gr 8208. Both CCI400 and 450 primers. Again very similar to H335. The powder is slightly more bulky. The 400 primers seem to be a little more consistent in velocity than the 450's but there is only a small difference in velocity between the 400 and the 450's. Within the margin of error.
24.5 gr 8208. Both 400 and 450 primers. Velocity spreads are starting to reduce and again minimal velocity difference between 400 and 450's. Surprises me a bit I expected a bit more ooomph from the 450's. Consistency is improving with more powder.
25.0 gr H335 my standard brew. With the 450 primers this seems to be about the limit. Getting some very slight bulging with 6 reload Winchester cases. I will experiment a bit more as it could be just the older cases.
Click to expand...

Added a few more test in another session:

24.8 gr IMR 8208 CCI 450 Mag primers. Seems the most accurate mix.
25.0 gr. a bit less accurate and about 100fps slower than my 25.0gr H335 mix (2700fps vs 2800) . Note this is a 14.5" barrel. Also the 8208 seems to dirty up the works more quickly than H335. The H335 is a bit more consistent in velocity and accuracy. Not a big difference but overall prefer the H335.

Can't see any reason to switch to 8208 but it is OK if it is all you can get. Will stick to H335 when I can get it.
 
223 Remington

55 GRAIN BULLETS

VELOCITY (FPS – feet per second)
POWDER 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300
IMR 8208 XBR 22.8 gr. 23.6 gr. 24.4 gr. 25.1 gr. 25.8 gr.


from the Hornaday 10th edition manual..
 
GeekBoy100 said:
223 Remington

55 GRAIN BULLETS

VELOCITY (FPS – feet per second)
POWDER 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300
IMR 8208 XBR 22.8 gr. 23.6 gr. 24.4 gr. 25.1 gr. 25.8 gr.


from the Hornaday 10th edition manual..
Click to expand...

The problem with most of the loading tables is they use a 24" test barrel. Values are very different in a 14.5" barrel. I wish I could find some loading data for 14.5" barrels. If you try to load a 14.5" barrel to 3300 fps you could find yourself in serious trouble as in Kaboom. For 14.5" I figure that 3000fps is about the max you would go to. I typically use 2900 as my max to allow for the variations you can get between cartridges. Yes I am chicken.
 
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