IMR XBR

[shakes]

Anybody out there tried that new powder XBR(8208) with the gold label from IMR(DuPont) yet? They say its supposed to be more accurate than Varget. Just scratching the old noggin putting unneccesary thoughts into ones head.

[Jim Beckley]

I was talking to a guy in Tucson who was trying it in a 6.5 Grendel or Creedmore case, he seemed to like it. I talked to a couple of benchresters about it, the original 8208 was a powder that was wanted by many, a guy took the original and a boat load of cash to Hodgen and wanted the same powder made up, the people that I've talked to say that the newer stuff is slower than the original, hence more powder used for the same velocity, accuracy don't know about. Here where the temps maybe in the 80's when you leave the house for the range and maybe 110 when the match is over, I am staying with one of the extreme powders. A guy who likes to experiment with different loads for his 6.5x47 has told me that he gets his best groups from H-4895, don't know haven't tried it yet.

[shakes]

thanks Jim

[RBriscoe]

As Jim indicated, the bench crowd funded this powder. The few I have spoken with about it indicate that the main problem with it, from their perspective, is getting enough of it in the 6 PPC case because it is a little on the slow side for that application. (Once again, the same story as Jim's.) That said, they indicate that it can shoot well and it appears to maintain its "tune" during the day well. That means that they are likely to be able to avoid the problems during the day that can cost them an aggregate. Please remember that it will take an aggregate which is quite small to place at any of the major benchrest competitions. We, on the other hand, are facing a different set of challenges...such as getting the round out of the barrel while it is still pointed at the target. In my experience, some powders are better than others at holding their zero over a broad range of temperatures. Even so, the changes in lighting conditions, temperature, wind and such will have us consulting our spotters to try to adjust to the changing conditions.

I think that it might be interesting to try some 8208 in a 6.5-08 or 6.5x47 Lapua with light bullets as a replacement for some of the light loads with VV 133 or Benchmark. It is unlikely that I will get around to that any time soon though.

Give it a try and see. Let us know what your results are.

P.S. There is a reason H 4895 is a "classic". It performs well in a wide variety of cartridges.