Short Barreled 308 Powder Choice ?

[secondtry]

20" barrel. 150gr hunting bullets (A/bonds/Partitions) and 168/175 Sierra TMKs.

My go to would be H4895/2206H , but I recall someone on here getting better velocity with 8208 in a shorty 308.

I have both powders and am not interested in chasing around for anything else. I also have Varget/2208, but like others, have found that speed is lacking, so won't be mucking around with it for these loads.

Any suggestions/experiences, or will I just work loads up with H4895/2206H ?

[Rod]

I use to use 2206 (not 2206H) in my M14’s years ago. From memory they have a 22” barrel. IIRC, and it’s a long time ago, 40 grains with the Sierra 168 grain Match King and 42.5 grains of 2206 with 150 grain Sierra soft points. Both loads were extremely accurate but I doubt either broke any speed records.

Rod

[Rifletuner]

I was running BM2 in a 20" 308 win years back. If you didnt want to try a powder you dont have, than go 2206. I2206 is a very similar burning rate to BM2, and its the faster burring out of 2206 and 8208. But there is not much in it and I think either one would produce good results.

[stokesrj]

I’m the one who used the 8208 with better results. I found it to give me great accuracy and velocity in my 16” suppressed 308 using 165 and 168 grain Hornady and Sierra bullets. I’ve been doing some casual load development using Vihtavuori N555 and Berger 185 grain Classic Hunter since I work for them now but haven’t yet bettered my 8208 performance.

[secondtry]

Thanks for the input gents.

I have more 2206H than 8208, but I probably have as much 8208 as I need, so I will kick off with 8208, probably in the 50cm Stutzen.Probably 168TMKs and/or 150 Ballistic Tips. Can't put the Mag Speed on the Stutzen, but I lived with skyscreens for years so using them again won't be hard. (and no, I'm not going to spring for a Lab Radar )

[mchughcb]

Let us know how you go.

[secondtry]

Let us know how you go.

First session tomorrow. Should take only one or two sessions after that to know how it is going to shape up.

Nowadays, all that could take me a while , but I will report results.

[SPEEDY]

I've also used 8208 in the 308, great for dshorter barrels.
I think from memory I loaded 165gn partitions and 220gn RN with it.

[secondtry]

After a couple of months, I finally got around to doing some initial work with 8208 and 165BTs in the 52cm 308 K95 barrel.

Pleased to say that I think 8208 will work well with 165s, and I expect with150s, but full load development is a little way off. Curiously 8208 seems to give more speed with less pressure than 2000MR in this barrel. 2000MR is a renowned horsepower powder in 308, BUT IME 2000MR seems to give up more than 8208 in short barrels.

I already have a good load for the Stutzen, so starting afresh with 8208 can wait.