Which powder to buy?

[ColoradoShooter77]

My choice is an 8 lb keg of IMR 8208 XBR or H-4895. This will be for 223 reloading 50 and 55 grain bullets, maybe a few 69 grain bullets. I will also be loading 168 grain bullets in .308.

What's your thought?

 

[Offfhand]

Limited to a choice?

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Midsouth has both of these in stock in the 8 lb containers, so yeah, this is the choice.

 

[NWcityguy2]

Neither will be all that different for your applications. Take a pick.

 

[jmr40]

I don't like the philosophy of trying to choose 1 powder for multiple calibers. You end up compromising on both. In the long run buying 2 different containers of powder for 2 different calibers doesn't cost a dime more than making do with one. And you get better performance from both loads.

 

[Reloadron]

I don't like the philosophy of trying to choose 1 powder for multiple calibers. You end up compromising on both. In the long run buying 2 different containers of powder for 2 different calibers doesn't cost a dime more than making do with one. And you get better performance from both loads.

That would be my thinking. Of the two I would prefer IMR 4895 for my 308 loads with IMR 8208 XBR also in 308. Problem is I really don't care for either in 223 loading. I guess if it came to a must then IMR 4895 but again not something I would really want.

Ron

 

[FROGO207]

I have shot up several 8 LB containers of H 4895 with various 55 grain bullets in 223 because I had them on hand and will continue to do so. BUT Have not tried the 8208 XBR yet. I will watch this thread and see if it will be worth trying a pound or two for my use. I am down to a couple of 8 pounders of surplus for the .308 (to use with 150-165 grain bullets) that I purchased from Pats Reloading a before it all dried up a couple years ago. As stated above I try to make "best" choices for reloading a particular combo and keep supplies for each on hand.

 

[NWcityguy2]

I don't like the philosophy of trying to choose 1 powder for multiple calibers. You end up compromising on both. In the long run buying 2 different containers of powder for 2 different calibers doesn't cost a dime more than making do with one. And you get better performance from both loads.

Given the two powders he is looking at, as well as what he plans to do with them, he isn't making any compromises. Any advantage either powder has over the other will be specific to his rifles.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I looked at the load data for both and chose the IMR-8208, apparently it has a wide accuracy charge window and does well in both calibers.

I've checked out reviews on-line and it seems to be good stuff.

 

[Hondo 60]

I don't like the philosophy of trying to choose 1 powder for multiple calibers.

5 or 6 years ago, I would've agreed.
But now, if you can find any powder & data go for it!

 

[Dudedog]

8208 meters well thru most measures.
I had good results with it in .223

 

[Sport45]

I always like to have H-4895 (Or IMR-4895/AA2495) on hand. It's really not the best powder for anything I load but it works in everything and I'm pretty much assured I'll have a powder to start with for anything I buy. Rifle-wise, that is.

 

[PJSprog]

I always like to have H-4895 (Or IMR-4895/AA2495) on hand. It's really not the best powder for anything I load but it works in everything and I'm pretty much assured I'll have a powder to start with for anything I buy. Rifle-wise, that is.

I agree. To me, H4895 is for rifle what HP-38 is for handgun. May not be the best, but you'll almost always find a load that works.

 

[guns3738]

for 55 gr i use a low charge of imr 4198.

 

[ku4hx]

It's all good stuff and it all does well for somebody. Before you go buying in 8# kegs, you might want to try a pound and see if it indeed works as well for you as you're read about it working for others.

 

[Fatelvis]

It's a good choice that will work well for the cartridges mentioned and in either a bolt or semi-auto rifle.