Old Bob Wrote:Zen ... XBR 8208 is made in Australia. IIRC, the factory where it's made had some problems. I think forum member Klem might be able to say what those problems are. It might be a long time before we see anymore 8208 ...

grayfox Wrote:Hey Klem, not to hijack but H4895 has also been scarce as hen's teeth for a while now. Have you heard anything about that one...
thanks.

grayfox Wrote:O well, thanks, sure could use some more over here...

EastTNHunter Wrote:I don’t claim to be an expert, but of the powders that you listed I would lean towards Benchmark due to:
1-Burn speed and case fill with the lighter bullet
2-Barnes lists data for that powder here: https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/6.5-Grendel.pdf
3-Extruded powders tend to be more temp stable, and Benchmark is a Hodgdon Extreme extruded powder which is supposed to be among the most temp stable
4-Extruded powders TEND TO have less muzzle flash than standard spherical powders, and that could be of assistance with low light hog hunting

My next choices from your list:
-A2460 claims the best velocity in Barnes load book, and it meters darn well
-TAC meters well also, and claims to be less temp sensitive than other spherical powders -I cannot back up that claim
-H335-right below the A2460 in velocity, but also meters well
-CFE223 will likely give good velocities, and I believe that it has a flash suppresent to keep muzzle flash down in low light, but it is also very temp sensitive (may not be an issue for you) and you’ll have to hunt down data

Hodgdon data for TAC, H335, Benchmark, and a few others that you have listed can be found below, but it seems to vary quite a bit from the Barnes data (I have not researched if this is due to barrel length, etc):
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center

Klem Wrote:East,

Mate, whoops, I thought you might be - Apologies too.

That said, BM2 is good powder, I use it for 223 and would use it if 8208 was not around, for light bullets.

Klem.

DIANEB Wrote:Thanks, I'm going to try benchmark and H335 first...

EastTNHunter Wrote:you mention “BM2”… is this the ADI code for it, or is there a history there of a Benchmark “V1” and “V2” that I’m not familiar with?... but I’m not familiar with different versions if there are any

Klem Wrote:East,

Not all ADI powders are exported. As far as I am aware, for the US market only Hodgdon buys ADI powders, and only a selection of what is available.
http://www.adiworldclass.com.au/faq-items/is-hodgdon-propellant-the-same-as-adi-propellant/

There are two versions of Benchmark here: BM1 and BM2. Hodgdon does not import BM1 so unfortunately you might never see it. That said, I've tried it and it seems to lack power when compared to alternatives like 4198 - might be why Hodgdon gave it a miss.

BM1 is faster and closer to H4198, whereas BM2 (called 'Benchmark' in the US) is slower and closer to 8208.

ADI also makes IMR8208 XBR, called BM8208 here. It's another short grain extruded powder so it falls under the Benchmark prefix. The IMR group of powder brokers was bought out by Hodgdon in 2003. Hodgdon imports it now but has kept the rebranding prefix 'IMR'.

The reason it is called Benchmark is that while they are extruded stick powders they are chopped fine so they meter well like ball powder. The name is designed to appeal to bench-rest shooters who are pretty fussy about getting the load exactly right.

This ADI powder equivalent table shows where BM1 and BM2 sit relative to other brands. I find it useful when looking for alternatives. I also use this equivalent table by Reloader Swiss.

I use 8208 for Grendel loads up to 120gn, and 4895 for 120gn and heavier. If those powders were not available the equivalent charts are a good list of similar alternatives.