Best current powder for 6.5G?

[mdram]

Well I guess the local availability has determined what I can start with for my reloading. Only powder local is H335, not that bad a choice I guess. I don't want to order 8# of anything I haven't tried, so H335 it is, for now.

Keep the recommendations coming, local supply could change. Really was hoping I could have found some AR Comp.

ar-comp has dropped a couple of times the past week, but does not last long

[DeNinny]

try 8208, its also very temp stable, and give a better velocity than varget

Yeah I tried to get some for the last two years. Looked everywhere with no luck. And in the process I got 8lbs of both TAC and Varget when they became available. So now it will be years before I need to get more powder.

[trubulator]

try 8208, its also very temp stable, and give a better velocity than varget

On the shelf right next to the leprechaun beards and the unicorn farts...

I'd love to buy a keg of 8208 but it just isn't available. I have played with TAC and H335, both of which were good. Have a pound of A2520 to try. I have also found a pound of CFE 223, but its lack of temp stability is problematic. I really want to find a temp sable powder that gives good accuracy and high velocity with 123 grain bullets. 8208 fits the bill nicely if it ever shows up. In the meantime I am going to pick up a keg of TAC to use for Grendel and 223 target loads and stick with 335 for hunting if something better doesn't appear by next fall.

The popularity of AR Comp makes me think it should be on my list as well. Temp stable?

[mdram]

On the shelf right next to the leprechaun beards and the unicorn farts...

I'd love to buy a keg of 8208 but it just isn't available. I have played with TAC and H335, both of which were good. Have a pound of A2520 to try. I have also found a pound of CFE 223, but its lack of temp stability is problematic. I really want to find a temp sable powder that gives good accuracy and high velocity with 123 grain bullets. 8208 fits the bill nicely if it ever shows up. In the meantime I am going to pick up a keg of TAC to use for Grendel and 223 target loads and stick with 335 for hunting if something better doesn't appear by next fall.

The popularity of AR Comp makes me think it should be on my list as well. Temp stable?

last 8lb drop of 8208 was 2 days ago at pv

edit:
this has a test for ar-comp temp stability in 223
https://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/shoot/t223/index.htm
AR-Comp: This newer propellant manufactured for Alliant by Eurenco Bofors AB in Sweden (RP-34TZ) has interesting temperature response properties and velocity consistency. The Eurenco Bofors powder catalog has temperature-velocity data showing that RP-34TZ has its fastest velocity at -29°C (-20°F) and slowest velocity at 52°C (126°F) with overall velocity variation being comparatively small to that of other powders across the temperature range. The powder had no significant changes in velocity between 66°F and 129°F in this study. The low standard deviation in velocity compared to most other powders offers the possibility that it could provide greater shot-to-shot consistency (accuracy) than Varget for prone shooting with service rifles between 300 and 600 yards.

[Harpoon1]

On the shelf right next to the leprechaun beards and the unicorn farts...

I'd love to buy a keg of 8208 but it just isn't available. I have played with TAC and H335, both of which were good. Have a pound of A2520 to try. I have also found a pound of CFE 223, but its lack of temp stability is problematic. I really want to find a temp sable powder that gives good accuracy and high velocity with 123 grain bullets. 8208 fits the bill nicely if it ever shows up. In the meantime I am going to pick up a keg of TAC to use for Grendel and 223 target loads and stick with 335 for hunting if something better doesn't appear by next fall.

The popularity of AR Comp makes me think it should be on my list as well. Temp stable?

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/proxy....ac3306d8f8

[biodsl]

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/proxy....ac3306d8f8

Wow. No wonder people like H4350.

[trubulator]

last 8lb drop of 8208 was 2 days ago at pv

edit:
this has a test for ar-comp temp stability in 223
https://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/shoot/t223/index.htm
AR-Comp: This newer propellant manufactured for Alliant by Eurenco Bofors AB in Sweden (RP-34TZ) has interesting temperature response properties and velocity consistency. The Eurenco Bofors powder catalog has temperature-velocity data showing that RP-34TZ has its fastest velocity at -29°C (-20°F) and slowest velocity at 52°C (126°F) with overall velocity variation being comparatively small to that of other powders across the temperature range. The powder had no significant changes in velocity between 66°F and 129°F in this study. The low standard deviation in velocity compared to most other powders offers the possibility that it could provide greater shot-to-shot consistency (accuracy) than Varget for prone shooting with service rifles between 300 and 600 yards.

I never seem to be at the right place at the right time for 8208.

Really, I should probably just stop trying to chase velocity, etc. With a 335-based SST load I had no problems killing a large doe at over 300 yards last month. It only chrono'd 2400 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel, but when the bullet hit the chest cavity she went down on the spot like she had been struck by lightning. I have good loads with TAC and 335 and these bullets. Maybe that is good enough.

[mdram]

I never seem to be at the right place at the right time for 8208.

Really, I should probably just stop trying to chase velocity, etc. With a 335-based SST load I had no problems killing a large doe at over 300 yards last month. It only chrono'd 2400 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel, but when the bullet hit the chest cavity she went down on the spot like she had been struck by lightning. I have good loads with TAC and 335 and these bullets. Maybe that is good enough.

2400 is fine, my 123gr loads all seem to end up around 2450

[Bonas]

I never seem to be at the right place at the right time for 8208.

Really, I should probably just stop trying to chase velocity, etc. With a 335-based SST load I had no problems killing a large doe at over 300 yards last month. It only chrono'd 2400 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel, but when the bullet hit the chest cavity she went down on the spot like she had been struck by lightning. I have good loads with TAC and 335 and these bullets. Maybe that is good enough.

It's easy to forget that velocity is a means, not an end. If a load achieves your end, you're done. No reason to chase velocity after that, even though it's hard not to.

[trubulator]

It's easy to forget that velocity is a means, not an end. If a load achieves your end, you're done. No reason to chase velocity after that, even though it's hard not to.

I am coming to that conclusion. Easier to do with a full freezer courtesy of my "slow" 6.5 load...

[TedBrewer5]

I always will take accuracy over velocity. That being said I am fortunate to get 2450 fps from my 120 gr pro hunter( .75”) over 28 gr of 8208 loading

[Remington Jim]

H335 does it all.

Yup H335 and CFE223 !

[Mark611]

Well Jim, I have some H335 I have not tried yet from my rifle with a 18'' 1&8 twist, what rifle barrel length and twist are you running and what's your load for the H335? and what kind of numbers are you getting with what bullet? if you don't mind me asking, or anybody else who want to share

[trubulator]

Well Jim, I have some H335 I have not tried yet from my rifle with a 18'' 1&8 twist, what rifle barrel length and twist are you running and what's your load for the H335? and what kind of numbers are you getting with what bullet? if you don't mind me asking, or anybody else who want to share

I hunted this year with a 123 grain SST out of a 20" barrel doing 2400 FPS. Load was 27.4 grains of H335 and OAL was 2.245".

[Turpentine]

8208 is good. But I prefer AR Comp. It’s just really hard to find. It’s great in 308 and the Grendel.

[Mark611]

If your only getting 2400fps from a 20'' my 18'' will be a lot slower, I'm getting 2450fps ave with 120gn ELDM"s Shooter World Match Rifle, with 29.4gns, and getting just under 2400fps with 123gn ELDM's with A2520, with 29.4gns and low 2420's with SWMR my next trip to the range I plan to run the A2520 @29.6gns to see how it preforms, these loads were shot with 120gn ELDM"s 123gn ELDM's and shot 1.5'' groups @100yds, tho not super impressive groups at 100yds yet, but I plan to tweak my seating and crimp on my bullets to see if I can improve upon my group size, but IMO for a gas gun {AR} that's not bad groups at all JMO and my barrels are still not copper fouled or seasoned quite yet, The reason I asked about the H335 is I have about 6lbs of it and have not tried this powder at all out of anything, I originally purchased this powder for my 5.56 AR's Thought it might work in the Grendel, I have also been reading some info about RL15 powder being comparable to SWMR powder? anybody got any info on that? if so what are you loading in the Grendel? I know velocity is not everything, but I would like to over 2400fps from my 18'' barrel with decent accuracy!

[vaguru]

Mark,

What COL are you using with the 120 ELDM's, at what length do they touch leade/rifling?

[Harpoon1]

Isn't that what Federal uses with their TNT 90 Preditor load, which gives pretty great velocity? It's an older and not sexy powder, but really, not a bad choice at all.

I pulled some Federal 90 TNT rounds apart 6-9 months ago and I couldn’t match the powders up! And I think I have like 90% the Grendel powders. Under a jewelers loupe it was close but, when I looked at it under a “hobby” microscope, I didn’t think it was a match. Too be fair, I’m no expert and it could have been just lot to lot variability though.

Having said that, you could do a lot worse than using H335 with the 90 grn TNT’s!

[trubulator]

If your only getting 2400fps from a 20'' my 18'' will be a lot slower, I'm getting 2450fps ave with 120gn ELDM"s Shooter World Match Rifle, with 29.4gns, and getting just under 2400fps with 123gn ELDM's with A2520, with 29.4gns and low 2420's with SWMR my next trip to the range I plan to run the A2520 @29.6gns to see how it preforms, these loads were shot with 120gn ELDM"s 123gn ELDM's and shot 1.5'' groups @100yds, tho not super impressive groups at 100yds yet, but I plan to tweak my seating and crimp on my bullets to see if I can improve upon my group size, but IMO for a gas gun {AR} that's not bad groups at all JMO and my barrels are still not copper fouled or seasoned quite yet, The reason I asked about the H335 is I have about 6lbs of it and have not tried this powder at all out of anything, I originally purchased this powder for my 5.56 AR's Thought it might work in the Grendel, I have also been reading some info about RL15 powder being comparable to SWMR powder? anybody got any info on that? if so what are you loading in the Grendel? I know velocity is not everything, but I would like to over 2400fps from my 18'' barrel with decent accuracy!

My load for H335 was well under max. It just happened to be the accuracy load for my barrel. You might well be able to use a heavier charge with good accuracy.

[biodsl]

Having said that, you could do a lot worse than using H335 with the 90 grn TNT’s!

That's what I use, though admittedly I don't shoot these often. 31.4 is about max in my barrel.