8208 vs Varget

[Randy Tidwell]

I had a friend that is an experienced reloader make the statement that Varget and 8208 is the exact same powder, just labeled different.

He uses the exact same load with both powders.

Anyone else ever hear this?

 

[JKB57]

Not even close to the same powder on the powder burn rate chart 8208 is number 90 and varget is 108 which makes 8208 faster burning so I would look up the data for each powder for a specific caliber and use as directed

 

[Randy Tidwell]

That's what I thought.

I'm looking for a powder to replace LT-32 for light bullets in a short barreled XP style pistol chambered in 6BR.

 

[GimpyPaw]

Did you ask your friend what his chronograph reads on each load? If you mix up 5 of each load, and shoot a 10 rnd group at 300, will you have 2 different groups or 1?

 

[Randy Tidwell]

Did you ask your friend what his chronograph reads on each load? If you mix up 5 of each load, and shoot a 10 rnd group at 300, will you have 2 different groups or 1?

That is what I thought also.

 

[TheSouthpaw]

Just look at the grain size of each physically, not even close. Load density, not close. Burn rate is different, etc.

Both are amazing in the 223rem with heavies though.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

That's what I thought.

I'm looking for a powder to replace LT-32 for light bullets in a short barreled XP style pistol chambered in 6BR.

Lots of 6mmBR shooters have had very good results with 8208 powder. They don't use it because it's identical to Varget. They use it because it works. With 8208's faster burn rate I'd expect it to work better than Varget for the lighter bullets.

 

[ARlife4me]

I was looking at the 3 different 4350's for a comparison. Using speer, hornady, berger and nosler at several times the acc and imr are close. Burn chart shows otherwise. As always use a manual or call the bullet manufacturer for details when in question! I called sierra last years to confirm data that was almost 2gr difference using imr4831. Talk about lot change if that was the case?

 

[Doom2]

If 8208 is relabeled anything it would probably be Benchmark. That was a rumor when it came out. However I don't believe it is Varget. Being single based extruded powders they may actually have similar/same formulations but different geometry which effects burn rates. I doubt that ADI which makes all three would market it as a separate product in Australia if the same.

I use 8208 with 52/53 gr target bullets in 223. Its great with them. Availability is almost as bad as Varget.

 

[ARlife4me]

If 8208 is relabeled anything it would probably be Benchmark. That was a rumor when it came out. However I don't believe it is Varget. Being single based extruded powders they may actually have similar/same formulations but different geometry which effects burn rates. I doubt that ADI which makes all three would market it as a separate product in Australia if the same.

I use 8208 with 52/53 gr target bullets in 223. Its great with them. Availability is almost as bad as Varget.

I did see 8208 in stock, but short lived recently.

 

[blacktail 8541]

IMR 8208 XBR is a great powder and is my 1st choice in 69 and 77 grain loads in 223 /5.56. It is not just a relabeled varget. Benchmark is my light bullet powder for .223 /5.56. Also a very different powder than 8208.

 

[Kansaswoodguy]

8208 and Varget are not the same 8208 and I think Benchmark #2 which is not sold stateside under that name is IMR 8208 XBR powder. I seem to remember reading something to that effect anyhow.

 

[just_jon]

Definitely not. In a 6BR with the 68 grain Berger FB Target, QL shows max for 8208 as 33.3 grains compared to 34.6 grains for Varget. Using 8208 data with Varget is not likely to blow your face off as QL predicts it will be 7,200 psi under max. The opposite is not true and result in pressure 7,700 over max. Both are great powders and at the top of my list for testing in the .17 to 6mm class of cartridges.

 

[Randy Tidwell]

Thanks for the responses guys, I didn't want to argue with my buddy, but thought the same thing.

These days with all the powder shortages, we are all looking at alternatives.

I shoot Pistol Silhouette with a Stiller actioned XP style pistol. It has a 15" 8 twist barrel that is amazing accurate.

For the 50 meter chickens, I have been shooting 68 gr Berger's pills with LT-32. I'm down to my last 1/2 pound. Our State shoot is in two weeks and our big shoot is mid-July. Don't have enough for both shoots.

I have loads for heavier bullets using H335, but at 50 meters they hit so hard the chicken Silo's bounce back up.

I found some LT-30, faster than the LT-32, going to try it. Hope it will works well in a short barrel. Only testing will confirm.

I know I'm being anal, how much accuracy do you need for a target at 50 meters, lol. But if I miss, I want it to be me, not the load.

I love this site, so much info and so many people willing to share and help!

Randy