AusVarmint

Having shot 1K recently with my 308 LG, i noticed that the pressures were way up and the group had opened up considerably since going to a new batch of 2208. Previous testing has shown that the original powder batch allowed me to go to 45.5 grains with a 175 grain projectile, but the new batch would only allow me to get to 43.5 grains before ejector marks were present. The original working load of 44 grains that i used at that 1K match destroyed half of the cases used and loosened the pockets on the remainder. Returning to the original batch has since shown that it can still maintain lower pressures and better grouping at 500 meters.

There is definitely something different about this newer batch. #4845. For years i have just changed new for old lots as required and never had an issue. This is the first time i have been caught out with this powder and luckily it was with a case as strong as the Lapua 308.
I tested at long range at a mates place this weekend just gone to confirm what was going on and once again the new lot showed high pressure and poor grouping at all levels where inconsistent vertical shots were the trend. Win 748 and Re15 showed far better groups all around with more speed and lower pressures. The 2206H was too slow with the velocity to be any good for 1K but did seem to group OK.
Just to see what it would shoot like in my 6BR, i used the same 2208 powder charge as always and with known good bullets and primers and then shot four groups at 500 meters. The smallest was three inches, the largest was 6 inches and this was in good early morning conditions. The previous 1K match, Jeff H had used this rifle, same bullets and old powder batch to shoot a 5 and 7 inch group at a 1000 yards. I think that tells the story.

Been there and done that with the last two batches of 2208.Was driving me crazy in the 308 I use in F class.
I used some vv and found it to stay consistent batch to batch.hate having to retest when batches change.

MEM4845 burning too fast????
My 6 Dasher has gone from tack driver to shot gun when I loaded it with MEM4845. It burns way slower and much much dirtier than my previous lots of 2208. My super accurate load with my Dasher used to be 32.6gns, but to get the same velocity with the new lot takes 33.6gs and verticle was pretty poor. After 12 shots, it took 6 wet patches before it stopped looking like I was cleaning a muzzle loader, bringing out lots of gunk.
I was about to post something about this lot being way slower and dirtier when another shooter who saw what my Dasher was doing told me about a post about 2208. I didnt expect it to be about it being faster though. Another shooter at the club said something about one bad batch of 2208 causing poor accuracy recently with someone who had been using it for years.