8x56R
2.20" case lenght
3.02" OAL w/208 gr. spitzer BT
Some load data is courtesy of Lee Precision Inc. and other contributions from members. * indicates Lee precision.
Thanks to all.
125 gr. bullet, 37.7 gr. H4198 max 42.0 gr. 3054 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 49.4 gr. H380 max 55.0 gr. 2909 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 52.1 gr. H414 max 58.0 gr. 2893 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 45.8 gr. H335 max 51.0 gr. 2891 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 42.2 gr. H322 max 47.0 gr. 2840 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 45.8 gr. 4895 max 51.0 gr. 2796 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 44.9 gr. BL-C(2) max 50.0 gr. 2789 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 41.9 gr. Reloder15 max 46.8 gr. 2760 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 40.9 gr. Reloder12 max 45.0 gr. 2720 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 50.3 gr. H450 max 56.0 gr. 2509 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 48.5 gr. H4350 max 54.0 gr. 2480 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 53.0 gr. Accur4350 max 53.0 gr. 2418 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 53.0 gr. Accur3100 max 53.0 gr. 2185 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 54.5 gr. Accur8700 max 54.5 gr. 1788 fps*
150 gr. bullet, 36.8 gr. H4198 max 41.0 gr. 2848 fps*
150 gr. bullet, 48.5 gr. H380 max 54.0 gr. 2778 fps*
150 gr. bullet, 50.3 gr. H414 max 56.0 gr. 2773 fps*
170 gr. bullet, 44.0 gr. H4895
170 gr. bullet, 41.3 gr. H4895 max 46.0 gr. 2501 fps*
170 gr. bullet, 47.6 gr. H414 max 53.0 gr. 2586 fps*
170 gr. bullet, 39.5 gr. H322 max 44.0 gr. 2555 fps*
170 gr, bullet, 44.0 gr. H380 max 49.0 gr. 2509 fps*
170 gr. bullet, 48.5 gr. H4350 max 54.0 gr. 2507 fps*
185 gr. bullet, 26.0 gr, XMP-5744
198 gr. bullet, 46.0 gr. 3031--2310 fps
200 gr. bullet, 40.7 gr. Accur 4350 max 44.0 gr. 2039 fps*
200 gr. bullet, 49.0 gr. Accur 3100 max 49.0 gr. 1980 fps*
200 gr. bullet, 54.5 gr. Accur 8700 max 54.5 gr. 1692 fps*
205 gr. bullet, 13.5 gr. Red Dot
206 gr. bullet, 45.0 gr. 3031--2300 fps
215 gr. bullet, 13.0 gr. Unigue 1400 fps
220 gr. bullet, 46.0 gr. Accur 3100 max 49.2 gr. 1946 fps*
220 gr. bullet, 39.4 gr. Accur 4350 max 42.0 gr. 1906 fps*
220 gr. bullet, 51.5 gr. Accur 8700 max 51.5 gr. 1512 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 51.2 gr. H4831 max 57.0 gr. 2346 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 44.9 gr. H414 max 50.0 gr. 2342 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 41.3 gr. H380 max 46.0 gr. 2285 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 41.3 gr. H4350 max 46.0 gr. 2221 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 44.0 gr. H450 max 49.0 gr. 2145 fps*
I've done more than a little work with 8x56R and have some experience with using milsurp IMR 4895. This powder may be a little too fast to give the best efficiency in 8x56R, but I have been satisfied with its performance. I have a hefty quantity of it and like to find uses for it. Here is some data that I have used:
205 gr. Hornady SP bullet .330
35.0 gr. IMR 4895 (milsurp)
Fed. 210 primer
Average muzzle velocity 1531
Standard deviation 13.16
This is a pretty light load and the charge could safely be raised to at least 40 gr. This is a very pleasant load to shoot.
225 gr. Hornady SP .338 resized to .330
40.0 gr. IMR 4895 (milsurp)
CCI 200 primer
Avg. muz. vel. 1796
Std. dev. 22.39
225 gr. Hornady SP .338 resized to .330
42.0 gr. IMR 4895 (milsurp)
CCI 200 primer
Avg. muz. vel. 1932
Std. dev. 19.51
Stout recoil; prints about 4 inches high at 100 yards in test rifle
I do not recommend exceeding this load
I like IMR 4350 for loading the 8x56R. As a slower powder, you can load to full charges and it still has less recoil than faster burning propellants. The slower burning powders have a longer burning curve and don't give that sharp slap of recoil.
205 gr. Hornady SP .330
48.0 gr. IMR 4350
Fed. 210 primer
Avg. muz. vel. 1868
Std. dev. 26.8
I fired this load on the Silver State Gun Club 100 yard range in Beatty, Nevada. At 100 yards, this load was perfectly centered on the paper target.
If you are really adventuresome, you can use this one:
200 gr. Hornady SP .338 resized to .330
39.0 grains of pulled-down European cut-sheet powder from milsurp Turkish 7.92x57mm ammunition (1947 date)
WW primer
Avg. muz. vel. 2045
Std. dev. 32.15
Same load as above, but using:
40.0 gr. pulled Turkish powder
Avg. muz. vel. 2157
Std. dev. 26.32
repeat test on another day:
Avg. muz. vel. 2154
Std. dev. 22.71
I do not recommend exceeding this load
Commercial Graf headstamp brass was used in all of the above loads.
No visual signs of high pressure were noted in any of these loads.
This data was all taken using milsurp M95 Steyr short rifles. Use this data at your own risk, use caution, common sense, and accepted loading practices. Your rifle is different from my rifle, etc, etc.
Since you mention Norma 205, how about this:
8x56R
225 gr. Hornady SP .338 resized to .330
46.5 gr. N205
Fed 210 primer
Avg. muz. vel. 1865
Std. dev. 8.88
200 gr. Hornady SP .338 resized to .330
48.0 gr. N205
Fed 210 primer
Avg. muz. vel. 1944
Std. dev. 28.50
200 gr. Speer spitzer .338 resized to .330
48.0 gr. N205
Fed 210 primer
Avg. muz. vel. 2008
Std. dev. 26.38
I got a little smoking on the cases using N205 that I don't like; notice that the SD opened up some using the 200 gr. bullets.
RL-15 is comparable to IMR 4895; I can get a little more speed out of RL-15 than 4895.
200 gr. Hornady SP .338 resized to .330
32.0 gr. Alliant RL-15
Fed 210 primer
Avg. muz. vel. 1638
Std. dev. 19.42
This is a nice, light load. Compared to the IMR 4895 data, above, the RL-15 is a little more efficient in that a slightly smaller quantity gives a little more velocity. Since this load doesn't fill the case, recommend shooting with "powder down" as to do otherwise will cost you around 50-80 fps.
39.5/IMR 3031 & Hornady's 205gr bullet
45.0 gr/ IMR 4064 clocked in the 2050 range, and 47.0 grains was around 2135fps.
* Lee .329" diameter 205 gr bullet w/ Hornady 32 cal GC. Lubed with Lee Liquid Alox and sized in a Lee .329 die. Alloy was wheelweights enriched with tin and linotype metal to approximate Lyman #2.
* 25 gr IMR 4198
* Winchester WLR primer
For well over 20 years, I have been using IMR 4759 powder for reduced charges in both jacketed and lead bullet loads. The following data reflects the use of that propellant.
Cast lead bullet of 200 grain weight w/gas check (Lee mold)
20.0 grains IMR 4759
WW primer
Graf case
Average muzzle velocity 1424
Standard deviation 27.53
At 50 yards, the bullet impacted about 6 inches high from point of aim. Accuracy fair.
Same load as above, but with a very hard lead bullet w/ GC cast from the Lee mold weighing 180 grains.
Average muzzle velocity 1418 fps.
Standard deviation 25.74 fps.
At 50 yards, the bullet printed 6 to 8 inches high from point of aim. Accuracy fair.
Also re-tried the following:
Cast lead bullet of 200 grains w/ gas check cast from Lee mold
16.0 gr. H2400
Remington 9 1/2 primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle velocity 1340 fps.
At 50 yards, bullet printed 5-6 inches high from point of aim. Accuracy good.
If fired at 100 yard targets, I suspect the point of impact for all of the above would come down significantly. Heavy bullet plus reduced charge equals looping trajectory.
I also wanted to try the fairly new "Trail Boss" powder from IMR in cast bullet loads in this caliber. So, I put together the following load.
Cast lead bullet of nominal 205 grains with gas check using
Lee mold.
11.0 grains of Trail Boss
WW primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle velocity 1118.4 fps.
Standard deviation 9.37 fps.
Note: Wonderful SD, accuracy good, but at first hard to determine as this load at 50 yards printed so high that I had to aim below the paper to get it to print. Being completely off the one inch target grids, It's difficult to say how far off point of impact this one is when fired in my M95 Stutzen. The bullet has so much in-bore time with this light load and particular powder that the muzzle has plenty of time to climb before the bullet leaves the barrel. When I am playing around with reduced loads, I like to shoot on the 50 yard range. It's easy to figure out where the bullets are going. If we took this load to the 100 yard range, it might just print more like where we wanted it, as by that time the bullet would be in its downward trajectory. I don't think I am going to spend any more time on reduced loads for rifles using "Trail Boss" as there are cheaper powders that work better for this purpose.
While at the range, I also popped off some jacketed bullet loads in this caliber, which I think I have already posted the data on. Just in case, they were:
Hornady 205 grain jacketed spire point bullet .329
48.0 grains IMR 4350
Federal 210 primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle vel. 1809 fps
Hornady 205 grain jacketed spire point bullet .329
35.0 grains milsurp IMR 4895
Federal 210 primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle velocity 1445