ADI

[palmac]

Hi All
Sent an en-query to ADI re: their reload tables, inquiring about missing load data for projectiles not listed . I did get a reply and it was within 24hrs.
below is their answer.Thank you for your enquiry of 12/10/2026 with regard to reloading using ADI Sporting
powders.
It is impossible to have load data for every component powder combination for each
calibre. If your particular brand of bullet is not listed in our published reloading data,
you should refer to the data for bullet that is most similar in structure to yours. For
example a Nosler BT is a lead core spitzer so you can refer to the Speer SP as a guide
for your own experimental load development.
You have not stated what calibre you are intending to reload for but if it is .243
Winchester for example?? We do not have any test load data for .243 Winchester with
70 grain Sierra HPBT projectiles however we would suggest that you base your load
development on our published test load data for .243 Winchester with 70 grain Speer
HP projectiles.
Extreme caution should be taken and loads should be worked up accordingly. Refer to
our website at www.adi-powders.com.au or our 11th edition Handloaders’ guide for
more information, warnings and reloading safety.
Hope this helps other reloaders ( not a great deal of help from ADI).

[Damo300]

That's normally how I would go about it.

I'm loading 85gr Sierra in 243.
I'm using 37.6 of AR2208, getting 3100fps and very accurate.

[ButchDDG41]

I would love to know the exact recipe for their Gameking/Blitzking 223. I have been chewing through them at the moment, what with my wife now licenced and learning the ropes on a LA102 in 223.
I have 2208 and BM2 and have been playing around with loads for each, but cannot get them close to the factory ADI stuff.

[Fester]

I would love to know the exact recipe for their Gameking/Blitzking 223. I have been chewing through them at the moment, what with my wife now licenced and learning the ropes on a LA102 in 223.
I have 2208 and BM2 and have been playing around with loads for each, but cannot get them close to the factory ADI stuff.

Using most powders like 06h, 08, and the BM powders, you should be able to close, say, 3/4'' groups down to 1/2" and better.

Most blokes, when switching to BM2 or 8208, find the low accuracy node around 24gr.
I couldn't choose a winner, so went with 8208, and worked up a bit to get flatter shooting without losing that great accuracy level.
I just settled on 24.6gr.

Can push them further without issues, but why lose any of that long .223 barrel life when a .223 shooting 55s is a cheap and accurate shooter within .223 limitations?

[Wapiti]

I would love to know the exact recipe for their Gameking/Blitzking 223. I have been chewing through them at the moment, what with my wife now licenced and learning the ropes on a LA102 in 223.
I have 2208 and BM2 and have been playing around with loads for each, but cannot get them close to the factory ADI stuff.

Mate, someone was asking in another thread about 8208 (not 2208) and BM2 with 223... You won't get the same results as the factory 55gn Blitzkings with that speed-wise, or I didn't anyway.
I used 2206H because it's the ultimate accuracy powder in the eight 308 rifles we have here, from ultralight sporters to HB varmint types, so after stuffing around with BM2 and buying some 8208 (which was unsuccessful for our stuff, I used that in the 223 and got identical results, complete interchangeability.
With handloaded Blitzkings and the Sierra Super-Roos.
And exactly the same POI with the others above, using the 55 V-Max.
I think I mentioned this in another thread.
This was with:
Sako Varmint 1-14" twist
Rem 6715 pump, 1-7" twist
Two Howa Mini's (one ultralight pencil-barrel sporter, one 20" Varmint) with 1-8" twists.

I was after an identical load too, as the ADI 135gn factory HP ammo, and asked online as to what powder they may be using there - I assumed it was one of their own line. I got multiple answers saying it "was a special blend they make especially for themselves blah blah" which I suspected was crap.
This was when we couldn't get powder from them in any types... as if they were making "special blends"
So I used 2206H instead, same projectile, Win WLR primer, 45gns and got exactly the same speed, same POI, complete interchangeability.
Lesson for me was, yes, ask, but expect a lot of "my brothers' mates uncles cousin heard that they mix special blends on every 5th full moon..." stuff.

All you can do is try it, cos everything is different as we know.

[ButchDDG41]

Cheers for the info, I will look at getting some 2206H and see how that goes with game kings.

[JDM9691]

Having read a lot on the internet about reloading and load development, I'm always hearing "Every rifle is an individual", "you have to find out what ammunition it likes" etc. etc, and we play around with powders, projectiles, seating depths etc. in the search for better groups.

Yet if you ask "what's the best factory ammo for my .223?", half of the answers will say ADI Blitzkings. It doesn't matter what rifle, what barrel length, how far to the lands. It must be a goldilocks load that is just right for everything, and that is the opposite to what you'd expect if you believe all you read about load development.

It's very popular, the resellers charge plenty for Blitzkings, and ADI know it. Of course they're going to be cagey about giving away the secret recipe!
On this video the guy pulls some and says they have 24.7 grains but doesn't name the powder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7nVxRgPvDA

[niteowl]

I would love to know the exact recipe for their Gameking/Blitzking 223. I have been chewing through them at the moment, what with my wife now licenced and learning the ropes on a LA102 in 223.
I have 2208 and BM2 and have been playing around with loads for each, but cannot get them close to the factory ADI stuff.

Mate, someone was asking in another thread about 8208 (not 2208) and BM2 with 223... You won't get the same results as the factory 55gn Blitzkings with that speed-wise, or I didn't anyway.
I used 2206H because it's the ultimate accuracy powder in the eight 308 rifles we have here, from ultralight sporters to HB varmint types, so after stuffing around with BM2 and buying some 8208 (which was unsuccessful for our stuff, I used that in the 223 and got identical results, complete interchangeability.
With handloaded Blitzkings and the Sierra Super-Roos.
And exactly the same POI with the others above, using the 55 V-Max.
I think I mentioned this in another thread.
This was with:
Sako Varmint 1-14" twist
Rem 6715 pump, 1-7" twist
Two Howa Mini's (one ultralight pencil-barrel sporter, one 20" Varmint) with 1-8" twists.

I was after an identical load too, as the ADI 135gn factory HP ammo, and asked online as to what powder they may be using there - I assumed it was one of their own line. I got multiple answers saying it "was a special blend they make especially for themselves blah blah" which I suspected was crap.
This was when we couldn't get powder from them in any types... as if they were making "special blends"
So I used 2206H instead, same projectile, Win WLR primer, 45gns and got exactly the same speed, same POI, complete interchangeability.
Lesson for me was, yes, ask, but expect a lot of "my brothers' mates uncles cousin heard that they mix special blends on every 5th full moon..." stuff.

All you can do is try it, cos everything is different as we know.

They DO apply special blends. This comes about when a powder batch may be slightly off spec. they DO blend powders. Basically all ammo manufacturers do this all over the world, they buy the batch and blend it.
I can guarantee this as I have had involvement with ADI a few years back with propellant testing. Don't ask me how, as it is a long story.
Yes I attended their lab at the Mulwala factory for tests, they DO NOT and can not do this as a normal thing as a service for the public.

This is why you should NEVER dismantle a factory round an look at the powder and say "Oh this is x many grains of XYZ". It may not be what you think it is.

[Fester]

Although most factory ammo is a blend, so they get exactly what they wanted, plus it can't be copied, they did publish an info sheet when the BM powders were released.
They admitted the factory ADI Blitz and Game King ammo was indeed 24.7gr of BM 8208.

I was interested, being much the same as I developed, and pulled a couple.
It was definitely the finer-grained BM powder and 24.7gr of it.

I simply chose BM8208 as I had the 24" 1:9 barrel on the Weatherby S2, and I was starting out and spent a year just loading for that rifle and tried near everything.
I experimented with other budget projectiles, but none were as consistently accurate as Super roos.

I started loading them with 06h, got better consistency with 08, then tried BM2, then BM8208.
I had no chrono at the time, and my findings were just based on how many single ragged shots and close groups were shot on the test day.
I couldn't pick a winner between BM2 and 8208.
Some bloke gave me a container of BM1, but it didn't shoot as well, and I never bought a bottle or developed a load.

ADI and OSA were my fav cases, and so many blokes shot that ammo and chucked the cases that I bought nothing; I just collected once-fired.

I was even told by the range manager, that when the ADI ammo used V-Max pills, it didn't shoot as well.

When I was starting out and shooting the factory ammo, the Buffalo River SPs were my pick, as they just seemed to shoot best.
They were also under $20 a pack, and I didn't see a need to buy bulk ammo at the time, as I had started buying rifles and filled the safe within the next 18 months or so.

[Bcnr33v]

Although most factory ammo is a blend, so they get exactly what they wanted, plus it can't be copied, they did publish an info sheet when the BM powders were released.
They admitted the factory ADI Blitz and Game King ammo was indeed 24.7gr of BM 8208.

Makes a lot of sense. When I asked Hodgdon tech which power to try first in a 223 with 55gr sierras l, they recommended 8208 over all of their powders, including the US sourced ones. I understand they do a lot of the testing for ADI.

[niteowl]

ADI do a lot of testing themselves, regardless of what some people have claimed over the years !

[Wapiti]

I'm not saying I know what the "secret recipe" is, I'm saying that 2206H in the different rifles I listed all shoot exactly the same with my load.
For those who care, it is 24.5gns.
In my rifles, the speed is also matched.

As for blending powder, good luck, I still reckon it's an urban myth. Maybe it is or it isn't - I also don't care, because as I said, twice I've heard that crap and twice was told by multiple "experts" that I couldn't duplicate the factory characteristics - importantly speed and POI interchangeability.
Because it's a special blend.
But twice in 223 and 308, I did it with an off the shelf flexible powder. The projectiles used were there, the powder as there, so I tried it, and it was simple. In multiple guns.

[Bcnr33v]

I will report back on how I go with the BM8208. I dont need to replicate factory ammo. Just looking for good accuracy and decent velocity. Better flow through the autocharge will be a plus though.

2206H always seems a bit easier to get though which is a positive.

[Wapiti]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong as I often am when getting info from the incredibly mixed sources out there, but a few years ago I saw in an article that suggested that 8208 was this special blend from ADI that they had used in their factory ammo to get some more/better/different results from the over the counter stuff.
How does one prove this, as so much info online?
The reason given was something like, they had decided to release it as another option for the reloader as they had found it stable, accurate and flexible. But when one looks at their range of factory ammo, it's not exactly a big spread, 223, 243, 300BLK and 308... all stuff based on the 5.56 and 7.62 military ammo cases they make.
Which is completely acceptable and to the average bloke, especially on the land, appreciated because these two cartridges cover all needs realistically and even the hard core hunters we meet here are not interested in crazes.
As a business model in Australia, a good move I reckon, why compete and try and keep up with the new game-changer ammo tweaks by mainly US cartridge makers. Here we are such a drop in the bucket.
Who knows with the terrible politics here, tomorrow it all might end so why try and compete with a country where hunting is encouraged by communities and shooting is an enshrined right.

Interestingly, that's what I found with 2206H, it is so flexible so when I heard that this 8208 was a "special blend" for their commercial ammo I thought I'd give it a go and bought a bottle. Like 2206H, it was looking like a great powder for the most popular cartridges in the bush, 223 and 308. Just didn't turn out better than what I was using already.
2206H is a great powder for all the factory ammo they make, and this 8208 fits that bill too. Obviously though heavier bullets in 308 might be better suited to a slower powder, like 2208, but that's a maybe and an individual rifle thing as we know.
So does this mean that their special blend is now a commercial powder?
With that in mind, does it now mean they are using another special blend and have changed their loadings now?
Otherwise why play around with that idea? Constant improvement maybe?
I'd bet that with such a big state like NSW copping such a hit in gun and accessory sales dropping like a stone due to one pathetic knee-jerk political stunt from a village idiot, and the rest of the country taking a hit as well, doesn't sound like a great idea to spend money right now.

I don't set out to argue with all this info bombardment, who knows, I just take it with a grain of salt. The input from others here I really appreciate and am not setting out to argue with people way more informed than me.