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Posted: 11/22/2008 11:01:10 AM EDT
I'm going to start reloading for my DPMS LR-308 and looking for a good powder.  If it works well for my AR-15 all the better.  I've heard some good things about Ramshot TAC and a guy I know and trust highly recommends it.  The only thing I've heard at the range is that it is not quite as stable as some powders?  Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Link Posted: 11/22/2008 12:04:26 PM EDT
[#1]
I use Ramshot Tac for 223.........don't load 308........I first used Tac for my 223 and changed to using H335 and H322........I went back to Tac.......seems to burn cleaner, more consistant, measures easy,.....
Link Posted: 11/22/2008 1:57:47 PM EDT
[#2]
TAC works okay for the 308, but I think for precision rounds you might find better results with using RL15, Varget, IMR 4895 or 4064 and there are some VV like N150 or N540.
Link Posted: 11/22/2008 2:00:19 PM EDT
[#3]
It's a little too temp sensitive for precision stuff.

In .223 it is too slow for under 65 grains.
Link Posted: 11/22/2008 2:30:37 PM EDT
[#4]
Varget for both.
Link Posted: 11/22/2008 3:21:34 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
It's a little too temp sensitive for precision stuff.

In .223 it is too slow for under 65 grains.


I've talked to people who've had good results with 62 and 55 grain, so there may be some disagreement on that subject.
Link Posted: 11/22/2008 3:32:06 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
It's a little too temp sensitive for precision stuff.

In .223 it is too slow for under 65 grains.


I've talked to people who've had good results with 62 and 55 grain, so there may be some disagreement on that subject.



I know markm loves the stuff under 55 grain pills.

I just think there are better choices for powder in that weight range.
Link Posted: 11/22/2008 4:58:02 PM EDT
[#7]
TAC works really well with 55gr Blitz Kings!  Pretty darn good with 60gr Vmax. Excellent with 69grOTM, 75grOTM, 77grOTM, and 80grOTM
Quoted:
It's a little too temp sensitive for precision stuff.

In .223 it is too slow for under 65 grains.


Link Posted: 11/23/2008 6:05:55 AM EDT
[#8]
TAC meters very well thru my Dillon RL550 with 69gr SMK's.
Accuracy is also very good In a RRA Varmit 20" barrel.
Link Posted: 11/23/2008 6:52:51 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
TAC works really well with 55gr Blitz Kings!


Fire one of the 55 grain loads with TAC under it at a paper target about 3 feet away. You will see a bunch of marks from the unburned powder hitting the target.

MarkM uses 24.5 grains of TAC under a 55 grain Hornady. Out of a 16" barrel QuickLoad shows only 86% of the powder burned.

I use 25.0 grains of Benchmark under a 55 grain Hornady. Out of a 16" barrel 93% of the powder is burned.

Link Posted: 11/23/2008 9:30:36 AM EDT
[#10]
I've had good results with 26.0 TAC and 53gr SMKs.  Haven't run them across a chrono, but the 10 round groups are sub MOA at 100 yards.  (RRA NM4 20" 1:8)
Link Posted: 11/23/2008 2:02:15 PM EDT
[#11]
So it sounds like there are some takers on .223 but none on .308.  I may have to try some to run through my AR's then run some .308 with it.  That's interesting that someone said it is too slow, since it is place between H335 and Varget on the burn rate chart and I haven't had issues with either of them on 55gr fmj.
Link Posted: 11/23/2008 2:29:41 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
So it sounds like there are some takers on .223 but none on .308.  I may have to try some to run through my AR's then run some .308 with it.  That's interesting that someone said it is too slow, since it is place between H335 and Varget on the burn rate chart and I haven't had issues with either of them on 55gr fmj.


Yes, I have used it in .308. It works and meters well through the Dillon measure.

Here is my old Remington shooting very well with my TAC load data in the hands of its new owner carbinereloaded.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=256068
Link Posted: 11/30/2008 4:20:35 AM EDT
[#13]
I bought a bunch of it to use for 223 plinking loads and I use it under 55gr and 62 gr with acceptable results.  Hey, they are pulled bullets and I use that ammo for my CCQ drills.

I loaded some up in 308 for plinking out of my fal and M1a.  I haven't tried them in my FAL yet but they shoot ok out of my M1a.  Again, pulled (tracer) bullets so it's hard to tell what the accuracy would be.  The rounds seemed to work fine and the powder seems to burn cleanly and it meters very well.

I use varget for my serious loads.
Link Posted: 12/1/2008 5:39:25 PM EDT
[#14]
Link Posted: 12/1/2008 5:44:00 PM EDT
[#15]
TAC is the fastest load listed by Sierra for 77s.

accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf
Link Posted: 12/1/2008 5:44:57 PM EDT
[#16]
Whatever!  I works for me, and the target and chrono provide good results for me in a could of weapons.
Quoted:
Quoted:
TAC works really well with 55gr Blitz Kings!


Fire one of the 55 grain loads with TAC under it at a paper target about 3 feet away. You will see a bunch of marks from the unburned powder hitting the target.

MarkM uses 24.5 grains of TAC under a 55 grain Hornady. Out of a 16" barrel QuickLoad shows only 86% of the powder burned.

I use 25.0 grains of Benchmark under a 55 grain Hornady. Out of a 16" barrel 93% of the powder is burned.



Link Posted: 12/1/2008 6:00:30 PM EDT
[#17]
Tac not good for 55 and 62 gr FMJBT loads?

Wish you would of told me before I loaded and shot a couple of k.

The above an attempt at mirth.

Op, never tried it in 308, but it's great in 223.
Link Posted: 12/1/2008 8:58:14 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
TAC actually works better with lighter bullets based on all the reloading data I could find. It doesn't make really good velocity with 75gr pills before pressure problems show up. I got the 75gr OTMs loaded to between TAP .223 and TAP 5.56 velocities. Data is in the reloading database tacked at the top of the forum.


Granted this is with 77gr SMK's and not the 75gr OTM's, but I've had good luck so far with Tac and heavy 223 bullets.  Out of a 16" 1/7 hbar at 60 degrees, I was getting about 2725fps with 77gr SMK's with 24.0 gr of powder.  No signs of pressure, so I ran off 500 rounds of this stuff using brand new IMG 5.56 brass and a box of cannelured SMK's.  Its my mk262 clone.
Link Posted: 12/1/2008 9:28:58 PM EDT
[#19]
I use(ed) TAC in 223 and 308. But Varget works just a little better. It's more consistent and groups are a little tighter.
With just a few Dollars difference per pound I've switched to Varget. But I don't have a progressive loader either.
I used 55gr and 168gr bullets respectively.
Link Posted: 12/1/2008 9:36:21 PM EDT
[#20]
just started using it in my 308, 45gr with 150gr Speer bullet. Use 24.5gr with my 65gr gamekings in my predator pursuit.
Link Posted: 12/3/2008 4:31:39 PM EDT
[#21]
I haven't tried tac or varget yet, waiting on my pv order, but reading all the above and the varying results also begs the question of shooting conditions. They will also affect the outcome, temp, humidity, etc.. Maybe as much as powder type??

Blackops_1.
Link Posted: 12/3/2008 6:14:53 PM EDT
[#22]
Link Posted: 12/19/2008 9:00:16 PM EDT
[#23]
Ill be trying Ramshot Tac this weekend as I have been having pressure issues with RE15 (mainly blown primers) with as little as 22.0 gr and fed 205 primers with all makes of brass and 77 gr SMK's.  Also changing the primers to CCI 41's, will post a report.
Link Posted: 12/20/2008 7:20:06 AM EDT
[#24]
Quoted:
Ill be trying Ramshot Tac this weekend as I have been having pressure issues with RE15 (mainly blown primers) with as little as 22.0 gr and fed 205 primers with all makes of brass and 77 gr SMK's.  Also changing the primers to CCI 41's, will post a report.


I'll be looking forward to the report, if you can post some pics of your groups!!
Link Posted: 12/25/2008 12:08:53 PM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
Ill be trying Ramshot Tac this weekend as I have been having pressure issues with RE15 (mainly blown primers) with as little as 22.0 gr and fed 205 primers with all makes of brass and 77 gr SMK's.  Also changing the primers to CCI 41's, will post a report.


Have you ever considered changing only one variable at a time?

Link Posted: 12/25/2008 7:51:44 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ill be trying Ramshot Tac this weekend as I have been having pressure issues with RE15 (mainly blown primers) with as little as 22.0 gr and fed 205 primers with all makes of brass and 77 gr SMK's.  Also changing the primers to CCI 41's, will post a report.


Have you ever considered changing only one variable at a time?



Ive gone through about 6 range trips changing things like charge weight (blew fed 205's out with as little as 21.5 gr RE15, which I believe is below the minimum charge posted by Sierra), I have replaced parts int he gun, verified correct headspace of the gun with a Colt Field gauge and headspace of the brass with a Hornady LnL case gauge set; only thing I had not done was replace the powder and the primers.  Sunday I will know for sure if my new loads work, gonna test 23.0 gr Ramshot TAC in PMC brass (was crimped), CCI 41 primers, 77 gr SMK seated to 2.260" OAL.  I use a hand priming tool to prime brass and out of all my brass this PMC brass has the best overall feel when inserting primers, good, smooth tension until the primer bottoms out in the case.  None of my other once fired brass fees this consistent when seating primers, some are looser than others whether bimped or not.  All of my brass that has blown a primer has been tossed out, and any that I feel seat too easy get tossed as well.  I have a feeling my RE15 powder was damaged due to heat while being shipped, I read an article about the effects prolonged exposure to heat has on powder and being that all powder coming to Hawaii rides a boat for a month under some pretty intense sun perhaps my lb of powder was bad which resulted in pressure spikes, who knows?
Link Posted: 12/25/2008 8:06:04 PM EDT
[#27]
Is it Federal brass that the primers blew out of?
Link Posted: 12/25/2008 11:45:26 PM EDT
[#28]
Quoted:
Is it Federal brass that the primers blew out of?


Federal, Winchester (crimped Q3131), Prvi, Armscor, and Lake City brass; all once fired.  I would say about every 4th round on average would blow a primer, all the way down to 21.5 gr.  I started my testing at 23.5 the first range trip and it went down every trip from there with no point of brass retaining all primers.  Theres a write up of the issues in a different thread in this section that a shooting buddy originally started for me while I was on vacation that explains more in depth.
Link Posted: 12/28/2008 5:35:01 PM EDT
[#29]
*update*

Ramshot Tac loads @ 23.0 gr all shot great with no blown primers, same POI as my RE15 loads and recoil felt a tad softer, more like a push.  Didnt do accuracy testing but had no issues shooting a 6" steel plate @ 200m with my aimpoint with this load.
Link Posted: 12/28/2008 7:33:05 PM EDT
[#30]
Good to hear the positive report.  6" plates @ 200yds is pretty good if you ask me.
Link Posted: 12/28/2008 7:50:01 PM EDT
[#31]
I am going to try H4895 for my DPMS.

I think ball powders are much more temperature sensitive so for any accuracy loads, I am leaning towards the Hodgdon extreme powders and similar.

I have the TAC but I am just going to use that for cheap practice ammo.
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