Ramshot TAC or X-terminator for .223

[fatelk]

I found a local source for Ramshot powder. $12/lb seems like a good price. I can get either TAC or X-terminator. I will be loading mostly .223 with it and will likely buy three or four pounds.
It looks like X-terminator is great for lighter bullets in .223 (which is what I load), but TAC would work for both .308 Win and 30-06 in my M1(150's in both).
Has anyone used either of these powders for these applications?

 

[Walkalong]

You are right. X-terminator is a little better for the light bullets, but Tac is more versatile. I know. Not a big help, right.

No crime in getting some of both.

 

[rino451]

I use TAC for 55gr and ss109 reloads. Loading for blasting ammo mostly, and it seems that 25 gr. (conviently good for both bullets) does a little better with the ss109 vs. the 55gr. It's hard to tell though with mixed brass... I'll probably back off to 24.5 gr. or less simply to conserve in the long run as I probably won't start reloading for accuracy.

 

[esheato]

I used X-Terminator in my .223 AI with 40 grain bullets and had some good groups.

At that price, you have no reason not to try both of them.

Ed

 

[fatelk]

I think I might get a couple pounds of each, perhaps more of TAC, finances permitting. From the info I've found, it looks like it should work OK in the old M1.
Anyone else use TAC in the Garand?

 

[ARGarrison]

I found Ramshot power last year. Never heard of it, let alone seen any. Yeah I might live in a cave, so what. Wanted something to load up some .303 Brit round for my new/old SMLE. Found TAC and Big Game powders had data for .303. Got TAC because of the heavy .223 Rem (68/69 gr.) data. Don't have much range data to report, but for some reason I tend to buy a pound everytime I get to the store, if they have it. Bought a pound just yesterday. The price is what keeps me buying it. Plus I got a new .30-06 to load for . Might even give try Big Game a try.

 

[stubbicatt]

I've used both TAC and Xterminator with 223 and 55 grain Vmax bullets. Neither is very accurate, which is what I was seeking for prairie dogs. The TAC was very inexpensive at Powder Valley a month or so ago, so I bought 8# for use in FMJ blasting loads. It works fine in that application.

Can't say that one was better than the other, except that TAC was cheaper.

I reverted to H4895 for the prairie dog shootin'.

 

[Walkalong]

Stick powders rule at long range. (600 yards and out), but I have found TAC to be very accurate at 300 yads and in. Different guns like different things. For blasting loads I use SRB-118 surplus I bought years ago.

 

[ARGarrison]

May I ask "Where are you finding data on reloading .30-06 with TAC?"

All I see from Ramshot list only Big Game and Hunter for .30-06.

 

[ARGarrison]

Well I found one source for using TAC in an .30-06. It's on the side of the container of TAC, but not in their loading booklet. It is only for 168 gr serria BTHP match bullet.

 

[hapi]

Tac is very clean if that matters. there are a lot of people using Tac in .223 because of the sales 3-4 months ago.

 

[crux]

I've got a pound of X-Terminator and 1000 52gr SMKs to play with, I hope good things will happen. I've got a short ton of TAC (O.k., 30lbs) and I love it with 68-77gr bullets (10 shots MOA for the 75s and 77s), It does very well with 55 FMJs, it is sub MOA with 52 SMKs (5 shots) and 55 Nosler BTs (10 shots). TAC may be my favorite all around .223 powder. I also like Reloader 7 with 52 and 55gr bullets, its one of Sierra's accuracy loads for the AR.

Guns are individuals, they will tell you what they like. Let us know how it works out. I've got a 52 SMK project working for the winter including Rx-7, TAC, X-Terminator, H335, and maybe others. RX-7 has been best to date.

 

[CZ223]

I bought 23 pounds of TAC

from Midway when they had it onsale for $9.99/lb. I am very impressed with it as it works extremely well in both the 223 and the 204 Ruger. I get well below half inch 5 shot groups at a hundred yards most of the time. It compares very closely to BLC-2 and H-335 which are/were my 2 favorites. I have not tried it in the 308 but, again, like BLC-2 it would not surpise me if it does very well in that round as well. I wouldn't think it was a good choice for th 30-06 though.