223/308 Powders

[sisyphus]

I have settled on Ramshot TAC for both. I get good accuracy out of vanilla Hornady FMJ and it's relatively cheap. I've used BL-C(2) and CFE 223, both with good results and I'd buy them if I couldn't get TAC.

I was looking for an 8# TAC and no one has them at the moment. It made me go back to the drawing board to add some alternate powder loads to my workbench cheat sheet. I added Accurate 2230 and Shooter's World AR Plus. I'd enjoy the chance to try AR Plus, as it costs even less than TAC.

Lastly I ran into Hodgdon Benchmark and IMR 8208. Both look like they'd be suitable as well. Yikes they're kind of expensive though. What gives? Are these two powders that bench shooters chasing accuracy use?

 

[TEXASJD]

recobs has tac 8lbs
https://recobstargetshop.com/product/tac-8-ramshot-powder/

 

[Nature Boy]

In 223/308 my favorites are H4895, Varget and N140.

I’ve heard good things about 8208 but haven’t tried it

 

[allisd17]

For .223 I prefer Varget for 69g and heavier bullets, W-748 for 55g and lighter bullets.

For .308, my favorites are Varget and IMR 4064.

 

[sisyphus]

recobs has tac 8lbs
https://recobstargetshop.com/product/tac-8-ramshot-powder/

lol $44 hazmat plus $25 shipping, no thank you

 

[IALoder]

8208 is the king of accuracy in my .223's with any bullet I've tried it with, did well in .308 as well. Benchmark also did very well in .223 for me. Higher price probably has to do with benchmark being a Hodgdon "extreme" powder, and 8208 XBR being imr's version of an "extreme" powder. H4895, Power Pro Varmint, AR Comp, N135, and Shooters World Tactical Rifle would be other alternate powders to look at!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hodgdon has one lb bottles of TAC available on their site but no 8lb bottles available right now. If you're stuck that might help you. I don't know what the Hazmat and shipping charges are.

I await the day when powders are available in the local stores again but it seems this shortage is much deeper than previous shortages.

 

[sisyphus]

Hodgdon has one lb bottles of TAC available on their site but no 8lb bottles available right now. If you're stuck that might help you. I don't know what the Hazmat and shipping charges are.

I await the day when powders are available in the local stores again but it seems this shortage is much deeper than previous shortages.

I have a full 8# bottle at the moment, just want to start getting ahead on putting supplies away for rainy days to come.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a full 8# bottle at the moment, just want to start getting ahead on putting supplies away for rainy days to come.

I completely understand and agree...

 

[Charlie98]

Not a big fan of trying to consolidate powders, particularly for 2 cartridges that can have vastly different ballistic applications. Having said that, my initial experiments with TAC have me reconsidering that; it has performed very, very well in 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and even .30-06 (M1 Garand.) It outshot IMR4064 with the 168grn SMK in my .308 Savage bolt gun (at 100yds, ) which completely caught me off guard.

Currently, I use H335 in 5.56mm, although if I was loading for absolute accuracy I would give IMR4895 a try. I have used H335 in .308 and .30-06 as a backup plan... sort of what you are doing. I didn't like it there, too much muzzle blast and fireball... BUT... it can be done.

I use IMR3031 in 7.62mm blasting ammos, for my M1a, and IMR4064 for my .308 Savage bolt gun. I use IMR4895 for my M1 Garand loads.

Like you, I'm on the hunt for an 8#er of TAC... if I can get results like I got with my test loads, it would likely wipe 3 powders off the bench. If you like TAC, I would probably just be patient... it does show up now and then... as was mentioned, more so than some of the other powders. For me, it always seems to show up when I don't happen to have the immediate disposable income to pick it up... like now at Powder Valley. I would be less inclined to buy an 8#er of something I'm not familiar with, rather than wait for what I want... I've been down that trail before, too... unless you just like to work with new powders. I don't.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I have settled on Ramshot TAC for both. I get good accuracy out of vanilla Hornady FMJ and it's relatively cheap. I've used BL-C(2) and CFE 223, both with good results and I'd buy them if I couldn't get TAC.

I was looking for an 8# TAC and no one has them at the moment. It made me go back to the drawing board to add some alternate powder loads to my workbench cheat sheet. I added Accurate 2230 and Shooter's World AR Plus. I'd enjoy the chance to try AR Plus, as it costs even less than TAC.

Lastly I ran into Hodgdon Benchmark and IMR 8208. Both look like they'd be suitable as well. Yikes they're kind of expensive though. What gives? Are these two powders that bench shooters chasing accuracy use?

Both those powders are better for me than tac. And I would be willing to pay 10-15% more for them.
AR+plus it's my new trial powder. I have gotten surprisingly good results so far.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like above, I don't like using 1 powder for such different cartridges. I use H335 for the .223/5.56mm or Varget for top accuracy. With the .308/7.62 I prefer IMR4064 and for the 30-06 I like H4350 and for the Garand H4895.

 

[JEBruns]

My AR doesn't like Varget very much. I mostly shoot light bullets. CFE223 is great with some bullets, and H335 is great with others. I use Varget and IMR 4350 for my Tikka 6.5CM, and it likes both. I'm not really looking for a powder that would work well in both, but might have to pick up some Tac and give it a try. It would simplify things. Local Bass Pro had some on the shelf the other day. They had a LOT of powders, in 1's and 8's.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I've used quite a few powders in 223/ 5.5, but only one in 308, I don't load 308 now, imr 4064. That is because I don't have a 308 and when I did I used 1 powder for several cartridges. Tac is what I've been using of late in 223, but have used h&I 4895, blc2l and cfe 223 all very versatile powder yhat perform well in other cartridges, I work up loads using several powders in case my preferred powder isn't avsilable.

 

[Pottimus]

IMR 4064 does it all.

 

[ParallelCode]

I got into TAC several years ago as it was inexpensive and readily available at the time. In pandemic times I seem to recall seeing 8 pounders on occasion, but given its popularity it moves fast.

I don't load for 308, but it has served me well in 223.

 

[The Bushmaster]

H335 for .223 55 grain bullets and H380 for .308 and 150 grain bullets.

 

[Lee Q. Loader]

If you really want an 8lber of TAC, and you're not in a big hurry, I think you should just wait until you can find it.
I say this because I check Powder Valley Website often. TAC 8's seem to be available quite regularly.
Just keep checking. I'll do the same and let you know if I see it.

 

[ParallelCode]

@sisyphus -- 8# TAC in stock now at Powder Valley: https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/ramshot-tac/

 

[sisyphus]

@sisyphus -- 8# TAC in stock now at Powder Valley: https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/ramshot-tac/

good lookin out, thank you!

 

[ParallelCode]

good lookin out, thank you!

Happy to help

 

[GooseGestapo]

MidSouth also has 1lb bottles of TAC in stock.

 

[dh1633pm]

I use IMR4895 for 308 and AA2230 for .223. I also use IMR4895 for .223. So I guess it could be my go to power for .223 if I only wanted to have one powder. Only for me 2230 works a little better.