Anyone using Ramshot Powders?

[CZ57]

Besides me? I have used True Blue in a number of cartridges and find it to be the ball powder equivalent of Unique. True Blue is a very fine grained (and very dense) powder that meters exceptionally and will load from .380 up to and including the magnum revolver rounds.

Silhouette is what I used to replace 3N37 with. They are very similar and Silhouette loads usually require about .2 less grains than 3N37. Very good in 9mm for defense type loads and I believe it is the original .40 S&W powder used by Winchester. It was known then as WAP, or Winchester Action Pistol. It has a flash suppressant and is supposed to burn at lower flame temperatures in high pressure cartridges. I also use it in .45 ACP with the 185 gr. Remington Golden Saber. In .45 ACP it will go to +P velocity (1150 FPS) without getting into +P Pressure. Another good application is 10mm. It is a very overlooked powder IMO.

ZIP is one I haven't tried yet. I'm still using 231 for cast loads in .45 ACP and some jacketed loads. I have also used True Blue with cast loads with good results but when my 231 is gone I will make the switch to ZIP as they are very close in performance and ZIP is supposed to burn cleaner than 231. SIERRA got the most accurate load with their 200 gr. FPJ (Match) bullet using ZIP according to the SIERRA 5th edition. Greta all around .45 ACP powder that works for lighter loads in 9mm and .40 S&W as well as .38 Special.

Enforcer is nearly ideal in burn rate for full power .357 Magnum loads. Burn rate is close to AA#9 which I used formerly in .357 and .41 Magnum for full house loads. Some lots of AA#9 are said to be inconsistent so I switched to Enforcer for the same applications.

XTerminator is the only Ramshot rifle powder I've used and I used it in .30-30 and my results have been very good and as accurate as 748 has been in .30-30 for me.

So, if you use it or have used Ramshot powders I'd like to hear your thoughts. I know it is still unavailable locally in a lot of places but that will change in the future. My purchases have been online, but as the brand grows in stature availability will improve.

 

[NCsmitty]

I keep telling myself that I really need to try them, but I seem to gravitate to the same tried and true powders that have always worked for me in the past. Either Alliant or Hodgdon because I know that they will do the job.



NCsmitty

 

[cfullgraf]

I stumbled into True Blue during the Great Gun Stuff Shortage of 2009. I found it worked well.

 

[jmorris]

Xtermator and TAC are the only two I use, like them both.

 

[rfwobbly]

I really like TAC in 223.

 

[jem375]

I really like TAC in 223.

TAC is my go to powder for the 223, my coyote rifle

 

[FROGO207]

I use X-terminator, Tac, and Enforcer with excellent results from all. I have to thank Midway for getting me to try them by offering them on sale frequently.

 

[pharmseller]

I use Hunter for my .30-06 rifles with outstanding results.

P

 

[RidgwayCO]

I use X-Terminator in my EBR with excellent results. Just bought some True Blue at Sportsman's Warehouse because the price was so cheap (like $13 for a pound). Am looking forward to trying it.

 

[rbernie]

I use barrels of TAC for 223 and Zip for handgun range ammo. Sadly, the prices on RamShot offerings have gone up such that much of their economic benefit has been lost, but they are still fine powders.

 

[Walkalong]

That always happens when enough people discover a good thing and start buying it.

 

[sellersm]

I still have 3 lbs of WAP, and lots of Sillhouette!

As rbernie said, the cost benefit is quickly shrinking with their prices going up, but everything's prices are going up these days.

 

[Funshooter45]

I use True Blue a lot and really like it. I liked it so much that I bought some Enforcer and that has worked out really well too. That kind of got me on the Ramshot bandwagon so I have loaded some Hunter and Big Game for rifles. I have several series loaded for 7 mm mag and 270 WSM for load development but I haven't shot many of them in rifles yet, waiting for better weather to do a lot of rifle load testing. Just the other day I bought a pound of TAC for my .308 but haven't even opened it yet. Ramshhot is really easy to find around here. A couple years ago it was $3-5/lb cheaper than Hodgdon or Alliant. Nowdays it is getting closer in price. So far, I like it all pretty well.

 

[jfh]

True Blue and TAC here--and, I should note that Silhouette is the only powder I got to 357 Magnum max without primer deformation in my 640.

I really, really like True Blue. When I shot my first .38S development loads box, I found a one-grain wide sweet spot in the 60 I was using. That made me a believer--and I have since found that it is the fastest 38 S /158-gr powder when running at MAX.

I'm glad I stocked up a couple of years ago--).

Jim H.

 

[GLShooter]

I've used TAC and X-terminator. The X-terminator has been doing very well in my 223 for velocity and groups.

The TAC did fine in my 20 Tactical AR also.

Greg

 

[rduckwor]

TAC for 223 and 308.

RMD

 

[traveling1253]

Just started using True Blue with MBC IDP#5's seems to burn pretty good and meters dead-on every throw. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=573984&highlight=true+blue

 

[samurai]

I have been using Silhouette for some of my 9mm load and it meters great and is clean.

 

[LightningMan]

I use TrueBlue for only one cartridge, the 5.7x28mm which it works very well for, and I have used Zip for 9mm using cast bullets, also works well. LM

 

[CZ57]

I plan to use ZIP in .45 ACP when my supply of W-231 runs out.

 

[steve4102]

I use Silhouette in my 10MM, 40 S&W and 45ACP. I use Hunter in my 300WSM, 30-06 and 7mm-08. I use BigGame in my 9.3x62 and 7mm-08. Tac and X-T are my go to powders in my 223.
BTW, did you know X-T and AA 2230 are the same powder?

 

[ir3e971]

Zip is my powder for all 9mm loads. Really like how it meters and performs.

 

[CZ57]

BTW, did you know X-T and AA 2230 are the same powder?

No I didn't but Western Powder Co. owns both Ramshot and Accurate Powders.

 

[webfox]

I use Silhouette for my 9mm. As said, it's clean and meters well. I have been loading 5.8 gr as 5.4 and 5.6 gr gave me a couple of ejection problems.

I had to buy a tumbler right after using Power Pistol. (Flashy and dirty)

 

[azar]

I've used a decent amount of Magnum, though admittedly it was mainly for plinking loads & fouler shots because it was only $15.95 a pound when I first bought it. I decided to give it a try "for real" and was pleased I did.

I'm currently testing Hunter as well and just loaded up some more rounds with it last night. Hunter has been very clean burning and I've gotten some amazingly consistent chrono readings with it. I.e. 3 shots having S.D's between 1.7 and 6.0!

I just wish the price savings over the other brands was still there.