Ramshot Powders and the .223

Status
Not open for further replies.

ArchAngelCD

Member.
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
27,172
Location
Northeast PA, USA
I see a lot of threads recommending TAC for use in the 223/5.56 and I'm wondering why? According to Ramshot, X-Terminator was developed around the .223 so I would thing it would be a better choice than TAC. Ramshot does state TAC works well with heavy bullets in the .223 but I usually load 55gr and 62gr bullets and nothing heavier. I'm thinking X-Terminator and TAC are a little like H335 (WC844) and BL-C(2) (WC846).

Does anyone use X-Terminator in the .223 instead of TAC? Has anyone used both and compared the results? Accuracy? Velocity?

Thanks...
 
I use both TAC & Exterminator in the 223. My general use is TAC for 55 grn & heavier & Exterminator under 55 grns, though one could overlap beyond that.

I also did a cleanliness comparison with H-335. I started with a clean gun, shot 15 or so of H-335, looked then cleaned & did the same with TAC. In my test TAC was a good amount cleaner.

This test was done after a dirty/gummy AR action towards the end of a high round count prairie dog shoot in SD. No my test wasn't ment to be extremely scientific. Any individual powder can burn cleaner or dirtier depending on charge amount etc.

TAC also meters as well as any powder available. I also use it in my 204, & others.
 
I use X-T/ AA 2230 with 52-55gr bullets with excellent results.
If you have a newer jug of 2230 give it a try as it is identical to X-T.
 
I decided on TAC as the most flexible, so I could stock just one powder. I load a fair number of 53 grain Vmax and TAC is probably not the best choice, but I also load a lot of 55 Varmint Nightmare SP's and a few 69 and 77g SMK's. So TAC seemed the best choice across that range.

I also tested "cleanliness" similar to what sourdough44 reported, and I'll go further in that 335 doesn't even come close to TAC in that department.
 
I've loaded and burned about 16 lbs. of each running 55 - 77 gr pills.

I'm guessing most guys running TAC that you see posts for are loading for gas guns running in those bullet weights.

In these bullet weights, TAC runs as well as X-Term for the lighter pills as long as you keep the velocity down below 3,000 fps (through an 18" barrel). I've got a nice training load with ~24.7 gr. of TAC that only runs 2,925 fps with a 55 gr pill that'll hold easily sub MOA over 3, 10 round groups @ 100.

X-Term can push velocities up a little higher without losing accuracy in lower bullet weights. 55 gr pills running 3,050 - 3,100 fps will still hold sub MOA using the same test parameters as above.

X-Term does not perform as well as TAC with the 69, 77 and 80 grain pills, and I wouldn't use TAC for anything much below 50 gr pills personally.

Each powder can push velocities higher than I've listed above, but accuracy falls off quite a bit. X-term can't keep up with TAC using the heavier pills and vice versa for TAC vs. X-term on the lighter ones (below ~50 grains).
 
TAC & 55g Varmint HPFB

++1 on above post, i do most of my shooting at not much over 125.
I have found this combo to be the best for me in both my DD M4 V5 16" and also my DD SBR, waiting on my suppressor, but expect it will not affect anything. Additionally, it's very clean. I've tried about 5 of the most popular powders and this is going to be my "Stock" stuff, done messing around, I'm sticking with it for the foreseeable future, of course now that I've decided that I'm down to 3 lbs of TAC and can't get it anywhere!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top