Ramshot TAC for 5.56

[Dr. Dickie]

I know that a lot of folks like H335 for the AR, but Powdervalley has a great price on Ramshot TAC right now, has anyone used this for the AR? They say it is great for the heavy rounds, but I shoot mostly 55 and 62 gr.
Not a benchrest shooter, just off-hand but I don't want to buy 16 # of something and then not want to use it!
Thanks

 

[tkcomer]

I'm giving it a try. Haven't shot much of it yet. 52gr Sierra Matchkings are promising. I'm using 25.8grs behind them. 25.5 behind my 55gr bullets. My last outing wasn't too good, but then, my rifle was giving me fits. Buffer tube is just a tad too short. I opened it up and the buffer and spring shot out because the detent pin was not secured properly by the tube. That and a gas ring was burned out. Right now I'm getting about 3” groups with Hornady FMJ, about 2” groups with Midway 55gr Dogtown bullets, and about 1½” with the Sierra bullets. The Sierra bullets group tight, but there is always that one flier that screws up my 5 shot group. This is shot out of a parts lower with a 16” Model 1 varmint upper and an old carrier group. Nikon 3.5X10 scope. Rifle functioned fine with 2 extraction failures out of 300 rounds. It's just that last outing the groups got sporadic. That's when I inspected the gun and found the problems.

 

[threefeathers]

I've loaded over 5K rounds with it. This is a great powder.
For my normal practice loads I use 24.5 grains driving a Winchester bulk 55 grain fmj.

For my M855 clones I use 26 grains of TAC with the small rifle magnum primer and an OAL of 2.245. I also use a Lee crimp on these. I fired 200 of them this afternoon. This is a hot load but it chrono's the same as issue M855.

 

[flynlr]

oddly enough I received a big box from powder valley today that had 16lbs of Tac
and 5k of CCI#41 Primers.

I have a few K of the hornady FMJ55Gr bullets I am going to work up with the tac.

I jumped on the Tac deal when I noticed I was down to my last 5 lbs of AA2230.

this is for My RRA 16" AR so another day at the range is in the future.,

 

[crux]

I have more than I care to admit and I'm still thinking about getting more. I haven't tried 52/53 match bullets yet, but 55gr Nosler BTs shoot very well and 75 to 77gr OTM do great.

 

[Adventurer_96]

Any updates on your luck with this?

It's between bulk 844/846 powder & TAC for me for my plinking loads, which will be 55gr surplus bullets in LC cases.

 

[crux]

26.0 gr TAC
Rem 7.5 primer
Hornady 55 FMJ
Rem 1x case
16" 1/8" RRA

Low 3025
High 3101
Ave 3059
ES 76
SD 22.73

Shoots real well.

 

[Adventurer_96]

Glad to hear, thanks, I love this powder.

 

[stormspotter]

Ramshot TAC in 5.56

I just picked up a couple pounds of TAC to try in my 24" Bushmaster V-Match.

Using R-P cases, CCI primers and 22.9 to 23.1 grains of TAC with Sierra 77 gr. OTM will give me an inch or less, at 100 yds, with a 2.5-10X44 scope. Not bad for these old eyes. Going to work up some loads, with TAC, for the Sierra 69 gr. OTM and 65 gr. Gameking.

I also picked up a couple pounds of X-Terminator to try with the 20+ pounds of Sierra 52 BTHP that I was given. Going to use these in my 16" V-Match upper.

 

[crux]

I've had great results from the 75 and 77gr bullets with 21.5gr (RS starting load) to 23.2gr TAC and Fed 205M primers.

 

[Adventurer_96]

How much downloading would you do for LC cases? I'm planning on 55gr milsurp bullets (hey they were cheap) TAC powder & Winchester small rifle primers plus TAC.

 

[crux]

How good a condition are your 55s in? Some pulled surplus bullets are badly out of round. This would concern me more than any capacity differences b/w Rem I use and LC. I have found LC, Rem, and Win very similar. With the exception of warm to max loads, they interchange well. YMMV, work up to be safe. 24.5gr works well behind a 55gr Nosler BT or 52 SMK for a mild accurate load with Rem 7.5 or Fed 205 primers. I am not a fan of WSR primers, they have a well deserved rep for smoking firing pins. For primers I like CCI 41, CCI 450, Rem 7.5, and Fed 205/205M. I would choose one of the first three if I was looking to approach M193 pressures.

Good luck and be careful,

C

 

[Adventurer_96]

They're excellent condition IMI surplus 55gr bullets. Thanks for the info on the cases, I'll have to check the volume of the cases between the small amount of commercial stuff on hand. This will be a light load, as I don't really see the need to push these bullets too fast, plus I'd like to extend brass life as much as possible. 24.5gr was about where I was going to look, so I guess my math was close at least.

I got the WSR primers because that was all that was available on the shelf, I'll be switching if/when I can find more. There seems to be a shortage of components out here in SLC.