Ramshot TAC In Semiauto 308

[DMW1116]

I was recently informed TAC works well in 308 Winchester so I began looking into some test loads. I like to keep pressures on the lower side similar to service rifle loads as I’m using a semiauto PA-10. Even the minimum charges seem to run higher pressure based on data from Hodgdens site for 150 grain FMJBT bullets. I’ve used IMR 4064, SW AR+, & CFE 223 before but had some issues with CFE loads so I don’t plan to use those again after these are gone. They require a different gas block setting than the others or I get bent case rims.

Several people said they used TAC with good results in another thread. I wanted to see if anyone was doing it from a semiauto?

 

[Kaldor]

Ive run TAC behind Hornady 150 FMJs and SPs. Using LC brass, I tested 44.4, 44.6, 45, 45.3, 45.6 grains, but 44.6 worked best from my gun. Accuracy was pretty average, right around an inch. I dont think any of the loads were over pressure if memory serves. In a rare occurrence, I dont actually have chronograph data on this load. I did not have to change my gas block settings.

And your right about CFE 223, it was awful for me. To get any accuracy out of it for me I had to push closer to max load, and that put me always too close to being over pressure for my liking. Im actually hoping Staball Match pans out as if its more temp stable, it could be solid if it can get the CFE 223 velocities without the weird pressure issues every time the weather changes 10 degrees.

 

[DMW1116]

CFE 223 seems to work best in smaller cases for me. I think my Amax load was on the higher side too for 308 but it definitely required some care.

For TAC and FMJBT bullets from a budget rifle, I’m fine with about an inch. My SMK/IMR 4064 load is about 3/4” pretty consistently for 3 to 4 rounds. Drop the price quite a bit and open those to 1”-1.25” and I’d be good.

 

[Kaldor]

CFE 223 seems to work best in smaller cases for me. I think my Amax load was on the higher side too for 308 but it definitely required some care.

For TAC and FMJBT bullets from a budget rifle, I’m fine with about an inch. My SMK/IMR 4064 load is about 3/4” pretty consistently for 3 to 4 rounds. Drop the price quite a bit and open those to 1”-1.25” and I’d be good.

I never had much luck with it either in 223. So the 8# jug I had of CFE223 pretty much has ended up as pretty vanilla middle of the road minimal workup type stuff. When its gone? I wont buy more that I will say.
I did have some luck with CFE223 and a 168 Hornady BTHP, but it was so temp sensitive I went from shooting a 5/8" 5 shot group in 55 degree weather and thinking to myself, "This is an awesome load I can mass produce on my progressive for relatively cheap" to the temp going up 15 degrees and start seeing alot of pressure and popped primers. Im glad I didnt run off 500 of them and restested in warmer weather. Good thing I did load dev with 8208XBR along side and tested them both. Needless to say, I went the 8208XBR route. But with 8208XBR being unobtanium I plan on using either TAC or AA2520 as they more available and should be good enough for the consistent 3/4" ish groups I tend to look for.

I dont think you will be disappointed in TAC. It sits in a nice place for 223 and 308 for burn rate. Reminds me a bit of H4895 or 8208XBR just in ball form just probably not quite as temp stable.
I plan on doing an M80 ball clone load with it this summer as I have 16# of TAC and a few thousand 150 FMJs on hand. Just need to find the primers for it. Shouldn't be hard to hit 2800 fps with a pretty mild load.

 

[Charlie98]

I shoot TAC in both my Savage bolt gun (against IMR4064 with 168grn bullets....) and in my M1a (against both IMR4895 and IMR3031, with 150grn bullets.) It's worked very well with the 168's in my 24" Savage, and has worked well in my initial load workups for my 16" M1a, although testing continues. Accuracy is equal to, or better, than my current standard loads, with no apparent downside that I've seen.

I will tell you TAC is sensitive to primers. My initial testing, in my Savage, I loaded 2 test loads with both standard and Magnum primers... the standard primer loads shot better by far. I did this because I had heard on the M14 forum that this was the case, and I wanted to verify that.

ETA: TAC is also NOT temperature insensitive... so if you are loading for temperature extremes, you will have to work up 2 loads... assuming you are near max.

I'm out of town right now, so I don't have my data with me, but I can post what I have when I get back, if you wish.

 

[Charlie98]

I dont think you will be disappointed in TAC. It sits in a nice place for 223 and 308 for burn rate.

I consider it right around IMR4895'ish in burn rate and behavior, maybe a little slower. I've dropped down to IMR3031 because of the 16" barrel on my M1a... and it's still working good there, too. If it works as well as I hope, it will knock 4 powders off the bench... which is a pretty tall order.

I've only tried very basic test loads with TAC in the 5.56mm... I wanted to get the .308 testing out of the way, first... but it seemed to be OK. Granted, I'm comparing it to H335... and I'm done expecting anything exceptional from it.

 

[DMW1116]

I use TAC for lighter 223 bullets. It shows the best accuracy so far with 52 grain Barnes Match Burners and Hornady 55 grain FMJ. SW AR Plus may displace it for FMJ just for cost. Accuracy is about the same.

I also like it for 55 grain soft points in a less than screaming load from my 16” rifle. They’re running about 2650-2700 fps. That load shot 1 MOA during load testing.

I’ll probably try it for 308 but keep it on the lower side. IMR 4064 is preferred but I’m very reluctant to pay current prices for it, much like Sierras bullets.

CFE 223 has a place as it’s very accurate pushing 69 and 77 grain 223 pills. If it were the only powder I had l, I’d run it but then I wouldn’t have to change the gas block. It was accurate with the 168 grain Amax bullets, nearly equal to the IMR 4064/175-gr SMK load.

 

[redcon1]

I didn't get anything outstanding with TAC in my .308 AR10s. It wasn't terrible but I got better accuracy with Varget with 168s and better accuracy and better velocity with AR Comp behind 125s. Maybe I just gave up on TAC before I found the magic formula. regardless, when it came time to buy more powder, TAC wasn't on my list and either was varget. AR Comp was. So was 2520 and a couple hundred Hornady 110 gr V MAXes.

 

[AJC1]

I didn't get anything outstanding with TAC in my .308 AR10s. It wasn't terrible but I got better accuracy with Varget with 168s and better accuracy and better velocity with AR Comp behind 125s. Maybe I just gave up on TAC before I found the magic formula. regardless, when it came time to buy more powder, TAC wasn't on my list and either was varget. AR Comp was. So was 2520 and a couple hundred Hornady 110 gr V MAXes.

Tac is the only powder I have experienced multiple nodes. Admiditly I don't have near the stats of pounds of powder burnt as many here. With a 155 my dad found a nice tolerant load at 42.5. By tolerant I've had good success 50-100 degrees outside. I also found a good shooting load at 43.7. That load is still being evaluated...

 

[redcon1]

Tac is the only powder I have experienced multiple nodes. Admiditly I don't have near the stats of pounds of powder burnt as many here. With a 155 my dad found a nice tolerant load at 42.5. By tolerant I've had good success 50-100 degrees outside. I also found a good shooting load at 43.7. That load is still being evaluated...

Interesting. I still have some. I'll have to give it another try. I had such good luck with varget that I never bothered to look at anything else very hard. I still have over 24 lbs of Varget so I always look for ways to use it and it usually works pretty well but AR Comp worked better for 125s and I suspect 2520 is going to be pretty good too. That's another nice thing about .308 though, there are so many good powders for it.

 

[Charlie98]

I’ll probably try it for 308 but keep it on the lower side. IMR 4064 is preferred but I’m very reluctant to pay current prices for it

That's one of the reasons I'm pursing TAC so hard... it is $100 less expensive than any of the IMR powders, per 8#. I'm not normally that cheap, but as much as everything else costs.... as you mentioned... bullets, etc... if I can save some loot somewhere, well... good.

and a couple hundred Hornady 110 gr V MAXes.

Those 110grn VMax bullets are dynamite out of my M1a. I currently load them with IMR3031, but I may give them a try with TAC, just to see. Makes the Socom feel like an AR....

 

[redcon1]

Those 110grn VMax bullets are dynamite out of my M1a.

I can't wait. I think I have a couple of really old turkeys in the freezer. I gotta see it.