TAC as all purpose .223 powder?

[ny32182]

Up until now I have used primarily H335 for 55gr loads, and Varget for heavier 69-77gr loads.

Now that those are not available anymore I need to find replacements... I was looking through my manual and I see that TAC shows very good velocitys for both 55 and 77gr bullets.

I have bought a pound locally to sample... anything I should be aware of? Does it work well throughout my bullet weight range in barrel lengths from 10.5-20"? If so I will probably order it in quantity and more or less consolidate on it for .223.

 

[Rokman]

I have used TAC with handloads of 55-75gr. bullets in 16-24" barrels and they have worked just fine. I really like it for the heavy bullets.

 

[freakshow10mm]

TAC is cleaner, higher velocity, and cheaper than H335. TAC is the sleeper that Varget was several years ago.

 

[ny32182]

Thanks guys... this is mostly for AR15's, by the way.

 

[flynlr]

love the tac even for the 55gr Fmj's

 

[1moa@500]

You cant go wrong with Tac. Though I use X-Terminator for my ar plinking loads

 

[rfwobbly]

A year or so ago I did a spread sheet based on cost per shot to shoot .223 at 2900 fps. I used the prices for 1 lb cans from Powder Valley, and loads from the Sierra RLM and several others. I went through every powder I could find listed, which was about 15-17 powders.

TAC came out of top. It also meters well, and burns clean. Not only that, but it could go faster. Some of the "traditional" 223 powders were topped out at 2900 fps.

I've been happy so far is all I can say.

 

[psyop]

.. this is mostly for AR15's, by the way.

Even better

 

[ny32182]

I figure the AR on the can may be "a clue".

I'll load some up for my next range trip and see how it works. A pound should be just enough for me to work up some sample loads in 55, 69, and 77gr and shoot them in my range of barrel lengths.

 

[BsChoy]

I just ordered 4 lbs of TAC from powder valley so I will see shortly

 

[delta5]

What about BL-C(2) for .223? I see in the Lee book they have loads for it. I was thinking about buying this powder in the 8 lb jug and using it for both .223 and .308.

 

[ny32182]

BL-C(2) is also no longer available, unless something changed very recently. That is on my list of formerly used powders as well, though not as much as H335 or varget.

 

[freakshow10mm]

BLC2 is most certainly still available.

 

[rbernie]

I have moved all of my 223 loads to TAC. Not only does it do well in the heavier bullets in my ARs and bolt guns, it does very well in reduced loads (~20gr under a 55gr FMJ) for my bolt guns.

I may move my lightest loads over to Xterminator, but for now TAC is doing it all for me....

 

[delta5]

According to the Hodgdon website, both BL-C(2) and H335 are still available.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes, Ball C 2 is still being manufactured and is available. I know a lot of reloaders who use it for both NATO rounds and are very happy with the results in both...

 

[Ky Larry]

Not only does TAC shoot well in .223, it also works well in .308 Win.You might kill 2 birds woth 1 stone.

 

[ny32182]

BLC2 is most certainly still available.

Midway, Wideners are showing unavailable...

Grafs does now show the 1lb can in stock. And powder valley shows it in stock. Well hot damn.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Wow, there's a big difference between being out of stock and unavailable as in discontinued.

 

[ny32182]

I don't know if they have been discontinued or not, but after a year of total unavailability I am virtually out of powder and need to look into other options.

 

[freakshow10mm]

No it hasn't been discontinued. I've seen it in plenty of places online for the past year.

 

[ny32182]

Well, I don't watch BLC2 as much since I never used it nearly as much. H335 and Varget, my previous staples, have been gone for a year, for whatever reason, and still are... I'm to the point where I have to switch.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

ny32182, i pm's ya a place for blc-2

 

[ny32182]

Thanks! I will check it out.