Using TAC in 223 and 204-info coming.

[CZ223]

Well I asked around on quite a few forums about load info for this powder and got no real useful info. What I mean by that is if I ask about using a certain powder and and I get 50 responses with ten of them coming back the same or close, that is where I start. I got very few responses and no real particulars. So, I decided to do some testing on my own. I have, so far, loaded up 130 rounds for the 204 and 100 rounds for the 223. I have not got a chance to shoot them yet but I had a little time this morning so I thought I would start by posting some of the info now. I may not get through it all but I will finish it later and add the accuracy data as I get a chance to shoot it. The weather man says that might happen tomorrow. I used the info provided by Ramshot that came with the powder and started somewher in the middle of the range. Ramshot does not provide a great deal of info when it comes to bullet selection so I had to make substitutions in a lot of cases.

204 Ruger

All of the 204 Ruger rounds were loaded using once fired Hornady Brass and a CCI BR4 Bench rest primer. All of the powder used was Ramshot TAC so I will give only the charge weight and bullet used to keep things as short as possible. I loaded 10 rounds of each load listed.

Powder charge-27.0 grs. group 1) .460 w/flier 4hots went .30 group 2) .66
Bullet: Sierra 32 gr. BK

Powder charge-27.0 grs.
Bullet: Hornandy 32 gr V-max group 1) 1.210 group 2) 1.078

Powder charge-27.3 grs.
Bullet: 32 gr. Sierra BK

Powder charge-27.3 grs.
Bullet: 32 gr. Hornady V-max

Powder charge-27.6 grs.
Bullet: 32 gr. Sierra BK

Powder charge-27.6 grs.
Bullet: 32 gr. Hornady V-max

Powder charge-27.9 grs.
Bullet: 32 gr. Sierra BK

Powder charge-27.9 grs.
Bullet: 32 gr. Hornady V-max

Powder charge-28.1 grs.
Bullet: Sierra 32 gr. BK

Powder charge-28.2 grs.
Bullet: Sierra 32 gr. BK

Powder charge-28.3 grs.
Bullet: Sierra 32 gr. BK

Powder charge-28.4 grs.
Bullet: Sierra 32 gr. BK

Powder charge-28.5 grs.
Bullet: Sierra 32 gr. BK

As you will notice I started out moving up the scale in .3 increments with 2 bullets. I then dropped the V-max bullet and reduced my graduation to .1 increments. I did this because my rifles generally prefer the Sierra anyway and if I see decent accuracy with the v-max I will revisit it later. I knew I wanted to be closer to the top end so that is why I came up rather quickly and, as I approached top end I slowed to see which load would work best. At this point Ihave opted not to test the 39 grain Sierras until I find out if the rifles like this stuff at all.

223 Remington

All loads for the 223 were loaded using once fired Remington nickled cases, CCI BR primers, a 52 grain Sierra HPBT match bullet (1410) and, Ramshot TAC powder. I find that my rifle really likes this particular bullet and if it shoots this well it will also shoot the 50 gr. BK and the 53 gr. HPBTM well. The last ten were loade using the Nosler bullet just cause I wanted to fill up my boxes, and who knows.

Powder: 24.5
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT group 1) .898 cold barrel

Powder: 24.7 group 1) .350
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT

Powder: 24.9 group 1) .430
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT

Powder: 25.1
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT group1) .355/4 (pulled last shot)

Powder: 25.3
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT

Powder: 25.5
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT

Powder: 25.7
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT

Powder: 25.9
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT

Powder: 26.1
Bullet: 52 gr. Sierra HPBT

Powder: 26.1
Bullet: 50 gr. Nosler Bal. Tip

 

[CZ223]

Made it to the range for a little bit today.

It snowed here yesterday and it was overcast but it was warm so I decided to try some of these loads out. My plan was to go tomorrow and I am hoping that will happen as well as the initial results are very promising. I will post my results next to the loads above. I did not shoot too many loads because I was feeling an awfull lot of eyestrain with the the super fine crosshairs in the Nikon 6.5x20 on the 204. I think it had to do with the glare from the snow. Any way as I said results are very promising. This stuff is very good in both cartridges. I was not expecting it to outshoot my favorite loads with BLC-2 in the 204 but it might. It has already come close. As you will see, my rifle prefers the Sierra way more than the v-max.

 

[fastbike]

Here are some loads from Sierra

Hey CZ223, I also took advantage of the Midway sale on TAC. I haven't loaded any since I still have some Varget left, but here are some AR loads out of the latest Sierra manual. Did I read elsewhere that you have some 55 gr FMJ as well?

55 gr FMJBT 24.7 (2900), 25.4 (3000), 26.1 MAX LOAD (3100)

63 gr SMP 24.0 (2800), 25.0 (2900), 25.5 MAX (2950)

69 gr HPBT MatchKing 22.8 (2600), 23.5 (2700), 23.8 (2750), 24.2 MAX (2800)

 

[CZ223]

Another beautifulday at the range!

It was bright and sunny with mild winds and temps in the high 40's so I went back to the range. I won't go through this load by load as I originaly intended to because I can't edit my original post and I don't want to retype everything. Besides what works in my gun may not work in yours. I will say this, I am not sorry that I bought this powder. It probably won't make it as my favorite for either the 204 or the 223 but it works very well in both. I will just go through the highlights so far. I used both 204s today and since my first one obviously didn't like the v-max bullets I fed them to the other 204. Early on with the first 204 I shot .417 with 27.3 grs and .408 with the 27.6. The second group at 27.6 grs would have gone just over 1/2" had I not pulled the last shot. At 27.9 grains I shot a .302 group. My other 204 didn't seam to dislike the v-max quite as much as my first gun. At 27.3 grains with the v-max it shot .503 and .743 but in the second group had I not pulled one shot, and I knew it when I pulled the trigger, it would have been much closer to or less than 1/2". Four of the shots went .357. At 27.6 grains I shot avery respectable .395. It was pretty much all down hill from there with the v-maxes so I may play with it some more right in the 27.5 grain range.
The 223 was no different than the 204. Looking back over my data I see that my worst group of the nine 5 shot groups that I shot was .842 with only 2 others going more than .75 and not much more at that. My best group was .457 with the majority going under 5/8". Again a couple of pulled shots really messed up a couple of spectacular groups. On my second to last group with this gun I put the first 4 shots into .220" and pulled the last one low left to open it up .563.:banghead: The last group would have been under the half inch mark had it not been for another pulled shot. I think I was gettin tired and I know the gun was "DIRTY". The place for me to start looking for real accuracy with this gun is right around 25.5 grains. I cleaned the guns before I left the range so the next time I go, which may be tomorrow, I will start with nice clean barrels. Did I mention that none of these guns had been cleaned since mid summer of last year? The 223 has seen several hundred down the tube since then and I know that my first 204 has had at least a couple hundred down the tube.

 

[CZ223]

Hey FastBike

Where you at in NH. I am in Lewiston Maine. Anyway thanks for the info. Yes, I got lucky at a local gun show recently and was able to pick up 3000 Winchester FMJs for $150. I say lucky cause I couldn't find them anywhere. All the sites like Midway etc. had them listed at decent prices but no one had them in stock. Itried for over 2 months. The guy I bought them from still had anothe rcouple thousand and some 62 grainers as well. I think I will give him a call and pick them up as well. They aren't getting any cheaper.