69 To 80 Grainers with TAC

[yukonal]

Are any of you guys loading TAC powder with heavier bullets in a .223?

I'm loading Varget and 69 HPBT, but am wanting to try some TAC. I read someplace it's meant for lighter bullets. If you care to share a load...so I have a starting place, I'd appreciate it.

 

[markr]

I would give Sierra bullets tech line a call. They have bunches of valid info for free.

 

[Taildrag15X]

Are any of you guys loading TAC powder with heavier bullets in a .223?

I'm loading Varget and 69 HPBT, but am wanting to try some TAC. I read someplace it's meant for lighter bullets. If you care to share a load...so I have a starting place, I'd appreciate it.

Per the Sierra Guide that is posted on the .223 Rem. info page TAC is listed:

Click here: http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf

I found it odd however that it's only listed in the AR Guide not the Bolt Gun Guide.

BTW, it lists Varget as the Accuracy load at 25.3grs.

 

[ar15topgun]

If you go to the Ramshot website you will find lots of info for Tac powder. I have been using it now for 4 yrs in ar's and love it. I've even used it with 82 bergers loaded to mag length and can clean the 300yd. target with good x count. Remember to start low and work up in loads.

 

[yukonal]

Are any of you guys loading TAC powder with heavier bullets in a .223?

I'm loading Varget and 69 HPBT, but am wanting to try some TAC. I read someplace it's meant for lighter bullets. If you care to share a load...so I have a starting place, I'd appreciate it.

I found it odd however that it's only listed in the AR Guide not the Bolt Gun Guide.

I agree. And Accurate Reloaders Cartridge Guide has TAC listed as reccommended for 60 grain bullets, and smaller.

But I know there are guys here shooting it with the heavies, just waiting for a few to step in and give a shout.

 

[cmillard]

i did not like it with heavy bullets. with TAC, i had to be REAL careful on what brass i used. i found that with federal brass, which was very heavy, pressures creaped up dramatically. as in blowing primers. that was even with a very mild load. i have since switched to aa2520 and have never looked back. i think TAC is a little fast burning for the heavy bullets.

 

[Taildrag15X]

i did not like it with heavy bullets. with TAC, i had to be REAL careful on what brass i used. i found that with federal brass, which was very heavy, pressures creaped up dramatically. as in blowing primers. that was even with a very mild load. i have since switched to aa2520 and have never looked back. i think TAC is a little fast burning for the heavy bullets.

I also had some issues with the "heavier" Fed. which is when I started weight sorting, winning Matches and set a National Record.

I too liked 2520, but after getting the loads worked out with Varget I don't think I'll change back to anything else above a 75gr. bullet.

 

[distinguished]

If you are shooting NRA cross the course matches, stick with varget.

 

[ar15topgun]

As I said earlier Tac works really well even with the heavy bullets. I do suggest you use at least .005 neck tension or a light crimp and .003 neck tension. The Lee factory crimp die works really well for this. BHA seems to think that Tac is very good in competition .223 ammo. Suggested brass would be win., bha, lc, wcc, hornady, or lapua. The rest are crap and better taken to the scrap yard.

 

[yukonal]

I'm loading it in a bolt gun, with Lapua brass.

Doesn't seem to be anyone using it in the combo I am considering. Guess I'll just break some new ground.

 

[ar15topgun]

varget and rl-15 are the 2 most used powders. ar-comp and 8202xbr is gaining ground. The ramshot website does list loads specific to the bolt gun and heavy bullets if you decide to try tac. I use it because it works, easy to load on a progressive loader and it is cheaper. good luck in your hunt.

 

[Taildrag15X]

I'm loading it in a bolt gun, with Lapua brass.

Doesn't seem to be anyone using it in the combo I am considering. Guess I'll just break some new ground.

Go for it, I'll stick with Varget for my bolt guns with 80 & 90 gr. Bergers.

 

[KevinThomas]

Yukonal,

Might want to consider the difference between "breaking new ground" and trying to "reinvent the wheel." Several folks have already mentioned that Varget and RL-15 dominate the field where heavy bullets in the 223 are concerned. There's some pretty good reasons for that; they work very well and are actually suited to the heavier weight bullets in the 223.

TAC's fine, but I'd stick to it for intermediate weight bullets in the 223, say nothing heavier than 60 grains or so. It's just a tad too fast for what you're wanting here.

 

[orwapitihunter]

I just loaded a few Hornady 75gr BTHPs with TAC and ran them over my crono a few days ago. I was loading R-P cases and Rem 7 1/2 primers. When I hit the max load in the high pressure category, of Ramshot's data, my bullets were averaging 3120. That was from my 24" 8 twist Rem 700. If it quits raining I'll be out next week for further investigation.

 

[yukonal]

Yukonal,

Might want to consider the difference between "breaking new ground" and trying to "reinvent the wheel."

TAC's fine, but I'd stick to it for intermediate weight bullets in the 223, say nothing heavier than 60 grains or so. It's just a tad too fast for what you're wanting here.

Well, I guess I'll just keep trying to "reinvent the wheel". I might just find some more good loads that people "poo poo".

1st loads with 69 gr Sierra HPBT and TAC. A little more "tweaking", and I might really have something. And out of a lowly factory Tikka, no less. Only 3 shot groups, but I'll run 5 at 200 yards this week.