Ramshot Powder for .308 Winchester

[LongRanger]

Howdy Folks, I am new to the Hide but have been reloading since 1976, back when you could get any brand of components with relative ease. Unfortunately the good times are over well at least for the present. So on to the point of my post. Powder or I should say suitable powder and primers have become nearly impossible to find with any consistency with the exception of the Western Ramshot line of powders, at least in my area. I refuse to pay the additional $25 and up Haz-Mat charges for shipping so I have to rely on three local Gun Dealers. I use Sierra 168gr BTHP projectiles and CCI primers and am currently flush with both but for the last year I am stuck with whatever powders the Gun Shops have and more often than not that's NONE!... I ran across a deal on 2 8lb containers of Ramshot TAC but since I've never used it I'm a little afraid to buy 16lbs of it. Compared to the price I can find it for using gunbot without adding the Haz-Mat charge I can get this for about half price. It has a Manufacturing date of 01/2013 and the bottles are factory sealed and appear un-tampered with so I ask, would you buy it?

If you currently use Ramshot or have in the past could I ask your opinion of it's performance. I have to make a decision before Monday or it will go to the next guy in line so any insight would be appreciated.

BTW I did use the Advanced search but it brought up so many hits I could miss the Monday deadline before I find the answers I seek. -Thanks

 

[CajunAR]

Never used it myself, but looking at the ramshot website the load data looks pretty reasonable and fairly versatile. If i were in your same position, i'd pick it up in a heartbeat!

I've been at my local shop, Bass Pro, and Cabela's for months and rarely seen anything but $34+ bottles of vihtavouri that i can't bring myself to buy.

 

[LongRanger]

Never used it myself, but looking at the ramshot website the load data looks pretty reasonable and fairly versatile. If i were in your same position, i'd pick it up in a heartbeat!

I've been at my local shop, Bass Pro, and Cabela's for months and rarely seen anything but $34+ bottles of vihtavouri that i can't bring myself to buy.

Yea, I've been giving it some thought this morning and given the present state of things I would be a fool to let it get away, if nothing else I could always resell it or store it for even harder times. Some people here say good things about it but then some say bad things too, I guess that's the same with everything... BTW the guy is selling it for $80.00 @ 8lb can, that's $10 a pound, it's gotta be good for something. I've already told him I will be over this afternoon to pick it up.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I have used TAC, Big Game, and Hunter, and found them to be effective and consistent. In terms of temperature insensitivity, I find them average to somewhat better. Somewhere between IMR and Hodgdon Extreme, and a lot less sensitive than Win. They burn fairly clean, meter especially well, and load with more density than stick powders. They are an order-only item in my area, or I would be using them more readily.

I rate TAC on a par (burn rate) with W748, Big Game with W760/H-414, and Hunter with H-4350. When I was shooting with it regularly, I used TAC in 308 with 150/155gr bullets, Big Game with 168/175's and Hunter with .260 and 142's.

Greg

 

[XTREM HTR16]

I'd like to find a couple 8 lb jugs of TAC! It's all I use in 223 and also with 358 WSSM. Works well with 308 and 130 and 150 grain bullets also.

 

[LongRanger]

I have used TAC, Big Game, and Hunter, and found them to be effective and consistent. In terms of temperature insensitivity, I find them average to somewhat better. Somewhere between IMR and Hodgdon Extreme, and a lot less sensitive than Win. They burn fairly clean, meter especially well, and load with more density than stick powders. They are an order-only item in my area, or I would be using them more readily.

I rate TAC on a par (burn rate) with W748, Big Game with W760/H-414, and Hunter with H-4350. When I was shooting with it regularly, I used TAC in 308 with 150/155gr bullets, Big Game with 168/175's and Hunter with .260 and 142's.

Greg

Greg, Do you have any reloading data for the TAC and the Hunter? The guy also had a 8lb bottle of the Hunter so I bought it too. I went to the Western Ramshot site and downloaded all of their tables but there are no loads listed for Speer .308 168gr BTHP or anything even close to that bullet weight. I would love to know all of the ballistic information but I would settle for the upper and lower weight limits of the powder charge. Man re-loading is becoming a hassle, it used to be you would select a Powder and projectile go buy it and then use the tables to work up a suitable load. Now days you have to find whatever powder you can get your hands on and just hope it will preform for your intended purpose. The Belgium made Ramshot line of powders apparently has had limited testing or nobodies willing to publish it including Ramshot..

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I seldom keep data for powders I have abandoned, and that is the case with Ramshot. It's a great powder brand; but I use others now, mainly because I can get them with a lot less effort.

I find my own loads, and only share a few. This is mainly because each rifle needs it own load; mine are neither good nor safe in all rifles. No load is.

My best advice would be to start with the Ramshot published loads; then refine the loads according to safe practices, pressure signs, and what the rifle tells you about accuracy. That's what I try to do.

Finally, Ramshot powders may allow a higher load density, but this may not be as much of an advantage if they tempt one to run extreme pressures. I make it a point to stay far away from that end of the pressure spectrum. Even without the safety issue, such loads are unkind to my treasured rifles.

Greg

 

[Danco411]

I have used tons of TAC. It's really a great mid speed powder similary to RE15, Varget, XBR8208, Power Pro 2000MR. You will find the load ranges right there with these other powders. I load the 175g SMK over 45g of TAC which gave me average 2650 FPS out of my 24" barrel and no pressure signs. I'd start at 43 and work up.

It is funny how availability is so regional. Here in Michigan I can't find TAC at my local stores but I can always find Alliant powders so I have started using PP2000MR as a replacement. The 2000MR is similary to TAC but it gets about 100 FPS faster velocity under a similar load.

 

[leadbullet]

TAC is an excellent powder, i burned more of it than I care to remember, meters great in dillon powder measure and is not too dirty. works fantastic for 223, 308 30-06 etc.

 

[bobke]

I use TAC as primary powder in .223, a good all around option for 6.5 Grendel and have just started working with it with 155's in .308, with encouraging results. Always use charges as thrown from a BR30 measure, which after dumping about 20 turns of the handle, yield extremely low weight variation of 10 thrown charges. Had never heard this before, but in reading a 223 loading article in Rifle's special AR loading edition that's just come out, was said TAC has the same anti-fouling qualities as CFE223. Can't say certain, but have very good results with TAC, regardless. I'd buy 8#, if I could find it.

 

[Pinecone]

TAC. I'd buy 8#, if I could find it.

I would love to try some, but this is the problem.

 

[ZombieMonkey]

Let me just say this... I hate you... I have only been able to get my hands on a single # of TAC since Novemeber. Great powder for 223 and lighter 308 Win loads. My favorite part about TAC is how ridiculously consistent it meters out of my powder measure on the press.

 

[Pat M]

I use to use it for my 308, meters great & will work fine ( i changed to Reloader as 3 local shops carry it and only 1 carried TAC )

 

[scudzuki]

I've read reports that TAC works well in .308.
As for temp stable, double base powders like TAC tend to be more temperature sensitive than single base powders (meaning less stable).

Joe

 

[rdinak]

Ramshot Tac is great powder. Love it in .223/ Will serve you well in .308.