I have a 5.56 SBR that I would love to use for home defense/SHTF scenarios, but the 5.56's lethality comes from velocity, and a 10.5" barrel is sorely lacking on that. Just for reference, I ran some PMC Bronze 55gr FMJ and got an average of 2,512 fps. I then ran some Freedom Munitions 55gr FMJ and got an average of 2,482 fps! That's slow as hell for a 5.56!
I took out 11 different loads using Ramshot TAC and 53gr Hornady A-Max in mixed LC brass and using CCI 400 primers. Each different load was a half a grain more than the last. I started with 24.5gr and went up all the way over max to 29.5gr. I didn't chose TAC for any particular reason other than I have 24 pounds of it currently. Here's what I saw:
5.56 stamped chamber
11.5" barrel
1:7 twist
SilencerCo ASR Muzzle Brake
SilencerCo Omega with 5.56 end cap was mounted for all shots
COAL: 2.235"
Avg Velocities:
24.5gr TAC: 2498 fps
25.0gr TAC: 2553 fps
25.5gr TAC: 2625 fps
26.0gr TAC: 2753 fps
26.5gr TAC: 2813 fps
27.0gr TAC: 2844 fps
27.5gr TAC: 2875 fps
28.0gr TAC: 2951 fps
28.5gr TAC: 2973 fps *this is the first load where I saw pressure signs in the form of slightly cratered primers - but still is slightly under book max
29.0gr TAC: 3034 fps *this load is OVER book max, and primers were cratered still
29.5gr TAC: 3072 fps * this load is also OVER book max, and only one round was fired. The firing pin pierced the primer, and testing was discontinued.
I am fairly confident I can find a decent load with TAC for some good self defense loads. I may look at some different powders with different burn rates, and maybe even different bullets. For now, I just thought I'd share the results of this experiment since I had to go to BARFCOM for information.
I took out 11 different loads using Ramshot TAC and 53gr Hornady A-Max in mixed LC brass and using CCI 400 primers. Each different load was a half a grain more than the last. I started with 24.5gr and went up all the way over max to 29.5gr. I didn't chose TAC for any particular reason other than I have 24 pounds of it currently. Here's what I saw:
5.56 stamped chamber
11.5" barrel
1:7 twist
SilencerCo ASR Muzzle Brake
SilencerCo Omega with 5.56 end cap was mounted for all shots
COAL: 2.235"
Avg Velocities:
24.5gr TAC: 2498 fps
25.0gr TAC: 2553 fps
25.5gr TAC: 2625 fps
26.0gr TAC: 2753 fps
26.5gr TAC: 2813 fps
27.0gr TAC: 2844 fps
27.5gr TAC: 2875 fps
28.0gr TAC: 2951 fps
28.5gr TAC: 2973 fps *this is the first load where I saw pressure signs in the form of slightly cratered primers - but still is slightly under book max
29.0gr TAC: 3034 fps *this load is OVER book max, and primers were cratered still
29.5gr TAC: 3072 fps * this load is also OVER book max, and only one round was fired. The firing pin pierced the primer, and testing was discontinued.
I am fairly confident I can find a decent load with TAC for some good self defense loads. I may look at some different powders with different burn rates, and maybe even different bullets. For now, I just thought I'd share the results of this experiment since I had to go to BARFCOM for information.
Last edited:
