Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Ramshot Tac in the 308

I've got some Tac coming, mainly for a 223. Is anyone using it in a 308 with 125s or 150s?

Is it too fast for the 7mm08?

TAC works very well in the .308, with bullet weights from 125-180. It's a little fast for the 7-08, but pretty good with lighter bullets.

In general, it does well anywhere the 4895's, RL-15 and Varget do well.

Big game is perfect in my 7-08 with 120 grain bullets.

Just tried TAC in my Kimber Montana in 308. Worked great with 150 grain TSX/TTSX.

I use TAC and 150 grain Accubonds in my .308. Shoots very accurately and is a good killer.

For 155's in my .308s, Varget and R-15 used to be my favorites, until I tried TAC.

My standard "test" load when I build a 308 is Tac powder and a 168 Berger or Sierra. As others have said, it nearly replaces 4895. The pressure testing I've done shows excellent pressure curves and are very predictable.
Charlie

Good info, will have to give it a whirl with the lighter bullets in my AR10 carbine.

Has anyone tried Big Game with 175 Matchkings, in a gas gun?

That says a lot. I may not miss Varget after all. My supply is low and I haven't been able to find any for a while.

Charlie, what is your "test" load for a 7mm08?

Tac meters well through a Dillon measure.

I use TAC in the .223 as my standard "go to" powder. Works extremely well and is easy to load with. I plan to find a decent load for my .308 and 150's with TAC and stock up on it for all my shooting in those cartridges. Wish it had good application in the .243 Winchester with 85 - 100 gr. bullets.

I don't build nearly as many 7mm-08's, but Big Game or 4350 seems to work well with 140 grain bullets.
Charlie

How hard are you pushing the TAC in your 308 rifle test loads?

48.5grs TAC
CCI 200
130gr TTSX
Lapua Brass
OAL 2.76
3085fps

4 shots from M7 that I had the original barrel replaced with a factory takeoff sporter contour and cut to 21".

That'll work.

Charlie, have you found that TAC really comes into its own when it hits top pressure? That's been my experience.

You load up a pressure series, watching velocity. Groups are mediocre, mediocre, then suddenly bang - they all cluster together right when you hit what you expected to be a top charge weight. I've seen that almost every time I've worked up loads with TAC.

That's the biggest difference I can see between TAC and the other medium burners like RL-15 and especially IMR 4895. That 4895 will lay'em into little groups from 30% below max right on up to max. But that said, top loads of TAC have almost always been extremely accurate. If they aren't then further experimenting with other powders shows that the rifle just doesn't like that particular bullet.

I have found TAC is a pretty decent 30-06 powder with 150s. Stands to reason that it would be even better with 308 and similar bullet weights. I use it in .222 and .223 almost exclusively. I have found it to be outstanding in my 22-250s with 40 grain bullets too.

TAC is performing extremely well under 150 Sierra GK's in my 300 Savage, can't imagine why it shouldn't have great potential in a 308.

Jim
I see that very often with the entire line of Ramshot powder. Starting loads are mediocre at best, then near max it starts shooting. Pressure, velocity, groups, everything seems to line out.
Charlie

Tac is well behaved for a ball powder, but it's still a ball powder, so like all ball powders, it only competes with a good stick powder with full power loads. The same logic applies with slower stick powders.

That's not a problem, and Tac can be used to good ends in 223 and 308 Match loads with a big time-saving advantage in that it flows so well through a powder measure that weighing isn't necessary.

I think 4895 still has an edge, but for those with less patience, good match loads can be had running Tac on a progressive.

The only other powder I am aware of that works well for that is the AA 24-2500 series.

I use TAC with Barnes 130g TTSX in my AR10 platform rifles. Gettin nearly 3000 fps from 18 inche barrel. Makes a mess of things.