223 Powder choice

[CJ8281]

A friend of mine recently purchased a bolt action Ruger American Ranch rifle in 5.56. He is currently unemployed but has the opportunity to purchase a pound of powder, but only has enough money to buy one pound, His choices are Accurate 2230 and Ramshot Tac. I am not familiar with either of these powders but I understand that they are very similar. I have supplied him with a 100 CCI 450s. He has some Hornady 55gr SP.
Which of these two powders would be the better buy?

 

[JD Fla1]

I'm a complete newb.. and not qualified to give an answer, but I would go with TAC if I could find it. 2230 was just in stock at Hodgens, and I wined a bit, as I am waiting for TAC to become available.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I haven't used either one of those powder, I'd probably go with the tac. There are a miraid of powders the perform well in 223, I currently use 3, imr 4895, h 4895 and blc2.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I use cfe223 with my bulk reloads for semi autos on my progressive at the moment. I used win. 748 in the past and like it just as well.
For my bolt action varmint guns I use varget. Ive used 10 or more powders in the past. But still prefer varget

 

[derek45]

2230 and/or TAC will work very well.

I like TAC for 77gr and 2230 for bulk 55gr

they both meter well thru a Dillon, and can make accurate loads

either will be a good choice

also

748
H335

 

[TEXASJD]

Tac works well with 55g

 

[Chuck R.]

Another recommendation for TAC.

My hands down favorite .223 powder for heavier precision loads is Varget behind 69 and 77 OTMs. All else gets TAC. I've also just read that TAC apparently does very well in the .350 Rem Mag, so I'm going to try it this spring since I'm sitting on 12lbs of it.

 

[FROGO207]

Yup get the Tac! About all I use anymore.

 

[IALoder]

TAC does very well with 55-77 gr in .223, so that would be my recommendation! I'm definitely a fan of TAC. If he's more interested in the 40-62 gr bullets, the AA2230 is great with that range!

 

[38wcf]

Varget, the only powder I use for 223/5.56
But, brass with an "F" headstamp won't hold the needed powder charge

 

[Charlie98]

I've been looking for some TAC, and missed the dash of it they had yesterday at PV. I think TAC would be a good choice... from what I understand, it works well in .223/5.56mm, but also other cartridges... .308/7.62mm, .30-06 and the like.

These days, however, it's 'get what you can git...' He could do worse than either TAC or AA2230

 

[Blue68f100]

Get the TAC. It works well for every bullet weight used in the 556. Depending on rifle twist will dictate the best bullet weight for the gun.

 

[Cemetery21]

I've used a lot of both in bulk loading. Posters above are correct - 2230 for under 60 gr. bullets and TAC for 60+.
Very close and can be interchanged, but TAC is a little slower (burn rate) and covers a wider range of bullets.

 

[kerreckt]

I'd go with TAC. I have used lots of it and never any problems. I use it in both AR loads and bolt rifle loads. Best wishes!

 

[gudaki]

I like Tac for 55 grain bullets.

 

[kcofohio]

Per Western Powder's load data, both powders seem on par of each other velocity wise.

 

[loadedround]

Have been loading for three AR15's for the past 2-3 years (mine and my two Son's AR's) and have settled on 62 gr bullets and Hodgdons CFE-223 powder for all three rifles. It's the cleanest and most accurate powder I've found so far and I've used most of the more common AR powders on the market ibefore switching to CFE-223 powder.

 

[anothernewb]

both great powders

 

[Lennyjoe]

Of the 2 choices you mention TAC should work.

Most of us here can recommend other choices that work for us but since he’s limited in his choices, it does no good to recommend others in this thread

 

[Kingcreek]

AA2230 is an excellent powder, easier to find and economical when I bought it in 8# jugs. I also like H335 4985 and Varget.

 

[gifbohane]

Another vote for H 335

 

[kmw1954]

I've only been loading 223 for about 5 months and at the time the only powder I could find was TAC so that is what I started with and that is what I have been using. Started with 55gr bullets, gun doesn't really like those light bullets, 62gr bullets and found a very happy spot and just the other day I loaded some 68gr Match in a ladder to test.

I believe both will work excellent in the 223 so for me it would come down to availability, What you can find right now and what in the future. For a long time neither were very available but the TAC was a little so available than the 2230.

 

[griff383]

TAC

It's been my go to forever and everyone I've turned on to it would agree. It meters well and gives great accuracy across so many weights and barrels.

 

[2ndtimer]

TAC is my go to for .223/5.56 loads for bullets from 40 grains up to 77 grains. I have loaded thousands of rounds with it, and try to maintain at least a couple of 8 lb. kegs on hand. I have tried most of the available powders in .223, both bolt guns and AR’s, and for me TAC is where it’s at.
P.S., in today’s world of less than 5 minute availability on line or on a shelf, others that have also performed decently include Accurate 2015, 2230, 2460, H-335, Benchmark, and Reloder 10x. Other accurate powders which meter lousy through a powder measure include Varget, 4895 (both H and IMR), IMR-4064 and Reloder 15. But, for ease of loading, clean shooting, accuracy, and velocity, my first choice is Ramshot TAC.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I guess I'll have to try TAC some day. Can't say that I've noticed it before. I've used 748 and then cfe for years. But seems like this TAC may be worth a shot.