Loading .223 with TAC & Hornady 75 GR BTHP #2279

[Ej3]

Below are my results:

Rifle: AR-15 with a 16” FN barrel, 1/7 twist and a YHM Phantom QD suppressor.
Powder: Ramshot TAC
Bullets: Hornady 75 gr BTHP (P/N 2279)
Primers: WSR
COL & Crimp: 2.250” with light taper crimp
Cases: Mixed LC brass trimmed to 1.750”
Conditions: Overcast, 50-52 deg F, medium wind

Load Data*
Ramshot: Start 21.7 gr (2582 fps) and Max 24.1 gr (2820 fps) - 24" barrel, 1:12" twist, WSR, 2.260”
Hornady (9th Ed.): N/A
Thehighroad forum: One stated 23.6 gr and another 23.9 gr, which supposedly is similar to MK-262 load.
Brian Enos forum: Stated best performance between 23 – 24 grs.

Note * - Always verify load data for yourself, starting low and working up in safe increments. Published data varies from source-to-source, and subject to typos and transposing errors. Additionally, internet posts such as this are someone’s personal experience.

Here were my results, 5 shots each at 50 yds:
TAC (22.0 gr) – Avg 2408, ES 108, SD 40, Grp 1-1/4”
TAC (22.5 gr) – Avg 2467, ES 37, SD 13, Grp 7/8”
TAC (23.0 gr) – Avg 2516, ES 38, SD 16, Grp 1”
TAC (23.4 gr) – Avg 2570, ES 50, SD 24, Grp 7/8”
TAC (23.7 gr) – Avg 2594, ES 45, SD 17, Grp 7/8”
TAC (23.9 gr) – Avg 2603, ES 46, SD 18, Grp 1-5/8”
TAC (24.1 gr) – Avg 2651, ES 42, SD 16, Grp 5/8”
TAC (24.1 gr) – Avg 2634, ES 68, SD 25, Grp 1”
TAC (24.1 gr) – Avg 2643, ES 68, SD 22 (combine two 5 shot sets)

A few observations:

1. I could not find much published data by bullet manufacturers, so I used Ramshot’s data and checked against a few forum postings that were within the max limit published by Ramshot.
2. My best load (IMO) was 24.1 gr which produced 5/8” to ¾” groups at 50 yds with an average speed of 2643. This is 235 fps faster than the best I could get with BL-C(2) or CFE223, producing similar grouping results. I believe that this would equate to approximately 2925 fps from a 24” barrel.
3. Of the three powders I tested with this bullet, TAC was by far the cleanest. Shooting suppressed is inherently more dirty, but I was pleasantly surprised to how clean my brass looked.

See results from BL-C(2) powder
BL-C(2) (23.5 gr) – Avg 2408, ES 43, SD 15, Group 0.75”

See results from CFE223 powder
CFE223 (23.5 gr) – Avg 2429, ES-65, SD-27, Group 1.00”

 

[Dudedog]

I think TAC is good stuff for .223.
It also meters well thru all the measures I have tried it in.

Note: Western (Ramshot) has data for 5.56 pressures as well.
(Hodgdon just lists .223 data for their powders)
So in an AR with a 5.56 Nato chamber you could probably go a bit more than 24.1 if you wanted to. (work up carefully of course)

Westerns 5.56 data is still using a 24" barrel which is funny in a way, I wouldn't guess that most rifles with 24" barrels have 5.56 chambers (vs .223 chambers)but it is what they used.