01-17-2022, 01:10 AM
I figured I'd post these results since both the bullet and powder have been on the market recently. I didn't really think it would work due to TAC's burn speed, but I have no prior experience with TAC and bought a keg from PV for practice fodder, so I figured I'd give it a try with the 90s before dipping into my stash of H322. Barrel is a 22" JP and my rifle is set up as a clone of my PRS 6.5 CM and the goal was a target round for use on small steel targets out to the 330 berm for positional practice.
Case is 3x Hornady and primers BR4s with a COAL of 2.20 (which puts them quite close to the lands). I loaded up 4 rounds each in 0.3 gr increments from 29.2 to 31.0 with 30.7 being the max for 95 gr V-Max's and 32.2the max for 85 gr Sierras in the Western manual. I'll note that I have a tight chamber and generally max out 0.6-0.8 gr below most of you. Strapped on Magnetto and started at 29.2 at 100 yards:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18596[/ATTACH]
Mean velocity of the 4 was 2690, SD was 11 and ES 21. Yeah, SD could be a little better, but at 330 yards, it takes a 50 fps delta to get an inch delta at 330.
I found no reason to shoot the remaining 24 in the spirit of frugality and called it a wrap for further testing at 29.2gr. I loaded up 30 and took them to the steel range where the closest targets are 220 yards and where they were luckily freshly painted. Needed to find the zero in relation to my match zero and it took four shots to get on an 8" octagon. Got shot 6 dead center on the 8" and 7 and 8 were dead center on the 6" and 4" respectively. So far so good - 0.5 mil down and 0.5 mil right. Dialed up another mil, put the next dead center in the 6" octagon at 330 and the the 10th was solidly on the 4"er. Fourteen rounds and mission accomplished - probably my easiest load development ever. I didn't even recheck velocity. I did also take some pokes at 420 which is the next berm out and all prone shots impacted, although there was some vertical dispersion manifesting itself - probably a combo of the SD that could be a little better and a flat based bullet getting near it's range limit.
The velocity isn't going to win any records and I can hear the hunters mumbling "meh", but it's barrel friendly and shoots like a pussy cat out of a 13 lb rifle with bipod attached. I pulled the 24 from the ladder and reloaded them at 29.2 as well as another 26 for a practice session this morning and must say that it far exceeded expectations for a load with a 21¢ bullet and 13.3¢ of powder. I'd guess there's another "node" higher, but I can roll with this into the Arizona summer and not worry about pressure and see if it still works as it heats up.
As always, YMMV, but it's worth a whirl if both are on hand.
Case is 3x Hornady and primers BR4s with a COAL of 2.20 (which puts them quite close to the lands). I loaded up 4 rounds each in 0.3 gr increments from 29.2 to 31.0 with 30.7 being the max for 95 gr V-Max's and 32.2the max for 85 gr Sierras in the Western manual. I'll note that I have a tight chamber and generally max out 0.6-0.8 gr below most of you. Strapped on Magnetto and started at 29.2 at 100 yards:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18596[/ATTACH]
Mean velocity of the 4 was 2690, SD was 11 and ES 21. Yeah, SD could be a little better, but at 330 yards, it takes a 50 fps delta to get an inch delta at 330.
I found no reason to shoot the remaining 24 in the spirit of frugality and called it a wrap for further testing at 29.2gr. I loaded up 30 and took them to the steel range where the closest targets are 220 yards and where they were luckily freshly painted. Needed to find the zero in relation to my match zero and it took four shots to get on an 8" octagon. Got shot 6 dead center on the 8" and 7 and 8 were dead center on the 6" and 4" respectively. So far so good - 0.5 mil down and 0.5 mil right. Dialed up another mil, put the next dead center in the 6" octagon at 330 and the the 10th was solidly on the 4"er. Fourteen rounds and mission accomplished - probably my easiest load development ever. I didn't even recheck velocity. I did also take some pokes at 420 which is the next berm out and all prone shots impacted, although there was some vertical dispersion manifesting itself - probably a combo of the SD that could be a little better and a flat based bullet getting near it's range limit.
The velocity isn't going to win any records and I can hear the hunters mumbling "meh", but it's barrel friendly and shoots like a pussy cat out of a 13 lb rifle with bipod attached. I pulled the 24 from the ladder and reloaded them at 29.2 as well as another 26 for a practice session this morning and must say that it far exceeded expectations for a load with a 21¢ bullet and 13.3¢ of powder. I'd guess there's another "node" higher, but I can roll with this into the Arizona summer and not worry about pressure and see if it still works as it heats up.
As always, YMMV, but it's worth a whirl if both are on hand.
Let's go Brandon!
