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Poor Old Western Powder

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13 June 2011, 05:58
Dave Bush
Poor Old Western Powder
Ramshot just can't seem to get any respect. The more TAC, Big Game, Hunter, and Magnum I shoot, the more I love it but I don't think most guys have even heard of these fantastic spherical powders. I used to have 20 different powders sitting on my bench but these four have taken over the bulk of my reloading.


Dave
DRSS
Chapuis 9.3X74
Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
Krieghoff 500/.416 NE
Krieghoff 500 NE

"Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer"

"If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition).
13 June 2011, 06:03
vapodog
There can be no question as to the usefulness of those powders.....and all ball powders too....love it.

I don't have any of them here as I already have too many powders in the cabinet....and Hodgdon has data for far more cartridges.....

Western powders needs more loading data and needs to be a better competitior.....they have the good product but just can 't get in the door here.


///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
13 June 2011, 06:18
SR4759
Spherical powders come and go.
I rarely use any of them.
14 June 2011, 02:40
phurley5
I have shot a lot of W-760 and still do. I really like how it performs. Good shooting.


phurley
14 June 2011, 06:10
Boxhead
TAC is what I use in my 358 Win. Nothing better I believe.
14 June 2011, 08:44
Jerry Eden
I'm with SR4759, I don't use many ball powders at all. One exception H335 in 223 for AR's.

Jerry


NRA Benefactor Life Member
14 June 2011, 11:24
Nakihunter
I tried some 748 & 760 and found it very dirty burning. Also the velocity variance between summer and a very cold day is crazy - as bad as 200 fps on occasions. Can't expect more from 60+ year old technology I guess.

I have heard that the Ramshot powders are made in Belgium with modern technology & Nitroglycerine / double based. They are said to be very clean burning. I wish we could get them her in NZ.


"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
15 June 2011, 02:18
Dave Bush
Big Game is the spherical equivalent of Reloder 15 and Hunter is the spherical equivalent of Reloder 19. Trust me guys, these are excellent powders. While I still shoot a lot of Reloder 15, IMR 4831, and H 1000 when I NEED the bulk for the larger cases, I am now a huge Ramshot fan. If you shoot a 9.3X62, Big Game is the go to powder and it performs flawlessly in my .338 RCM. Hunter works fantastic in my .257 Roberts. Hell, I have even used Hunter in my .450 Dakota. These are just super powders.


Dave
DRSS
Chapuis 9.3X74
Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
Krieghoff 500/.416 NE
Krieghoff 500 NE

"Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer"

"If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition).
15 June 2011, 02:20
Dave Bush
Oh yea, did I mention that they are cheaper too!


Dave
DRSS
Chapuis 9.3X74
Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
Krieghoff 500/.416 NE
Krieghoff 500 NE

"Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer"

"If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition).
15 June 2011, 02:27
jeffeosso
i reckon i need to get some TAC and compare to h335


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com
15 June 2011, 03:25
Sam
Tac will get much more velocity than H335 in heavier bullets. In lighter bullets it's a little faster. My comparrison is based on .223 loads. I know the 77 gn Black Hills Match was loaded with Tac, I'm not sure if it is now or not.


A bad day at the range is better than a good day at work.
15 June 2011, 07:42
ole_270
I've had good luck with Tac in the 223, and Hunter in the 257 Roberts. I've been working with Big Game in the 7-08, and 250 Savage but can't seem to get past the flyers. Seems to want to shoot, but nearly always a flyer out of the group. Using WW and Wolf LR primers so far, these small cases just shouldn't need mag primers.
15 June 2011, 09:41
Antelope Sniper
Ole. Case size is only one factor in determining what primer to use. I had problems with flyers in the .223 with H335 until I switched to a magnum primer. You might try some cci450's and see what happens.
16 June 2011, 06:39
p dog shooter
I try and use onle ball powders they make reloading a lot eaiser. Set the power measure and go at it.

Throw the same charge round after round.
16 June 2011, 10:36
McFox
Isn't one of the characteristics of double based powders that they burn hotter than single based powders?
No big deal for hunting purposes, but for target and varmint shooting I guess this is an issue.
16 June 2011, 16:32
jeffeosso
quote:
Originally posted by Sam:
Tac will get much more velocity than H335 in heavier bullets. In lighter bullets it's a little faster. My comparrison is based on .223 loads. I know the 77 gn Black Hills Match was loaded with Tac, I'm not sure if it is now or not.


rokay . i usualy use it in .458-.550 bullets!


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com
18 June 2011, 15:59
steve4102
I love Ramshot powders. I use XT in 223/5.56, BigGame in 7mm-08 and 9.3x62, Hunter in 300WSM--6.5x55--7mm-08 AI--30-06--30-06 AI--25WSSM, Tac in 6.5 Grendel and 223/5.56.

I use a shit load of Silhouette in 40 S&W, 10MM and 45 ACP, great stuff.
12 July 2011, 09:39
lawndart
The Ramshot/Western Powders are made in Belgium. I always forget the name of the plant.

45.5 grains of Big Game into a 7mm-08 case, then top it with a 140 grain Accubond for deer and antelope, 140-grain partitions for Bear and Elk.


12 July 2011, 09:51
Kenati
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Bush:
Ramshot just can't seem to get any respect. The more TAC, Big Game, Hunter, and Magnum I shoot, the more I love it


They are getting plenty of love on my end. After extensive testing w/ my semi-auto rat killer, I settled on an 8 lb. jug of Ramshot TAC for the .223 Rem w/ the V-Max.

The 300 WSM also inherited a large jug of Ramshot Hunter after fairly thorough testing w/ GS Custom's GSHV bullet.

I am happy with both of these powders. I will soon (hopefully) be testing Ramshot's Big Game powder in the .280 Ackley Imp.
14 July 2011, 20:34
2ndtimer
I have used TAC for several years in the .223. very clean burning and consistent. Finally bought a pound of each of Big Game and Hunter to try in the .243 Win, 6.5x55 and .270WSM. So far with light bullets the Big Game in the .243 doesn't seem to be as accurate as IMR-4064 or Varget. I am looking forward to trying Hunter with the 90 gr + bullets. (Although I still have 16 lbs of Accurate Data 86 Extruded to use with the heavier bullets in the .243, 6.5x55 and .270WSM, so it will be a while before I need to buy more Hunter or consider trying Magnum.)


Bullets are pretty worthless. All they do is hang around waiting to get loaded.