Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Xterminator powder

Okay - Here's the short story, I happened to end up with a pound of Xterminator powder, I don't plan on using it long term since I have plenty of other powders on hand that already have developed loads for the same niche it will fill. Does anyone have any favorite loads for it using a 223 with either 40 gr Nosler BT's or Hornady 50 gr V-Max's so I can go out and burn it up in the gopher fields.

I appreciate any inputs - thanks.

drover

I shoot it in my 222 and 223, but I don't give out loads.

You can go to the Ramshot web site for load ifo; they have a full online manual for Xterminator. It is a great powder in the 222/223 class of calibers.

I found Xterm to be too fast in my .223 with 50gr V-max's.
Tac is better. I havent worked any loads with lighter bullets but I bet Xterm will work well for 40's and lighter.

25.0 grains X-Terminator with both the Sierra 55 grain spitzer and the Hornady 50 grain V-Max.

Both give bughole groups from both a M700 VS and a Kimber of Oregon M84. Couldn't tell you the velocity as I've never chronographed either load.

IME it acts like the other Ramshot rifle powders I've tried in that it gives its best groups right up at the top loads.

I shoot the Hornady 50 V-Max almost exclusively. Bought a pound of X-Terminator just to try it and it works fine, but after this pound is used up I'm going back to TAC. I use that in the .223 and the .308 and it just makes logistics easier to use one powder.

Jim,

Thanks for the info, I have a pile of 50 gr V-Max so I will give it a try with them.

Like you, I like to keep things simple but since I have a pound of it I will burn it up and then go back to my regular loads.

I appreciate the info.

drover

27-27.5 grs x terminator over a CCI 450 primer with a 40 vmx or 40 ballistic tip has been very accurate in my Cooper, I also like 25.5 grs also with a CCI 450 and a 52 Sierra BTHP match both hover around 1/2" in my Cooper. Great powder accurate and clean burning.

Used XTR to work up some stuff for a friend. Very good with 50s and below, while TAC seems happier at 55 and up.

X-Terminator probably one of the best .223AI powders to be had with 40 Gr. boolits.

+1 on what Jim In Idaho said about 25 grs. with the 50 V-Max.

Very good accuracy out of my 223 Hawkeye. It consistently was a little better than Tac with that bullet. It burns clean and the more I shoot it without cleaning the better it seems to shoot.

Note that the newest load data PDF can be downloaded now. There's an entire page of loads for the .223! There's a new PDF for Accurate powders, also, including their recent re-introduction of Accurate 2200 powder.

Thanks to all of you for the info - when the weather gets a bit nicer here I will give it a try.

drover

Got up to 26.5 grains (1.9 over max) under 50 grain V-max and started getting some flat primers but my speed was ~3275 fps out of a 20" barrel. I backed off and still smacked squirrels and chucks with 25 grains running 3125. I've burned it all and will try TAC or 335 next to see if I can get better speed without pushing pressure.

26.1g in a 6x45 (.223 necked to 6mm) with a 65g Vmax & 70g NBT gives me an average of .400"-650" and 3180 FPS, 24" bbl.