223 69g TMK: best powder

[Unckebob]

I bought a Tikka 223. I managed to get a couple boxes of 69g TMK bullets to load up.

While I will do more testing after the season, I want to test one powder in one range session in hopes of getting decent velocity and accuracy (Moment of Deer at <250 yds). I don't have the time to do much testing this fall.

If I get a load I trust, I might take it hunting this year. Otherwise, I'll keep the gun home this year.

I have three powders that are in the load data I have: CFE, Varget and TAC.

Plan:
5 shot ladder/safety test. Assuming the pressure is fine, I will load the following
5 shots - max charge
5 shots - max minus .02
5 shots - max minus .04
5 shots - max minus .06
5 shots - max minus .08

Yes, I could load multiple powders, but I have another rifle I will be testing. I simply will not have time at the range to take enough shots to test much. I am aiming for short term simplicity for this season.

If I don't find a load I like, I have other rifles ready to go.

 

[KyleR1985]

Painless load development (mine)

I have had multiple people ask me to lay out how I do load development being that what I do is different. Since Shaen @Shooter71 just rebarreled a Tikka 595 in 6XC I thought it would be easy to show how I do it. It’s a Master Sporter with a T3 lite profiled 20” barrel- keep in mind it is a T3...

rokslide.com

Given the efficiency you’re looking for, maybe try this.

Keep us posted on what you land on either way

 

[sndmn11]

I'd do TAC since it seems much easier to find

 

[Highvoltage1]

I shoot varget with 69gr sierras

 

[Skerhunter]

I have been lucky with cfe223 and varget - if one doesn’t work the other always has in my rifles. I start with cfe (higher velocity) if I can’t find a load there varget always works.

CFE I never get close to max before pressure signs. I usually do .2 gr increments starting 1-1.5 grains below max. Varget I can usually get away with 0.5gr increments to find max. I load 5 of each - to start and then confirm with 10-20 more.

 

[wind gypsy]

Varget is bulky for 69s but might shoot accurately. I'd load 25.0 grain varget and send it.

Tac could be good as well.

For generally otherwise available powders, i'd give benchmark a try. N135 is one i've not used but is another that seems about right.

Not sure what on earth you'd be looking for by loading 5 rounds each of 5 different charges within 0.08 grain spread?

 

[jrl80]

I bought a Tikka 223. I managed to get a couple boxes of 69g TMK bullets to load up.

While I will do more testing after the season, I want to test one powder in one range session in hopes of getting decent velocity and accuracy (Moment of Deer at <250 yds). I don't have the time to do much testing this fall.

If I get a load I trust, I might take it hunting this year. Otherwise, I'll keep the gun home this year.

I have three powders that are in the load data I have: CFE, Varget and TAC.

Plan:
5 shot ladder/safety test. Assuming the pressure is fine, I will load the following
5 shots - max charge
5 shots - max minus .02
5 shots - max minus .04
5 shots - max minus .06
5 shots - max minus .08

Yes, I could load multiple powders, but I have another rifle I will be testing. I simply will not have time at the range to take enough shots to test much. I am aiming for short term simplicity for this season.

If I don't find a load I like, I have other rifles ready to go.

Any of those powders will work well. Varget is a tried and true temperature stable power.

 

[Lawnboi]

I’d put 24.5 grains of varget in the case and not worry about temp or pressure ever.

 

[seand]

I bought a Tikka 223. I managed to get a couple boxes of 69g TMK bullets to load up.

While I will do more testing after the season, I want to test one powder in one range session in hopes of getting decent velocity and accuracy (Moment of Deer at <250 yds). I don't have the time to do much testing this fall.

If I get a load I trust, I might take it hunting this year. Otherwise, I'll keep the gun home this year.

I have three powders that are in the load data I have: CFE, Varget and TAC.

Plan:
5 shot ladder/safety test. Assuming the pressure is fine, I will load the following
5 shots - max charge
5 shots - max minus .02
5 shots - max minus .04
5 shots - max minus .06
5 shots - max minus .08

Yes, I could load multiple powders, but I have another rifle I will be testing. I simply will not have time at the range to take enough shots to test much. I am aiming for short term simplicity for this season.

If I don't find a load I like, I have other rifles ready to go.

shortcut would be to just pick a middle of the road charge weight, back 20-30 thou off the lands and shoot 10 shot group with each powder, record velocity. Pick the winner, and adjust charge weight to get the velocity you want to shoot at and load.

IMO, The method you outlined uses 3x the shots and you will get less reliable data to base your decision on.

 

[z987k]

Varget is bulky for 69s but might shoot accurately. I'd load 25.0 grain varget and send it.

Tac could be good as well.

For generally otherwise available powders, i'd give benchmark a try. N135 is one i've not used but is another that seems about right.

Not sure what on earth you'd be looking for by loading 5 rounds each of 5 different charges within 0.08 grain spread?

I have to imagine he means the length. Not many scales measure accurately enough to do .02gr.

 

[wind gypsy]

I have to imagine he means the length. Not many scales measure accurately enough to do .02gr.

That would make more sense.

 

[Castle Rock]

Just load 25 grains of Varget to 2.26”
As stated above forget all the rest of that crap

 

[waspocrew]

Varget and 69 TMK shoot very well in my 20” Tikka CTR.

 

[FrankieP1988]

I’d put 24.5 grains of varget in the case and not worry about temp or pressure ever.

24.3 for me but shooting 80 smk from a 1:7, great accuracy, single digit es and sd


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[Bluumoon]

25gr Varget has worked well for me 2.26 COAL

 

[HandgunHTR]

I would use TAC myself. Not that Varget is not good powder, it is just better suited to larger cartridges and it is more expensive.

I do a modified version of the "painless load development". It requires at least a 300 yard range and a chronograph.
Load 5 rounds starting with a max load and going downward in .5 grain increments. I load mine at 0.030" off the lands or at mag length, whichever is longer (unless you are shooting monos, then start at 0.050" off). Shoot all 5 at 300 yards, noting the velocity. You should see two that shoot closer to one another than the others, both in speed and point of impact. Load up 10 halfway between those two (for example, if your two were at 22.5 and 23.0, load up 10 at 22.7 or 22.8). Shoot them and you should see a decent group. If you want to chase .1 grain powder increments or seating depths, then have at it, but you probably won't see a great improvement.

 

[Dos Perros]

I've let the air out of a lot of prairie dogs with 25.0 grains of crunchy Varget and 69gr Sierra's.

 

[Unckebob]

After reading all the posts, I decided to go with CFE 223.

i am hoping to test it out this weekend.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

After reading all the posts, I decided to go with CFE 223.

i am hoping to test it out this weekend.

How did that work out? I’m sitting on 5 lbs of CFE 223 and several thousand 69 TMK bullets.

 

[flyfisher117]

Varget is my go to. Loaded extra crunchy.

Given the lack of varget I have also been experimenting. Benchmark and 8208 XBR have treated me very well. Benchmark being relatively easy to find.

CFE223 and H335 and BLC2 also did OK but we're for from my favorite.