223 debacle

[sierracharlie338]

Ok let’s hear it from the 223 faithful…

Currently have a 223 that is a factory REM 700 (you read that right FACTORY) barreled action sitting in a Bravo chassis with a 1:9 twist. I’m at sea level and no chance this barrel will shoot the 75g+ in an acceptable manner, I’ve tried.

Here’s my dilemma, this barrel shoots the 69g stuff very well at about 2850. So well in fact I’m torn on where to go from here. Pic for reference. My daughters Tikka 223 can’t print groups like this but these are handloads and I’ve only shot factory ammo out of the tikka.



What’s a guy to do? I have good stock of both 69 and 77tmks. Planning to load up on 80eldms for another project but wouldn’t mind trying them in the 223 also.

The way I see it, I have 1 of 3 options:

Sell the whole set up and start from scratch with a Tikka?

Rebarrel with a proper twist rate for the heavies?

Keep shooting the 69s and quit overthinking the situation?

Let me know what y’all think.

Sc

 

[CJ_BG]

If it's gonna be used on deer sized game and won't be used super heavily I'd just keep using it with the 69 tmk. They kill very similarly to the 77 on deer they just don't exit as often

 

[bojangles808]

you have a 223 Tikka also? keep shooting the 69s in the 700 and the 77/80s in the the tikka. and then build a 22cm for the 80s lol

 

[sierracharlie338]

you have a 223 Tikka also? keep shooting the 69s in the 700 and the 77/80s in the the tikka. and then build a 22cm for the 80s lol

Yeah technically it’s my daughters…… lol

 

[waspocrew]

Stick with the 69s. No need to fix if it isn’t broke.

Although I totally understand the need to scratch the itch haha.

 

[Wprinkle]

Ok let’s hear it from the 223 faithful…

Currently have a 223 that is a factory REM 700 (you read that right FACTORY) barreled action sitting in a Bravo chassis with a 1:9 twist. I’m at sea level and no chance this barrel will shoot the 75g+ in an acceptable manner, I’ve tried.

Here’s my dilemma, this barrel shoots the 69g stuff very well at about 2850. So well in fact I’m torn on where to go from here. Pic for reference. My daughters Tikka 223 can’t print groups like this but these are handloads and I’ve only shot factory ammo out of the tikka.

View attachment 967397

What’s a guy to do? I have good stock of both 69 and 77tmks. Planning to load up on 80eldms for another project but wouldn’t mind trying them in the 223 also.

The way I see it, I have 1 of 3 options:

Sell the whole set up and start from scratch with a Tikka?

Rebarrel with a proper twist rate for the heavies?

Keep shooting the 69s and quit overthinking the situation?

Let me know what y’all think.

Sc

What are you intentions for the 700 .223? (I live about 4 hours North of you) and have merked everything in this state except Nilgai and buffalo with a 22-250 shooting a 52 grain Berger. IMO keep the 700 and keep shooting 69 grains pills and when you need a Tikka to do Tikka things use the Tikka. A LOT of us that swear by the Tikka RokSlide Special still have and use other platforms with a lot of success. Yes a Tikka RSS is a super reliable amazing delivery system but think if it this way.. A Tikka RSS with 77 TMK's is your Toyota Hilux.. Will always run never fails, The 700 is like a Range Rover.. Takes some regular f'n with has some issues you need to know about but when they are ginnin man do they gin...

 

[Rockpicker]

Hard to believe that outside of the US hunters kill deer on up with bullets less than 77gr. Must be voodoo in their 50-75gr bullets.

 

[sierracharlie338]

What are you intentions for the 700 .223? (I live about 4 hours North of you) and have merked everything in this state except Nilgai and buffalo with a 22-250 shooting a 52 grain Berger. IMO keep the 700 and keep shooting 69 grains pills and when you need a Tikka to do Tikka things use the Tikka. A LOT of us that swear by the Tikka RokSlide Special still have and use other platforms with a lot of success. Yes a Tikka RSS is a super reliable amazing delivery system but think if it this way.. A Tikka RSS with 77 TMK's is your Toyota Hilux.. Will always run never fails, The 700 is like a Range Rover.. Takes some regular f'n with has some issues you need to know about but when they are ginnin man do they gin...

Yeah I’m a long time 700 user and new “convert” to the tikka platform per se. Mainly just S Texas deer, pigs and vermin.

 

[KenLee]

Dont you dare booger with that accurate rifle, especially for a Tikka

 

[sierracharlie338]

Hard to believe that outside of the US hunters kill deer on up with bullets less than 77gr. Must be voodoo in their 50-75gr bullets.

No it isn’t. I’ve killed literal truck loads of deer with a 55g Vmax before it was cool on Rokslide.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

People have been killing deer with 55-grain SP out of a .22-250 or .223 for a long time.

Those 69-grain loads will work just fine. I shoot a ton of the 69-grain ADI for practice. The .224 caliber bullets are not legal on deer in Virginia, or I would be looking at them for that.

 

[Deere_Man]

This isn’t a debacle, it’s actually more of a conundrum…

I’d keep it and hammer away. I’d shoot 62gr Gold Dots or see what else it likes in the 55-70gr arena.

 

[sierracharlie338]

This isn’t a debacle, it’s actually more of a conundrum…

I’d keep it and hammer away. I’d shoot 62gr Gold Dots or see what else it likes in the 55-70gr arena.

If I keep it I have no need to look for anything else it likes. Between the 69 SMK and TMK that I have stocked I’m set for a while.

 

[KHntr]

100% turf that barrel and go 1:7 twist. There is no question there. And there is zero downside realistically.

I have killed stuff with a 1:12, 1:14, then to a 1:9, then 1:8, and now have several 1:7 22 centerfires. 1:7 gives you options in bullets.

And I’m fairly certain that it gets you better penetration and wound channel, but that could be just how I’m interpreting the results I see after busting moose bones.

 

[sierracharlie338]

**CLARIFICATION**

I’m not worried about the killing ability of the current set up as I know it will do what I ask of it.

The question in my mind is since I know this set up, in my AO, will not shoot the heavies as is, is it worth making changes to be able have the ability to for longer distance plinking?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Hard to believe that outside of the US hunters kill deer on up with bullets less than 77gr. Must be voodoo in their 50-75gr bullets.

I personally know hunters who still kill big game with 22-250, 220 swift, 223 etc. and they have done so for decades. They aren’t using heavy for caliber bullets either. Yet somehow, they still always have big game to eat year round

 

[Vern400]

I have a load with 65 gr game kings and 69 smks that shoots nearly identical out past 400 yds. 23 gr BM.
it's similar velocity to yours.

65 is faster but lower bc
69 is slower but but higher bc
They dope almost identical.
It's the near perfect bullet for 223 because you're not giving away trajectory for 400 plus yards to get BC later on. Maybe you guys skip the shots below 400 yd or something, but I'll be sitting out watching the power line and look down and see a deer eating right below me three times out of two.

I wouldn't put $900 on a Remington that shoots 69 as well, just so I could change the twist rate and maybe not shoot any better.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

**CLARIFICATION**

I’m not worried about the killing ability of the current set up as I know it will do what I ask of it.

The question in my mind is since I know this set up, in my AO, will not shoot the heavies as is, is it worth making changes to be able have the ability to for longer distance plinking?

My 16” Tikka is a 400-yard rifle with the ADI 69-grain load (in terms of staying above 1800 fps at my elevation). I’ll happily practice with it to 600.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Drop data for this load in current temp range down here

 

[flyfisher117]

My REM 700 223, also has the 9 twist. It shoots 69s fantastically. As much as I want to rebarrel or trade it off for a faster twist 223 I just can’t justify it.

My vote is keep it and keep shooting and buy another gun later. In the context of plinking I just don’t see enough of a difference between 69 and 77 smks at 223 velocities. Much past 600 they both get pushed bad by the wind. Both are hard to spot impacts on big steel. I have taken both to 1200 yards and had my ass handed to me by the slightest breeze. Inside of 600 both are a joy.