.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

[Thegman]

I probably missed slight cratering at 25.6gr. At 25gr it doesn't catch my nail but it's hard to tell.

Based on that I'd probably back off to 24.5gr which would put me in the 2650fps range. At my elevation that's 1800fps around 400-425 yards.

L to R
24.3 N140 w/ 75 ELD-M -- 22gr Match 77TMK - 25gr Match 77TMK -- 25.6 gr Match 77 TMK

FWIW, you ain't gonna blow up your Tikka with that load.

Meant to add, the 25 grain load you're referring to (or any of them, really). The Tikka is WAY over-built for the 223 case.

Might be worth seeing how your primer pockets hold up to multiple loadings. There are a lot of variables that make reading fine details on a primer difficult.

If your primer pockets are getting loose after two or three loads that might be a better indicator or high pressure than fine details on the primer. Even at that though, I doubt it would seriously stress your rifle. I think the brass will tell you long before the rifle does.

 

[Nine Banger]

Hello all,

Here's a 223 bear with 77gr TMK. 25.5gr Accurate 2520. 18" barrel. 2784fps average.

411 yard steep angle shot upwards.

When you're a lowlander and all the locals tell you to center punch a bear fricking think about it and force yourself to DO IT.

This shot went in above the armpit and hung up in the offside ribcage as seen in the photo right below with the big nasty whelp. First fragment was pulled out from the outside. The others were pulled out thru the adnominal cavity. Onside lung was bruised, offside lung was cut.

 

[AK4570]

It’s max, so work up.

23.5 gr, CCI400 primer, R-P brass. I load really long, 1.940” BTO. That’s just barely touching the lands.

2915 fps

Edit to add, 24” barrel.




P

Danke.

I've got 10 loaded with 23.3 behind the RMR 69 and as long as will fit in a factory T3x mag.

I'll report back.

Thanks again,
John

 

[Pharmseller]

Gern geschehen

I’m using aftermarket mags to load long.

 

[Moose83]

So... I was out last night shooting my RSS at 600 yds. 4.5 mils ended up being my come up for that distance. When I got home I started fiddling around with the ballistic calculators on Hornady's website (they're free, and I'm cheap). When I use the standard bc calculator I end up with a velocity of 2725fps. When I use the 4dof calculator with their profile for the 77 tmk I end up with a velocity of 2850. My question is which one do I believe? Most of the data from both calculators is within 0.2mils but that seems like a fairly large swing in velocity. My load is 25gr of leverevolution, 77tmk, federal 5.56 brass, federal 205 primer. Based on what I've seen here and elsewhere I'm more inclined to believe it's 2725fps especially since my barrel has been chopped to 20". What do you guys think?

 

[Formidilosus]

So... I was out last night shooting my RSS at 600 yds. 4.5 mils ended up being my come up for that distance. When I got home I started fiddling around with the ballistic calculators on Hornady's website (they're free, and I'm cheap). When I use the standard bc calculator I end up with a velocity of 2725fps. When I use the 4dof calculator with their profile for the 77 tmk I end up with a velocity of 2850. My question is which one do I believe? Most of the data from both calculators is within 0.2mils but that seems like a fairly large swing in velocity. My load is 25gr of leverevolution, 77tmk, federal 5.56 brass, federal 205 primer. Based on what I've seen here and elsewhere I'm more inclined to believe it's 2725fps especially since my barrel has been chopped to 20". What do you guys think?

4dof produces wild outputs on non Hornady bullets. A .420 G1 BC works correctly.

 

[Moose83]

4dof produces wild outputs on non Hornady bullets. A .420 G1 BC works correctly.

I kind of figured it was something like that. I think I used a .410 bc as sierra's website lists different bc's for different velocities and I half ass guessed where the bullet would spend most of its time at that range.

 

[IDHoundsman]

Here’s the load I settled on, work up slowly, it’s above max.

77 TMK
Lc brass
CCI 450
25 gr Staball Match
2.28 COAL
Approx. 2800fps, drops verified at 500
18” Suppressed Tikka

Is this a compressed load?

 

[Mulyhuntr]

I probably missed slight cratering at 25.6gr. At 25gr it doesn't catch my nail but it's hard to tell.

Based on that I'd probably back off to 24.5gr which would put me in the 2650fps range. At my elevation that's 1800fps around 400-425 yards.

L to R
24.3 N140 w/ 75 ELD-M -- 22gr Match 77TMK - 25gr Match 77TMK -- 25.6 gr Match 77 TMK

What primer?

 

[miller3483]

Is this a compressed load?

Nope, there is still a tiny bit of slosh

 

[TX_Diver]

What primer?

Cci 400

 

[Mulyhuntr]

Cci 400

That's why. They flatten/flow super easy due to thin cup. Try something with a thicker cup.

 

[TX_Diver]

That's why. They flatten/flow super easy due to thin cup. Try something with a thicker cup.

Wouldn’t that still be too much pressure but just hiding the signs of it? Or the 400s show signs at safe pressures?

 

[Mulyhuntr]

I look for ejector swipes or heavy bolt lift personally. 400s will flatten before max pressure in many cartridges.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Wouldn’t that still be too much pressure but just hiding the signs of it? Or the 400s show signs at safe pressures?

Not always. I've got a m77 that pierce a CCI way before you are getting into the "sporty" loads. Stuff something like a Rem 7-1/2 in there and you are good to go

 

[TX_Diver]

I’ve got 1k small rifle magnum primers… I guess those would work as long as I did another ladder to find pressure?

 

[nephewjephew]

What does everyone like for barrel length? Will be shooting factory ammo. 16,18,20?

 

[ThatDUDE]

What does everyone like for barrel length? Will be shooting factory ammo. 16,18,20?

I have mine cut at 16.5” and love how handy it is. If it were me I would figure out how far you plan on hunting and determine your barrel length based on the velocity you need to reach that distance. My .223 is for practice and my kids to hunt with so I don’t plan on letting them take shots over 300 yds.

 

[nephewjephew]

I have mine cut at 16.5” and love how handy it is. If it were me I would figure out how far you plan on hunting and determine your barrel length based on the velocity you need to reach that distance. My .223 is for practice and my kids to hunt with so I don’t plan on letting them take shots over 300 yds.

Should have mentioned, this will be mainly for practice. Will definitely be 300 and in hunting (WT). Will also have a muffler on it. 16 would be so handy. Being as I don't reload, would be losing around 200 fps. Still doable for sub 300 hunting. Pole vaulting over mouse turds!

 

[ElPollo]

What does everyone like for barrel length? Will be shooting factory ammo. 16,18,20?

I have my bolt gun cut to 18”, and Black Hills factory 77 gr TMK is still at or above 1800 fps to 500-550 yards depending on what elevation I am at.