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

[eoperator]

I thought that too. But the box I just got say 1-7", as does Berger Barrel Twist Calculator. But I've been shooting them in my 1-8" twist .223 and they seem to be stabilizing.

I do not have any experience with the 80g myself, Hornady's site states 1: 8 min.

Not a huge difference in oal between 75eldm and 80eldm

75eldm 1.119"
80eldm 1.153"

 

[xsn10s]

I do not have any experience with the 80g myself, Hornady's site states 1: 8 min.

Not a huge difference in oal between 75eldm and 80eldm

75eldm 1.119"
80eldm 1.153"

Yup their website says 1-8" which is why I ordered 500. But the box says 1-7" which is why I confirmed it on the barrel twist calculator. I shot a sub half inch with them today during load work up and took them out to 800 yards. I'm at 2230 feet elevation but others at sea level might have issues.

 

[Matt5266]

If you took them to 800 without issue for all intensive purposes they are probably fine. I'm just spit balling here but let's just say 1:7 would stabilize them further. Prob not a issue at the distance most people shoot.....Of course I'm just guessing

 

[TimberHunter]

After far too much analysis, the koolaid has been drank!

I went with the tikka lite with a 22” barrel (will thread and cut depending on my velocity). Ordered up some sport match 30mm rings (sorry UM!) from Airgun AZ and hopefully they’re not shipping from the UK lol. Also got a mountian tactical trigger spring and tikka vertical grip. Will also get a longer mag so I can load the COAL further out

I will be loading 77 TMKs or 75 ELDMs for this rifle when it comes to hunting and practice but for the first 100 or so shots through the gun for speed up and to build up my brass storeage, should I go with AAC 556, ADI 223 or Hornady frontier 223? Also wonder about starline brass?

Thanks for the info!

 

[sierracharlie338]

After far too much analysis, the koolaid has been drunk!

I went with the tikka lite with a 22” barrel (will thread and cut depending on my velocity). Ordered up some sport match 30mm rings (sorry UM!) from Airgun AZ and hopefully they’re not shipping from the UK lol. Also got a mountian tactical trigger spring and tikka vertical grip. Will also get a longer mag so I can load the COAL further out

I will be loading 77 TMKs or 75 ELDMs for this rifle when it comes to hunting and practice but for the first 100 or so shots through the gun for speed up and to build up my brass storeage, should I go with AAC 556, ADI 223 or Hornady frontier 223? Also wonder about starline brass?

Thanks for the info!

I run starline and its great. Zero issues.

 

[ztc92]

After far too much analysis, the koolaid has been drank!

I went with the tikka lite with a 22” barrel (will thread and cut depending on my velocity). Ordered up some sport match 30mm rings (sorry UM!) from Airgun AZ and hopefully they’re not shipping from the UK lol. Also got a mountian tactical trigger spring and tikka vertical grip. Will also get a longer mag so I can load the COAL further out

I will be loading 77 TMKs or 75 ELDMs for this rifle when it comes to hunting and practice but for the first 100 or so shots through the gun for speed up and to build up my brass storeage, should I go with AAC 556, ADI 223 or Hornady frontier 223? Also wonder about starline brass?

Thanks for the info!

Of those practice ammo options, I’d personally go ADI if the price is similar since their brass does not have crimped primers and you hope to reload.

 

[WIDrake]

I wonder if there are any other threads in this site with 420 pages.... Can't wait to try out 77, 75, and 73gr on critters! Season can't get here fast enough

 

[Rolltide]

I've enjoyed getting back into shooting .223s thanks to this thread. I am curious though, what kind of accuracy do you see out of the RSS shooting 77 TMKs?

I can't decide if I'm asking way too much out of my rifles or if maybe I need to take everything apart and put them back together again.

For the rifles that shoot them well, my Gen 2 Ruger American Ranch will occasionally print a 5-shot group at 100 yards under 1", but never better than 3/4".

That will kill well enough, but where I hunt, Virginia, the smallest we can go is .243...

Am I expecting too much or should I take everything apart and start over?

 

[TimberHunter]

Of those practice ammo options, I’d personally go ADI if the price is similar since their brass does not have crimped primers and you hope to reload.

Good point on the crimps..

Is there other practice ammo you’d recommend?

 

[Bluumoon]

I've enjoyed getting back into shooting .223s thanks to this thread. I am curious though, what kind of accuracy do you see out of the RSS shooting 77 TMKs?

I can't decide if I'm asking way too much out of my rifles or if maybe I need to take everything apart and put them back together again.

For the rifles that shoot them well, my Gen 2 Ruger American Ranch will occasionally print a 5-shot group at 100 yards under 1", but never better than 3/4".

That will kill well enough, but where I hunt, Virginia, the smallest we can go is .243...

Am I expecting too much or should I take everything apart and start over?

I’m pretty happy w 1” to 1.2” ten shot groups. Others can answer what is actually statically relevant at different ranges, but I believe at 1.2” you are good a long way out.

 

[SouthPaw]

I've put nearly 1000 80g ELDMs through my 223 Tikka, they shoot fantastic.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

I've put nearly 1000 80g ELDMs through my 223 Tikka, they shoot fantastic.

Mind sharing the load?

 

[The Guide]

Good point on the crimps..

Is there other practice ammo you’d recommend?

You can practice and kill with the 73 ELDM and gather Hornady brass but your @~$1.20 to $1.30 per shot. AAC Sabre Blade Black Tips are about $0.60 each and you still get uncrimped brass but of unknown quality.

Jay

 

[Marbles]

Starline 5.56 brass is decent and 30 cents new. 10 cents for a primer, 22 cents for a Hornady 75 gr BTHP, and 20ish cents for a case full of powder, so $0.82 per first shot, plus time, to start with new brass for practice ammo. You can find cheaper, but I would only get it if the brass is something you actually want.

Berger uses Lapua brass, so that is the way to get Lapua brass in 223 right now. At $1.50ish per shot, it is a touch expensive for me.

 

[Stocky]

Starline 5.56 brass is decent and 30 cents new. 10 cents for a primer, 22 cents for a Hornady 75 gr BTHP, and 20ish cents for a case full of powder, so $0.82 per first shot, plus time, to start with new brass for practice ammo. You can find cheaper, but I would only get it if the brass is something you actually want.

Berger uses Lapua brass, so that is the way to get Lapua brass in 223 right now. At $1.50ish per shot, it is a touch expensive for me.

For like $0.05 is there a reason you dont just shoot the 73 or 75 elds and have the option to just use them hunting?

 

[xsn10s]

If you took them to 800 without issue for all intensive purposes they are probably fine. I'm just spit balling here but let's just say 1:7 would stabilize them further. Prob not a issue at the distance most people shoot.....Of course I'm just guessing

According to Berger's Barrel Twist calculator they a "marginally stabilized". So yes a faster twist would be most likely better. At my altitude they seem fine under current conditions. If it gets colder or I go to lower elevation then who knows.

 

[TimberHunter]

You can practice and kill with the 73 ELDM and gather Hornady brass but your @~$1.20 to $1.30 per shot. AAC Sabre Blade Black Tips are about $0.60 each and you still get uncrimped brass but of unknown quality.

Jay

The Sabre blade black tips are 556 correct? Do we know much about the bullet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sierracharlie338]

The Sabre blade black tips are 556 correct? Do we know much about the bullet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is believed that they are Vmax. When they ship it says vmax on the receipt. The vmax it still a decent hunting bullet it just wont penetrate as deep as the eldms i believe.

 

[Marbles]

For like $0.05 is there a reason you dont just shoot the 73 or 75 elds and have the option to just use them hunting?

Because I have about 700 of the 77 gr TMKs on hand and load them for hunting. So prefer the cheaper bullet for practice.

 

[fwafwow]

For those that don't reload - as I see the Black Hills 77 TMKs becoming scarce as hen's teeth (the most recent availability was Creedmoor Sports for $1.50 per, before taxes or shipping), I'm wondering why I don't just load up on Hornady 73 ELDs and save quite a bit (at around $1.10).