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

Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
1,574
Location
Houston (adjacent) TX
One was a 16.1" DDM4 CHF gov with NXS 1-4
One was a Hodge Defense MOD 2 14.5" pinned CHF FN barrel with NX8
One was a KAC 11.5" CHF KAC barrel with NX8

All were 1/7 twist CHF Chrome lined.
That’s crazy my Tikka and LWRC shoot the factory BH 77s at least sub 1.5inch for 10 shots. But I have a shot a few other loads (fusion msr being one) that shoot better
 

77TMK

FNG
Joined
Aug 25, 2018
Messages
24
Location
Tennessee
Try an actual good barrel. KAC doesn’t make precision barrels, Hodge is literally rebagged FN barrels that are mediocre in precision, and DD regular barrels are not known for precision either.


Dang it also looks like this some Indian, not the arrow stuff with how you shoot off a bench.
 

JohnDough

FNG
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
96
Location
SWMO
Try an actual good barrel. KAC doesn’t make precision barrels, Hodge is literally rebagged FN barrels that are mediocre in precision, and DD regular barrels are not known for precision either.
Let me understand correctly...

-All my guns will shoot 1.8moa or better with multiple loading/ rounds. 10 shot groups. Any day of the week.

-77TMK black hills shoots 2.5-3+. Multiple lots. All of my rifles.

-My barrels must be the problem.

...and now you're bagging on how I achieve those sub 1.5moa groups with ammo the guns really love?

Cmon...
 

Nomosendero

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 21, 2021
Messages
253
If it was how he shoots off the bench it would not show up with just 1 load in all three rifles while getting better groups with all three rifles with other loads. I believe we can scrap that idea!
It is odd that these 3 rifles don't like the Black Hills load but odd things happen!
Have you tried the 77TMK in a different load?
 

77TMK

FNG
Joined
Aug 25, 2018
Messages
24
Location
Tennessee
1.8 moa at its best is not a good barrel. My Geissele URGI upper with a Geissele barrel shoots 77 SMK into 3/4” and 77 TMK to 1” repeatedly, and that is a pretty normal CHF barrel.


You’re not using a rear bag and your finger is hopping off the trigger as you fire. ARs require a lot more follow through to shoot precisely, and you’re shooting it like it’s a bolt gun.
 

JohnDough

FNG
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
96
Location
SWMO
If it was how he shoots off the bench it would not show up with just 1 load in all three rifles while getting better groups with all three rifles with other loads. I believe we can scrap that idea!
It is odd that these 3 rifles don't like the Black Hills load but odd things happen!
Have you tried the 77TMK in a different load?
No, I'm a black hills fan. Their mk262 shoots fine for me, though.

Also, I've used varying techniques from the bench. That rifle liked that technique. My KAC likes to have the rail muscled down a bit. Each gun has a personality, but NONE liked that 77 tmk in any fashion.
 

77TMK

FNG
Joined
Aug 25, 2018
Messages
24
Location
Tennessee
Yes. Five shot groups are often tighter. I got lucky with this barrel. My Douglas mk12 barrel is only a little better.


Give the 73 ELDM a try. I personally hate the 70 TSX because it just makes a narrow wound channel and their expansion thresholds are misleading as monos barely expand at lower velocities.
 

JohnDough

FNG
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
96
Location
SWMO
Yes. Five shot groups are often tighter. I got lucky with this barrel. My Douglas mk12 barrel is only a little better.


Give the 73 ELDM a try. I personally hate the 70 TSX because it just makes a narrow wound channel and their expansion thresholds are misleading as monos barely expand at lower velocities.
What are you considering to be "narrow" wound channel, and what is "lower velocity"? Everyone defines these differently. Just as you imply your chf barrel outshoots many peoples custom Kreiger heavy setups.
 
Joined
Dec 9, 2018
Messages
393
Let me understand correctly...

-All my guns will shoot 1.8moa or better with multiple loading/ rounds. 10 shot groups. Any day of the week.

-77TMK black hills shoots 2.5-3+. Multiple lots. All of my rifles.

-My barrels must be the problem.

...and now you're bagging on how I achieve those sub 1.5moa groups with ammo the guns really love?

Cmon...

If you are looking to shoot a tipped match bullet try the 73eldm. I had a very accurate 1:7 223 barrel in a bolt gun that hated 77tmks the best I could do with them was 1.8moa and that was a single cherry picked group on average they were in the 2.4 range. That same barrel would shoot 73 and 75 eldms exceptionally well along with Hornady 75bthp and the 77smk. For whatever reason the 77tmk just wouldn’t shoot in it no matter what I tried. The 73eldm was consistently sub Moa for 10 rounds in that barrel.
 

JohnDough

FNG
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
96
Location
SWMO
If you are looking to shoot a tipped match bullet try the 73eldm. I had a very accurate 1:7 223 barrel in a bolt gun that hated 77tmks the best I could do with them was 1.8moa and that was a single cherry picked group on average they were in the 2.4 range. That same barrel would shoot 73 and 75 eldms exceptionally well along with Hornady 75bthp and the 77smk. For whatever reason the 77tmk just wouldn’t shoot in it no matter what I tried. The 73eldm was consistently sub Moa for 10 rounds in that barrel.
Noone I trust loads the 73 eldm. It's all wierd burn rate powders or low pressure etc from Hornady.
 

Formidilosus

Super Moderator
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
10,459
77gr TMK’s can be finicky in AR’s, especially “duty” barrels. If the gun doesn’t like them, it doesn’t like them.

But, it isn’t all that common.
 

JohnDough

FNG
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
96
Location
SWMO
77gr TMK’s can be finicky in AR’s, especially “duty” barrels. If the gun doesn’t like them, it doesn’t like them.

But, it isn’t all that common.
Yeah, DD, FN, and KAC all use different forges and chrome liners, unique to them. I figured ONE of them would at least shoot it as well as m193.
 
Top