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

[Q_Sertorius]

What’s everyone been buying for practice 223 ammo? PSA 75BTHP been out of stock for a while, my rifle shoots the PSA 77’s at about 2”.

Anyone try the Norma match 69 grain?

It did not shoot well in my 1:10” twist Tikka. The ADI 69-grain shoots lights out in that rifle.

 

[ztc92]

What’s everyone been buying for practice 223 ammo? PSA 75BTHP been out of stock for a while, my rifle shoots the PSA 77’s at about 2”.

Anyone try the Norma match 69 grain?

I bought 1000 rounds of the AAC 77 OTM when it was on a good sale and I’m working through those. It’s about 2” groups for 10 shots, so acceptable but not great. Many of us at the winter course bought it and had similar results. It’s probably fine for 100 yard work but not long range practice.

I loved the ADI 69g and if I could find a good deal on some I would buy a lot of it.

Many of us have also had good results with frontier 68 and 75g BTHP ammo if you need something off the shelf.

 

[BLJ]

What’s everyone been buying for practice 223 ammo? PSA 75BTHP been out of stock for a while, my rifle shoots the PSA 77’s at about 2”.

Anyone try the Norma match 69 grain?

It did not shoot well in my 1:10” twist Tikka. The ADI 69-grain shoots lights out in that rifle.

I’ll add that I had better luck with the 55 ADI’s in mine.
Something to consider.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’ll add that I had better luck with the 55 ADI’s in mine.
Something to consider.

The 55-grain ADI’s also shoot very well in my Tikka. As do the Frontier 62-grain 5.56. I only mentioned the ADI 69-grain because they are the heaviest bullet that shoots well in my Tikka.

 

[BLJ]

The 55-grain ADI’s also shoot very well in my Tikka. As do the Frontier 62-grain 5.56. I only mentioned the ADI 69-grain because they are the heaviest bullet that shoots well in my Tikka.

Agree completely.
I wish the 69’s shot better.

 

[Pharmseller]

Turns out the 75gr ELD-M/LVR combo makes a decent “varmint” round, though not fur friendly.

What’s your muzzle velocity?

 

[Gstew1930]

Oof. I don’t know. But it’s 40 yards and for all the same reasons that you zero at 100 for centerfires.

What do you mean? Quick drop for 22's? Or another reason?

 

[Formidilosus]

What do you mean? Quick drop for 22's? Or another reason?

The bullets trajectory never rising above line of sight, environmental changes, etc.

 

[Gstew1930]

The bullets trajectory never rising above line of sight, environmental changes, etc.

That makes sense. Thank you

 

[Formidilosus]

That makes sense. Thank you

Tsk tsk. I see who wasn’t paying attention during class.

 

[Gstew1930]

Tsk tsk. I see who wasn’t paying attention during class.

That was my second guess

 

[Dobermann]

Tsk tsk. I see who wasn’t paying attention during class.

Or read just 10 posts before - at the very top of this same page, @Gstew1930:

D

Post in thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Jan 25, 2026

@Formidilosus any chance you can remember where that was? I tried searching a couple terms related but couldn’t pull it up.

Here you go:

With common centerfire rifle cartridges and a 100 yard zero, the center of the cone never raises above the line of sight. You never have to dial down to hit anything from muzzle onward. From muzzle to around 65-70 yards you dial up or aim high, from 65-70 yards to about 120 yards it’s dead on, past 120’ish yards you dial up or aim high.

A 40 yard zero with mist .22 LR’s is the same. I zero all of my .22 rifles at 40 yards.

...

• Dobermann

• 

 

[rabbithuntr]

Or read just 10 posts before - at the very top of this same page, @Gstew1930:

D

Post in thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Jan 25, 2026

@Formidilosus any chance you can remember where that was? I tried searching a couple terms related but couldn’t pull it up.

Here you go:

With common centerfire rifle cartridges and a 100 yard zero, the center of the cone never raises above the line of sight. You never have to dial down to hit anything from muzzle onward. From muzzle to around 65-70 yards you dial up or aim high, from 65-70 yards to about 120 yards it’s dead on, past 120’ish yards you dial up or aim high.

A 40 yard zero with mist .22 LR’s is the same. I zero all of my .22 rifles at 40 yards.

...

• Dobermann

• 

Does a 40yd zero work for just high velocity 22 or standard velocity as well?

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

What’s everyone been buying for practice 223 ammo? PSA 75BTHP been out of stock for a while, my rifle shoots the PSA 77’s at about 2”.

Anyone try the Norma match 69 grain?

I started with Norma Golden Target Match 77gr, working through some Remington Premier Match 77gr.

Basically whatever 77gr is cheapest on Ammoseek when I’m looking to buy.

 

[SBR Sarge]

It is commonly accepted here that 5.56 ammo is fine in our 223 Tikkas.

What are folks’ thoughts/experiences with the new NAS3 cased 5.56 loads?



My thought is that since they are still within safe limits for 5.56 chambered guns, they should be fine in any rifle that handles 5.56.

But there are plenty of folks on here with more experience and knowledge than I have, so please share your thoughts/analysis.

SBR

 

[Formidilosus]

Does a 40yd zero work for just high velocity 22 or standard velocity as well?

Yes.

 

[Speaks]

It is commonly accepted here that 5.56 ammo is fine in our 223 Tikkas.

What are folks’ thoughts/experiences with the new NAS3 cased 5.56 loads?



My thought is that since they are still within safe limits for 5.56 chambered guns, they should be fine in any rifle that handles 5.56.

But there are plenty of folks on here with more experience and knowledge than I have, so please share your thoughts/analysis.

SBR

5.56 from AAC and Blackhills is nearly all I have put through mine.

 

[9487329]

I've been running hornady frontier 223 55gr for practice and I've had maybe 4 in the last maybe 300 rounds that won't allow my bolt to close. They've shot fine in my AR when I swap them over out of curiosity. Anybody else have that issue? Factory stock 223 tikka action / bolt / barrel.

 

[Formidilosus]

I've been running hornady frontier 223 55gr for practice and I've had maybe 4 in the last maybe 300 rounds that won't allow my bolt to close. They've shoot fine in my AR when I swap them over out of curiosity. Anybody else have that issue? Factory stock 223 tikka action / bolt / barrel.

Hornady Frontier can be all over the place. Some lot #’s are really good, some bad, some ok.

 

[9487329]

Hornady Frontier can be all over the place. Some lot #’s are really good, some bad, some ok.

I wish there was a better option locally instead of ordering online. I have some ADI 55gr on the way though, so I guess I'll be convinced here soon.