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

[Deywalker]

A couple buddies who didn’t have action covers froze their tikkas on a hunt this year. Hard rain and dust prior to freezing too. Both of their bolts were frozen shut at the end of the day. Spent a couple hours next to the stove. The one that got shot on animals went boom just fine.

We are lucky to have some shit weather here, Iv had my tikka out in -20 f with no issues. Not form but I figured I’d throw in my experience.

What mine went through wasn't nearly as rough as that sounds, but it was back in working order in about 30 minutes of being brought inside. Thanks for the info!

With enough frozen water, they all will stop guns at some point.

However: below 20°, 8oz of water poured all over and in the action and trigger, whole thing dropped in snow, then stood up over night. This isn’t supposed to be representative of anything, except maybe the worst case- it’s meant to show differences between actions and triggers.

While I didn't leave it out overnight, I don't think it had any real chance the way I did it. I poured about 12-16 ounces on the action, and then about 8 ounces more just into the trigger. Then left it on its side, bolt handle up, in snow just long enough for all the water to freeze. Do you know if anyone's ever documented a head to head bolt action rifle reliability test that's publicly available? I've tried finding the Canadian ranger test with no luck.

 

[BLJ]

Canadian Ranger Test???

 

[260madman]

Canadian Ranger Test???

Well ya see, you take Maple syrup and pour it all over the rifle and then you leave it outside overnight in the freezing cold. Next morning you get some beer and pour over the frozen rifle to thaw the rifle out and shoot it. Sounds like a good test, eh? When you’re done you drive down to Tim Horton’s for some poutine to share with your dog Hosehead.

 

[Formidilosus]

Do you know if anyone's ever documented a head to head bolt action rifle reliability test that's publicly available? I've tried finding the Canadian ranger test with no luck.

Not that I know of.

 

[BLJ]

@260madman. Me and Hosehead will work on it today. Thanks.

 

[Nomosendero]

I tried the “problems with Ruger Americans”. A lot of rotary mag issues. Creepy triggers. And stocks, like mentioned before.
Maybe I’ll try some different searches later to come up with something. I’d like to have parts on hand so I’m not down. Thanks again.

I am not expecting much, I know of several of these being used without issues so far.

That being said, I know the Tikka is a better rifle overall.
For a serious hunt out West I will take one of my old M700's, they seem to hold up well.

 

[BLJ]

@Nomosendero. Agreed on the Tikka. They are for sure a fine rifle. I just thought I was missing something about the Americans since I’ve had nothing but great performance so far.

 

[amassi]

Canadian Ranger Test???

Canadian rangers are a sort of reserve paramilitary that is eyes and ears on Canada's norther fringes. They are issued rifles for defense and sustenance. They've been using Lee Enfields but we're recently replaced with tikka arctic. Rifles that were tested needed to function in -50c

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[260madman]

@BLJ I failed. I left out the milk in a bag reference. How I could forget that, I’m not sure. I’m so ashamed.

 

[BLJ]

Those Arctic's are nice! Love one of those in .308.

 

[fshaw]

I’ve been looking for a couple hundred, or what I can get, Speer 75gr Gold Dots. Have scoured the internet. If anyone sees any available anywhere, or have any they’d part with, please PM me. I have some 62gr Gold Dots but am looking for the heavier bullet. Thanks.

 

[canyonhunter47]

Tikka 223’s are pretty scarce. Are there any other good options?

Ruger American’s are no go for me. Alright specs on paper but terrible quality. I have two friends that got them. One shot lights out but had a horribly sticky bolt. The other’s stock was misshapen and pressed on one side of the “free floating” barrel.

 

[Tmac]

Tikka 223’s are pretty scarce. Are there any other good options?

Ruger American’s are no go for me. Alright specs on paper but terrible quality. I have two friends that got them. One shot lights out but had a horribly sticky bolt. The other’s stock was misshapen and pressed on one side of the “free floating” barrel.

You might want to take a look at Howa.

 

[canyonhunter47]

You might want to take a look at Howa.

Do you happen to know twist rate on those?

 

[Tmac]

Make sure and verify, but I believe they now offer a 1 in 8. Used to offer a slow twist, so there could be several options. Believe Legacy Sports is the importer, so it should be in here. https://www.legacysports.com/

My last one was a mini action in 6.5G. I bought the barreled action from Brownells and put it in a MDT LSS. Been a nice rig. The trigger is OK and believe you can get a spring, much like a Tikka, to drop it into the 1.5lb range.

 

[wind gypsy]

Anyone using CFE223, H335, or H4895 with the 69 TGK or the 77 TGK. I don't have any 8208 anymore. I want to load both at AR mag length for my 18" and 10.5" AR rifle and pistol.

H4895 is a great powder option.

 

[BigNate]

Anyone using CFE223, H335, or H4895 with the 69 TGK or the 77 TGK. I don't have any 8208 anymore. I want to load both at AR mag length for my 18" and 10.5" AR rifle and pistol.

I'm using 26gr. Of CFE223 under 69gr Nosler CC, CCI primers, mil brass.

 

[BLJ]

Mini Action Rifle - Howa USA

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States .223 is 1-8" on there site for the mini action.

 

[jadkins223]

I just got my ruger predator 223 setup. Went with the arken 4-16. Pretty sweet setup. Depending on how it shoots it may be my new favorite rifle.

 

[Nomosendero]

The RAR Predator I bought had the barrel touching the forearm on one side. It took 15 minutes with a rasp to cure that, it is not as though I had to worry about "wood to metal fit". The bedding block works.