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

[Formidilosus]

Out of quite a few Tikkas, AAC TMK and 77gr SMK’s have averaged between 1.5 to 2 MOA for multiple ten round groups.

 

[ianpadron]

Out of quite a few Tikkas, AAC TMK and 77gr SMK’s have averaged between 1.5 to 2 MOA for multiple ten round groups.

Brutal! Appreciate the intel

 

[Formidilosus]

Brutal! Appreciate the intel

I’m not discounting that others may have seen issues, as I haven’t seen thousands and thousands of rounds of it through dozens of rifles. I am just saying what I have seen.

 

[ianpadron]

I’m not discounting that others may have seen issues, as I haven’t seen thousands and thousands of rounds of it through dozens of rifles. I am just saying what I have seen.

After re-reading your post, seeing those were 1.5-2" TEN shot groups, I feel better. Should be more than enough for a 400 yard deer gun.

 

[Deerfield]

3,000fps MV. Though I would get it rechambered to 22CM from the start, and no/ no issues.

I probably should… In your opinion, if starting from scratch and buying another tikka to turn into a 22CM, would it be better to just rebarrel? Do I really leave anything on the table by rechambering a 1:8 .22-250?

 

[Rooggvc]

I probably should… In your opinion, if starting from scratch and buying another tikka to turn into a 22CM, would it be better to just rebarrel? Do I really leave anything on the table by rechambering a 1:8 .22-250?

 

[Rooggvc]

I have yet to shoot it because I am waiting on a suppressor, but I had a 1/8" .223 barrel rechambered to 22 Creedmoor after reading various posts from @Formidilosus. It sounds like multiple individuals in his group have rechambered the 1/8's without issue.

 

[Formidilosus]

I probably should… In your opinion, if starting from scratch and buying another tikka to turn into a 22CM, would it be better to just rebarrel? Do I really leave anything on the table by rechambering a 1:8 .22-250?

No, the 1-8” is fine for anything up to the 88gr ELD-M. What I am seeing is that the 75gr, 80gr, and 88gr ELD-M, as well as the 80gr ELD-X, and the 77gr TMK are all good at those speeds, and kill fine. My preference from a wound perspective is still the 77gr TMK currently.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I

Dang haha I ordered 5 boxes earlier after the first response. Fingers crossed! What kind of groups you seeing with the Tikka?

Fwiw. This was a comparison between the 3 brands 77 tmk.. It shot fine through my tikka.

Randy

 

[ianpadron]

I

Fwiw. This was a comparison between the 3 brands 77 tmk.View attachment 584115. It shot fine through my tikka.

Randy

Thanks Randy, super helpful photo.

Looks like more than enough accuracy to start stacking whiteys with.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I've shot more of them also....its all about the same as that target. However, Black Hills is the king.

Randy

 

[Formidilosus]

I've shot more of them also....its all about the same as that target. However, Black Hills is the king.

RandyView attachment 584121

Which shot is your “cold bore”?

 

[mtnwrunner]

The one in the middle.

I'll be starting the cold bore on Sunday, 2 different rifles. Be interesting.

Randy

 

[Dobermann]

Which shot is your “cold bore”?

Pretty sure it was that 'flier' ...

 

[wind gypsy]

The one in the middle.

I'll be starting the cold bore on Sunday, 2 different rifles. Be interesting.

Randy

I bet the one up top was shot #10. I heard those tikka 223s will group for 9 but the barrel is too hot by shot #10 and it starts throwing flyers.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I have an authority figure that says there ain't no such thing as a flyer.
Matter of fact, he bats me alongside the head if I EVEN say the "F" word.

Randy

 

[BlackHillsShooter]

Howdy! First post after reading this entire thread. If it wasn't for a good friend of mine attending a recent shooting school by Form, I would still be mildly choking on some of this info in here.

That said, I dove right in and am the proud owner of a Tikka in .223. Nice rifle. Not the only bolt .223 I have but certainly a favorite after a range session.

The post above about groups and a comment on AAC ammo having a bit more pop got me to post up my experience with that ammo. I bought some AAC 77gn OTM to practice with in the Tikka. I was pretty happy with the groups to start, at 1.25-1.5". I was hitting gongs at 200, 300 and 400 yards easily with this stuff. The potential for very good accuracy in this rifle became pretty clear. I thought that ammo popped pretty good too. I read, "perfectly fine to shoot 5.56 in a bolt gun chambered in .223", here. OK then, lets give it a go, even if I have avoided doing that forever.

I found 3 split cases in 40 rounds fired. I pawed through another 160 unfired rounds, all in the same lot, and found two with damaged case mouths and one with a slightly bulged shoulder. I seem to recall maybe shoving one into the chamber a little harder than normally necessary while shooting at the bench that first day. I'll shoot the balance of it in my 18" Wylde barreled rifle.

Aside from that I do plan to attempt to fill a deer tag here in the hills with the Rokslide Recipe come November. I'll post bullet performance results here.

AAC 77gn OTM

 

[wind gypsy]

Howdy! First post after reading this entire thread. If it wasn't for a good friend of mine attending a recent shooting school by Form, I would still be mildly choking on some of this info in here.

That said, I dove right in and am the proud owner of a Tikka in .223. Nice rifle. Not the only bolt .223 I have but certainly a favorite after a range session.

The post above about groups and a comment on AAC ammo having a bit more pop got me to post up my experience with that ammo. I bought some AAC 77gn OTM to practice with in the Tikka. I was pretty happy with the groups to start, at 1.25-1.5". I was hitting gongs at 200, 300 and 400 yards easily with this stuff. The potential for very good accuracy in this rifle became pretty clear. I thought that ammo popped pretty good too. I read, "perfectly fine to shoot 5.56 in a bolt gun chambered in .223", here. OK then, lets give it a go, even if I have avoided doing that forever.

I found 3 split cases in 40 rounds fired. I pawed through another 160 unfired rounds, all in the same lot, and found two with damaged case mouths and one with a slightly bulged shoulder. I seem to recall maybe shoving one into the chamber a little harder than normally necessary while shooting at the bench that first day. I'll shoot the balance of it in my 18" Wylde barreled rifle.

Aside from that I do plan to attempt to fill a deer tag here in the hills with the Rokslide Recipe come November. I'll post bullet performance results here.

AAC 77gn OTM
View attachment 584324

Good info. I was hesitant to firmly recommend against AAC branded 556 in a tikka based on them showing overpressure in my tikka but I think with your post there is sufficient evidence to steer clear for that application now.

 

[mt terry d]

I ran through @ 400 with a friend's T3x with zero issues. Have about a hundred left and i checked some with a magnifying glass with no visible flaws. Perhaps Black Hills Shooter had a monday morning batch or a newb at the factory? Whatever the reason, the fact that one batch had issues is pretty unacceptable. Whoever is in charge of quality control needs a talking to. That's very bad for business at the least.

 

[BlackHillsShooter]

I ran through @ 400 with a friend's T3x with zero issues. Have about a hundred left and i checked some with a magnifying glass with no visible flaws. Perhaps Black Hills Shooter had a monday morning batch or a newb at the factory? Whatever the reason, the fact that one batch had issues is pretty unacceptable. Whoever is in charge of quality control needs a talking to. That's very bad for business at the least.

If I recall, you posted some MVs to me that showed they were on the hot side. Average above 2800fps.

Anyway, sorry for stinking up this thread with bad ammo stories. I'll be sure to post something about 77 TMKs and dead game animals later in the year.