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

[Sandstrom]

I gave in and bought a Tikka compact 223, SWFA 10x42 (since there's no sign of the 6x or the 3-9) and 1,000 Black Hills TMKs. Have an ambition to improve my shooting.

Anyone willing to share their actual muzzle velocity and or dope sheet with a 20" Tikka barrel and the Black Hills TMKs? I realize it's probably in here somewhere, but if so I'm not finding it.

I am getting 2730 with my 18 inch tikka and black hills 77TMK. Congrats on the new gun!
Ryan

 

[Mike Islander]

I saw Ruger came out with a new version of their American rifles. They have a 20 inch and 16 inch 223 that are threaded with 1:8 twist. Looks like they're going to have 22 arc too

Ruger® Ruger American® Rifle Generation II Predator Bolt-Action Rifle Models

ruger.com

Unlike most scope companies, they obviously read Rokslide.

 

[pattimusprime22]

I gave in and bought a Tikka compact 223, SWFA 10x42 (since there's no sign of the 6x or the 3-9) and 1,000 Black Hills TMKs. Have an ambition to improve my shooting.

Anyone willing to share their actual muzzle velocity and or dope sheet with a 20" Tikka barrel and the Black Hills TMKs? I realize it's probably in here somewhere, but if so I'm not finding it.

I have the D18 Tikka 223 with 22.4" barrel and I'm getting 2850 with factory black hills 77tmks and suppressor.

 

[cowdisciple]

I am getting 2730 with my 18 inch tikka and black hills 77TMK. Congrats on the new gun!
Ryan

I have the D18 Tikka 223 with 22.4" barrel and I'm getting 2850 with factory black hills 77tmks and suppressor.

Thanks for the beta, everyone. My only problem is that 10x - I would really rather have either the 6x or the 3-9.

I thought of a solution, though. I ordered a t1x . 22lr, and when I can get one of the other two the 10x will be perfect for that.

 

[xsn10s]

Thanks for the beta, everyone. My only problem is that 10x - I would really rather have either the 6x or the 3-9.

I thought of a solution, though. I ordered a t1x . 22lr, and when I can get one of the other two the 10x will be perfect for that.

I have the 10X and 6X,.... the 10X isn't bad at all. I'll admit the 6X is easier to use, and I do favor a variable. But I've taken sage rats as close as 10 yards, chucks out as far as 583 yards, and a badger at 659 yards all on the 10X.

 

[SquatchHunter]

I saw Ruger came out with a new version of their American rifles. They have a 20 inch and 16 inch 223 that are threaded with 1:8 twist. Looks like they're going to have 22 arc too

Ruger® Ruger American® Rifle Generation II Predator Bolt-Action Rifle Models

ruger.com

Been needing to get an American or 3. Good thing I held off. My hunter in 6.5 is a shooter. The 22ARC is getting some interest from me. Not that I need it.

 

[Jay Ell Gee]

Thanks for the beta, everyone. My only problem is that 10x - I would really rather have either the 6x or the 3-9.

I thought of a solution, though. I ordered a t1x . 22lr, and when I can get one of the other two the 10x will be perfect for that.

This is peak rokslide thinking!

You’ll enjoy the T1X. I’ve had one in a KRG bravo chassis and loved it. I’m actually reverting it back to stock to match my 223 (with the vertical grip installed) just for more consistent practice. It’s a fantastic little rifle.

 

[cowdisciple]

This is peak rokslide thinking!

You’ll enjoy the T1X. I’ve had one in a KRG bravo chassis and loved it. I’m actually reverting it back to stock to match my 223 (with the vertical grip installed) just for more consistent practice. It’s a fantastic little rifle.

Should make a neat little blue grouse rifle, too!

 

[IDHoundsman]

@Formidilosus, would you hesitate to take elk with a 73 ELDM? I haven’t gotten my hands on any 77 TMK’s but this set up I’m running loves the 73 ELDM. I read earlier in the thread that it gets less penetration than the TMK. Was wondering what your thoughts are?

 

[Formidilosus]

@Formidilosus, would you hesitate to take elk with a 73 ELDM?

Nope. Shoot it in the front half.

 

[robtattoo]

Finally found an affordable Tikka replacement for my Ruger American. Now I just need to find a mag with a slightly longer internal length, or seat about 800 bullets a little deeper & hope like hell they're still accurate enough!

Damn this site's expensive.

 

[Tahr]

Finally found an affordable Tikka replacement for my Ruger American. Now I just need to find a mag with a slightly longer internal length, or seat about 800 bullets a little deeper & hope like hell they're still accurate enough!

Damn this site's expensive.

The 77 TMK and 73grn ELDM work very well at Tikka mag length of 2.3". Haven't tried the 75 ELDM. The 80 ELDM wasn't so good for me at 2.3".

 

[willfrye027]

Did a little math and realized I would “save” money shooting a .223 over my 25 and 22 creedmoor tikkas. Plus the more difficult wind call should make me a better shooter.

I should break even in less than a year, I explained to my wife.

Factory tikka .223 stainless, leverevolution (8lb jug on sale at Hogdon), CCI 400s, starline brass at $31/100, ABC 75gr BTHP.

.44 per round approximately.

Loaded up 20 or so at 25gr from the powder thower getting me 2820fps, seated at SAAMI length. I see no reason to experiment any further and will hopefully send a few thousand down range before deer season.

 

[atmat]

Did a little math and realized I would “save” money shooting a .223 over my 25 and 22 creedmoor tikkas. Plus the more difficult wind call should make me a better shooter.

I should break even in less than a year, I explained to my wife.

Factory tikka .223 stainless, leverevolution (8lb jug on sale at Hogdon), CCI 400s, starline brass at $31/100, ABC 75gr BTHP.

.44 per round approximately.

Loaded up 20 or so at 25gr from the powder thower getting me 2820fps, seated at SAAMI length. I see no reason to experiment any further and will hopefully send a few thousand down range before deer season.

View attachment 645175

Agreed — anmo and barrel life make buying a 223 the cheaper option for volume shooting vs most other cartridges.

 

[rabbithuntr]

Finally found an affordable Tikka replacement for my Ruger American. Now I just need to find a mag with a slightly longer internal length, or seat about 800 bullets a little deeper & hope like hell they're still accurate enough!

Damn this site's expensive.

I modified a 308 mag with jb weld to run 223 with 75 elds it looks like it should work but I’m still waiting for my rifle to get back to test it officially.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ARK_Ginger]

I modified a 308 mag with jb weld to run 223 with 75 elds it looks like it should work but I’m still waiting for my rifle to get back to test it officially.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would love to see a picture of that.

There is also a guy in Canada selling 3d printed mags that I've thought about giving a shot.

I'm currently running a CTR stock with my 223 running one CTR 223 mag and some MDT & Magpul AICS 223 mags. Honestly I thing the MDT mag runs better than the CTR one.

 

[robtattoo]

Would love to see a picture of that.

There is also a guy in Canada selling 3d printed mags that I've thought about giving a shot.

I'm currently running a CTR stock with my 223 running one CTR 223 mag and some MDT & Magpul AICS 223 mags. Honestly I thing the MDT mag runs better than the CTR one.

Me too.

I have an MDT mag in my Ruger .223 & it's absolutely flawless.

I haven't shopped around yet, since I don't have the rifle, but if I can convert the Tikka to scrip AICS mags, I'll probably do it

 

[Smenning]

It sounds like UM is designing Tikka Mags with an emphasis on max COAL. Hopefully there will be a .223 option as well. The good news is BH 77tmk’s fit factory length just fine!

 

[Juan_ID]

The 77 TMK and 73grn ELDM work very well at Tikka mag length of 2.3". Haven't tried the 75 ELDM. The 80 ELDM wasn't so good for me at 2.3".

The 75 eldm doesn’t like 2.3” oal based on my experience.

 

[Benchleg Hunter]

Going lead free hurts. I would still use smaller calibers if I reloaded, but only with Cutting Edge bullets. Otherwise the Barnes LRX’s do better than most monos. They have a 77gr .224, but I haven’t used it yet. The 127gr LRX in 6.5mm have done well however.

Hey Form, wondering if you would still recommend this for people forced to shoot non-lead or if anything else has come to market that’s improved.