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

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

Hahaha! Whoops!

My Tikka likes the same as you: 24.5 The Ruger prefers 24.2 & I have yet to work up a load for my Uberlight AR, but if it isn't one of those 2, one of those 2 will do. Shit's complicated enough!

I loaded ten 75bthp over 24.5 and they shot good enough that I’m not going to fret. My powder dropper hasn’t left 24.5 of tac in a couple years now.

 

[Billogna]

Is it that much better than varget, match, or n140? Also have imr 4064 (closer to 8208 on a chart actually) and imr 4895 and 4350.

I don't have any experience with it but I've read that AR Comp is also a pretty good option. It's kinda spendy tho.

 

[Pharmseller]

Benchmark may be worth a shot. I’m convinced it’s nearly the same as xbr. Looks the same, smells the same, meters the same. I havnt shot it specifically with 77s yet but it’s worked with everything else

I use Benchmark with 75 gr ELDM.




P

 

[AK4570]

@Pharmseller , mind sharing your Benchmark load?

Many thanks,
John

 

[TX_Diver]

I don't have any experience with it but I've read that AR Comp is also a pretty good option. It's kinda spendy tho.

They're all spendy

I'm gonna load up some 77 TMKs with Staball match in .5gr increments to around 24gr and see what velocity I get and where pressure is then try a group of 10 and see what happens.

Will post results later.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

leverevolution is another lower cost ball powder that works with the heavy 22 cal bullets. TAC can definitely get spicy when it's hot out.

 

[miller3483]

I believe my 77TMK, Match load is around 25 grains, in a tikka. I can look at my notes when I get home if it’s needed though.

 

[TX_Diver]

Here's my results with match. Helps being able to shoot at the house right now.

loaded inside on a chargemaster lite and checked with an RCBS 502 scale so take listed weights for what their worth.

Loaded up 22 to 25gr. Had what looked like a slightly flat primer at 24.4g but it looked pretty comparable to some other loads so I kept going. With no other signs at 25gr I went back inside and loaded another at 25gr then 25.2, 25.4, and 25.6.

T3x with an 18.5" barrel, and a magnetospeed sporter strapped to a supressor with the sensitivity turned all the way up.

For reference I get 2710 with 24.3g of N140 and a 75gr ELD-M.

I'm guessing either Hodgdon load is extremely conservative, or the LC brass and Tikka being able to shoot 5.56 fine are letting me go over book max? I'm fine with ~2700 fps (I'd probably stop at 25 or 25.2 maybe...). Would anyone keep going though just to find max or would you guys stop there. I'm not extremely experienced so I'd rather not push it too far.

 

[TX_Diver]

Not sure how well these will show up but here's the brass. 25.6 looked a little scratched up but no ejector marks/swipe or cratering that I could see?

 

[BigNate]

They look like the primers are a little flat, but also looks like the primer is starting to flow back around the firing pin leaving a little protrusion if I'm seeing it correctly. Both high pressure signs.

 

[Pharmseller]

@Pharmseller , mind sharing your Benchmark load?

Many thanks,
John

It’s max, so work up.

23.5 gr, CCI400 primer, R-P brass. I load really long, 1.940” BTO. That’s just barely touching the lands.

2915 fps

Edit to add, 24” barrel.




P

 

[roosiebull]

They're all spendy

I'm gonna load up some 77 TMKs with Staball match in .5gr increments to around 24gr and see what velocity I get and where pressure is then try a group of 10 and see what happens.

Will post results later.

That first cartridge you shoot may not clear the barrel, but you could probably set up the chrono in the house and be fine until you hit 3 grains of powder

 

[miller3483]

Here’s the load I settled on, work up slowly, it’s above max.

77 TMK
Lc brass
CCI 450
25 gr Staball Match
2.28 COAL
Approx. 2800fps, drops verified at 500
18” Suppressed Tikka

 

[TX_Diver]

I’ll go back and check and see if I missed cratering or if it’s just the pics. They are a bit flat but I’ve found most loads to flatten a bit at very low velocities. if I missed cratering I’d definitely drop down a bit!

 

[TX_Diver]

Here’s the load I settled on, work up slowly, it’s above max.

77 TMK
Lc brass
CCI 450
25 gr Staball Match
2.28 COAL
Approx. 2800fps, drops verified at 500
18” Suppressed Tikka

Do you have one year of LC or mixed?

 

[TX_Diver]

I probably missed slight cratering at 25.6gr. At 25gr it doesn't catch my nail but it's hard to tell.

Based on that I'd probably back off to 24.5gr which would put me in the 2650fps range. At my elevation that's 1800fps around 400-425 yards.

L to R
24.3 N140 w/ 75 ELD-M -- 22gr Match 77TMK - 25gr Match 77TMK -- 25.6 gr Match 77 TMK

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

My tikka seems to crater on everything.

 

[miller3483]

Do you have one year of LC or mixed?

I think it’s all the same year, but I’m not entirely sure. I found a bag of new American Eagle 556 brass at a lgs last year and it’s all LC head stamped. It’s on its second firing.

 

[Billogna]

Here's my results with match. Helps being able to shoot at the house right now.

loaded inside on a chargemaster lite and checked with an RCBS 502 scale so take listed weights for what their worth.

Loaded up 22 to 25gr. Had what looked like a slightly flat primer at 24.4g but it looked pretty comparable to some other loads so I kept going. With no other signs at 25gr I went back inside and loaded another at 25gr then 25.2, 25.4, and 25.6.

T3x with an 18.5" barrel, and a magnetospeed sporter strapped to a supressor with the sensitivity turned all the way up.

For reference I get 2710 with 24.3g of N140 and a 75gr ELD-M.

I'm guessing either Hodgdon load is extremely conservative, or the LC brass and Tikka being able to shoot 5.56 fine are letting me go over book max? I'm fine with ~2700 fps (I'd probably stop at 25 or 25.2 maybe...). Would anyone keep going though just to find max or would you guys stop there. I'm not extremely experienced so I'd rather not push it too far.

Just something to watch out for, and maybe you already know this, but when the velocity drops as your working up a load: In this case that slight decrease from 25 grains to 25.2, it is often a warning sign that there is about to be a spike in pressure. I also saw what others mentioned about slightly flat primer and very slight cratering.

 

[TX_Diver]

I’ve heard that but was hesitant with the sample size of one and small powder/speed increase to read too much into that. I’ll definitely keep that in mind.

I will probably load 10 at 24.5 today and see what it looks like on paper. I can also try N140 with them just for fun.

Just something to watch out for, and maybe you already know this, but when the velocity drops as your working up a load: In this case that slight decrease from 25 grains to 25.2, it is often a warning sign that there is about to be a spike in pressure. I also saw what others mentioned about slightly flat primer and very slight cratering.