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

Moose83

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 30, 2020
Messages
290
New guy here,
I read the entire 415 pages :)
I was taking notes but don't have anything written down about a 75 eldm recipe?
Unfortunately in northern bc the only heavy grain bullet available around is the 75gr eldm. The tmk is unobtainable

Is anyone willing to share a recipe?
I'd like to pm pharmseller but am not able.
You didn't say what you are shooting them out of, but if you are mag length restricted like in a tikka, then Nechako outdoors in Vanderhoof has the 73ge eld-m in stock. The 75 gr bthp hornady makes a good practice bullet as well.
 

SloppyJ

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2023
Messages
1,697
Loaded up my first batch of 77tmks for my son's birthday present, a 16" Tikka .223 compact. Holy short throat and mag. I damn near ran out of adjustment on my seating die even moving the stem all the way down. Going to try 100rds at 2.98 COAL with 24gr of varget. I had forgotten that my .223 had a custom throat and can run out to 2.5".

Fingers crossed they'll work well with that jump. Powder got a bit crunchy seating that far in so I vibrated a few to condense the powder and that seems to help.
 

Harvey_NW

WKR
Joined
Feb 13, 2019
Messages
1,956
Location
WA
Read what it says… It clearly states no “hunting” with it in the regulations not no “killing”. I was hunting with my knife but happened to kill it with a .224
Maybe your .224 identifies as a 300 Win Mag? Use a blue wig as a scope cover and put a rainbow sticker on the side of the buttstock, not a single form of law enforcement will do anything that violates it's feelings.
 
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
1,469
Location
Houston (adjacent) TX
Loaded up my first batch of 77tmks for my son's birthday present, a 16" Tikka .223 compact. Holy short throat and mag. I damn near ran out of adjustment on my seating die even moving the stem all the way down. Going to try 100rds at 2.98 COAL with 24gr of varget. I had forgotten that my .223 had a custom throat and can run out to 2.5".

Fingers crossed they'll work well with that jump. Powder got a bit crunchy seating that far in so I vibrated a few to condense the powder and that seems to help.
I need to check my COAL (I measure base to ogive) but the ones I loaded for my daughters rifle didn’t shoot very well at mag length.
 

SloppyJ

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2023
Messages
1,697
I need to check my COAL (I measure base to ogive) but the ones I loaded for my daughters rifle didn’t shoot very well at mag length.
Let me know. I typically load for cbto as well but with this setup the limiting factor was mag length. I found the lands, loaded 20 off of them and realized I was still quite a far ways off from getting that round into the magazine. Like right around a full tenth of an inch.
 

Brazo264

FNG
Joined
Feb 22, 2021
Messages
30
Loaded up my first batch of 77tmks for my son's birthday present, a 16" Tikka .223 compact. Holy short throat and mag. I damn near ran out of adjustment on my seating die even moving the stem all the way down. Going to try 100rds at 2.98 COAL with 24gr of varget. I had forgotten that my .223 had a custom throat and can run out to 2.5".

Fingers crossed they'll work well with that jump. Powder got a bit crunchy seating that far in so I vibrated a few to condense the powder and that seems to help.
2.98 COAL - you sure about that?
 
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
9,711
Loaded up my first batch of 77tmks for my son's birthday present, a 16" Tikka .223 compact. Holy short throat and mag. I damn near ran out of adjustment on my seating die even moving the stem all the way down. Going to try 100rds at 2.98 COAL with 24gr of varget. I had forgotten that my .223 had a custom throat and can run out to 2.5".

Fingers crossed they'll work well with that jump. Powder got a bit crunchy seating that far in so I vibrated a few to condense the powder and that seems to help.

Yes, longer mags are nice or varget gets crunchy in a hurry with 77 TMKs. Doesn't mean it doesn't work. Varget and 77 TMKs was my primary load in an AR for a handful of years for steel shooting.
 

Big_wals

WKR
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
405
Location
W Texas
What’s the lowest velocity/longest range have you seen the TMK still “perform adequately”
Another elk. This one at very low impact velocity. 1,440fps impact. 77gr TMK. First shot was through scapula, high lung, second shot back of ribs and broke the spine. Total distance traveled was 30’ish yards.



View attachment 499309




Still upsetting quite well-

View attachment 499310

Almost 200 pages ago in this thread…. My longest has been 342 yards on a deer, out of a 223 the tmk will still perform past the ranges most guys should be shooting them at animals, myself included.
 

Camv

FNG
Joined
Aug 27, 2024
Messages
10
I'm using a tikka t3x 1in8 twist.
Stainless but wearing a walnut stock. I'm weird I know, but I would rather scratch a walnut stock than have to use synthetic.

I'm modifying the factory mag to fit the 75 Eldm.
Moose83 you aren't in smithers by some chance are you?
 

E.Shell

FNG
Joined
Jun 8, 2024
Messages
88
I'm digging through my powders, looking to use something on hand for 77 TMKs in a 223.

I have a slew of Varget and a bunch of H4895 and IMR4895, which seem to be in the range, but I see most people here are getting relatively low velocities with these.

Found a couple jugs of WC 846, which is said be like BLC2. I have a pile of LC brass, CCI #41 primers and a brand new box of 77s staring at me...

I searched the forum for BLC2 data but didn't see anything specific. Any comments and/or starting data for this powder with 77s in the .223?

Running them through a Ruger American Ranch 5.56 1:8 with AR mags.

Thank you,
Ed
 
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
1,469
Location
Houston (adjacent) TX
I'm digging through my powders, looking to use something on hand for 77 TMKs in a 223.

I have a slew of Varget and a bunch of H4895 and IMR4895, which seem to be in the range, but I see most people here are getting relatively low velocities with these.

Found a couple jugs of WC 846, which is said be like BLC2. I have a pile of LC brass, CCI #41 primers and a brand new box of 77s staring at me...

I searched the forum for BLC2 data but didn't see anything specific. Any comments and/or starting data for this powder with 77s in the .223?

Running them through a Ruger American Ranch 5.56 1:8 with AR mags.

Thank you,
Ed
I’ve never used blc2 because it’s got a reputation as being noticeably dirtier than other powders. I’m seem to recall it is not temp stable but not positive on that.
 

SBR Sarge

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Messages
112
Question for Form, or another similarly experienced person (if such a person exists!)…

Will the TTSX expand better than the TSX?

It seems maybe the tip helps the TMK do its job, and I wonder if the same might be said for the tip on the TTSX.

Thanks!
 

Moose83

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 30, 2020
Messages
290
I'm using a tikka t3x 1in8 twist.
Stainless but wearing a walnut stock. I'm weird I know, but I would rather scratch a walnut stock than have to use synthetic.

I'm modifying the factory mag to fit the 75 Eldm.
Moose83 you aren't in smithers by some chance are you?
Yup, I am. I honestly wouldn't bother modifying the factory mag to fit the 75gr, the 73gr shot way better for me in a factory tikka chamber. The 75's seem way more finicky for seating depth, and the 73's ogive profile more closely matches the 77tmk which is very forgiving. The cheapest way to go I've found here is to shoot hornady 75gr bthp match as a practice round then switch over to the 73 eldm for hunting. As for powders, I've used Imr 4064, leverevolution, and Tac. My 4064 load is very accurate but slow. It's also hard to get into the case without being too crunchy. Leverevolution has given better accuracy in my rifle than Tac.
 

Big_wals

WKR
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
405
Location
W Texas
I'm digging through my powders, looking to use something on hand for 77 TMKs in a 223.

I have a slew of Varget and a bunch of H4895 and IMR4895, which seem to be in the range, but I see most people here are getting relatively low velocities with these.

Found a couple jugs of WC 846, which is said be like BLC2. I have a pile of LC brass, CCI #41 primers and a brand new box of 77s staring at me...

I searched the forum for BLC2 data but didn't see anything specific. Any comments and/or starting data for this powder with 77s in the .223?

Running them through a Ruger American Ranch 5.56 1:8 with AR mags.

Thank you,
Ed
If you do end up using Varget, grab an ASC steel mag. They allow you to seat out to 2.31 coal, gives ya a little more room for powder.
 
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