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

[Speaks]

Yes, the 75 & 80 are even better choices if they’ll work with your twist rate and magazine

Will get a t3x lite stainless most likely so 1:8 I think. 75s would be fine I would think, not sure on the 80s

 

[Schmo]

I’ve got a T3X 1:8 twist. I rented a throating reamer and throated it long! I tried some 80s. They stabilized, but didn’t group well. YMMV. Hit me up if you need suggestions on powder, etc

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

Will get a t3x lite stainless most likely so 1:8 I think. 75s would be fine I would think, not sure on the 80s

It will do the 75 eldm easy or the 80.5 berger full bore it's rated for an1-8" twist im shooting both and both are great the 80.5 is extremely easy to load for

 

[FredH]

I'm curious., what's the volume of a bullet with 2600ft/lbs, and what's the formula for calculation?

Figure it out. Do some testing, use something quantifiable that will satisfy those with a limited ability to grasp. do it with identical pieces of mass and then do it with objects of different mass but the same calculated KE drawn from velocity and mass. Good luck finding someone here that has the ability to grasp the concept.

Kinetic energy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Schmo]

It will do the 75 eldm easy or the 80.5 berger full bore it's rated for an1-8" twist im shooting both and both are great the 80.5 is extremely easy to load for

Interesting on the Berger. I skipped those because of price for volume practice. Also, not for hunting, but for volume practice, the 80 SMK is a good choice. It’s good in an 8 twist

 

[eLightfoot]

How long can you load a 77tmk or 75eldm in a tikka? Talking freebore specs not mag restrictions. I want to start making new magazines for the tikka 223

 

[DB29]

I’ve got a T3X 1:8 twist. I rented a throating reamer and throated it long! I tried some 80s. They stabilized, but didn’t group well. YMMV. Hit me up if you need suggestions on powder, etc

Did you get an increase in MV after reaming and loading longer? If yes, how much more?

I keep going back and forth on whether to do this right now.

 

[DB29]

How long can you load a 77tmk or 75eldm in a tikka? Talking freebore specs not mag restrictions. I want to start making new magazines for the tikka 223

On a 77gr tmk I am into the lands at about a 2.4coal.

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

Interesting on the Berger. I skipped those because of price for volume practice. Also, not for hunting, but for volume practice, the 80 SMK is a good choice. It’s good in an 8 twist

Iv used the 80.5 bergers on a few deer from a 22 creemore my buddies used in a 223 on deer now that I got 1200 of them I'll give them a go in my 223 a bit more just because it say target on the box dosnt mean it won't work for hunting as long as they have a good open tip there gold

 

[Schmo]

Did you get an increase in MV after reaming and loading longer? If yes, how much more?

I can safely run an 80 ELD-M at 3,042 fps from a 22” factory Tikka barrel at 1,230’ ASL

 

[DB29]

I can safely run an 80 ELD-M at 3,042 fps from a 22” factory Tikka barrel at 1,230’ ASL

What was the MV when you were loading short?

 

[Schmo]

What was the MV when you were loading short?

I never shot it before I throated it. But I would guess maybe 2900-ish

 

[BLJ]

I can safely run an 80 ELD-M at 3,042 fps from a 22” factory Tikka barrel at 1,230’ ASL

Might have missed it, but is that a standard 223 cartridge? Not an AI?

 

[BLJ]

Read a good chunk of this and think my next rifle will be a 223. With tmk 77s pretty much unsvailable in factory loads right now are the 73 eldms the preferred more svailable choice?

I’ve seen no terminal difference between the 77 TMK and 73 ELDM in whitetail from 17-125 yard. Sample of 2 each.
Only noticeable difference is that the 73’s provided a better blood trail.
Not great, but better.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Pair of does I shot 2 weekends ago. 75 eldm. Shot the first one at roughly 80 yards. Double lung, just a tad high and missed heart. She ran maybe 40-50 yards. I didn’t try to track her blood and stumbled upon her. She leaked everywhere. Second deer was about a minute behind. 110ish yards. She was quartered and I hit her just a hair back, clipping lungs, heart, and stomach. No blood trail, ran maybe 50-60 yards.
Heart and lungs of second hit deer
Entrance side on second deer
Exit side on second
Entrance on firstexit on first
Inside view of first

Wish I had took an inside picture of the second shot deer. Both insides were nasty. I like having a blood trail hunting grown up fields but the results were satisfactory.

 

[Nomosendero]

77 tmk strikes again


View attachment 807502

I hope you made the proper KE calculations before you fired!!
BTW, very nice Buck.

 

[Schmo]

Might have missed it, but is that a standard 223 cartridge? Not an AI?

Standard 223, but throated very long!

 

[rclouse79]

I recently assembled my own Rokslide special following the examples here. My barrel is cut down to 20” and sporting a SilencerCo Harvester Evo, which is a shorter, lighter version of the original harvester. This is my first experience with Tikka/SWFA and my first suppressor but so far I couldn’t be happier with the combination and wouldn't change a thing.

Edit - Wanted to add this is a T3x Lite since you are considering the Lite model yourself

Did you do 1/2 or 5/8 threads? I contacted a local gunsmith that was recommended, and they told me to bring the gun down to be measured. I am going to bring lots of pictures from this thread so they can see what other people have done.

 

[rclouse79]

Wahoo! Made it to page 100 with a 13 page word document as a quick reference (started it around page 50). I estimate this thread will be at 600 pages by the time I catch up and I will have a nice beefy 130-page word document.

 

[rclouse79]

I discovered something interesting while researching this thread. Suggesting you would not use the 77 gr TMK out of a 223 for something bigger that deer will get you banned. Just a heads up.