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

[Valumpessa]

Not here to buy or sell. Just wanted to contribute my experience with the 77 TMK’s

Again, not directed at you. There was another FNG who was just posting nonsense so he could access the classifieds. Post away with your 223 experiences!

 

[chrsclnngr]

Many TMK’s in stock

https://bluebirdprecisionandtactical.com/?s=Sierra+tmk&post_type=product

 

[Xae289]

Hi all. Just got a steal of a deal on a barely used Ruger American in .223, so a buddy gave me 20 rds of Bonefrog 77gr TMKs and put me onto this site/thread. No game taken with it yet, but I have a reloading report of a poor powder option.

I already had dies, but didn't really reload for .223, so the only powder I had on hand that works at all with .223 was IMR 4064 to try with the 77gr TMKs. I gave it a try. The most I could get in there with minimal compression that didn't leave a mark on the ogive was 22.3gr. Accuracy was fine, a couple of just under 1" 5rd groups. But only gets an average of 2536 fps out of the 22" barreled Ruger and ~2400 fps out of my 16" barrel AR. Hodgdon lists the max as 22.7gr. That much powder causes lots of compression and trying to force the bullet onto that much powder crimps the ogive and the damage hurts accuracy. Velocity was barely higher at 22.7gr anyway, maybe 40 fps average. I went ahead and got a few pounds of IMR 8208 XBR to do it the right way.

Not a complete bust since that velocity still seems to be plenty for short-range woods hunting, but well short of the 2775 fps to replicate the Bonefrogs I chrono'ed.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Hi all. Just got a steal of a deal on a barely used Ruger American in .223, so a buddy gave me 20 rds of Bonefrog 77gr TMKs and put me onto this site/thread. No game taken with it yet, but I have a reloading report of a poor powder option.

I already had dies, but didn't really reload for .223, so the only powder I had on hand that works at all with .223 was IMR 4064 to try with the 77gr TMKs. I gave it a try. The most I could get in there with minimal compression that didn't leave a mark on the ogive was 22.3gr. Accuracy was fine, a couple of just under 1" 5rd groups. But only gets an average of 2536 fps out of the 22" barreled Ruger and ~2400 fps out of my 16" barrel AR. Hodgdon lists the max as 22.7gr. That much powder causes lots of compression and trying to force the bullet onto that much powder crimps the ogive and the damage hurts accuracy. Velocity was barely higher at 22.7gr anyway, maybe 40 fps average. I went ahead and got a few pounds of IMR 8208 XBR to do it the right way.

Not a complete bust since that velocity still seems to be plenty for short-range woods hunting, but well short of the 2775 fps to replicate the Bonefrogs I chrono'ed.

Try a better powder [edit - than the 4064]. That XBR should do a lot better.

 

[Matt5266]

? XBR is a great powder for the 77 TMK

 

[Q_Sertorius]

? XBR is a great powder for the 77 TMK

He was talking about using 4064. Good choice for a .30-06.

 

[Matt5266]

He was talking about using 4064. Good choice for a .30-06.

Awe, I thought you were referring to the end of his post where he said he bought some XBR to try...

 

[BLJ]

@Xae289

The velocity that you’re getting from the 4064 will keep the 77’s effective to 415 yards depending on elevation.
If my groups of 5 were consistently under an inch, I would not discount that load.

XBR has a good opportunity of replicating the accuracy in addition to more speed.
But if the accuracy isn’t good, I’d go back to the 4064 load and get a little closer.

 

[Deere_Man]

@Xae289

The velocity that you’re getting from the 4064 will keep the 77’s effective to 415 yards depending on elevation.
If my groups of 5 were consistently under an inch, I would not discount that load.

XBR has a good opportunity of replicating the accuracy in addition to more speed.
But if the accuracy isn’t good, I’d go back to the 4064 load and get a little closer.

This right here. 1800fps impact speed will be A+ OK

 

[BLJ]

I’ll also add that all of the Ruger Americans I’ve had in the past are slower by comparison to basically anything else.

My tikka 308 gained 90 FPS over my buddy’s RA with the same load. Both 18”.

Meaning chasing speed with an RA may be futile.

 

[Xae289]

@Xae289

The velocity that you’re getting from the 4064 will keep the 77’s effective to 415 yards depending on elevation.
If my groups of 5 were consistently under an inch, I would not discount that load.

XBR has a good opportunity of replicating the accuracy in addition to more speed.
But if the accuracy isn’t good, I’d go back to the 4064 load and get a little closer.

Fair points. I definitely don't need the higher velocity for hunting and I know it. I'm a NY woods hunter. Depending on my hunting spot, the deer is within a max of 120 yards for a clear shot. No, I just want a better trajectory for my own target shooting enjoyment.

Like I said, not a complete bust. Accuracy was good and velocity good enough. But seeing a .223 out of a 22" barrel sending them in the low 2500s... I can't help but want more. Plus I hear 8208 has a very good reputation for accuracy, so I'm looking forward to some tight groups with it as well.

I’ll also add that all of the Ruger Americans I’ve had in the past are slower by comparison to basically anything else.

My tikka 308 gained 90 FPS over my buddy’s RA with the same load. Both 18”.

Meaning chasing speed with an RA may be futile.

Yea I fully understand velocity will vary from rifle to rifle. I chronoed some of the Bonefrog 77gr TMKs my buddy gave me around 2775 fps out of my rifle. Dunno how fast they run out of his Tikka. Anyway I'm sure I can get to the high 2700s ballpark with the IMR 8208 XBR loads listed in this thread. I'm not lookin to hotrod the thing, I just don't like missing out on those last ~200+ fps and I was itching for an excuse to buy some more powder and primers.

 

[Billogna]

Fair points. I definitely don't need the higher velocity for hunting and I know it. I'm a NY woods hunter. Depending on my hunting spot, the deer is within a max of 120 yards for a clear shot. No, I just want a better trajectory for my own target shooting enjoyment.

Like I said, not a complete bust. Accuracy was good and velocity good enough. But seeing a .223 out of a 22" barrel sending them in the low 2500s... I can't help but want more. Plus I hear 8208 has a very good reputation for accuracy, so I'm looking forward to some tight groups with it as well.


Yea I fully understand velocity will vary from rifle to rifle. I chronoed some of the Bonefrog 77gr TMKs my buddy gave me around 2775 fps out of my rifle. Dunno how fast they run out of his Tikka. Anyway I'm sure I can get to the high 2700s ballpark with the IMR 8208 XBR loads listed in this thread. I'm not lookin to hotrod the thing, I just don't like missing out on those last ~200+ fps and I was itching for an excuse to buy some more powder and primers.

8208 is the way for 77TMK!! 23.3-23.7 grns depending on rifle.

 

[Gettincloser]

What is that? Doesn’t look piggy.

Capybara?

It is a small 100 to 120 pound sow. She got a bath before butchering as she was covered in wet mud!

I just realized the other pictures did not post. I will try to post them.

 

[Gettincloser]

Here are the outside of the office shoulder (from the hog on the previous page) and the recovered bullet. For some reason, I cannot load the severed spine or the destroyed lungs.

 

[KJ_ND]

I keep reading conflicting reports on using a 1/8 for the TMK, saying it doesn't "quite" stabilize it as well as a 1/7 and can have some problems past 400 yards.

Looking at a Criterion 20", wish they made a 1/7 just to soothe my nerves.

1:7 existence is to stabilize tracers in military application. 1:8 will stabilize 85 gr match burners. I'm running a 20" criterion core and it shoots TMKs great.

 

[JJ3]

I’ll also add that all of the Ruger Americans I’ve had in the past are slower by comparison to basically anything else.

My tikka 308 gained 90 FPS over my buddy’s RA with the same load. Both 18”.

Meaning chasing speed with an RA may be futile.

I have gen1 300blk that is typically 50fps faster than others…just sayn

 

[77TMK]

Many a powder work well for the 77 TMK, but it’s usually the barrel that prefers the bullet or not. Personally I use Ramshot TAC as the price is more palatable. My load is 24.0 gr TAC with Ginex NATO primers in annealed LC brass, and I seat to 2.248” for mag feeding. No crimp, but a healthy 3 thou neck tension and I brush inside case necks with a brass 223 cleaning brush prior to loading.

 

[vonb]

Has anyone tried AA2520 with a 77 TMK from a 20” Tikka? What’s your load, brass and velocity?

 

[Thegman]

Has anyone tried AA2520 with a 77 TMK from a 20” Tikka? What’s your load, brass and velocity?

Not from a 20" Tikka, but I've used 25.5 gr 2520 in LC brass. ~ 2,650 - 2,700 from a 16" barrel.

 

[Thegman]

I have gen1 300blk that is typically 50fps faster than others…just sayn

Funny, I thought exactly the same thing about my gen 1 300 BLK RAR when I read that...