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

[Ajsomp]

Finally got out to try my new 20" Tikka CTR in 223. It has been nothing but wind and rain for the last month so when it was calm just before dark I grabbed the rifle and went to a local block of BLM and got it on paper. Fired 1 shot at 50 after bore site and made a slight adjustment. This is shots 2 to 6 @ 100 yards with the Creedmoor Sports 223 77 SMK ammo I got on the sale from CMP. Looks like she might be a shooter. Ammo gave me 2669.7 fps out of the 20" barrel. Took 9 shots on steel @ 510 yards. It was pretty dark by the time I got steel set up and drove back to the firing position so I was glad I had put a flashlight shining on the target. First 3 shots were consistent off the left edge so I held a half MIL wind (0 wind at shooter and minimal at target when setting up) and put the last 6 into a 5 inch group.

Looking forward to shooting this thing a bunch!

Jay

View attachment 1083014

When that CMP/Creedmoor sports comes back in stock, buy as much as you can. The TMKs they loaded shoot lights out in my tikka

 

[The Guide]

When that CMP/Creedmoor sports comes back in stock, buy as much as you can. The TMKs they loaded shoot lights out in my tikka

I have/had 200 of the OTM and 200 of the TMK. Once I get a baseline, I have Black Hills, Bone Frog, Phantom Defense, ADI, and a few others to test. Hoping that something that is frequently in stock will shoot well enough to be my range ammo and I can keep the "specialty" ammo for hunting. I still have 500 +/- of the AAC 77 tmk ammo left for my Howa so I need to find some blaster ammo for it too.

Jay

 

[The Guide]

When that CMP/Creedmoor sports comes back in stock, buy as much as you can. The TMKs they loaded shoot lights out in my tikka

One thing I did notice was after shooting the ammo, it smelled funny. Like burnt popcorn maybe? Must be the powder/primer combo they used.

Jay

 

[Ajsomp]

I have/had 200 of the OTM and 200 of the TMK. Once I get a baseline, I have Black Hills, Bone Frog, Phantom Defense, ADI, and a few others to test. Hoping that something that is frequently in stock will shoot well enough to be my range ammo and I can keep the "specialty" ammo for hunting. I still have 500 +/- of the AAC 77 tmk ammo left for my Howa so I need to find some blaster ammo for it too.

Jay

I went through something similar. I have Bone frog, AAC, black hills, Creedmoor sports TMKs and was just trying to stay with something as close to my hunting ammo as I could. Then I realized I could just offset my zero for training days and not worry about it.

At this point - my training ammo purchases will be the cheapest available ammo that groups 1.5 MOA or better. Bone frog has some new “range” ammo set to match their 77 that might be a good ticket. ADI 55/69 shoots well, and seems pretty available.

But I have about 3k of 77s to shoot through before then.

 

[The Guide]

I ordered a Glenfield Model A in 223 with a 20" 8 twist barrel. Trying for the ultimate cheap truck gun that can shoot the heavy for caliber bullets. Got the rifle for $380 shipped to my FFL on gunbroker. $25 transfer so we will be @ $405 out the door. I have a RAP Gen 1 223 w/ a 22" 8 twist barrel that I'll compare it to for accuracy and such. I'm trying to get the cheap Lyman OTB suppressor in 223 threaded 1/2-28 to use on it but will likely test it with my OG6-S to maintain continuity across platforms. Should be a fun little project to see if it will shoot better than the OG Ruger American Gen 1, my Howa Mini Action, or my Tikka. Can a sub $400 rifle perform like one 3x the cost? Time will tell...

Jay

 

[BLJ]

I ordered a Glenfield Model A in 223 with a 20" 8 twist barrel. Trying for the ultimate cheap truck gun that can shoot the heavy for caliber bullets. Got the rifle for $380 shipped to my FFL on gunbroker. $25 transfer so we will be @ $405 out the door. I have a RAP Gen 1 223 w/ a 22" 8 twist barrel that I'll compare it to for accuracy and such. I'm trying to get the cheap Lyman OTB suppressor in 223 threaded 1/2-28 to use on it but will likely test it with my OG6-S to maintain continuity across platforms. Should be a fun little project to see if it will shoot better than the OG Ruger American Gen 1, my Howa Mini Action, or my Tikka. Can a sub $400 rifle perform like one 3x the cost? Time will tell...

Jay

Looking forward to what you think of the Glenfield.

 

[BuckshotB]

Not legal in Washington or I’d giving it a go.

 

[SBR Sarge]

Drenalin,

I’ve not tried the 73 ELD-M to know if they are accurate with the listed speed.

But, they say 2920 for their 70tsx loads. I got 2976 out of my 16” Tikka with it.

 

[Brap01]

When that CMP/Creedmoor sports comes back in stock, buy as much as you can. The TMKs they loaded shoot lights out in my tikka

Where do you buy this CMP / Creedmoor sports ammo? Loaded with 77 TMK? What have recent prices been for that load?

Thanks!

 

[The Guide]

Where do you buy this CMP / Creedmoor sports ammo? Loaded with 77 TMK? What have recent prices been for that load?

Thanks!

Not currently available that I've found. Was sold on the CMP web store.

Jay

 

[wind gypsy]

When that CMP/Creedmoor sports comes back in stock, buy as much as you can. The TMKs they loaded shoot lights out in my tikka

Where do you buy this CMP / Creedmoor sports ammo? Loaded with 77 TMK? What have recent prices been for that load?

Thanks!

The CMP website had it on clearance/"overstock". It didn't strike me as something that was normally available or available at that price so I wouldn't hold breathe waiting for it again at sub $1/ea.

I have regrets of not purchasing more as well, shoots great.

 

[omicron1792]

The CMP website had it on clearance/"overstock". It didn't strike me as something that was normally available at that price so I wouldn't hold breathe waiting for it again at sub $1/ea.

I have regrets of not purchasing more as well, shoots great.

Wind. What are your thoughts on the new plus peak stuff?

 

[wind gypsy]

Wind. What are your thoughts on the new plus peak stuff?

Seems pretty cool, i like it in theory. My main concerns are how it behaves in wet chambers and or dirty/gassy chambers with a head wind while shooting suppressed. If the bolt thrust is noteably higher than brass cases when chamber conditions make it hard to grip that would limit my interest. I'm annoyed enough with modest pressure brass ammo in said conditions.

 

[omicron1792]

Seems pretty cool, i like it in theory. My main concerns are how it behaves in wet chambers and or dirty/gassy chambers with a head wind while shooting suppressed. If the bolt thrust is noteably higher than brass cases when chamber conditions make it hard to grip that would limit my interest. I'm annoyed enough with modest pressure brass ammo in said conditions.

You’re too young to be so crotchety. Ha

Hope you’re well my man.

 

[Thegman]

88TMK - A little different?

Shot this sow last night. Broadside through ribs. Bullet broke part of off-side leg and stopped under far side hide.

Bullet impact would have been about 2,520 fps, or so.

Bear made it about 100 yards, which is fairly typical (although I've had some run a lot less).

The "different" part was the 88TMK retained about 55 grains (62+ percent of mass). I've seen ELD-M do that (last years 75ELDM on a moose), but have never seen a 77TMK do that. Too early to tell, but it the 88 might behave a lot different than the 77(???).

88TMK + bits of bullets + bits of bone from offside hide.

 

[Welldone]

You win…………just sayin’

 

[The Guide]

88TMK - A little different?

Shot this sow last night. Broadside through ribs. Bullet broke part of off-side leg and stopped under far side hide.

Bullet impact would have been about 2,520 fps, or so.

Bear made it about 100 yards, which is fairly typical (although I've had some run a lot less).

The "different" part was the 88TMK retained about 55 grains (62+ percent of mass). I've seen ELD-M do that (last years 75ELDM on a moose), but have never seen a 77TMK do that. Too early to tell, but it the 88 might behave a lot different than the 77(???).View attachment 1085005

88TMK + bits of bullets + bits of bone from offside hide.
View attachment 1085006

View attachment 1085007

Is that your Shaw barrel?

Jay

 

[SkunkCabbage]

Time for someone to cross section machine a 77 and 88gr tmk