88 TMK Loading Thread

[heytonyman]

Good info in here so far!

I have some 88 TMK’s en route to test in a 20” Proof carbon 22 ARC bolt gun. Powders on hand are H4895, Varget, 8208XBR, and H4350. Alpha brass. I’ll be comparing these side by side to the 85.5 Berger’s at distance as well. I’ll be sure to share data as we go.

 

[kopmantrey]

My man. Who waits?

What do I do about this though?

View attachment 1036692

I'll take shooting by spotlight over that.

 

[JFK]

Been off this site for a bit just being busy with life. Looks like I need some 88s in my life now. Well I’m off to spend some money. . .

 

[Dude270]

That’s kinda’ wild that both powders are so slow.

I shot 88 ELDMs over 2900 in a 19” 22-250 with H4350.

Seems like you have another 300fps left on the bone there, no?

3050 fps is all I have been able to get out of 88 hornadys in a 20" creedmoor.

Loaded some 88 tmks this morning but it is too windy for me to try and get groups shot today.

 

[Tanner]

3050 fps is all I have been able to get out of 88 hornadys in a 20" creedmoor.

Loaded some 88 tmks this morning but it is too windy for me to try and get groups shot today.

3050 would be in line with what I’d expect I think.

Wonder if the H1000 rate of powders is just a touch slow for some folks Creeds.

I’d like to do a flyweight 18” on a Montana here soon and kinda’ figured I’d just go H4350 like everything else.

 

[justin davis]

22 CM 1:8 tikka barrel at 6800 ft 60 degrees is gtg.

Sweet good to hear. They shoot real good?

 

[1000yards]

Looking to have my idea torn to shreds: re-barelling my 9 twist M77 to 223ai with a 7 twist 20-in barrel, PTG bottom metal, water's 2.6 oal magazines. Quickload says that Varget could do 2650 fps for a quick drop correction of +3 out to 550 yards. What am I missing?

 

[Nine Banger]

Looking to have my idea torn to shreds: re-barelling my 9 twist M77 to 223ai with a 7 twist 20-in barrel, PTG bottom metal, water's 2.6 oal magazines. Quickload says that Varget could do 2650 fps for a quick drop correction of +3 out to 550 yards. What am I missing?

For a new system with controllable parameters why settle for the correction factor?

Get a GT or Creedmoor.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

What am I missing?

About 150 fps. My 16” 223 is getting 2686 fps.

Also, the Waters 223 AICS 2.6” have been horrible for me. Will not feed, especially when cold out. Kept trying to tune and modify with no luck.

 

[Bluumoon]

Sweet good to hear. They shoot real good?

The particular barrel has never really done any better than 10 rounds in 1.5”, zero workup put 10 rounds under that. So I called it good.

 

[Nine Banger]

loaded up a batch from 43.5 to 45.5 of staball hd

I shot a bunch of 46.3gr Staball HD today.

Goal was 2775fps.

22creed.



It drops from my Harrels so much smoother than H1000.

 

[1000yards]

About 150 fps. My 16” 223 is getting 2686 fps.

Also, the Waters 223 AICS 2.6” have been horrible for me. Will not feed, especially when cold out. Kept trying to tune and modify with no luck.

You're putting some magic powder in yours!
Who else makes 2.6" 223 mags?

 

[sierracharlie338]

View attachment 1036930

500 inbound

 

[Nine Banger]

Also, the Waters 223 AICS 2.6” have been horrible for me. Will not feed, especially when cold out.

Is the follower stopping down in the body and not popping up?

 

[mtnbound]

Edit: it’s actually this one. Leftfoto, which is a knockoff of the knockoff king Leofoto
$18 on Amazon.
View attachment 1036667

Thanks, what mag are you running to get 2.55?

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

You're putting some magic powder in yours!

25.0 of N150

Is the follower stopping down in the body and not popping up?

It was doing that until I used a file on the follower. Now it will
Feed the first 2 or 3 and then the bolt just skips over the top of the next round & doesn’t chamber.

what mag are you running to get 2.55?

A few.
MDT Metal 10 rd with an AICS Improved Metal Mag Insert from Fyrebrand that I found on Reddit. ( fyrebrand.shop ) 2.7” OAL.

MDT Poly 10 rd that I shortened to 5 rds. This is the older style with 2.55 internal length. The new ones are 2.45.

Hawkins Hunter AICS 5 rd flush mag that I’ve modified the feed lips to work with a Tikka. They are only meant for R700 actions. 5 rds don’t work, but it’s been good with 4 rds in it.
( 2.5” OAL. These barely fit.)

 

[43.6N]

223 1/7.5 18”
Loading Varget and H4895

Same as last time. Made a dummy cartridge for my chamber and measured overall length and CBTO

I’m using MDT polymer 223 mags. The limit me to an OAL of 2.500”

Lucky for me, 2.495” was exactly 20 thousandths short of the lands in my gun.


Loaded
88tmk, federal small rifle match primers. Starline brass. Trimmed to min Sammi length.


23.5gr Varget
10 shot avg velocity: 2623fps

23.0gr H4895
10 shot avg velocity: 2686fps

How about that for a quick drop load!!!
lol.

Conditions:
20mph crosswind with gusts of 40 if I believe my kestrel. Flags are bending flagpoles where I’m at.
The plywood I use for my target backer was rocking 3-4 inches during my course of fire. SMH just making excuses.
2500ft density altitude.
Scattered rain.