88 TMK Loading Thread

[43.6N]

Glad to see this info, thx.
View attachment 1037455

Just got an order of 88 Sierras that I'm planning to load w Varget. 223 Rem barrel is 17" and 1:7, bullet seating at .025" off will max out the longer MDT magazines. Looking forward to shooting these bullets!

For the shorter barrel 22CM guys, anyone tried RL26 yet? Last summer I started loading 80 eldX for my 22CM and settled at 45.4 grains and 3,500 fps mv. Extremely accurate/same vertical poi at any charge, went as high as 45.9 with no pressure @ 3,590+ fps. Barrel is 22 inches and 1:8.

Anyway, RL26 for 88s in a shorter 22CM w 1:7s makes sense to me.

Happy to help.
Just make sure you’re measuring your own chamber. My throat length and rate of constriction might be wildly different from yours.

 

[Hill Difficulty]

Happy to help.
Just make sure you’re measuring your own chamber. My throat length and rate of constriction might be wildly different from yours.

Yes, after measuring the 88s in my chamber I can seat .025" off to fit loaded rounds in the older 2.50" MDT mags.

 

[mtnbound]

Some testing with my 223 and the 88 TMKs.

 

[1000yards]

Some testing with my 223 and the 88 TMKs.

Barrel length?

 

[mtnbound]

Barrel length?

16.5”.

 

[ACHILLES]

88’s 2.6” is optimally loaded in the .223. What action/bottom metal/mags offer the most stress free reliable cycling for that?

223rem 2.6” mags

For tikka
Waters are 2.6”
Mag3D has 2.55 & 2.68”

Aics
Waters 2.6”

There are a few aics at 2.5-2.55” that might able to be opened up to 2.6” easily

 

[mtnbound]

88’s 2.6” is optimally loaded in the .223. What action/bottom metal/mags offer the most stress free reliable cycling for that?

NDR Mags allow for 2.6" with factory Tikka BM.

 

[Phinehas25]

The 22 creedmoor is a strange one. Browse the various forums and you will see extreme variation in velocities.

I just tested some 88 TMKs in my 16.5" 22 Creed, 38 grains of H4350, peterson LRP brass, Federal GMM primers. I averaged about 2750 fps. But it shoots like this :
So, not what I would call a bum barrel, but it's strange. It is a brand new barrel, but that's still quite slow.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

The 22 creedmoor is a strange one. Browse the various forums and you will see extreme variation in velocities.

I just tested some 88 TMKs in my 16.5" 22 Creed, 38 grains of H4350, peterson LRP brass, Federal GMM primers. I averaged about 2750 fps. But it shoots like this :View attachment 1037791
So, not what I would call a bum barrel, but it's strange. It is a brand new barrel, but that's still quite slow.

From my 22 CM experience, you'll probably gain 120 fps or so just from break in. Once it is, another grain or so of powder and you'll be in the 2900's.

 

[Murder Mittens]

22CM 18” barrel 40 grains of RL16

 

[Murder Mittens]

22GT 20” barrel 37.5 grains of H4831SC. Performs well out to 1000 yards.

 

[Murder Mittens]

22ARC 20” barrel 28 grains of Varget

 

[BLJ]

View attachment 1037821View attachment 1037822
22ARC 20” barrel 28 grains of Varget

What’s the load and barrel for this? Thanks

 

[wind gypsy]

223 1/7.5 18”
Loading Varget and H4895
View attachment 1037003
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.
View attachment 1037004

Loaded
88tmk, federal small rifle match primers. Starline brass. Trimmed to min Sammi length.
View attachment 1037005

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.

No pressure signs to speak of. Primers are round. Easy smooth bolt lift. Everything fed and extracted well.

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.

Son of a biscuit. Take that thing to distance por favor and let me know if the BC holds up (I.E. bullet is "fully stable"). I have an 18" wylde as well and didn't think it'd be worth pushing it. NAS3 cases as well might make it worth while..

 

[43.6N]

22 Creedmoor.
Wanted to test magnum primers today with H1000 and SB65.

88tmk
25/1000 short of lands
Soft Hornady Brass
Winchester Large Rifle Magnum Primers (Hottest primers I know of)

1x looking for pressure (and because I only had 11 cases to work with)
44.0gr H1000
3001 fps.
Easy bolt lift.
No burr or ejector smear.
Primer was round and plump.

5x 43.5gr H1000
2937fps.

5x 41.5gr SB65
2999fps
Excellent group.
But stiff bolt lift, and flat primers.


Takeaway: 41.5gr of SB65 is getting very close to pressure.
H1000 might do well up to 44gr.


@wind gypsy
I’ll load 8208xbr and H4895 in the 223, and take them out to distance tomorrow.

 

[nm.otter]

Seeing how these 88s shoot makes 6mm way less interesting here, and a .22 ARC seems entirely up to the task. No need for even a .22 GT, much less a Creedmoor (for me).

Anyone know if Sako 90 XS mags will feed ARC cases?

 

[sierracharlie338]

Seeing how these 88s shoot makes 6mm way less interesting here, and a .22 ARC seems entirely up to the task. No need for even a .22 GT, much less a Creedmoor (for me).

Anyone know if Sako 90 XS mags will feed ARC cases?

I plan to build the GT. I have a 260 that is just meh so I’ll toss a prefit on it and see what I can do with it.

 

[nm.otter]

What action? I believe @The Guide has an extra T3x prefit on order.

 

[Schmo]

I’m thinking I’ll need a Tikka in either a 22 ARC or GT to take advantage of these pills.