Handloading 223 - OAL/Magazine length?

[TFin04]

I'm working on selecting/building a modern 223 bolt action. I want it to be medium weight for extended range sessions and varmint hunting, however also capable of being hiked into a deer stand and shooting the RokSlide special 77gr TMK.

Lots of these rifles take a detachable box magazine and several use AR-15 magazines. That would make things easy given my stack of AR mags, but I worry that I may be handicapping myself in regards to cartridge OAL when trying to shoot the heavier/longer bullets.

Lots of words to say....are folks running into OAL problems with the 77TMK and certain magazines or am I way overthinking this?

 

[Thegman]

Depends. If you’re planning on only running factory ammo, the AR mags don't give up anything.

If you're handloading, still depends on the rifle/mags. E.g., the longest OAL AR mags allow a longer OAL than a factory Tikka magazine but a lot less than a Savage/Axis magazine.

If I were building a bolt rifle, and handloading for it, I'd steer clear of AR mags and look for something that allows 2.5" or even more OAL. That opens up flexibility with how you're loading bullets like 77TMKs, but also opens up options for a lot of other good bullets, like 75 - 80 ELD-M, 80 ELD-X, etc.

 

[TFin04]

Thank you. Other than the mentioned Savage, do any other manufacturers come into mind that allow long OAL? Finding a balance of a 1:8 barrel PLUS long OAL magazines seems to be a bit tricky and I just don't know all the specifics for each manufacturer yet.

 

[Thegman]

Thank you. Other than the mentioned Savage, do any other manufacturers come into mind that allow long OAL? Finding a balance of a 1:8 barrel PLUS long OAL magazines seems to be a bit tricky and I just don't know all the specifics for each manufacturer yet.

Good question and I'm not sure; hopefully the experts will chime in on that.

I only know about the Savage/Axis because I had a Lightweight Hunter 223 so have experience with that magazine. But like you seem to already know, Savage 223 barrels all seem to be 1 in 9 twist. Tikkas and aftermarket magazines are obviously a safe bet but I'd be interested in hearing about other rifles that allow 2.5ish OAL as well.

 

[rking453]

Howa Mini magazines allow for 2.345". These rifles in .223 are 1:8" twist. I put an Jefferson Outdoors Hinged Floorplate bottom metal on one to replace the flimsy plastic magazines. They work, but I just wasn't a fan of them. The BDL style bottom metal allows for 2.46" COAL if you don't need detachable magazines.

 

[mtnbound]

I'm working on selecting/building a modern 223 bolt action. I want it to be medium weight for extended range sessions and varmint hunting, however also capable of being hiked into a deer stand and shooting the RokSlide special 77gr TMK.

Lots of these rifles take a detachable box magazine and several use AR-15 magazines. That would make things easy given my stack of AR mags, but I worry that I may be handicapping myself in regards to cartridge OAL when trying to shoot the heavier/longer bullets.

Lots of words to say....are folks running into OAL problems with the 77TMK and certain magazines or am I way overthinking this?

I have found that the 77TMKs do just fine at the listed COAL in my rifles. You are overthinking when it comes to the TMK.

The 75-80gr ELDMs and Xs I use are loaded longer than the listed COAL. The 73gr ELDM and the 75-77gr Aeromatch also perform well at the listed COAL.

AICS, Waters, and NDR mags allow for longer COALs.