Has anyone had a 1-8 Tikka .223 that didn't shoot well with 77gr?

[Kyguy]

Just like the title says.... anyone had a 1-8 Tikka .223 not shoot the 77 gr loads well?

 

[skipper907]

mine didn't shoot well. I found the stock was tight to the barrel. I used a dowl and widen the stock barrel channel

 

[Coopsdaddy]

And how did it shoot after?

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Try benchmark powder

 

[Kyguy]

mine didn't shoot well. I found the stock was tight to the barrel. I used a dowl and widen the stock barrel channel

How did it shoot after?

 

[Kyguy]

Try benchmark powder

Not a reloader. Deciding if I want to drink the Tikka kool-aid. LOL. Only interested in the heavy bullet loads though.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Which 77's are you trying?

 

[Kyguy]

It'll be TMK of course.. Or maybe the 73gr ELDM.

 

[mtnbound]

Just like the title says.... anyone had a 1-8 Tikka .223 not shoot the 77 gr loads well?

Yes, loaded to the listed COAL with Staball Match, 8208, and CFE223.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Oh so this isnt even a gun you have yet?

 

[Kyguy]

Oh so this isnt even a gun you have yet?

Nope. I honestly haven't had much success with 1-8 barrels and 77gr bullets. That's why I figured to ask the question. Two different Ruger Americans and a new Georgia production 700. I bought just about every 77gr factory load (no TMK's though) I could find and none of the rifles shot them as well as I think a .223 should shoot. I mean, 2" 10 shot groups was probably the average. The 700 is the best out of the three and the only one I kept, but it still shoots 55gr through 69gr bullets much better by FAR than it does anything heavier.

I'm probably going to buy one anyway, just wondering if I should keep a custom 1-7 barrel in the back of my mind... ha!

 

[270-300]

Some barrels simply wont shoot boat tail bullets well. It seems worse if there is crown damage. Since your not specifying which 77 grain bullet, if your shooting copper they are notably longer than lead and wil need a different twist rate. If your loading light on the load data you will also sometimes run into issues with longer bullets not stabilizing.

 

[ColPenguin]

The only thing mine hasn't liked is a batch of AAC 77g OTM from last year. It has not been that picky.

Have also had no problem with multiple batches of AAC 77g TMK, FWIW.

 

[WyldGoose]

Not sure how mine shot out of the box, first thing I did was take it all apart and hog out the barrel channel…but it shoots 77’s better than the 55 and 62 grain stuff I’ve tried.

 

[sneaky]

Nope. I honestly haven't had much success with 1-8 barrels and 77gr bullets. That's why I figured to ask the question. Two different Ruger Americans and a new Georgia production 700. I bought just about every 77gr factory load (no TMK's though) I could find and none of the rifles shot them as well as I think a .223 should shoot. I mean, 2" 10 shot groups was probably the average. The 700 is the best out of the three and the only one I kept, but it still shoots 55gr through 69gr bullets much better by FAR than it does anything heavier.

I'm probably going to buy one anyway, just wondering if I should keep a custom 1-7 barrel in the back of my mind... ha!

You're going to be limited in an 8 twist at your elevation. We have the advantage out here where the 8 twists stabilize the heavies better than they do for you guys at lower elevations

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I never got my factory barrel to shoot well. My pva that replaced it is picky too.

 

[FLS]

Contrary to the never ending love fest around here, I’ve never had the 77 TMK shoot great in anything. Factory or custom barrels. They don’t shoot horrible but they don’t shoot great either. My factory barreled 1-8 CTR is a laser with 77 SMKs, 77 Berger’s, 73 ELDM, 77 Noslers, and once I found the right powder, 75 ELDMs. I quit trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
FWIW, the AAC ammo is all over the place. Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes it’s shit.

 

[FLS]

FWIW, I’m a sea level My CTR has a 1-8 Twist. Not stabilizing 77s is a non issue.

 

[robtattoo]

Nope. I honestly haven't had much success with 1-8 barrels and 77gr bullets. That's why I figured to ask the question. Two different Ruger Americans and a new Georgia production 700. I bought just about every 77gr factory load (no TMK's though) I could find and none of the rifles shot them as well as I think a .223 should shoot. I mean, 2" 10 shot groups was probably the average. The 700 is the best out of the three and the only one I kept, but it still shoots 55gr through 69gr bullets much better by FAR than it does anything heavier.

I'm probably going to buy one anyway, just wondering if I should keep a custom 1-7 barrel in the back of my mind... ha!

I don't really know of it's pertinent, but I had to have a Ruger American .223 chamber reamed & throated to let me shoot any bullet! I was jamming 55gr Hornady FMJs 0.025 into the lands at factory length! 62/65/77s wouldn't even chamber.

 

[BLJ]

Or maybe the 73gr ELDM.

These shoot well in mine.
And kill whitetail just like the TMK.
Pretty affordable and easy to find.
ADI 55’s for practice.