Load data for 77 TMK in 223

[Turdferg]

I had the 77tmk in a fired piece of 223 brass at 2.260 overall and just placing a second one beside it, it almost seems like the bullets taper is inside the neck of the brass. Like the very end of the brass neck on the inside isn't touching the bullet because the taper has started into the neck. Does that make sense? Lol

 

[gbflyer]

I had the 77tmk in a fired piece of 223 brass at 2.260 overall and just placing a second one beside it, it almost seems like the bullets taper is inside the neck of the brass. Like the very end of the brass neck on the inside isn't touching the bullet because the taper has started into the neck. Does that make sense? Lol

Yes it makes sense. It’s darn close.


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[Jesse Jaymes]

Following, as I am in the same boat. Anyone with loads for the 77 tmk and XBR feel free to chime in as well.

Months late on this. But that's jam in the Ackley Improved. My data won't relate, but I would invest some time into pursuing this if I were you. Seems XBR can be found online more often than not, and it meters pretty well. I love it.

I've streamlined all my powders to just three and buy pounds of it. H1000, H4350....and XBR

 

[Matt5266]

Months late on this. But that's jam in the Ackley Improved. My data won't relate, but I would invest some time into pursuing this if I were you. Seems XBR can be found online more often than not, and it meters pretty well. I love it.

I've streamlined all my powders to just three and buy pounds of it. H1000, H4350....and XBR

I did end up finding 4 lbs of XBR local to me and grabbed it up. I did work up a load for it that shoots great. Took it hunting this year but passed on all the bucks I saw. Hopefully get to put it to use next year.

 

[KyleR1985]

Loaded at 2.35” with windowed mag, and one Varget long at 2.39 because I had one case left to fill.

Loaded the lever at 65* in the house, shot at 35* at the range.

16” BCA 1:7 pencil barrel with gas port blocked.

 

[mustelid_master]

24 gr varget seated at mag length gets crunchy but shoots well @ 2750fps ish
23.7 gr xbr 8208 seated at mag length meters well and gets more velocity @ 2800+ ish fps

What barrel length for the varget load?

 

[T28w]

I’m currently trying a load of 25 g N540 & CCI 400 primers, Once fired adg brass with 77g TMK out of a 22 in tikka t3x lite. Threaded with a scythe on the end. My initial 5 shot group today seemed promising at about 1 moa. Speed seemed to be about 2800fps . Loaded up some more hopefully get a nice 10 shot group this weekend and go hunting next for some deer.

Edited post above and 10 round group picture added. Speed averaged 2857 over the 10 shots.

I have never seen Adg 223 brass, don’t see it as an option on their website. I’d like to try some, where did you find them?

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

I have never seen Adg 223 brass, don’t see it as an option on their website. I’d like to try some, where did you find them?

I ment ADI not sure if my phone autocorrected that or I just mis typed it. I’ll update that post

 

[philson208]

What barrel length for the varget load?

22" for both loads.

 

[jamesmc8]

Doing load work-up for a Tikka .223 Ranch with 16" standard lite contour barrel. Using 77 TMK and CCI 400 Primers.

Initially tried TAC and CFE 223 which I had on hand. TAC gave best veloicty at 2670, would get split groups with 80% being in a nice tight cluster and the other 20% as fliers 0.5-1" from the main group. CFE 223 produced good groups but I could not get good velocity out of it. 2580 with book max loads and it is quite temp sensitive.

This last weekend picked up n540 which on initial testing is awesome stuff. Great accuracy and the by far the most consistent velocity (low SD). Load is 23.8 n540 with 77 TMK seated to 2.32 in Starline Brass. Produced multiple groups like the one below. Not sure what the temp stability of this powder is but it has to be better than CFE 223.

Also tried Benchmark which is a bit fast but I had on the shelf and it did well too accuracy wise. 0.9" for ten shots with 2595 fps.

 

[sveltri]

Doing load work-up for a Tikka .223 Ranch with 16" standard lite contour barrel. Using 77 TMK and CCI 400 Primers.

Initially tried TAC and CFE 223 which I had on hand. TAC gave best veloicty at 2670, would get split groups with 80% being in a nice tight cluster and the other 20% as fliers 0.5-1" from the main group. CFE 223 produced good groups but I could not get good velocity out of it. 2580 with book max loads and it is quite temp sensitive.

This last weekend picked up n540 which on initial testing is awesome stuff. Great accuracy and the by far the most consistent velocity (low SD). Load is 23.8 n540 with 77 TMK seated to 2.32 in Starline Brass. Produced multiple groups like the one below. Not sure what the temp stability of this powder is but it has to be better than CFE 223.

Also tried Benchmark which is a bit fast but I had on the shelf and it did well too accuracy wise. 0.9" for ten shots with 2595 fps.

View attachment 801139

N540 worked the best for me as well. However, I bought the same gun to use as a trainer and after working up a load I discovered that N540 is THE hottest burning powder available and absolutely eats throats faster than everything else so I'm gonna try Leverevolution (Winter Load) and slow ass Varget in the summer.

 

[jamesmc8]

N540 worked the best for me as well. However, I bought the same gun to use as a trainer and after working up a load I discovered that N540 is THE hottest burning powder available and absolutely eats throats faster than everything else so I'm gonna try Leverevolution (Winter Load) and slow ass Varget in the summer.

Damn, good to know. Interestingly I founds some info listing n540 at 4100 KJ/KG and Varget at 4050 KJ/KG. So only slightly cooler burn wise. However you also cannot fit as much Varget in a case. I would guess that burn temp, powder weight, amount of overbore all play a role in barrel life. Probably the biggest factor would be rate of fire. I probably wont worry about it in a bolt gun. Most of my training is about once a month hiking and practicing positional field shooting at targets of varying ranges. I might shoot 15-30 rounds spread out over 1-2 hours.

Any long time Vihtavuori users?

I've read some concerns that Vihtavuori powders can contribute to premature throat erosion. Anyone here used it for an extended period and have any thoughts? mtmuley

www.hunttalk.com

 

[Pharmseller]

Anyone have any good loads with .223 heavies and Benchmark? 75, 77gr?

75 gr ELDM, 23.5 gr Benchmark, CCI 400 primers, Tikka Varmint (1-8”), 2915 MV, great accuracy.

Loaded long.

Max, so work up.




P

 

[sveltri]

75 gr ELDM, 23.5 gr Benchmark, CCI 400 primers, Tikka Varmint (1-8”), 2915 MV, great accuracy.

Loaded long.

Max, so work up.




P

How is ES/SD? It was horrible for me.

 

[jamesmc8]

How is ES/SD? It was horrible for me.

From my shot strings using a Garmin:

77 TMK with n540 - SD for five shots - 10.8
73 ELDM with n540 - SD for five shots - 5.9
77 TMK with Benchmark - SD for ten shots 13.1
73 ELDM with Benchmark - SD for five shots 12.8

TAC and H4895 were both in upper teens to 20ish SD range. n140 was outstanding SD but very slow, only 2400 fps from a 16". All of those numbers for me would be acceptable for hunting to moderate range and long range plinking.

 

[slatebuilder]

Maybe I missed it, but has anyone tried RL TS15.5?

 

[Schmo]

has anyone tried RL TS15.5?

No, but I have some I may try.

 

[Pharmseller]

How is ES/SD? It was horrible for me.

SD 12
ES 30

10 shots

Good enough for the girls I go out with.




P

 

[philcox]

So I "pressure" tested a couple yesterday:

• StaBall 6.5 26.0, 26.5, 27.0 - 2471, 2532, 2538 fps respectively
• CFE223 24.0, 24.5, 25.0 - 2549, 2552, 2677 fps respectively

I am going to load up the CFE223 25.0 2.280 COAL, Starline Brass, CCI 200. Will do a 10 round group, and post.

Tikka .223 standard barrel cut to 18" with Muzzle Break.

 

[Schmo]

What barrel/rifle?