New 223 Load Development

[Back_Trail]

I’m about to start working up a new .223 load in my Tikka with a 1:8 twist and a 22.4-inch barrel. I’m looking at the 69-grain Sierra TMK with H4895. Has anyone used this combination?

 

[Castle Rock]

Yep, plenty, you should probably start at 24.5 and finish before 25.
Probably the easiest way to get good accuracy from a Tikka.
Load to max magazine length.

 

[Back_Trail]

Thanks Castle Rock

 

[Pharmseller]

If you change your mind and want to try 75 gr ELDM, hit me up.

Varget or Benchmark.

 

[coast range]

If you change your mind and want to try 75 gr ELDM, hit me up.

Varget or Benchmark.

Does those work?

 

[Pharmseller]

Does those work?

Sometimes

 

[sierracharlie338]

You can also try 8208xbr. That along with the 69 smk/tmk hammer in my 9 twist.

 

[Pharmseller]

You can also try 8208xbr. That along with the 69 smk/tmk hammer in my 9 twist.

Tough to find in my AO.

 

[Back_Trail]

If you change your mind and want to try 75 gr ELDM, hit me up.

Varget or Benchmark.

Thanks, I think I want to stay with the 69 to try and keep my energy still decent at distance. I will be using this as a target and varmint load.

 

[Pharmseller]

Thanks, I think I want to stay with the 69 to try and keep my energy still decent at distance. I will be using this as a target and varmint load.

Do some comparisons of your load vs 75 ELDM G1 .467 at 2836 fps (Benchmark) or 2852 fps (Varget).

I don’t know how far you shoot but we smoke marmots at 500 yards easily. Probably could stretch that but that’s the max given our AO.

 

[Back_Trail]

Nice, looks like a Tikka? I wasn’t choosing the 75 ELDM because I thought it might limit my case fill due to my mag length. If you’re running a tikka do you have any issues with seating?

 

[sierracharlie338]

Tough to find in my AO.

Hit or miss around here mostly miss lately so I hear you.

 

[coyotekilla]

I shoot a 26" custom barreled tikka. 75 berger vld's, 69 tmk's, 75 gold dots, about 24 gr of tac or varget. Paper, steel, or varmits to 500 ish

 

[Pharmseller]

Nice, looks like a Tikka? I wasn’t choosing the 75 ELDM because I thought it might limit my case fill due to my mag length. If you’re running a tikka do you have any issues with seating?

All four of the 223s I load for are Tikkas. Two are Varmints, the other two are stainless T3 Lites. I use aftermarket magazines from Ascension Industries to load long. No issues. Carlos is 2.441”, Kyle is slightly longer. The Varget load is just slightly crunchy, the Benchmark load is not.

 

[Castle Rock]

Do some comparisons of your load vs 75 ELDM G1 .467 at 2836 fps (Benchmark) or 2852 fps (Varget).

I don’t know how far you shoot but we smoke marmots at 500 yards easily. Probably could stretch that but that’s the max given our AO.

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You can tell he was a salesman in a past life

 

[Pharmseller]

Still am.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Keep in mind folks report hit / miss results with the 75eldm in factory tikka barrels. Awesome if it works for ya but it sounds like it can be a more finicky one.