Tikka 223 73 vs 75 vs 80 eldm

[Castle Rock]

Yeah I have given up trying to push the boundaries with heavier bullets in the 223, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze
77 TMK and 73 ELDM are the sweet spot

 

[TX_Diver]

I had good luck with 75 ELD-Ms and N140 but I never shot them past 400 so it's hard to say definitively that they are that great. When I run out of TMKs and my new mags get here I'll go back to them though.

 

[Running on empty]

I have a tikka 223 cut to 18in that just refuses to group the 75eldm (~1.5moa) well with the dense sea level air in SEAK. Ive tried varget and Tac at different seating depths with no luck. Wanted to add this dataset since it echoes what others have found in this thread. I will be trying the 73eldm next since I have a tmk load that hammers and I need a similar practice round.

 

[Castle Rock]

Yep

 

[Pharmseller]

I have a tikka 223 cut to 18in that just refuses to group the 75eldm (~1.5moa) well with the dense sea level air in SEAK. Ive tried varget and Tac at different seating depths with no luck. Wanted to add this dataset since it echoes what others have found in this thread. I will be trying the 73eldm next since I have a tmk load that hammers and I need a similar practice round.

I’m using Benchmark in my Tikkas with 75 ELDM. Great accuracy and velocity.

Let me know if you have access to Benchmark.




P

 

[Running on empty]

I’m using Benchmark in my Tikkas with 75 ELDM. Great accuracy and velocity.

Let me know if you have access to Benchmark.




P

I don’t have easy access to benchmark. I went out and shot the 75eldms with Tac and couldn’t get them to group better than 1.5moa again. That said 24gr of Tac pushing the 73eldm is a phenomenal combo for this rifle. Shot back to back .5moa and .6moa 10 shot groups at 200yds. I think it’s a good fit for a 77tmk practice load.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I don’t have easy access to benchmark. I went out and shot the 75eldms with Tac and couldn’t get them to group better than 1.5moa again. That said 24gr of Tac pushing the 73eldm is a phenomenal combo for this rifle. Shot back to back .5moa and .6moa 10 shot groups at 200yds. I think it’s a good fit for a 77tmk practice load.

I too just ran that combo through mine, that was my 77 TMK load 24gr of TAC and it hovered around 1.1moa on most days. I had shot factory 73 eldm ammo from hornady it was very good. Tried Varget first with the 73eldm very good 1moa 10 shot groups, but slow as expected. I didn't move my seating stem from loading 77tmk's and just loaded 73eldm with 24gr of TAC just to see and it shot good and gave me about a 2900fps avg for 10 shots.



First 10 fired from that load 6x swfa

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I’m using Benchmark in my Tikkas with 75 ELDM. Great accuracy and velocity.

Let me know if you have access to Benchmark.




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I could grab 2lbs at Bi-mart, trying to be content with what I have but fun to try new things

 

[huntsd]

the 77tmk shot like hell (really bad) out of my tikka. I am trying 75 eldms now

 

[06 SB]

I love my 85.5 Berger Hybrid Targets in my custom Rem700.

 

[Running on empty]

I too just ran that combo through mine, that was my 77 TMK load 24gr of TAC and it hovered around 1.1moa on most days. I had shot factory 73 eldm ammo from hornady it was very good. Tried Varget first with the 73eldm very good 1moa 10 shot groups, but slow as expected. I didn't move my seating stem from loading 77tmk's and just loaded 73eldm with 24gr of TAC just to see and it shot good and gave me about a 2900fps avg for 10 shots.


View attachment 857652
First 10 fired from that load 6x swfa

I should add that I’m using aftermarket mags and loading the 77tmk and 73eldm to ~2.41 oal. I’ve shot the TMK at 2.26 factory length and see a noticeable improvement when loaded longer.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I should add that I’m using aftermarket mags and loading the 77tmk and 73eldm to ~2.41 oal. I’ve shot the TMK at 2.26 factory length and see a noticeable improvement when loaded longer.

I am as well I have some waters mags and load them long especially when using varget

 

[BLJ]

A lot better success with the factory 73’s than 77 TMK’s for me.
I tried the 77’s longer as well with similar results.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

View attachment 858990View attachment 858991

A lot better success with the factory 73’s than 77 TMK’s for me.
I tried the 77’s longer as well with similar results.

The 73’s just seem to want to shoot, I’ve loaded long, short 2 different powders and 150fps difference in velocity and got similar results

 

[flyinsquirel]

Tried some 75’s over 25g Varget, REM 7 1/2 primer, 2.410 coal. Avg 2911 out of the Superlight barrel. 10 right at 1”. Didn’t take em long yet, but the box calls for a 1-7” min so we’ll see.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I’ve only loaded varget with the 73’s thus far 24.5gr. That’s seems like good velocity with a 75 and varget. Factory length tube?

 

[flyinsquirel]

Yes, factory length tube. 25 is book max and I hit velocity almost exactly. Though the Hodgdon data did say a 24” 1-12” barrel which seems odd. Primers were a tad flat, but no cratering. 70 degree day and I did my best not to cook the rounds in the barrel.

 

[Hudge]

I’ll chime in on this, I’ve played with 75 and 73 gr ELD-Ms out of 1:7 and 1:8 twist AR’s. The 75’s shot great with almost any powder, but bullets are seated way deep. I tried several powders with the 73 gr. bullets and finally found LVR to be the best. Going to load up more this weekend for my final testing.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Yes, factory length tube. 25 is book max and I hit velocity almost exactly. Though the Hodgdon data did say a 24” 1-12” barrel which seems odd. Primers were a tad flat, but no cratering. 70 degree day and I did my best not to cook the rounds in the barrel.

A 75Eldm from a 223 going 2900 seems to be top performance from this little round. Might have to give that load a try or benchmark

 

[Pharmseller]

75 gr ELDM recipes

Tikka Varmint
25.0 gr Varget
R-P brass
CCI400 primer
1.915” BTO
2927 fps
Carlos

Different Varmint
23.5 gr Benchmark
1.940” BTO
2915 fps
Kyle


You’ll need longer magazines. I use Ascension Industries.




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