Tikka 223 Load Development & Accuracy Questions

[allaue87]

Hey all - I have tried 73gr ELD-M and now 77gr TMK with Ramshot TAC powder at various powder charges (22-24.5gr range) and also different seating depths (0.020" off the lands and also 2.260" COAL). I just cannot get a good group. Here are 10 groups from today and they are awful. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong? I am not a too terrible of a shot - with my Tikka 6.5 CTR I can get sub-moa no problem and close to 0.4-0.5 MOA on my best groups when I don't flinch/flyer. But maybe someone can see something going on with the groups?

The rifle is a factory T3X Lite that I dropped into a CTR stock with a CTR magazine.

I didn't label the picture with each load because they are all equally terrible, but here was my data with the 77TMK.
Row 1-2: 24.5gr / 1.893” CBTO
Row 3-4: 24.5gr / 2.260” COAL
Row 5-6: 24.2gr / 1.893” CBTO
Row 7-8: 24.2gr / 2.260” COAL
Row 9: 22.2gr / 2.260” COAL
Row 10: 22.6gr / 2.260” COAL

I dont have a picture for this, but this was my load data when I tried the 73 ELDM

Row 1: 23.9 / 1.880” CBTO
Row 2-3: 24.2gr / 1.880” CBTO
Row 4-5: 24.5gr / 1.880” CBTO
Row 6: 23.9gr/ 2.260” COAL
Row 7-8: 24.2gr / 2.260” COAL
Row 9-10: 24.5gr / 2.260” COAL

 

[kit.critchlow]

I'm sharing my load data for 223 eldms. Worked up in 2 Tikka t3x rifles. 20", 8 twist. One is a super light and one is a light. Pretty much identical load and velocities between rifles.

73, 75 and 80s tested.
Varget, staball match and Power Pro 2000 MR. RP brass from cheap ammo. I load on the hot side. I'm getting a slight primer crater but no other pressure signs.

Conclusion for me. 75 eldm with PP is probably ballistically best for longer range but the 80 is very close. One gun likes the 80 with PP a little better for accuracy.

.6 to 1.1 MOA 10 shot groups.

73 eldm - Max: 26.0 Varget, 2923 - 27.5 staball, 2916 - same velocity as 75 so didn't test any further.
75 eldm - Max: 25.5 Varget, 2850 - 27.5 Staball, 2920 - 29.0 PP, 3015
80 eldm - Max: 24.5 Varget, 2700 - 27.5 Staball 2800 - 27.8 PP, 2915

600 yd velocity w PP -
75 - 2065
80 - 2015

Pretty surprising results for me. I'm new to 223 loading though.

PP is slightly compressed, staball match is very compressed.

 

[Schmo]

@allaue87,
My particular Tikka 223 doesn’t like TAC. It may simply be your powder. Do you have any other applicable powders on hand?

For example, I’ll attach below my target. Every group on this target is spanning 2.5 grs of powder charge. I was just trying to find pressure.

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Give Hodgdon Benchmark a try. I've been using that with a 69 gr TMK and I'm consistently sub moa, usually around .7-.8.......with a 300 dollar Mossberg MVP

 

[WestTN2288]

I like TAC with all those bullets… but you’re probably pissing in the wind. Seems like your gun just doesn’t like that powder. 24-25gr TAC is what I use with each of those bullets.

I’d leave your COAL alone and first swap primers for a 5x proof of concept. 10 more to verify. If you don’t like the proof of concept 5x, change powders. Go to Johnnys reloading bench on YouTube and watch his mk262 videos. The list of powders you can use here is pretty long

 

[kit.critchlow]

I like TAC with all those bullets… but you’re probably pissing in the wind. Seems like your gun just doesn’t like that powder. 24-25gr TAC is what I use with each of those bullets.

I’d leave your COAL alone and first swap primers for a 5x proof of concept. 10 more to verify. If you don’t like the proof of concept 5x, change powders. Go to Johnnys reloading bench on YouTube and watch his mk262 videos. The list of powders you can use here is pretty long

What velocities are you getting with tack on the 75 and 80 grain eldm?

 

[WestTN2288]

Didn’t use those. Shooting AR so limited on mag length. 24.0 gr tac got me 2650 out of a 16in barrel and 2360 out of a 10.5in barrel using the 73elds though.

I’ve only used tac with the 75elds in a 22 arc

 

[Castle Rock]

Try H4895, that will change

 

[DeepMauka]

I am in a similar situation. I can’t get my tikka 223 to shoot a 1.5” group for 10rds with TMKs or Eldm’s. I’m about 250+ rounds in of trying 4-5 different powders and now searing depths.

First thought rifle was picky. Then was beginning to think I suck at shooting, but I was loading up for a much higher recoiling rifle with a way shittier trigger and shot a sub 1” group for 10.

I have taken the rifle apart, degreased action screws and am sanding the crap out of the stock to aggressively free float it and hoping that solves my issues.

 

[Schmo]

I am in a similar situation. I can’t get my tikka 223 to shoot a 1.5” group for 10rds with TMKs or Eldm’s. I’m about 250+ rounds in of trying 4-5 different powders and now searing depths.

First thought rifle was picky. Then was beginning to think I suck at shooting, but I was loading up for a much higher recoiling rifle with a way shittier trigger and shot a sub 1” group for 10.

I have taken the rifle apart, degreased action screws and am sanding the crap out of the stock to aggressively free float it and hoping that solves my issues.

What powders have you tried?

 

[Dave Thomas]

Do you have an 8 twist barrel? If so I would try different powders until I found one it likes. If you don't have an 8 twist try a lighter bullet.

 

[DeepMauka]

What powders have you tried?

Varget, 8028 xbr, 4895, staball match, lever.

If it dosent shoot better after opening up the stock a ton and re torquing everything, I’ll try messing with seating depth and not at standard mag length…or just throw it in the trash

 

[Stocky]

Some guns are just picky as shit and dont like certain styles of bullets. My first Howa Mini 223 I tried every possible combination of 62 ELD VTs, 75, 80, and 88 ELD M, and 80 ELD X. With Varget, H4985, XBR, Staball Match, Benchmark, and pretty much any other powder suitable for 223 to try get it to shoot as i wanted a high form factor 22 bullet to shoot. Nothing beat 2 inchs with all the ELD Ms going into 3 plus. Tried 77TMKs and 73 ELDs which appear to have a very similar ogives (seating die seats the to identical coals at same setting) went to around 1-1.75inch 30 shot groups. I now give up on bullets pretty fast as I never conclusively saw powder over large samples make a difference. Every time i chased down a better 10 shot group it turned out statistically insignificant. I shot near 800 rounds in this testing. I had to bring along a second rifle and some 64grain Speer Factory that shot around 2 inchs for 30 to prove I wasn't going mad and just a terrible shot.

 

[Castle Rock]

It’s easy to get ELDMs to shoot, just jam them 10 thousands, and use plenty of neck tension, but most are scared to.
8208 and 4895 will have them percolating.

 

[coyotekilla]

Im getting .5 moa groups with 24.0 of tac, fed 205 primer, running them aics mag length. 2.45 i think. 20" ranahan barrel. It also likes 75gr hornady custom ammo that my ruger American didn't.

Here soon the 20" is coming off and a 26" heavy varmit is going on. My goal is getting 3k to 3100 or even more with handloaded 75gr. The charts love the 75's for energy past 200.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Have you shot factory BH 77 tmk to compair?

 

[Schmo]

Varget, 8028 xbr, 4895, staball match, lever.

If it dosent shoot better after opening up the stock a ton and re torquing everything, I’ll try messing with seating depth and not at standard mag length…or just throw it in the trash

I’d try some VV N540 or N150.

 

[kit.critchlow]

I am in a similar situation. I can’t get my tikka 223 to shoot a 1.5” group for 10rds with TMKs or Eldm’s. I’m about 250+ rounds in of trying 4-5 different powders and now searing depths.

First thought rifle was picky. Then was beginning to think I suck at shooting, but I was loading up for a much higher recoiling rifle with a way shittier trigger and shot a sub 1” group for 10.

I have taken the rifle apart, degreased action screws and am sanding the crap out of the stock to aggressively free float it and hoping that solves my issues.

One of my rifles required bedding. I did all of forms prep work with floating, bonding scope rings, torquing action screws and at the end of the day had to bed it to get from 1 5" to 1" groups. Just food for thought.

 

[kit.critchlow]

Im getting .5 moa groups with 24.0 of tac, fed 205 primer, running them aics mag length. 2.45 i think. 20" ranahan barrel. It also likes 75gr hornady custom ammo that my ruger American didn't.

Here soon the 20" is coming off and a 26" heavy varmit is going on. My goal is getting 3k to 3100 or even more with handloaded 75gr. The charts love the 75's for energy past 200

It’s easy to get ELDMs to shoot, just jam them 10 thousands, and use plenty of neck tension, but most are scared to.
8208 and 4895 will have them percolating.

Do you have any velocity data for the different powders you have tried with the ldms?

I'm still on my journey of finding the fastest velocity powder.

 

[kit.critchlow]

Im getting .5 moa groups with 24.0 of tac, fed 205 primer, running them aics mag length. 2.45 i think. 20" ranahan barrel. It also likes 75gr hornady custom ammo that my ruger American didn't.

Here soon the 20" is coming off and a 26" heavy varmit is going on. My goal is getting 3k to 3100 or even more with handloaded 75gr. The charts love the 75's for energy past 200.

I'm getting over 3k with 75s in a 20". It should be easy to get close to 3200 with 26".