Tikka 223 Loads

[wind gypsy]

I didn’t ask about 556, so I can’t answer that. The internet rumors is why I sent them an email.

Depends how you interpret internet rumors. I don't think a lot of people running low 50k range PSI loads are saying they are piercing primers. I know in the past CCI has recommended people not use 400s in ARs because of the thinner cups (the same they use in magnum small pistol primers). Lots of 223 loads you see posted on the internet are above 223 "max" and near or above 556 or 223 CIP max range.

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[N2TRKYS]

Depends how you interpret internet rumors. I don't think a lot of people running low 50k range PSI loads are saying they are piercing primers. I know in the past CCI has recommended people not use 400s in ARs because of the thinner cups (the same they use in magnum small pistol primers). Lots of 223 loads you see posted on the internet are above 223 "max" and near or above 556 or 223 CIP max range.

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All I can tell you is what the company that makes the primers told me. I don’t load for an AR, so I don’t care about that. Stuff on the internet from other people is just that to me. That’s why I go straight to the source. If I personally start piercing primers, then I’ll change.

 

[FLS]

I only did a rough measurement but I should be about .025" off.

Try 10-15 off.

 

[Carl Ross]

Depends how you interpret internet rumors. I don't think a lot of people running low 50k range PSI loads are saying they are piercing primers. I know in the past CCI has recommended people not use 400s in ARs because of the thinner cups (the same they use in magnum small pistol primers). Lots of 223 loads you see posted on the internet are above 223 "max" and near or above 556 or 223 CIP max range.

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Just a data point for you, I've punched at minimum 30k CCI 400's in the last decade, with lots of hot 6.5x47 and Dasher loads in there. I've found no primer issues if I wasn't having very obvious pressure signs anyways. Caveats: those were only a few manufacturing batches due to buying in bulk, and they were in actions without excess firing pin clearance. And, 99% bolt gun. As always, ymmv.




For Justin:

I haven't played with Tikka 223's for a minute, when I did I never found a 75 Amax load (pre ELD's) that grouped especially tight. 77 SMK's and Varget were the best in my notes (attached), though I definitely do things a bit differently today almost a decade later.



My Proof prefit also prefers 75 HPBT's to 75 ELD's, but unlike the Tikka's I had the Proof shoots them well enough that I'm happy to use them for training. My personal powders of choice for the 75's would be XBR and H4895.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions so far. I loaded up ten more with the 75 ELD-M, 25 grains Varget, at .010" off the lands to try.

I also loaded ten with the Hornady 68-grain HPBT Match over 25 grains of Varget.

I will load ten each with the 75 ELD-M using Tac, H335, and BL-C(2) to see how they all work.

The rifle is complete, except I'm still waiting for @Unknown Munitions to build my scope rings!

 

[ID_Matt]

I have ladders loaded of Varget, H4895, and XBR 8208 I hope to shoot this weekend. Sure hope the 75 eldm's shoot as I have plenty and they seem to be easy to find! Using lapua brass with BR4's and loaded at 2.400" which was .045" off in my chamber

 

[Wrongside]

My Tikka doesn't seem to love the 75s. Two ten round groups both shot about 1.5 moa. I may try a different powder to see if that makes a difference.

The first one is 24 grains of Varget.
View attachment 529436

The second one is 25 grains of Varget.
View attachment 529437

I’ve shot lots of Varget/75ELD in a few 223s, and usually find a great load without too much trouble. But… If you can’t get Varget- or one of the other usual suspects- to hum with the 75, Leverevolution might be worth a try. 75ELD and LVR is all I’ve used in my latest Tikka 223 Varmint. Been really happy with the SDs and groups. And as a big bonus, it meters great.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Well, I'm going to stick with 25 grains of Varget for now. I have a match this Saturday and want to give this rifle a try. I am not getting great results with any of the loads I tried and I think at least part of it is the 10x scope. I don't think I'm holding quite as tight as I can with higher magnification.

75 ELD-M, Norma brass, BR-4 primer, 25 grains Varget, 2.485" COAL.

This was the first five with 25 grains Varget.



This was all 10

 

[Justin Crossley]

10 rounds with Hornady 68 grain HPBT, 25 grains Varget, Norma brass, BR-4 primer, 2.408 COAL.



Hornady 75 ELD-M, 25 grains Ramshot Tac, Norma brass, BR-4 primer, 2.485 COAL.



Hornady 75 ELD-M, 26 grains BL-C(2), Norma brass, BR-4 primer, 2.485 COAL.



Hornady 75 ELD-M, 24 grains H335, Norma brass, BR-4 primer, 2.485 COAL.

 

[wind gypsy]

This was the first five with 25 grains Varget.

View attachment 533180

This was all 10

View attachment 533181

Oh man.. cue up the "groups do/don't open up with heat on tikka lite barrels" debate. A lot of people would have taken that first 5 shots and let it be known that their tikka 223 is 1/4 MOA with 75 ELD handloads.

Including all the others, your 75 ELD groups look similar if slightly better than what I saw with mine.

 

[FLS]

Go with the first five, the rest were " called flyers"....
I was hoping getting them close would tighten them up for you. It did in mine.
FWIW ive never had the Hornady 68's shoot worth a damn in anything ive owned.
If the ELDMs dont work out, put 24.5 grains of that TAC under a 77 SMK and call it good. Ive shot thousands of that load in ARs and bolts guns.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Oh man.. cue up the "groups do/don't open up with heat on tikka lite barrels" debate. A lot of people would have taken that first 5 shots and let it be known that their tikka 223 is 1/4 MOA with 75 ELD handloads.

Why not? Lol. @Justin Crossley when you shoot your strings are you banging out 10 in a row, or 5 and cool, 5 more?

 

[Pharmseller]

How much TAC?




P

 

[Justin Crossley]

Why not? Lol. @Justin Crossley when you shoot your strings are you banging out 10 in a row, or 5 and cool, 5 more?

I was shooting ten in a row.

 

[Dos Perros]

My 1-8" Tikka likes the 75gr Amax over 25.0gr of Varget.

 

[Justin Crossley]

How much TAC?

P

25 grains. I updated the post above with the load data.

 

[Moose83]

I’ve shot lots of Varget/75ELD in a few 223s, and usually find a great load without too much trouble. But… If you can’t get Varget- or one of the other usual suspects- to hum with the 75, Leverevolution might be worth a try. 75ELD and LVR is all I’ve used in my latest Tikka 223 Varmint. Been really happy with the SDs and groups. And as a big bonus, it meters great.

Do you have some load data you could share for LVR or point me to where I can find it. I'm using the 73 eldm but that shouldn't matter too much. LVR is available here at old stock prices so it looks pretty tempting.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Oh man.. cue up the "groups do/don't open up with heat on tikka lite barrels" debate.

I was shooting ten in a row.

I'm definitely not bound to that notion, but I think it's a possibility in hammer forged or button rifled barrels. I'd be curious to see if that was repeatable with a cooling period in between 5 shot strings.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

75 eld-m, 23.9 h4895, fed205, lapua brass, .02" off lands

2900fps and phenomenal accuracy out to 600 yards in my superlite

 

[Wrongside]

Since there obviously isn’t any published data, I’m a little leery of getting too specific. But there are several threads out there with good info on Lever w/ heavies in the 223. Snipers Hide, 24 Hour Campfire, and asrealasitgets all used to have a few good threads on the subject.

I will say, I was skeptical and very cautious working up with it, and did a bunch of reading first. It behaves exactly as you’d expect a powder of that burn rate to. Velocities, SDs and accuracy as hoped, with no unusual pressure signs. I’m not really pushing it as hard as some guys have, stopped when I got ~2950 out of a 24” barrel. A few of the guys I shoot with are now using it in the 223 w/ 75ELDs as well.

I’ve only fired 450-500 rounds using it. So far the one possible downside I’d mention is- it seems to burn a little dirtier than Varget.

Best of luck if you decide it’s worth a try.

Do you have some load data you could share for LVR or point me to where I can find it. I'm using the 73 eldm but that shouldn't matter too much. LVR is available here at old stock prices so it looks pretty tempting.