Tikka .223 Wylde/80 ELD X Seating Depth…Wow…

[PC356]

Interesting observation today. First time I’ve ever seen a change in seating depth make a difference like this. Tikka action, PBB 18” .223 Wylde 7.5 twist barrel. 80 ELD X, Starline 5.56 unfired, BR4 primer, 24.7 gr Lever. First group at a ~1/2” is seated at 1.913” CBTO. Second seated at 1.903”. Using Ascension mags to load long. All else exactly the same. Speed seem reasonable..? Got up to 26 grains Lever and 2850 FPS and groups seemed to stay in the 1.5-1.75” range for 15 or so shots. Dialing back speed and running .010” off lands seemed to be sweet spot.

 

[PC356]

Ran em out to 600 and 812 yds this eve in the TX hill country. Fired 7 shots total, went 2 for 3 at 600 and 3 for 4 at 812 on 8” gongs. 5-7 mph full value N wind. Likin this combo big time so far. Wanna try em at 1000 but looks like they’re dropping transonic at just about that point at my 1158 DA.

 

[Lawnboi]

Not surprised. 22 cal Hornady eldm/x seem to be pretty finicky bullets

 

[PC356]

Not surprised. 22 cal Hornady eldm/x seem to be pretty finicky bullets

Agreed, I never found anything I deemed satisfactory in a cpl diff .22 Creeds. Slowing them down seems only thing that’s made an appreciable difference.

 

[Jamie930]

The ELD bullets like to jump.
Hornady PRS shooters have said the same
.010- .015

 

[PC356]

The ELD bullets like to jump.
Hornady PRS shooters have said the same
.010- .015

80 ELD X loved .010 but hated .020 in this application.

 

[Schmo]

80 ELD X loved .010 but hated .020 in this application.

Honest question: so if you developed a load at .010 off, and you shoot a bit, then you have to constantly adjust your length to stay at a .010 jump? Something that reacts that sensitively to jump distance wouldn’t interest me

 

[PC356]

Honest question: so if you developed a load at .010 off, and you shoot a bit, then you have to constantly adjust your length to stay at a .010 jump? Something that reacts that sensitively to jump distance wouldn’t interest me

It won’t interest me either if I find that being the case. Time will tell.
Shoot a lot at distance in the TX HC and wind. Do dig the BC jump.

 

[Schmo]

It won’t interest me either if I find that being the case. Time will tell.
Shoot a lot at distance in the TX HC and wind. Do dig the BC jump.

How many shots per group when testing jump? I’d like for them to be at least 10 shot groups before making a correlation

 

[PC356]

20 plus at each seating depth. Multiple different 4-7 shot groups.
Not terribly scientific but it told me what I needed to know.

 

[Lawnboi]

80 ELD X loved .010 but hated .020 in this application.

Bullets that picky in a barrel, especially a field rifle, I tend to not have fun using long term.

I’d rather shoot a bullet that shoots many different seating depths and changes well enough. This makes for a more consistent gun through the life of the barrel.

 

[PC356]

Bullets that picky in a barrel, especially a field rifle, I tend to not have fun using long term.

I’d rather shoot a bullet that shoots many different seating depths and changes well enough. This makes for a more consistent gun through the life of the barrel.

Can’t slight your logic a bit. If I see that’s the case got a ton of TMKs layin around and Berger 80.5s interest me as well.

 

[Lawnboi]

Can’t slight your logic a bit. If I see that’s the case got a ton of TMKs layin around and Berger 80.5s interest me as well.

Both of those bullets seem to be much more easy going long term.

Honestly only really shoot Hornady for game because they work so well. There are a few eldm that just seem to work but most of the 22 cal just seemed finicky…. Iv shot them all!

 

[Schmo]

Both of those bullets seem to be much more easy going long term.

Honestly only really shoot Hornady for game because they work so well. There are a few eldm that just seem to work but most of the 22 cal just seemed finicky…. Iv shot them all!

I wish Hornady would make a 75 ELD-X. I understand it’d probably be a niche market, with them already having an 80-X. However, the 75 version would be nice for those of us with 8 twist 223s that don’t quite push the 80 fast enough for stability

 

[Lawnboi]

I wish Hornady would make a 75 ELD-X. I understand it’d probably be a niche market, with them already having an 80-X. However, the 75 version would be nice for those of us with 8 twist 223s that don’t quite push the 80 fast enough for stability

The tmk is pretty untouchable in the 223 arena imo.

If I'm killing things with 223 the tmk is all I want. It’s not a cheap bullet though.

 

[Schmo]

The tmk is pretty untouchable in the 223 arena imo.

If I'm killing things with 223 the tmk is all I want. It’s not a cheap bullet though.

It definitely is for terminal performance. I’m just wanting my cake and to eat it as well. It just doesn’t hold up well in wind

 

[PC356]

It definitely is for terminal performance. I’m just wanting my cake and to eat it as well. It just doesn’t hold up well in wind

TX wind is exactly what sent me down the .223/80 ELD X rabbit hole.

 

[Schmo]

TX wind is exactly what sent me down the .223/80 ELD S rabbit hole.

My 223 Tikka loves 77 TMK, 75 ELD, and 80 ELD-M. Haven’t tested the X in it. When running the 80, you have to run two ballistic profiles for some reason. One profile for 0-500, and another for 500+. I’m guessing it’s caused by some factor of the 80 being a bit too much for an 8 twist 223, but I don’t know

 

[PC356]

My 223 Tikka loves 77 TMK, 75 ELD, and 80 ELD-M. Haven’t tested the X in it. When running the 80, you have to run two ballistic profiles for some reason. One profile for 0-500, and another for 500+. I’m guessing it’s caused by some factor of the 80 being a bit too much for an 8 twist 223, but I don’t know

Tikka I’m running has an 18” PBB 7.5” twist barrel in place.
4DOF works perfectly for me using a .485 G1, out to 812 yds anyway.

 

[Schmo]

Tikka I’m running has an 18” PBB 7.5” twist barrel in place.
4DOF works perfectly for me using a .485 G1, out to 812 yds anyway.

Yeah, I’m curious why mine has the issue. I’ve been tempted to believe that it’s not quite fast enough to twist, but that almost doesn’t make sense either. Velocity drops way faster than rotational speed, so if it shoots tight groups at 100, it should only be more stable as it continues down range. And by shooting well at 100 I mean 10 shot groups that are under an inch.