Trending to 88’s?

[Stinky Coyote]

Am I seeing overall big picture correct that a lot of 22 shooters migrating to, or trying to get to, 88’s?

 

[RWT]

Appears that is where it is headed. Personally I would like to see a manufacturer deliver a 100-105 weight 22 cal to leverage some of the overbore from the 22 CM.

 

[TradLife406]

I like 77's. But with the horse power of even a short barrel 22 Creed i loaded up some 88 tmk tests. I originally tried the Hornady but like others have said my barrel wouldn't shoot them. Regardless of powder. I tried everything.

Kids used 85.5 on one deer then 77's on the other three.

I'll def be using 77's in the 223 ackley.

 

[RockAndSage]

My initial thoughts would be 77s for .223 rem-sized cases, and 88s for bigger casings. It would be interesting to see what combos would track well with Quick Drop, and what others would be like set up to be as flat and fast as possible.

 

[hereinaz]

The Hornady 88s have a bit of bad reputation terminally whereas the 80s do not. I have no experience shooting either on game at this point, but refer you to other discussions about it.

There are diminishing returns with the heavier, 22 caliber bullets at longer ranges. Spotting impacts on steel for practice with the 108 and 115 and 6 mm is hard enough at the ranges where the added BC would begin to make big differences.

There is also a substantial difference in trace. That is one reason why many go to the magical 25 cal with the 134/5 class bullets. Balance of recoil and down range visibility in competition and still having more bullet on target.

There are 95 grain Sierra match King you could nose ring and run like the 115 DTACs. I have thought about that, but Tubbs “leased” the nose ring gadget and locked down control of it which discouraged me from looking more into it.

I don’t think you’ll ever see anything heavier than 95 grains in a 22 caliber bullet. Could be wrong though.

For practical hunting ranges, the 80 grain bullets are great choices and effective, say inside 400-500. Beyond that, I like the higher BC 6 mm out of the PRC or SAUM case like the 6 UM 30 or 40.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Just been researching 223 and seems so many posts about these 88’s and guys building new ones more geared to them. Just checkin see if I’m reading the temp right

And if so...why?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Just been researching 223 and seems so many posts about these 88’s and guys building new ones more geared to them. Just checkin see if I’m reading the temp right

And if so...why?

I think a lot of people on RS are talking about the 88s because the Sierra 88-grain TMKs just got released in the past month and a lot of folks are shooting them.

But, from what I have seen, there is no reason to build towards the 88s in the larger .224 calibers. The reported results from 1:8” twist Tikka barrels look great. And for me, the 77-grain TMKs seem more ideal in the .223.

 

[Tanner]

The Hornady 88s have a bit of bad reputation terminally whereas the 80s do not. I have no experience shooting either on game at this point, but refer you to other discussions about it.

There are diminishing returns with the heavier, 22 caliber bullets at longer ranges. Spotting impacts on steel for practice with the 108 and 115 and 6 mm is hard enough at the ranges where the added BC would begin to make big differences.

There is also a substantial difference in trace. That is one reason why many go to the magical 25 cal with the 134/5 class bullets. Balance of recoil and down range visibility in competition and still having more bullet on target.

There are 95 grain Sierra match King you could nose ring and run like the 115 DTACs. I have thought about that, but Tubbs “leased” the nose ring gadget and locked down control of it which discouraged me from looking more into it.

I don’t think you’ll ever see anything heavier than 95 grains in a 22 caliber bullet. Could be wrong though.

For practical hunting ranges, the 80 grain bullets are great choices and effective, say inside 400-500. Beyond that, I like the higher BC 6 mm out of the PRC or SAUM case like the 6 UM 30 or 40.

I dunno’, there’s about 100 dead elk moose and deer in that .223 thread killed with 88 ELDMs…. Maybe they’ve been inconsistent lately like a lot of other Hornady products?

 

[hereinaz]

I think a lot of people on RS are talking about the 88s because the Sierra 88-grain TMKs just got released in the past month and a lot of folks are shooting them.

But, from what I have seen, there is no reason to build towards the 88s in the larger .224 calibers. The reported results from 1:8” twist Tikka barrels look great. And for me, the 77-grain TMKs seem more ideal in the .223.

Yeah, the new bullets are getting a lot of attention, as they should. I wanna know how all the new 223 and 6mm bullets run.

I will absolutely give the new 88 TMK a run in my 22 creed, but for my 14” and 16” I favor a lighter bullet with more velocity like a .223 where I will stick with the 77 and 80 grain.

Out of my 20” barrels, I think the 88s are more worth the squeeze.

Same with my 16” 6 creed, I will more likely run the lighter bullets, but with my 6 PRC I will try the 116.

 

[hereinaz]

I dunno’, there’s about 100 dead elk moose and deer in that .223 thread killed with 88 ELDMs…. Maybe they’ve been inconsistent lately like a lot of other Hornady products?

You know how Rokslide is, if it’s not perfect in 100% fail proof guys aren’t going to use it as much. I could have miss remembered whether it was terminal performance or maybe just that they were hard to get shooting as easily and as good as the 80 grain out of lots of rifles.

That obviously doesn’t apply to the 88 grain TMK, they are new. So we just don’t know.

 

[Tanner]

You know how Rokslide is, if it’s not perfect in 100% fail proof guys aren’t going to use it as much. I could have miss remembered whether it was terminal performance or maybe just that they were hard to get shooting as easily and as good as the 80 grain out of lots of rifles.

That obviously doesn’t apply to the 88 grain TMK, they are new. So we just don’t know.

Roger that. I have definitely seen a few cases of the 88s be picky at higher velocities and slightly inconsistent from lot to lot, hell even from day to day. And I know several buddies with the same complaint.

if the 88s are consistently accurate and consistent killers I think they’ll sell a million of them just here on RS alone

 

[mt terry d]

I think a lot of people on RS are talking about the 88s because the Sierra 88-grain TMKs just got released in the past month and a lot of folks are shooting them.

Exactly

But, from what I have seen, there is no reason to build towards the 88s in the larger .224 calibers. The reported results from 1:8” twist Tikka barrels look great. And for me, the 77-grain TMKs seem more ideal in the .223.

22 Ackley Improved here. 18" bbl.
I've had great success with the 77 TMKs and they shoot fantastically in my rifle. Any reasonably intelligent person would quit right there.........


However, from what I've heard the longer 88 should give a little more penetration with a smidge less wind effect .
So far accuracy has been very good with the 88s and the velocity lines up perfectly with quick drop
to 700 yards.
I really want to kill something with them!!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I dunno’, there’s about 100 dead elk moose and deer in that .223 thread killed with 88 ELDMs…. Maybe they’ve been inconsistent lately like a lot of other Hornady products?

All it takes is Form posting the equivalent of “I heard a report that one of these [insert bullet or gear here] might not have performed optimally” for half of RokSlide to decide they need to switch to the new hotness.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Roger that. I have definitely seen a few cases of the 88s be picky at higher velocities and slightly inconsistent from lot to lot, hell even from day to day. And I know several buddies with the same complaint.

if the 88s are consistently accurate and consistent killers I think they’ll sell a million of them just here on RS alone

I have seen the same reports. They have always been there. The 88-grain TMK doesn’t appear to be as picky as the 88-grain ELDM, but if I had a thousand 88-grain ELDMs and a working load, I wouldn’t be trying to sell them. But many people would.

There’s a lot of “small bore, heavy for caliber bullets are good, so heavier for caliber must be better” going on around here.