After getting the .25-06 sorted out, I got out my new Tikka T3 1:10” .223, which I just got cut to 16.1” and threaded. I’m using a SWFA 6x gen2 scope (to match my 6.5 CM). I have a wooden Rokstok lite on order for it. I’m using my .30 caliber AB Raptor 10 w/ 5” reflex on it. It’s 44” long and weighs 9.3 pounds.
I bought a variety of .223 and 5.56 in weights between 55- and 75-grains. I also tried out a few of the AAC 77-grain OTMs I use in my AR. As expected, the 77-grain bullets didn’t stabilize.
The two ADI loads (55- and 69-grain SMKs) shot the best. The 55-grain bullets averaged 2981 with an SD of 34.5. The 69-grain bullets averaged 2754 with an SD of 24.4.
The Hornady Black 62-grain FMJ’s also showed promise. They averaged 2919 with an SD of 17.1.
The Frontier 5.56 62-grain was interesting. I had three that needed to be fired twice due to the harder primers, but they were screaming out of my rifle. They averaged 3160 FPS with an SD of 20.8. They didn’t group super well, but they weren’t awful. I may give them another shot.
The AAC 62-grain 5.56 were decent with 2996 FPS and an SD of 20.5. The AAC 69-grain 5.56 FMJ were also promising at 2748 FPS with an SD of 26.7. I’ll probably give them another shot too.
The rest were rather “meh”. None of them shot particularly well. I’ll include their FPS, but not upload their targets or provide further details.
Compete 75-grain OTM: 2671 FPS
Black Hills 69-grain 5.56 TMK: 2878 FPS
PMC 62-grain 5.56 Green Tips: 3015 FPS
Armscor 62-grain FMJ: 2983 FPS
Winchester 62-grain 5.56 Green Tips: 3079 FPS
Norma 62-grain FMJ: 2975 FPS
PMC 62-grain 5.56 Green Tips: 3015 FPS
PMC 55-grain FMJ: 2865 FPS
I was a bit surprised that the Black Hills didn’t do very well. I had high hopes for them.
The Federal American Eagle 75-grain TMJ were laughably slow at 2533 FPS with an SD of 19.9.