What did you do at the range today?

[NWBLKTAIL]

Live target practice this evening. Tikka 223 CTR shooting 60 gr Vmax over TAC. Hustled down to the ranch and got 50 prairie dogs before the sun was starting to set. I have about 50 more rounds and I’ll be pulling the factory barrel. I’ve had a proof prefit ready to swap for two years

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how many rounds did you put on that barrel?

 

[waspocrew]

how many rounds did you put on that barrel?

Sitting at just a tad under 2700 rounds.

 

[waspocrew]

Awesome looking country and beautiful setup!

Thanks! I definitely enjoy Wyoming. I’m fortunate to live only a few hours north of my parents place, so we are able to get out quite a bit. My son just turned 12, so looking forward to getting him a lot of trigger time this summer before his antelope tag opens.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Sitting at just a tad under 2700 rounds.

that's a lot of prairie dogs

what's your chamber specs on the proof?

 

[waspocrew]

that's a lot of prairie dogs

what's your chamber specs on the proof?

Yep, this rifle has accounted for plenty of prairie dogs, rock chucks, jack rabbits, steel, and paper haha.

I went with another standard 223. Per Proof, the freebore is 0.070”. That should be a little longer than what Tikka usually has. My CTR had a crazy short throat, so I actually never loaded anything heavier than 69 TMKs.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Yep, this rifle has accounted for plenty of prairie dogs, rock chucks, jack rabbits, steel, and paper haha.

I went with another standard 223. Per Proof, the freebore is 0.070”. That should be a little longer than what Tikka usually has. My CTR had a crazy short throat, so I actually never loaded anything heavier than 69 TMKs.

.070" should get you out there plenty far, post up how the new barrel shoots for ya

 

[Steve300xcw]

Today, 5/17/2026 a prodigy had 400ish rounds ran through it without issue!

Also blew the dust outta the house/yard gun as it hasnt been used in quite some time @BLJ the PSA run flawless as expected........

 

[justinspicher]

Friday night the boys and I did a no lights shoot. Did a movement drill shooting in various positions at 100, 50, and 25 yards under nods.

Sunday Gunday was in full swing today, did a walk through of 15 targets between 200-500yds, in various positions shooting up and down hill.

 

[Billdoe]

Today, 5/17/2026 a prodigy had 400ish rounds ran through it without issue!

Also blew the dust outta the house/yard gun



View attachment 1067614

Nice range bag. Looks like mine.

 

[43.6N]

Today, 5/17/2026 a prodigy had 400ish rounds ran through it without issue!

Also blew the dust outta the house/yard gun



View attachment 1067614

If I remember right, you had done some work to the sear/disconector? Anything change to get it running now?

 

[Te Hopo]

A casual test this week with the 8" steel.
Howa Mini 223AI, 75ELDMs with the scope set at 8x.

At 50m and 100m off hand, then prone every 50m onwards.
Managed to make first round hits all the way to 300, 350 required a 2nd round to connect.

Thats about the longest clear shot on the farm, happy enough with how I did

 

[Steve300xcw]

If I remember right, you had done some work to the sear/disconector? Anything change to get it running now?

Been a love/hate thing with that stupid gun since day 1.

The gun has always had issues hanging up on the disconnect. I'd swapped out parts and did some polishing and while better, was never good. I tossed a Nighthawk drop in trigger set into it. With the new trigger it runs better than ever. But as it got dirty, the reset got sticky unless you give it a thump.

So cleaned and oiled up, now just seeing how many rounds before the trigger starts acting up again.

 

[43.6N]

Been a love/hate thing with that stupid gun since day 1.

The gun has always had issues hanging up on the disconnect. I'd swapped out parts and did some polishing and while better, was never good. I tossed a Nighthawk drop in trigger set into it. With the new trigger it runs better than ever. But as it got dirty, the reset got sticky unless you give it a thump.

So cleaned and oiled up, now just seeing how many rounds before the trigger starts acting up again.

That’s what it was. Thanks for reminding me.
Hope it keeps up with you now!

 

[Steve300xcw]

I hope so. As I'm about done messing with it