Tikka 223 Loads

[Justin Crossley]

I have 500 pieces of new Norma brass and ordered a bunch of 75-grain ELD-Ms. What loads have you guys found to work well with that combo?

 

[Lawnboi]

What do you have for powder? And what kind a magazine are you going to use?

4 tikka 223s Iv loaded for all have fairly short throats.

 

[SouthPaw]

Use the Waters Mag or CTR mag/BM setup to load them out to 2.4XX. 23.5ish XBR or 24ish Varget over a cci450 will shoot.

 

[Justin Crossley]

What do you have for powder? And what kind a magazine are you going to use?

4 tikka 223s Iv loaded for all have fairly short throats.

I'll most likely use the AICS mags which I believe have a max coal of 2.5" or so. I have a lot of different powders and don't mind looking for others if there is a good load with powder I don't have.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Use the Waters Mag or CTR mag/BM setup to load them out to 2.4XX. 23.5ish XBR or 24ish Varget over a cci450 will shoot.

You're using small rifle magnum primers in a 223? I was planning on using the CCI BR4s since that's what I've always used in my AR-15s.

 

[Lawnboi]

I'll most likely use the AICS mags which I believe have a max coal of 2.5" or so. I have a lot of different powders and don't mind looking for others if there is a good load with powder I don't have.

The above loads are what I would load. You likely won’t be able to crunch enough Varget in the thing to cause pressure. Xbr would be the preferred powder but you can’t find it anywhere.

With Varget you’re going to be stuck loading long and obtaining velocity, or loading short and dealing with reduced powder capacity.

I prefer not to compress powder too much, messes with seating depth too much.

If you want cheaper practice ramshot tac does okay too, just a little temp sensitive. I’m probably moving to tac and a 75 eldm for varmints and practice until Xbr hits the shelves again.

Br4s will work fine. I’d just avoid the 400s.

 

[Juan_ID]

You're using small rifle magnum primers in a 223? I was planning on using the CCI BR4s since that's what I've always used in my AR-15s.

I use the 450s in the 223 as well and have had good results.

 

[ARK_Ginger]

I'm using 25grs of varget at 2.420 in sig brass with the 75gr ELD in mine. Shot about an inch and I stopped load development. I've taken out to 1000yrds on steel and been super impressed with that bullet/rifle combo.

 

[wind gypsy]

You're using small rifle magnum primers in a 223? I was planning on using the CCI BR4s since that's what I've always used in my AR-15s.

Br4s and 450s have been indistinguishable for me so I use 450s for 223 and 556 too.

Unfortunately my T3x lite 223 shoots the 75 eld loads I’ve tried like doodoo. Only thing I didn’t really try was seating them real close or in the lands. Used xbr, h4895, and varget in lc and lapua brass. I like xbr and 4895 for that bullet class over varget just to get away from heavily compressed loads.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Br4s and 450s have been indistinguishable for me so I use 450s for 223 and 556 too.

Unfortunately my T3x lite 223 shoots the 75 eld loads I’ve tried like doodoo. Only thing I didn’t really try was seating them real close or in the lands. Used xbr, h4895, and varget in lc and lapua brass. I like xbr and 4895 for that bullet class over varget just to get away from heavily compressed loads.

I sure hope mine doesn't shoot them like crap since I bought 1500! LOL

 

[C.payne]

Another vote for XBR! I shoot 77 TMK’s over 23.5 grains of XBR and it’s lights out.

 

[ljalberta]

My Tikka load is Lapua brass, 24gr varget, 75gr ELD, .02” off the lands, CCI450 primer. COAL is approximately 2.427”

Has me right at 2800fps. Also shot great with 24.5 and 25gr of Varget, but I don’t need a hot load for this and 24gr gets the velocity I’m looking for.

 

[SouthPaw]

My Tikka load is Lapua brass, 24gr varget, 75gr ELD, .02” off the lands, CCI450 primer. COAL is approximately 2.427”

Has me right at 2800fps. Also shot great with 24.5 and 25gr of Varget, but I don’t need a hot load for this and 24gr gets the velocity I’m looking for.

That is literally the exact load that my Tikka shot the 75s best. That being said, I practice mostly near sea level and mine much prefers the 73 eldm.

 

[ztc92]

Some good info in here:

Tikka 223 Reloading

Bringing up a very old thread here. I’m seeing 77smk factory seconds on midway right now. I have 400tmks that I’d like to save for hunting/when I have more rounds shot with the gun itself. Do SMKs fit to mag length in my tikka mag and also my AR mags? If not it kind of defeats the purpose of...

rokslide.com

 

[KU_Geo]

midrange charges of ramshot TAC were 1/4 - 1/2 moa for me and in the 2750-2800 ball park.

 

[Pharmseller]

I’m assuming 1-8” twist.

This isn’t a bad place to start.



1.915” is BTO.



P

 

[rollinrifleworksllc]

8208 xbr or varget. Both solid .25 w 75g eldm.

 

[Jimbee]

The above loads are what I would load. You likely won’t be able to crunch enough Varget in the thing to cause pressure. Xbr would be the preferred powder but you can’t find it anywhere.

With Varget you’re going to be stuck loading long and obtaining velocity, or loading short and dealing with reduced powder capacity.

I prefer not to compress powder too much, messes with seating depth too much.

If you want cheaper practice ramshot tac does okay too, just a little temp sensitive. I’m probably moving to tac and a 75 eldm for varmints and practice until Xbr hits the shelves again.

Br4s will work fine. I’d just avoid the 400s.

Why avoid cci 400s? TIA

 

[Tberg]

Hornady book max load of CFE223 with 75gr eldm @ 2.45 COAL, GM205M. Mtn tactical magazine.
Norma brass SD=9.23
Lapua brass SD=7.64

two weeks ago put 5 of 5 in a 5" group on a 10" gong at 400 yards in a 20mph variable wind. took about 5 moa of elevation to get it there. shoots cloverleaf's at 100 yards

 

[wind gypsy]

I sure hope mine doesn't shoot them like crap since I bought 1500! LOL

I've got a handful of them too. The hornady boxes say to use a 1:7 twist for them but there's ample internet evidence that some folks do well with 8 twist. The holes in my targets are all round but maybe the 8 twist and low MN altitude has something to do with it. Hopefully you have a little friendlier DA at your location than I do.