Tikka T3x 223 seating depth ?

[rebs]

I got some Berger 80 gr vld's to shoot in my Tikka t3x 223 Varmint and I am trying to figure how deep to seat them. My chamber measurements with this bullet is BTO 1.964 and coal is 2.472. What depth length can I seat them to ? I don't want to get too much bullet in the case neck.
I also read where the Tikka chamber is made to European C.I.P. specs and not sami specs.

 

[FeMan]

Ive been able to get my Tikkas to shoot well at mag length. The jump has been HUGE but that didn't bother them. They have both shot (260 and 300 WSM). If you want to give yourself more options, you can get a long action bolt stop and install it. As long as you can find a medium or long action mag that will fit a 223 case you can run whatever length you want.

 

[Ned Ludd]

You really don't have that many options. You an determine the longest possible COAL that will reliably feed in your mags, then seat the bullet farther off the lands (deeper in the case) incrementally until you find a seating depth [region] that groups well. This approach is almost guaranteed to have the bullet sunk pretty far down in the neck as you're trying to seat a long 80 gr bullet to mag length.

Alternatively, if you single feed loaded rounds, you can determine COAL for a round loaded with the bullet seated so its just "touching" the lands. Then you can seat the bullet incrementally in either direction, although I usually start by seating them farther off the lands first, and only seat them into the lands (jammed) if I can't find a seating depth jumped that works. Dependent on the length of freebore with which the factory chamber is cut, this approach will likely allow you to seat the bullet with the shank farther out in the neck, as COAL isn't limited by mag length. However, the downside is that you have to single feed rounds.

 

[Zeke 225]

rebs
I have a Tikka T-3 also in 223 ackley I tried my brother 243 magazine in it and it feeds just fine, might try one from a friend before buying one, if you can before buying one.

 

[K22]

I recently purchased the same model and caliber rifle. I know the following doesn't address your question but I thought I'd share it with you - perhaps you can store away for future information.

Mine shoots sub 1/2 moa with 60 Vmax bullets with a .010" jump. I'm using H 4895 and Federal 210M match primers.

PS: Just love this rifle - the trigger is great, the stock is stiff enough for precision shooting, the extractor system is superior, and of course it's a Tikka action - smooth as silk. Just not crazy about the polymer magazine - had one wear out on me in just on season of heavy varmint hunting but that was a Browning X Bolt magazine. Maybe the Tikka's will hold up better.

 

[rebs]

I use this rifle to shoot F class 300 yds so I do already single feed. The 300 yd is why I want to shoot the 80 gr Berger VLD which I am hoping wil do well in the various winds.
Thank you guys for the replies

 

[dthomas]

for those needing a magazine that will hold a longer cartridge in a tikka look at mountain tactical. I got a 223 mag from them that has a coal of 2.6''. I can mag feed the berger 80.5 grain bullets without a problem.

 

[bozo699]

for those needing a magazine that will hold a longer cartridge in a tikka look at mountain tactical. I got a 223 mag from them that has a coal of 2.6''. I can mag feed the berger 80.5 grain bullets without a problem.

Thank you I need one for my t3 light in 7-08
Wayne

 

[xswanted]

I run 80 grain SMKs at 2.420. It’s back off the rifling just a bit, I want to say .010 or .020 don’t remeber.

But it shoots very well at that OAL

 

[Ned Ludd]

I use this rifle to shoot F class 300 yds so I do already single feed. The 300 yd is why I want to shoot the 80 gr Berger VLD which I am hoping wil do well in the various winds.
Thank you guys for the replies

So presumably, you have already measured COAL with the 80 VLD seated at "touching"? Is that what you were indicating with the 2.472" COAL measurement in your OP? I'd think that would give you plenty of room to test seating depth while still keeping the bullet boattail/bearing surface junction above the case neck/shoulder junction. I'd start by testing seating depth from zero ("touching") to .024" or .027" off the lands in .003" increments. I wouldn't be surprised if they tune in somewhere within that window. If not, I'd try .003", .006", and .009" into the lands, next.

I worked up a load some time ago with the Berger 80.5 Fullbore bullet in a .223 Rem rifle with zero freebore. The COAL at "touching" in that rifle is 2.357", and the 80.5 shank/boattail is obviously seated pretty far below the neck. Your COAL is 0.115" longer than that, which is approximately half the length of the neck. Further, the 80 VLD BTO dimension is almost .025" shorter than the 80.5 Fullbore, so you ought to have some room to play with. Just do a seating depth test and let the precision of the rifle tell you where it should be seated.

 

[dolek]

I recently purchased the same model and caliber rifle. I know the following doesn't address your question but I thought I'd share it with you - perhaps you can store away for future information.

Mine shoots sub 1/2 moa with 60 Vmax bullets with a .010" jump. I'm using H 4895 and Federal 210M match primers.

PS: Just love this rifle - the trigger is great, the stock is stiff enough for precision shooting, the extractor system is superior, and of course it's a Tikka action - smooth as silk. Just not crazy about the polymer magazine - had one wear out on me in just on season of heavy varmint hunting but that was a Browning X Bolt magazine. Maybe the Tikka's will hold up better.

I have a box of those 60 V-Max I thought of trying in my Tikka . I noticed on the box it says 7 1/2 twist .Do you have to use a stout load of H4895 to shoot them that well ?

 

[grovey]

Thank you I need one for my t3 light in 7-08
Wayne

You have options Wayne. The factory M+ mags used in Tikka T3X's in 6.5 CM are 2.965 inside. The other option is simply a factory long action magazine from a cartridge in the 06' family. You'll need to buy a long action bolt stop to replace yours, or if you're handy you can notch your factory stop with a dremel or the like to allow the bolt to travel further back to pick up the longer round. I'm not sure if the Tikka's in 6.5 CM use a different, read ( cartridge specific) stop or perhaps just the long action bolt stop , but the M+ Mags are definitely are more generous than their normal S/A calibers. The mods can be found on youtube.

 

[grovey]

for those needing a magazine that will hold a longer cartridge in a tikka look at mountain tactical. I got a 223 mag from them that has a coal of 2.6''. I can mag feed the berger 80.5 grain bullets without a problem.

Did they ever get them to work worth a damn? They were trash in the beginning. I'm not a fan of mt tactical at all, as I've read just as many bad reviews as good on shcit like the aforementioned mags to half azz rifle builds they won't stand behind, and we all know which we remember best.
Tikka needs to step up and offer an additional .223 mag with more room for their 8 twist guns. Then they could actually throat the 8 twist guns where they should be. Why offer three different twist in .223 and throat them the same?

 

[K22]

I have a box of those 60 V-Max I thought of trying in my Tikka . I noticed on the box it says 7 1/2 twist .Do you have to use a stout load of H4895 to shoot them that well ?

The box actually says 7 - 12 " twist.

Yes, as noted in my previous post, H4895 with Federal 205M match primers. I hate to quote a powder charge because you should start at the low end of the load data and work up being observant of pressure signs however I'll list the load that works in my rifle understanding that each rifle can be different and you should work up safely for your rifle. 24.0 grains - H4895 - 60 Vmax - Federal 205M primers, COL 2.275.

The other aspect of this load that I like is that it doesn't have a trajectory like a "rainbow", i.e. it fairly flat shooting compared to the heavies.

 

[dthomas]

Did they ever get them to work worth a damn? They were trash in the beginning. I'm not a fan of mt tactical at all, as I've read just as many bad reviews as good on shcit like the aforementioned mags to half azz rifle builds they won't stand behind, and we all know which we remember best.
Tikka needs to step up and offer an additional .223 mag with more room for their 8 twist guns. Then they could actually throat the 8 twist guns where they should be. Why offer three different twist in .223 and throat them the same?

I just got it recently and have only cycled a full mag through it a few times so far. Have not seen a problem yet but haven't used it enough to know how reliable they are.

 

[dolek]

The box actually says 7 - 12 " twist.

Yes, as noted in my previous post, H4895 with Federal 205M match primers. I hate to quote a powder charge because you should start at the low end of the load data and work up being observant of pressure signs however I'll list the load that works in my rifle understanding that each rifle can be different and you should work up safely for your rifle. 24.0 grains - H4895 - 60 Vmax - Federal 205M primers, COL 2.275.

The other aspect of this load that I like is that it doesn't have a trajectory like a "rainbow", i.e. it fairly flat shooting compared to the heavies.

Thank you Sir , can't believe it's actually 7-12...should have put my glasses on . I was wondering how the heck that bullet could need such a fast twist. Glad to see 24 is working for you ,that's book starting load according to Hodgdon for a Winchester case . Your info is much appreciated.

 

[grovey]

I got some Berger 80 gr vld's to shoot in my Tikka t3x 223 Varmint and I am trying to figure how deep to seat them. My chamber measurements with this bullet is BTO 1.964 and coal is 2.472. What depth length can I seat them to ? I don't want to get too much bullet in the case neck.
I also read where the Tikka chamber is made to European C.I.P. specs and not sami specs.

I've never measured that bullet in any of my Tikka .223's, but that BTO measurement seems about .040 - .050 long based on several guns and bullets. That said, I'd run them as long as my load development allowed to allow for more powder volume.

I'm going to give some cheap .223 brass I have on hand a go this year with a new load because my better brass has near a gr less volume. The cheap brass allows me to load a promising new heavy without fighting compression of the powder to the point it's affecting seating depths at the neck tension I want. I could use another 0.80 -.100 of throat in my Tikka to get the boat tail of my bullet out to the neck /shoulder junction. Sure seems like they've left some on the optimum table when they short throat these 8 twist guns.

 

[rebs]

I run 80 grain SMKs at 2.420. It’s back off the rifling just a bit, I want to say .010 or .020 don’t remeber.

But it shoots very well at that OAL

In what rifle ?