223 80 gr smk oal ?

[rebs]

The book says to load these to 2.550 oal but the longest I can load in my Tikka T3x 223 is 2.470 oal to the lands.
What can I do to shoot them in my rifle safely ?

 

[CADDIE5]

I load 80smk to 2.4350" oal with 23gr Varget, Winchester brass, CCI450 primers. Shoot well for midrange ftr to 600yds.

 

[dstoenner]

These are meant to load long. A Wylde chamber is set up for these. The COAL for a Wylde with 80 SMK is 2.435 I have always loaded with a jump of .020 so I would start at 2.415, then chase the lands. The longest I have gone to is 2.525 when the barrel was on its last leg. I shot 24.0 varget with BR-4 primers in LC brass. This was for an AR15. Bolt guns will even do more. It is not a hot load when you are loading long.

The 2.550 length was to show you that these are not designed for MAG length loads

David

 

[rkj1313]

Varies widely depending on whose chamber, need a few tools, got to get an accurate measure for your gun. 2.550 OAL is usually what you would find in a AR 556 NATO chamber.

 

[RegionRat]

80 SMK is a forgiving bullet and is relatively easy to tune. Using your regular loading development methods will give you a safe and satisfactory answer.
Your magazine length being what it is, how does it compare to your jam length? I would find that more important. Which length is longer, the jam or the magazine?

 

[rebs]

I load 80smk to 2.4350" oal with 23gr Varget, Winchester brass, CCI450 primers. Shoot well for midrange ftr to 600yds.

are you loading for an AR or a bolt gun ?

 

[CADDIE5]

are you loading for an AR or a bolt gun ?

Bolt gun 30" bbl 7 twist match chamber .020 jump 80smk

 

[Steve Ladino]

The book says to load these to 2.550 oal but the longest I can load in my Tikka T3x 223 is 2.470 oal to the lands.
What can I do to shoot them in my rifle safely ?

24 grn. Varget, CCI 450 pr., .010 off the lands is what I would work with, + or - .