Need A Load For .223 Tikka T3 Tactical 1in8 Twist.

[robbobsam]

Hiya Guys,

I am looking for an accuracy load for my new Tikka T3 Tactical in .223.

I will be using it out to 600yds and will be using it on Varmints and targets.

I was thinking of using 69Grain SMK's but if you can suggest better bullets and loads I would be very pleased to hear them.

I am like all of you guys very much into getting the best accuracy out of my rifles.

Been thinking along the lines of AA2520 or H4895, not tried anything yet but I usually try to steer clear of Varget due to the "Alledged" increased barrel wear.

I have been looking at the Berger reference data sheet and according to the charts the 70grain VLD has the same nose length as the smaller varmint bullets, if that is so will it magazine and load into a standard Tikka T3 rifle ok ???

Thanks Guys.

 

[jonbearman]

The sierra 69 mk's fly nice and you will like them,I use benchmark,h335 and blc-2.I use loads straight out of the sierra reloading manual.

 

[Laurie]

Robbobsam,

how is the T3 tactical throated? This will likely determine what you can do with it. If Tikka has left it very short, so you end up loading bullets like the 69gn SMK to something close to the SAAMI .2.25-2.26" COAL, you're pretty well limited to the shorter 68-75gn bullets, plus the various 77s that are designed for magazine operation in AR-15s at standard overall lengths.

If the maker has given it something approximating to the Wylde chamber form that sees SMKs seated to 2.4-2.45" COAL before hitting the lands, you can happily use the 75gn A-Max and various 80s. This would be at longer than magazine length though, so you'd be into single loading them. The 80s are definitely the bullets to use on 600yd targets, the 75gn A-Max the sole serious competition (and much liked by many .223R shooters as it can be driven very fast). If you don't mind single-loading an over magazine length 75gn A-Max, it might work on varmints too, although I can't comment from direct experience. It's a popular long-range varmint bullet in hotter .22s such as the .22BR and fast-twist barrelled .22-250s etc. Varget and Re15 are very hard to beat with the 80s, and Varget is temperature tolerant too which may be a plus depending on where you shoot.

If you want to use the magazine, it's a toss-up between the 69s and 77s - both accept huge amounts of jump and still give very good accuracy. I found the 77gn Sierra MK one of the most load tolerant bullets I ever used - it seems to work with any powder with the right burning rate - AA 2460 and 2520, Hodgdon H4895 and VarGet, Viht N140 / 540, Re15. W748 / H. BL-C(2) as well although there can be pressure spikes with these ball powders. In my rifle, mildish loads of H4895 gave the smallest groups. Another very good bullet for magazine operation is Berger's old 73gn LTB, now sold as the 73gn Target BT I think. I got very good results from it in a 1-8" twist AR type rifle over H4895 at 2.259" that just fitted the Colt magazine. All of these bullets will work well at 600yd, but have lower BCs than the 75 A-Max and various 80s, so you'll get more wind disturbance and struggle to compete against a good .308W never mind better ballistic performers in 6, 6.5 and 7mm.

Laurie,
York, England

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

To add to what Laurie stated, I too have a 1:8 twist with a Wylde chamber. It shoots well with 68 gr. Hornady HPBT over Win 748. My 600 yd. load is the Hornady 75 gr. HPBT (or 75 A-max) over AA 2520. The 75's are loaded longer than magazine length, so I do single load those for the 600 yd. stage of XTC matches.

Bill