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.223 target load
Hi
Going to start reloading in the new year , I'll be shooting 100m targets with a super varmint stainless in .223 , its a newer rifle so 12 inch twist so I'll be looking 50 to 55 gr head , the brass that I'll be using is sako has that's what I've been shooting at the moment and was advised to keep it has its good brass ,any tried and tested loads and advised would be most welcome
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7 Replies
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Thanks for all the info ::) hope to help others out the same has you've helped me
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I doubt very many of us, if any, have any experience with a 12 twist Tikka, or Sako brass. So how can we give you any advice? Don't get all knotted up! 😉
Besides…we shoot 100 yards over here. ;D
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LOL
I work nights and get a bit 😮 when I get tired , so far my research is seko brass , 50 -55 gr heads and not to get a press from Lee has its better to spend that bit more for better quality set up , saving money in the long run , just need to wait for a bonus from work to repair my motor bike then the rest I can spend on the reloading set up , since it seams I'm the first , when I get setup and start experimenting I'll post the results up good and the bad
Larkin
PS just got up so I'm 😀 at the moment lol -
I have not seen or shot aTikka 223 with either twist that didn't like a 55-60gr Hornady V-max or Nosler Spitzer BT in if front of 25.5-26gr of Varget. We use use it for varmint and paper punching because its so accurate.
25.5gr of Varget and a 60gr Nosler is a golden combination in my 223 Lite & 223 varmint…close to 1/4 MOA at 200yrds….we shoot it regularly out to 500yrds at 4″ clay targets…it really test your ability to read wind at 500yrds though! Velocity is around 3050 fps out my Lite, and 3100fps out of my Varmint, both rifles are a 1-8 twist.
Another “really good” load that shot well in the 3 rifles we have is CFE223.
55gr Amax or Nosler Spitzer BT
Somewhere around 26.7gr CFE223 will find a good node.
Velocity is around 3200fps.This load matched my M223 Nikon Scope turret perfectly out to 550 yrds, just dial the range and let it fly.
The scope turret is calibrated for the 55 Vmax at 3240fps but the Nosler 55gr as a slightly better BC so the drop matched up to 1-2″ all the way out to 600yrds.
My good buddies 12 year old son was popping 8″ balloons all day with it out 500-600 yrd ranges.
Sadly its not as temp stable as Varget, so its a big shift from winter to summer shooting.
But it has produced some of the best accuracy to date out of my rifles. -
Hi the main problem for me to overcome come was what consumables I could get all the time , being in England some of the powders and heads are hard to find and if I get the powder from x , next time I need some it might be a 12 month wait my local guy can get Vit 133 and Berger heads no problem so I'm sticking with them , on a good day I can get sub .5 moa with a 5 shot group
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For 1:12t look at the Hornady 52 gr bthp. I have a 1:8t barrel and have not run it through the mill yet but it seems to sit in the sweet spot for your barrel. Get it up to 3k and do load development. It wouldn't hurt to try the 40+ gr heads with your slow twist.
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For my 223 Tikka, 1:10 twist, I have found 69gr SMK are tack drivers. I use Benchmark's max load.
One quirk about my rifle is that when you get the barrel squeaky clean, it shoots poor groups. It does not shoot good until it has @ 100 rounds run through it. Once you get it shooting good, don't scrub the copper out. Just wipe it clean with an oily patch to get powder residue out. with this practice I put 5 shots in one hole at 100 yds. I only really clean it when my groups open up, then put @100 rounds through it to season the barrel. Now its good to shoot clay pigeons at 500 yds.
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