Ok to be clear the varmint was 24″? And the light was about 22″?

So much thanks for the info!
I'm trying to correlate my 24″ Sporter with your Varminter.
This is good work and should be noted on every target forum!

So cool Dog!

I finally got my IMR 4166 load development rounds loaded in once fired neck sized ww brass.  Hope to shoot them soon, and will keep you posted.

Update but no info… Sorry guys I have been conspired against by nature and man lately.  My gun club had a complaint and I have been on the road.  Soon as the wind dies and I am free for half a day I will shoot and post my data on the IMR 4166 in .223 with 75 gr amax (moly).

Keep shooting!

Ok I finally got some range time!, it was cold and windy but I think I got some good data.  I am posting my velocity info in a minute but the upshot was i was up to 2800+ fps with 75 gr amax (moly coated) and didnt get to serious pressure indication.  I will post pics of my empty cases and a pic of my crono data.  my best groups were at about 2800+ fps but will post targets as well (after i scan them and put on “on-target”.
here are 2  pic of my primers to see if you agree with my assessment of “not over pressure”, i will add a 2nd pic with better resolution.

2nd pic

Ok from left to right i loaded 4 rounds with increasing wheights of powder using the same primer (Wolf smrifle)

I will attach the velocities in a minute.

here they are:

Ok I see that I did not go far enough with the load development to get the High end of loads….  I think with these bullets i could have gone .6gr or even 1 gr higher.  I will post the targets tomorrow and you can evaluate the whole package.  I will tell you now that my best 3shot group was under 1/4 inch at 100 yds in the 2800 fps range.

I can't wait to rescan the targets. here is a preliminary target that includes my best group (#17 on the load data sheet).

No. 4 on this pick is no. 17 on load development pic.

Here is a pic of my set up… I love the Tikka T3 Sporter!!!

Also the Vortex Viper 6-24 is excellent for my purposes!!!

Still working on target evaluation but just a reminder that these were moly coated bullets so don't use the load data as is for naked bullets

Hi Bergers are an excellent choice, I don't know what it's like in the U.S. but over here in England there about 50% more to buy , but in my world there so much better and also there always available because most people go for the cheaper heads ,then they compare there grouping to mine and wonder why they can't get sub 1/2 moa

I have 100 Berger 80.5s on hand I wil change primers to 205 Feds and redo this test (not the low end of course).  I plan also to do the test with Varget.  I do like h4895 with SMK's 80 gr.

I cleaned these cases with stainless steel pins and always use redding neck lube (the ceramic pellets with graphite or similar).

I am concerned about my ES.  I used good technique I think, so it's either primer or powder variability I'm guessing.  I know wolf primers are “cool” although consistent, and maybe hotter primers are the way to go.

All my charges were thrown with my chargemaster, tho not checked.

As a side note;  the IMR 4166 did not need to be compressed, although I used a Frankford arsenal drop tube funnel to pour the charges.

I had some feedback from another site that suggested that wolf primers are soft and give high pressure signs early.  That is why I'm trying fed 205s.well that and I found some at Scheels in Fargo lol.

Hey Dog, your exp with 75gr a-max is concerning.  Do you have any method of checking them for concentricity?  I see they are avail at brownells in 600 ct lot now