Bullet and powder advice for 1:8 .223 for target/coyote shooting

My Tikka doesn't seemed to like the 75gr ELD-Ms, however the 75gr BTHP and 73gr ELD-Ms were very easy to find a load for and the 73s in particular shot very well.

The SMKs or the 73gr ELD-Ms should be the easiest to find a load for (designed for ARs and more forgiving of seating depth) but TMKs should be ok as well.

I found Varget to be slow in my 18" factory barrel (with 62, 73 and 75gr bullets) so went with Benchmark instead. 8208xbr was a little slower than BM but much faster than Varget.

You could try the new ELD-VT bullets too, the BC on the 62gr is the same as the 73gr ELD-M and just a little lower than the 77gr TMK but should be a good 200fps faster.
You’re right. XBR would be a better than Varget in a 18in barrel.
 
60 Vmax w/H322 or N-133
62 / 65 Sierra BTSP or 64 Sierra TGK w/N-133 or Benchmark.
69 TMK, Benchmark / N-135 / 8208
Inside of 250 yds, I’d take the extra velocity that the 60-65 gr bullets offer, might go as heavy as 69 TMK.
Longer shots, might go 73 ELD-M, 75 Black Sabre or 77 TMK.
I just got some 62 and 75 Black Sabre bullets, haven’t had a chance to load any of these bullets yet for accuracy & velocity testing.
 
Understood.

Wouldn't it be better to communicate your cartridge OAL than a distance from the lands given there can be such differences like you mention about the Tikka?

No, we mention distance to the lands so people know what kind of jump the bullet likes to be accurate. That way others can use that number off THEIR lands..

COAL is just a number and may work in ones rifle and not in another's because their distance to lands mat be different.