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223 Bolt Gun (current climate)
- Thread starter Deflagration
- Start date
Love my new 16" .223. Its data lines up with my .308 inside of 600 and is a pleasure to shoot. Just dropping my mag length 77 SMK load into it produced the groups shown. Couldn't be happier.
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Just finished putting together my daughter’s 18” .224 last night.
First rounds down it this afternoon
First rounds down it this afternoon
The 13" factory length. 16.5" brings the handguard right to the threads. I might swap the 16.5" on just to see how it looks.
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Keep us posted on how it shoots
That was a big reason for me building the shorter .223. It is a really well balanced little rig.
If my 18” Mueller barrel chambered in .224 Wylde is any indication, it will be a friggin laser. 
This is a local smith and his work is nothing but awesome.
Prior indicators on his barrels say with decent loading I should get .5 moa or below pretty easy.
Have seen more than 1 of his hit .3’s from 600-1050 yds (not me shooting).
This is a local smith and his work is nothing but awesome.
Prior indicators on his barrels say with decent loading I should get .5 moa or below pretty easy.
Have seen more than 1 of his hit .3’s from 600-1050 yds (not me shooting).
Might want to post on accurateshooter forums. Lots of technical knowledge on there as far as this kind of thing goes.
Got a new one just yesterday, tried out some factory blackhills 68 HP (really old stuff I had lying around). Need to load up some rounds for it. It's a 1-8, so I'll try out some 77 SMKs. Just need to find them in stock.
My son on it as well.
My son on it as well.
This is the easy button... then load 80's. I shoot 80 Amax (I have 4000+ I got dirt cheap when every shop was unloading the 600ct boxes to put ELD on the shelf).... 2900+ out of 26" 1:7 with H4895.
Brownells and Powder Valley have 77s in stock but I like the 75 ELD and 77 RDF better at longer ranges.
I hate to agree, but yeah. I prefer the nuke 2.0 to the 2 origins I had, for no other reason than the nuke didn't need
any work on cocking piece to fix coc. I'm not sure I'd want to buy an impact, stiller or defiance in 223, but on actions like bighorn, arc, and deadline it's not expensive to swap to a 308 or mag bolt head for switch barrel.
I think Altus had some 223’s in stock the other day. Havent checked in a couple days. Might go look.
Got 500 77 SMKs from brownells on there way to me now... 
I'll try out the 75 ELDMs soon as I can find those too.
I'll try out the 75 ELDMs soon as I can find those too.
Used Tikka Varmints are out there. I bought one from a member of this site last November. Put a fixed 12x with target turrets on her and worked up a loading using 75 gr ELDM.
I do not recommend this load. Do not exceed book maximums.
Initial development:
Confirmation and chrono:
They’re worth the search.
P
I do not recommend this load. Do not exceed book maximums.
Initial development:
Confirmation and chrono:
They’re worth the search.
P
.223 Rem TAC and 75 ELDM Experiment - Range day update
I have a new-to-me stainless Tikka T3 Varmint in .223, bought it here on the Hide. It shot my previous 75 gr ELDM load okay, but not how I know Tikkas can shoot. I figure that if I have to do it over I’m gonna do it differently. I did some research and decided to try TAC. I’m running it kinda...
www.snipershide.com
Barely touching the lands. Not jammed but enough to leave a mark. Loaded pretty long, too.
I guess. I’m way over standard magazine length. I’d have a single shot without the MT magazines.
Go with the tikka t3x heavy varmint,77gr bullet,good powder,brass,and primer. You won't be disappointed!!!
Those 75gr ELDs are super hard to beat. Try some 8208 XBR if you get a chance. I got them up to 3044 at 35 degrees. No pressure signs, brass looks great. I'm working on a load for the 75gr BTHPs and Tac also..223 Rem TAC and 75 ELDM Experiment - Range day update
I have a new-to-me stainless Tikka T3 Varmint in .223, bought it here on the Hide. It shot my previous 75 gr ELDM load okay, but not how I know Tikkas can shoot. I figure that if I have to do it over I’m gonna do it differently. I did some research and decided to try TAC. I’m running it kinda...
The 75 bthp and tac is awesome for 223. No reason to spend more on the bullet and tac gives great speed without pressure and is easier to get. Great combo
Nothing fancy, just a Howa mini action in Brownells/MDT. Next gun is going to be a Ruger American Ranch in .223. 20+ years ago I had a two Rem PSS. One in .308 and one in .223. I thoroughly enjoyed the .223.
Big Horn Origin .223
26” 1:7 Proof Research Comp prefit
Trigger tech 2-stage flat
DeadAir Sandman S
Manners T4A team elite
Razor Gen II 4.5-27
MPA BA mount 1.125” height
MDT .223 metal AICS mags
I’ve been shooting factory Remington 77 gr matchking bthp, shoots 1/4”-3/8” all day.
26” 1:7 Proof Research Comp prefit
Trigger tech 2-stage flat
DeadAir Sandman S
Manners T4A team elite
Razor Gen II 4.5-27
MPA BA mount 1.125” height
MDT .223 metal AICS mags
I’ve been shooting factory Remington 77 gr matchking bthp, shoots 1/4”-3/8” all day.
I recently picked up a .223 prefit for my TL3 (and Origin with the recoil lug swap) and fell in love. It’s similar to how I felt shooting 6 Dasher after years of 6.5 CM… but an order of magnitude cheaper. The barrel, bolt head, and magazine cost a total of ~$700.
I’ve been running 77gr SMK factory seconds + range brass I anneal and size and the performance is unbeatable for the cost. I still love the Dasher but paying almost $0.50/projectile, $1/piece for brass, and barrel wear are brutal at ~5k rounds per year.
I’ve been running 77gr SMK factory seconds + range brass I anneal and size and the performance is unbeatable for the cost. I still love the Dasher but paying almost $0.50/projectile, $1/piece for brass, and barrel wear are brutal at ~5k rounds per year.
I am running unmodified polymer 223 AICS mags in my 223AI with a Stiller action.
I like my 40XC-KS in a KRG Bravo. I go back and forth on wanting to get rid of it but that's because I'd like to upgrade to a Nucleus. Just don't feel like spending the money right now and I haven't had any luck getting anything else sold or traded.
Mine fed fine out of standard MDT poly mags, but I have since modified them slightly and they now feed the AI cartridges smoother than they did in their factory configuration with standard 223rem brass.
Only thing I did to my accurate brand mags was trim the plastic insert for more oal clearance.
@reubenski Really nice rifle and reloading set-ups!
Would you mind taking some closer pics of the wrench flats in your barrel please and explain your barrel/muzzle device removal process? I remember hearing Jacob Bynum (on his Podcast) briefly mentioning having wrench flats on his barrels and it piqued my interest. Seems like a great option.
Thanks, Jim
i couldn't find a HB tikka of any kind anywhere. ended up with a howa mini and a howa SA. bought SH blind off GB and afraid the SH is a 1/12. my bad gamble. that is the reason for my "looking for a barrel" post on here. savage does make a few models in 223 1/7. not on web site have to call sales and get exact part # and have an ffl order. pricey for a savage and don't know if they are even available. problem for me and likely anyone is going to be time and $. did talk to bartlein and for the do do the whole job would be about $800 and about 10 mos. poblem with most factory 223s is 1/9 twist and my goal is to get a 600yd gun since i have that range available. don't believe any 1/12 50-60gr bullets will hold up at that range. savage,rem and many others are 1/9 so,got a project i didn't much want.
It's a rat shit photo, but it should get the idea across. All I did was shorten the feed lips so the cartridge releases a bit sooner and I also "opened up" the inside of the feed lips towards the front so the rear of the cartridge doesn't kick down into the next round as much as it is pushed forward.
It's not an AI thing though as feeding standard 223rem is smoother as well. This along with some work on the feed ramp and the rifle feeds like butter now.
I have a savage model 12 with a 26 inch bull barrel with a 1 to7 twist in .223 for less than $400 (not including scope) . I reload my own using brass that I pick up at the range and totally refurbish them. I then reload them with 25 grains of Hodgon Benchmark powder behind 50 grain Hornaday V max bullets. Talk about a tack driver right out of the box. This works well on prairie dogs out to 300 + yds. the Phantom Phixer
With a 7 twist, just curious why you’re not running a heavier bullet in that longgggg barrel?
I bet the 50s are screaming coming out of that
