223 max pill weight

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223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 31 Jul 2021, 6:04 pm

Hey All,

What are the heaviest pills I could shoot using a 1 in 12" Tikka Lite 223 w/ sporter barrel? 62 grains? more?

I would try it out but lockdown is s**t....

Thanks!
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by No1Mk3 » 31 Jul 2021, 6:17 pm

Try it, some 1:12's will shoot a heavier projectile but none of mine will, they are all best performing with 55g max, Cheers
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by bladeracer » 31 Jul 2021, 6:19 pm

Tubs wrote:Hey All,

What are the heaviest pills I could shoot using a 1 in 12" Tikka Lite 223 w/ sporter barrel? 62 grains? more?

I would try it out but lockdown is s**t....

Thanks!


Weight is not relevant, bullet length is what dictates stability.
Short, stubby 62gn should be okay, a 60gn BT or VLD/ELD might not.
What is the longest bullet you've tried so far?

Berger lists their 60gn FB as 12"-twist compatible at .810".
53gn VMax is .830", does that shoot okay for you?
55gn VMax is .811".
Hornady's 62gn BTHP is .862", 60gn VMax is .873", but the 60gn SP is only .750".
Nosler 62gn Varmageddon FB is .770" and the 64gn Partition is .800". 53gn Tipped Varmageddon is .830".
Sierra's 60gn TMK is .897", 55gn BlitzKing is .822".
Speer's 70gn SP is only .810", but I've never found any.

If you try a bullet and find it not stabilising, grind a little off the tip (or pull the BT out) and try again until you determine the length limit.
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by scoot » 31 Jul 2021, 6:37 pm

I've had great success with the 60gr hornady TAP factory ammo in my 1:12 tikka. That's why they discontinued it. :roll:
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 31 Jul 2021, 6:51 pm

bladeracer wrote:
Tubs wrote:Hey All,

What are the heaviest pills I could shoot using a 1 in 12" Tikka Lite 223 w/ sporter barrel? 62 grains? more?

I would try it out but lockdown is s**t....



Weight is not relevant, bullet length is what dictates stability.
Short, stubby 62gn should be okay, a 60gn BT or VLD/ELD might not.
What is the longest bullet you've tried so far?

Berger lists their 60gn FB as 12"-twist compatible at .810".
53gn VMax is .830", does that shoot okay for you?
55gn VMax is .811".
Hornady's 62gn BTHP is .862", 60gn VMax is .873", but the 60gn SP is only .750".
Nosler 62gn Varmageddon FB is .770" and the 64gn Partition is .800". 53gn Tipped Varmageddon is .830".
Sierra's 60gn TMK is .897", 55gn BlitzKing is .822".
Speer's 70gn SP is only .810", but I've never found any.

If you try a bullet and find it not stabilising, grind a little off the tip (or pull the BT out) and try again until you determine the length limit.



Havent tried anything heavier than 55 mate. Trying to determine if i need to buy a 243 or not or put in a 1 in 8 on my 223. Would be good to only have to buy heavier 223 pills for bigger game. That way I can sell my 223 1 in 8 varmint which is right handed and way too heavy.

Thanks
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by MontyShooter » 31 Jul 2021, 6:57 pm

Hornady 60g tap work great in my 1:8 and 1:9 but not so great in the 1:12. Not terrible just not great.
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by bladeracer » 31 Jul 2021, 7:24 pm

Tubs wrote:Havent tried anything heavier than 55 mate. Trying to determine if i need to buy a 243 or not or put in a 1 in 8 on my 223. Would be good to only have to buy heavier 223 pills for bigger game. That way I can sell my 223 1 in 8 varmint which is right handed and way too heavy.

Thanks


Yes, but exactly which 55gn bullet have you tried?
The VMax is one of the longest so if that shoots fine for you it'll give you a clue.
The 69gn TMK is .982", but if you pull the BT out it drops back to .835, which might shoot fine for you as a hollow-point instead of a BT.

I like the 80gn ELDM in my .223, but I also have a .243.
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 31 Jul 2021, 7:31 pm

bladeracer wrote:
Tubs wrote:Havent tried anything heavier than 55 mate. Trying to determine if i need to buy a 243 or not or put in a 1 in 8 on my 223. Would be good to only have to buy heavier 223 pills for bigger game. That way I can sell my 223 1 in 8 varmint which is right handed and way too heavy.

Thanks


Yes, but exactly which 55gn bullet have you tried?
The VMax is one of the longest so if that shoots fine for you it'll give you a clue.
The 69gn TMK is .982", but if you pull the BT out it drops back to .835, which might shoot fine for you as a hollow-point instead of a BT.

I like the 80gn ELDM in my .223, but I also have a .243.


.755" Hornady 55gr BTHP's the longest i have tried. Accurate as hell.
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 31 Jul 2021, 7:37 pm

bladeracer wrote:
Tubs wrote:Havent tried anything heavier than 55 mate. Trying to determine if i need to buy a 243 or not or put in a 1 in 8 on my 223. Would be good to only have to buy heavier 223 pills for bigger game. That way I can sell my 223 1 in 8 varmint which is right handed and way too heavy.

Thanks


Yes, but exactly which 55gn bullet have you tried?
The VMax is one of the longest so if that shoots fine for you it'll give you a clue.
The 69gn TMK is .982", but if you pull the BT out it drops back to .835, which might shoot fine for you as a hollow-point instead of a BT.

I like the 80gn ELDM in my .223, but I also have a .243.


Still trying to decide on best hunting rifle as per our messages. Have a 223 varmint RH ill probably sell. Need to replace with either a 308 or 243 LH or just stick with current 223 LH for everything (using heavier bullets:)
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Harrynsw » 31 Jul 2021, 10:38 pm

scoot wrote:I've had great success with the 60gr hornady TAP factory ammo in my 1:12 tikka. That's why they discontinued it. :roll:


Same, my rifle loves the stuff...
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Harrynsw » 31 Jul 2021, 10:42 pm

Tubs wrote:
bladeracer wrote:
Tubs wrote:Hey All,

What are the heaviest pills I could shoot using a 1 in 12" Tikka Lite 223 w/ sporter barrel? 62 grains? more?

I would try it out but lockdown is s**t....



Weight is not relevant, bullet length is what dictates stability.
Short, stubby 62gn should be okay, a 60gn BT or VLD/ELD might not.
What is the longest bullet you've tried so far?

Berger lists their 60gn FB as 12"-twist compatible at .810".
53gn VMax is .830", does that shoot okay for you?
55gn VMax is .811".
Hornady's 62gn BTHP is .862", 60gn VMax is .873", but the 60gn SP is only .750".
Nosler 62gn Varmageddon FB is .770" and the 64gn Partition is .800". 53gn Tipped Varmageddon is .830".
Sierra's 60gn TMK is .897", 55gn BlitzKing is .822".
Speer's 70gn SP is only .810", but I've never found any.

If you try a bullet and find it not stabilising, grind a little off the tip (or pull the BT out) and try again until you determine the length limit.



Havent tried anything heavier than 55 mate. Trying to determine if i need to buy a 243 or not or put in a 1 in 8 on my 223. Would be good to only have to buy heavier 223 pills for bigger game. That way I can sell my 223 1 in 8 varmint which is right handed and way too heavy.

Thanks


What sort of condition is your tikka in? Do you want to swap it for a Sauer 100?
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 31 Jul 2021, 11:07 pm

The Right hand Varmint 223 ? Cant fault it, shoots well. Sighted it in at Silverdale a few months ago and got good groups at all ranges. No different to any other Tikka I guess:)

What calibre, hand (l/r?) and weight is your Sauer?
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Harrynsw » 01 Aug 2021, 12:05 am

Tubs wrote:The Right hand Varmint 223 ? Cant fault it, shoots well. Sighted it in at Silverdale a few months ago and got good groups at all ranges. No different to any other Tikka I guess:)

What calibre, hand (l/r?) and weight is your Sauer?


It's a 223 RH, weighs just over 3kg 1:10, 3/4 groups at 100m. It's got a couple of marks on it, but otherwise good. We can come to some sort of arrangement, I'll chuck in a couple hundred rounds of the ammo it likes. Send me a DM if you're interested
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 01 Aug 2021, 12:16 am

Harrynsw wrote:
Tubs wrote:The Right hand Varmint 223 ? Cant fault it, shoots well. Sighted it in at Silverdale a few months ago and got good groups at all ranges. No different to any other Tikka I guess:)

What calibre, hand (l/r?) and weight is your Sauer?


It's a 223 RH, weighs just over 3kg 1:10, 3/4 groups at 100m. It's got a couple of marks on it, but otherwise good. We can come to some sort of arrangement, I'll chuck in a couple hundred rounds of the ammo it likes. Send me a DM if you're interested


All good mate, need LH or different calibre. Will probably put on abused guns.... only fired 10 rounds:)! :lol:
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Harrynsw » 01 Aug 2021, 12:32 am

Tubs wrote:
Harrynsw wrote:
Tubs wrote:The Right hand Varmint 223 ? Cant fault it, shoots well. Sighted it in at Silverdale a few months ago and got good groups at all ranges. No different to any other Tikka I guess:)

What calibre, hand (l/r?) and weight is your Sauer?


It's a 223 RH, weighs just over 3kg 1:10, 3/4 groups at 100m. It's got a couple of marks on it, but otherwise good. We can come to some sort of arrangement, I'll chuck in a couple hundred rounds of the ammo it likes. Send me a DM if you're interested


All good mate, need LH or different calibre. Will probably put on abused guns.... only fired 10 rounds:)! :lol:


All good, so it's virtually new.
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 01 Aug 2021, 12:48 am

Harrynsw wrote:
Tubs wrote:
Harrynsw wrote:
Tubs wrote:The Right hand Varmint 223 ? Cant fault it, shoots well. Sighted it in at Silverdale a few months ago and got good groups at all ranges. No different to any other Tikka I guess:)

What calibre, hand (l/r?) and weight is your Sauer?


It's a 223 RH, weighs just over 3kg 1:10, 3/4 groups at 100m. It's got a couple of marks on it, but otherwise good. We can come to some sort of arrangement, I'll chuck in a couple hundred rounds of the ammo it likes. Send me a DM if you're interested


All good mate, need LH or different calibre. Will probably put on abused guns.... only fired 10 rounds:)! :lol:


All good, so it's virtually new.


Sorry, was being sarcastic, every gun I see on there has "only fired a box of ammo". It has definitely fired more than 10 rounds;)
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by bigpete » 01 Aug 2021, 9:05 am

bladeracer wrote:
Tubs wrote:Hey All,

What are the heaviest pills I could shoot using a 1 in 12" Tikka Lite 223 w/ sporter barrel? 62 grains? more?

I would try it out but lockdown is s**t....

Thanks!


Weight is not relevant, bullet length is what dictates stability.
Short, stubby 62gn should be okay, a 60gn BT or VLD/ELD might not.
What is the longest bullet you've tried so far?

Berger lists their 60gn FB as 12"-twist compatible at .810".
53gn VMax is .830", does that shoot okay for you?
55gn VMax is .811".
Hornady's 62gn BTHP is .862", 60gn VMax is .873", but the 60gn SP is only .750".
Nosler 62gn Varmageddon FB is .770" and the 64gn Partition is .800". 53gn Tipped Varmageddon is .830".
Sierra's 60gn TMK is .897", 55gn BlitzKing is .822".
Speer's 70gn SP is only .810", but I've never found any.

If you try a bullet and find it not stabilising, grind a little off the tip (or pull the BT out) and try again until you determine the length limit.


I bought a test pack of those speers for my 22-250, they shoot terrible in my rifle. Have a look on projectile warehouse
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by SCJ429 » 01 Aug 2021, 9:46 am

I have a Tikka Varmint 1:8 barrel with only a box off ammo fired through it. Well a very big box of 4,000. Do you want to try it?
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by Tubs » 01 Aug 2021, 11:21 am

SCJ429 wrote:I have a Tikka Varmint 1:8 barrel with only a box off ammo fired through it. Well a very big box of 4,000. Do you want to try it?


It is amazing how the boxes of ammo keep getting bigger and bigger :lol:
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Re: 223 max pill weight

Post by bladeracer » 01 Aug 2021, 12:11 pm

Can't see them listed.
Also been trying to get 88gn ELDM's for a while but I don't think anybody ever bothered importing any.

bigpete wrote:I bought a test pack of those speers for my 22-250, they shoot terrible in my rifle. Have a look on projectile warehouse
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