Oh shit I did it, bought a Tikka T3X Super Varmint 223 Bolt

[Pappabear]

I could be wrong but guns are required to be checked in upon delivery---

You could be wrong but I really don't think you are. God Bless them, they called Friday night during happy hour, so I had to cut my happy time and grab the gun. We will see how she shoots today.

PB

[markm]

I could be wrong but guns are required to be checked in upon delivery---

Yeah. They have to go thru the AD&D, but we're chomping at the bit. No time to mount the bi-pod rail, check the leade, mount the 40 moa base, etc.

[HKGuns]

Well, there is the wonderful powder called 8208XBR, but everyone else has discovered how good it is and now you can't find it.

I think you mentioned that you have some and H322. Both are good. H4895 and RL15 are good as well. Some like Varget but it has been hard to find forever, and it really didn't perform that much better for me.

Lately I have been trying Shooters World Precision-

23.5 grains, 77 SMK, BR4, R-P brass, 2.260 OAL, 1:7.5 twist Krieger is a legit 1/2 MOA load. That load also works well with the 75 ELDM. My Tikka likes the 77 SMK but I don't remember the load and it isn't in my log for some reason.

Just in case you guys haven't seen this guy do the milk jug challenge with his Tikka and a 75 Amax, the fun starts at 2:00

https://youtu.be/20Fp239bERs

Yes, all great selections. I'd only point out that BLC-2 will get you faster velocities while nearly filling the case on 77gr projectiles. Very close to AR-Comp which is slightly less popular. BLC-2 probably isn't as temp stable as say I/H 4895 which is a few spots slower.

Obviously seating depth matters.

I4895 just edges it out when you get to 80gr projectiles, both closely followed by CFE223.

I too have had great sucess with XBR, but they're all over 2600 FPS at or near max pressure.

[markm]

We did realize velocity gains 70-85 fps compared to the 20" bolt gun. But I plan to try hot loads with slower powder still.

Also it seems the 80 gr Nosler CC hits the lands at 2.470". The jump for a 77 gr SMK is .090" from 2.250"

[HKGuns]

We did realize velocity gains 70-85 fps compared to the 20" bolt gun. But I plan to try hot loads with slower powder still.

Also it seems the 80 gr Nosler CC hits the lands at 2.470". The jump for a 77 gr SMK is .090" from 2.250"

What slower powder are you looking at? 20" barrel? CFE223 / WIN760 are two of the slowest burning powders I've seen commonly used for 223 loads.

[markm]

What slower powder are you looking at? 20" barrel? CFE223 / WIN760 are two of the slowest burning powders I've seen commonly used for 223 loads.

There will be no ball powder in this barrel. Might try Varget with the 80s since the longer bullet might allow a non-compressed load. We have 4064 to mess with too.

[HKGuns]

There will be no ball powder in this barrel. Might try Varget with the 80s since the longer bullet might allow a non-compressed load. We have 4064 to mess with too.

Ok now I have to ask why all the ball powder hate?

[markm]

Ok now I have to ask why all the ball powder hate?

Ball is believed to be abrasive barrel killer. Harder carbon fouling, etc. PB will run any effed up ammo in a gun, but I'll not have it on this barrel.

[HKGuns]

Ball is believed to be abrasive barrel killer. Harder carbon fouling, etc. PB will run any effed up ammo in a gun, but I'll not have it on this barrel.

Learn something new every day. Glad I asked.

[markm]

Learn something new every day. Glad I asked.

Now I know people will say "I shot thousands of rounds of ball and I don't have any problems". But I've read this and heard this from multiple reliable sources.

How severe the issue is may be debatable, but we pissed off the Geissele barrel by going back and forth with several extruded and ball powders.