Tikka 223 and Nosler 55 grain Spitzer too long for magazine

mb571

mb571

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Hi Folks,
have any of you loaded 223's with Nosler 55 grain Spitzers?
I just got some and measured the COL in my Tikka T3X Varmint to be be 2.332" so minus 0.010-0.015 off the lands is 2.317-2.322".
The 2.320" round chambers okay but will not fit in the magazine.
It seems as though the max COL that can be used in these Tikka mags is about 2.275-2.280".
I have used 69 grain Sierra Match Kings and load them to 2.265"
So where do I go from here? Single load them or shorten them? Shortening them to fit the mag will put the rounds about .060" off the lands.

Mark
 
North Island said:
If it's the plastic 5 round mag, Perhaps file the front lip of the mag. to clearance .
Click to expand...

The gun is still under warranty. I have already got Stoeger Canada to replace the magazine once under warranty. It wore from less than 500 rounds through it. So don't want to file it anytime soon. At the end of the day, it is a fantastic rifle but they just aren't good magazines (and they are over $110). My son fished one out of the garbage at the range a month ago. It had the fingers that hold/guide the brass partially broken off. Was thinking about trying to modify that one. My other son has a 3D printer so I may have to challenge him, or learn the 360 Fusion cad software myself.
 
load to fit the mag. will most likely shoot well. happens a lot with mags. i usually start with fit to mag and shorten if required. tikkas shoot quite well with the long jump. least mine do.
 
These Nosler 55 grain Ballistic tip Spitzer's must have a skinny ojive. Here is some of my measurements of other pills I have tried. Measurements for C.O.L are with the projectile touching the lands.

Campro
55 gr FMJ 2.249"

Hornady
55 gr FMJ-BT #2267 2.241"
40 gr V-Max 2.229"
60 gr FMJ 2.300"
68 gr FMJ 2.300"
52 gr ELD-M Ballistic tip 2.240"

Sierra
52 gr Match King 2.250"
69 gr Match King 2.280"

Nosler
55 gr Orange Balistic Tip Spitzer 2.332"

I can consistently shoot sub MOA at 100 and 200 yds with the two Sierra's and the 52 gr Hornady ELD-M (with the right loads)
 
chappy said:
load to fit the mag. will most likely shoot well. happens a lot with mags. i usually start with fit to mag and shorten if required. tikkas shoot quite well with the long jump. least mine do.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this Chappy. Had been toying with this idea but just hadn't loaded with such a big jump. I just started load development with these Nosler's I just got in the mail. I usually load 6 of each of about 5 or six varying power loads. I usually shoot the 6 over the chronograph... 3 to 100 yards and 3 to 200 yds. Then I can simultaneously chart the speed and test accuracy.
After your suggestion, I think I will shoot 3 as is, but squeeze the other 3 to fit the magazine, and just shoot all 6 to 100 yards.
Mark
 
mb571 said:
Thanks for this Chappy. Had been toying with this idea but just hadn't loaded with such a big jump. I just started load development with these Nosler's Spitzers I just got in the mail. I usually load 6 of each of about 5 or six varying power loads. I usually shoot the 6 over the chronograph... 3 to 100 yards and 3 to 200 yds. Then I can simultaneously chart the speed and test accuracy.
After your suggestion, I think I will shoot 3 as is, but squeeze the other 3 to fit the magazine, and just shoot all 6 to 100 yards.
Mark
Click to expand...
I got out on the weekend to do some test firing. As you say Chappy, my Tikka didn't balk at that long jump at all. In fact my best group was 0.24" with the shorter rounds loaded to fit the magazine. I loaded with H335 in 5 increments. 6 rounds each... 3 at .012" off the lands (2.320") and 3 at .047" off the lands (2.285" to fit the magazine)
I shot 3 rounds at each of ten targets at 100 yards. The shorter rounds were on average 10 fps slower.
23.8 gr, C.O.L.: 2.320" 3 shot group size: 0.47" 2969 fps
23.8 gr, C.O.L.: 2.285" 3 shot group size: 0.60" 2953 fps
24.1 gr, C.O.L.: 2.320" 3 shot group size: 0.90" 3011 fps
24.1 gr, C.O.L.: 2.285" 3 shot group size: 0.42" 3009 fps
24.4 gr, C.O.L.: 2.320" 3 shot group size: 0.55" 3053 fps
24.4 gr, C.O.L.: 2.285" 3 shot group size: 0.45" 3043 fps
24.7 gr, C.O.L.: 2.320" 3 shot group size: 0.30" 3016 fps
24.7 gr, C.O.L.: 2.285" 3 shot group size: 0.24" 3086 fps
25.0 gr, C.O.L.: 2.320" 3 shot group size: 0.49" 3160 fps
25.0 gr, C.O.L.: 2.285" 3 shot group size: 0.63" 3149 fps
 
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It's very odd that a full size magazine shorten from factory ended up too short !!!!!

I have a Tikka in 6.5x55 and really love it ( after a pillar bedding and a titanium recoil lug...)

But I will never buy a Tikka in a caliber other than a medium-long action !
 
My Tikka in 204 has the same issue with the magazine being to short internally, my 6.5x55 is good. I load the 32 gr bullets for the 204 to fit the mag and accuracy is great, would still like to be able to load them out further though.
 
The problem is the block in the back of the follower. Try filing it back so that the round can sit back a little. I wouldn’t touch the front first. Or change to a long action mag.
 
Canada tail said:
The problem is the block in the back of the follower. Try filing it back so that the round can sit back a little. I wouldn’t touch the front first. Or change to a long action mag.
Click to expand...

The long action mags are too large in diameter for the 223rem cartridge. I used Waters magazines in my Tikka 223rem rifles, and seated the 69gr TMK to the lands with no issues.
 
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