223 bullet seating depth using heavier bullets in Howa, Savage, and Tikka rifles

Irons78

Irons78

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Hi all – question for owners and reloaders of Tikka, Howa and Savage rifles in 223.

I’m looking into picking up one of these brands in heavy barrel, 1:8 twist for use with heavier/longer bullets. Has anyone had issues with short chambers/throats on these makes of rifle that would not allow proper/excessively deep seating of a longer bullet (69 and 75 grainers)? Do any/all of these rifle brands have long enough chambers for use of heavier, longer bullets?

This question comes from my almost buying a Browning X-bolt A-TACS, and I learned that the chamber/throat is so short that the heavier bullets end up being seated excessively/impractically deep into the case.
 
My experience with Savage 12 VLP 223 (1:9) and Tikka T3 Lite 223 (1:8) is that their throats are cut long to handle the 75gr class of bullet loaded to 2.4" or so. The Tikka has a very restrictive magazine length of about 2.3", so I would look at the aftermarket Mountain Tactical magazine which accepts an OAL of 2.6". The Savage magazine was long enough to use

The Hornady 73gr ELD will function in 2.26" OAL magazine lengths, BC is fairly healthy too, but less than the 75gr Amax/ELD. They shoot well
 
I was involved with the Savage 223 in 1:9 project.

I wanted a 1:8 with a Wylde chamber.

After my testing, they settled on a 1:9, because it would stabilise a Sierra 80 gr MK, and for a chamber / throat they chose a SAAMI minimum chamber with a NATO throat. The result handles a longer bullet quite well.
 
Howa, and Tikka rifles forget them best choice is Savage 12 in 1/7 twist the 1/8 twist just not a GOOD CHOICE.
cHECK OUT BERGER WEB SITE 0-,80.5 & 82 ALL 1/7 TWIST
 
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