Handloading for the Tavor

Teletraan

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I've started this thread because I have tons of fun using the Tavor in all responsible shooting sports. I will never sell this rifle because the Tavor looks like a Ferrari and runs like one too! Everything about it is fast. Target acquisition, follow up target acquisition, mag changes, field stripping and even the barrel can be changed fast.

I don't want to leave this rifle in the safe when I bench rest my bolt guns @275yards (sadly max at range).

We all know what this rifle was designed for, but that's what makes it so challenging and fun to take the Tavor out of its comfort zone and try for small groups at long ranges.

My goal is to shoot sub moa with 4x Elcan off bipod in prone position (5 shots @100yds) :ninja:
Let's find some handloads that our 18.5" barreled Tavors like! And a great handload for the hunters/varminters out there!

Please note: I did not pay any attention to barrel temp, we shot fast as we could. I don't know if that was a factor but being around 0 degrees I don't think the barrel got too hot. :ar15:



The gun:
IWI Tavor Tar-21

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The scope:
Leupold target 35x45 - this scope will counter the heavy/"safe" trigger plus make results more accurate to what the rifle can achieve. When a excellent handload is found the Elcan will go back on Tavor and I will know if the group is large, it's not the ammo!

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Surplus accuracy:
10 shots with Elcan DR 1-4x @100yrds, Norinco yellow box (shot on a different day)

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Surplus accuracy again:
2 shooters, one 5 shot group each with Leupold 35x45, Norinco yellow box.

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Reloading equipment: Lee
Powder: Varget
Primers: Sellier & Bellot
Brass: 1x fired Winchester (will try Norinco brass at some point)
Bullets: Hornady 55 grain Zmax with cannelure
20 rounds @ 22.8 grains
10 rounds @ 23.7
10 @ 24.6
10 @ 25.5
10 @ 26.4 - at this point I was frustrated with both the powder measure and the scale
10 @ 26.4 - hand trickled with scale only

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Unusual setup!

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My results:
10 shots @ 22.8gr. Used to get on paper @ 100yds (not shown)
The target paper used has squares in background that are 1". Point of aim was top of solid circle for every shot.
Starting at bottom right -
5 shots @ 23.7 grains
5 shots @ 24.6 grains
5 shots @ 25.5 grains
5 shots @ 26.4 grains
Vertical dispersion good (had no issues with bench set-up)
Horizontal dispersion bad (I was constantly swaying my cross-hair left and right. Light rifle, heavy trigger)


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My bud up to bat:

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Left side:
Exact same order, low red dot first, powder, point of aim... K. Says his first shot went to left because of cold barrel (we did spend significant time assessing my groups) I think he pulled it. Either way shots 2-5 were fantastic.

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After the assessment of K. 's group we went back to it, again moving up:
5 shots @ 26.4 - hand trickled with scale
5 shots @ 22.8 - left overs from the 20 rounds at low/sight in charge
I went first and sucked. Then K. had 2 more great groups minus 1 darn flyer!

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Next time I will use a rcbs powder measure and scale I bought from a fellow CGNer. Also I will try to cure my insufficient shooting position/style.

All opinions, suggestions and help wanted!!!
 
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Great stuff!!! Keep up the great photo story as well, looking forward to more progress.

Do you have any heavier or nice fancy Sierra bullets 77gr to play with? Be curious to see how much difference you'd see instead of 55 grains.

And ignore the trigger nazi's, the one in that rifle is just fine, it's all in the technique. Take your time and enjoy!
 
Great stuff!!! Keep up the great photo story as well, looking forward to more progress.

Do you have any heavier or nice fancy Sierra bullets 77gr to play with? Be curious to see how much difference you'd see instead of 55 grains.

And ignore the trigger nazi's, the one in that rifle is just fine, it's all in the technique. Take your time and enjoy!

All I have is 55gr. I am desperately trying to find anything in stock;70+gr.
Trigger Nazi's! That's great!!!
 
Your Tavor seems to shoot the yellow box better than mine......

I've tried ladder tests with 50gr Nosler BT and Benchmark. Still waiting on some better bags (ones like yours is what I have on order) to give the Tar a real honest try......

Cheers!
 
You may want to consider the load that gives you the best 4 shot group. I've chased my tail with a few semi autos and most seem to have a flyer no matter what I did. People have different opinions on whether it is typically the first round or the last that is the flyer due to how it chambers or mag pressue on the bolt.
 
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Nice patterns!

All joking aside, are you able to play with seating depth much? Try a few different powders with some heavier bullets, once you find a nice combo, adjust your seating depth if the magazine allows you to seat longer.

I love your write up and goal, looking forward to see what you find out!
 
My advice if you are trying to wring as much from it as possible:

Try some Sierra 69 rg. Match kings - they are decently consistent for a match bullet, will tolerate the jump to the lands just fine (load them to regular mag. Length of 2.260" max.) and are easily found. The 69 smk is about as light a bullet as I'd go with varget.
If you are stuck with 55grain bullets, there are powders better suited to the lighter bullets : Benchmark, H335, H322 are a couple of examples.

Get some competition quality dies (at the very least the seating die) - reddings comp. is what I use. Competition dies will reduce the runout by a large amount over standard dies alone.
Crimp your rounds (even match bullets benefit from it). A) it will help with further reducing runout that may be caused by the self-loading action, and B) it will aid in consistent more uniform velocities ( it has for me in all of the testing I've done). Lee makes a 'factory crimp die' that does a decent job of it.

Use match primers. I'm partial to Federal 205M, but CCI BR4s are decent too.

If you aren't already, trim to length every piece of brass, and chamfer the necks.

Most surplus or factory FMJ .223/5.56 is loaded with a ball powder. When you are doing your testing, clean the barrel between shooting a ball powder and a stick (like varget).

Good luck.
 
My advice if you are trying to wring as much from it as possible:

Try some Sierra 69 rg. Match kings - they are decently consistent for a match bullet, will tolerate the jump to the lands just fine (load them to regular mag. Length of 2.260" max.) and are easily found. The 69 smk is about as light a bullet as I'd go with varget.

Where to buy? I have not shot but just got in Hornady match 75gr bthp!



If you are stuck with 55grain bullets, there are powders better suited to the lighter bullets : Benchmark, H335, H322 are a couple of examples.

I've got H335! I will use that next on 55gr bullets.



Get some competition quality dies (at the very least the seating die) - reddings comp. is what I use. Competition dies will reduce the runout by a large amount over standard dies alone.

Funny I have one for my ultra accurate. 308 bolt. But didn't think I should spend the money for .223! Will order comp seating die asap.



Crimp your rounds (even match bullets benefit from it). A) it will help with further reducing runout that may be caused by the self-loading action, and B) it will aid in consistent more uniform velocities ( it has for me in all of the testing I've done). Lee makes a 'factory crimp die' that does a decent job of it.

Got it!



Use match primers. I'm partial to Federal 205M, but CCI BR4s are decent too.,

All I have is ultra affordable at the moment - sellier &bellot 5000 for $139.95. I'm torn between opinions that it doesn't matter. Or what is the specific improvement of going to match primers?



If you aren't already, trim to length every piece of brass, and chamfer the necks.

Not yet, will do.



Most surplus or factory FMJ .223/5.56 is loaded with a ball powder. When you are doing your testing, clean the barrel between shooting a ball powder and a stick (like varget).

Will do


I appreciate the help!!!
 
Okay. This was shot a couple of weeks ago. My loading abilities look suspect as I was testing some factory ammo 5+ years old. I shot about as well as I am capable of through the Tavor.

J1- Winchester supreme ballistic silver tip. No box, probably 50 or 55 grain.
J2- Winchester supreme ballistic silver tip. No box, probably 50 or 55 grain.
J3- Winchester white box jhp 3600fps
I don't have the box but wally world still sells the same. I strongly recommend this for hunters that don't reload. This stuff has also shot sub moa in my sl8-4. The Tavors, on paper it shouldn't work - 45 grain 1-7 twist reasonably low price- but it shoots excellent in Tavor and I love how it blows up 4liter windshield washer bottles!!!

K did not shoot his best.
K1- Winchester supreme ballistic silver tip. No box, probably 50 or 55 grain.
K2- with white box 3600fps

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Back to reloading...
This was shot on same day as above.
I did something terribly wrong but haven't figured it out...PLEASE HELP!!! How is this even possible?

Facts : This bullet shot under 1.5" 5 shots @ 150yards with Leupold 3-9x on Tavor last summer. Kevin was doing load development for his savage 223 bolt with this so we tried some of it in Tavor. We were both amazed but I wasn't in to reloading so that's where it ended. Half a year later and much colder. I tried to recreate that magic...
( I think I got too cocky, why did I use Norinco brass? )

Hornady Amax 75 grain bt
23.5 grains of win748
Norc brass
Sellier & Bellot primers ( i think kev used Cci last year )
Lee reloading equipment (same as Kevin)
Did not check run out
Col. 2.4" (we checked after kev was 2.535 just short of lands and grooves on savage)

It's embarrassing but here it is... What did I do wrong?

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Reviving the thread, yes I am.

When working up a load for the Tavor, has anyone else had pressure signs come early? Pressure signs for me came around .223 max powder charge (ejector hole imprint), didn't make it into the 5.56 loads. Accuracy came early too, so I'm not disappointed. I was a bit surprised though, as the reliable sources have stated the Canadian Tavors have 5.56 NATO chambers.

Eta: it was an unacceptably soft batch of FC brass, and it is now in the scrap bag.
 
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