Load Development Help (Tikka T3 Varmint .223)

[smokingun]

I am new to reloading and I would like to develop a load for my new Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 (1:8 twist). I have two questions...

1. Does anyone have a recipe that they are using for this gun?

2. What are some techniques or steps to developing my own loads?

 

[Obtunded]

Welcome to what will be a source of great fun, learning and satisfaction!!!

There is the reality that every single firearm is different and no two recipes are guaranteed to work. Everything from steel sensity to chamber dimensions differed in factory rifles, so one person's "bug-hole" recipe probably won't work exactly in you rifle.

There are three things you need to adjust...

Powder (both quantity and type)
Bullet (Not all guns like all bullets)
seating depth of the bullets. (Some bullets are very fussy about where they sit in relation to the lands.

I would stick with bullets in the 75-80 grain group (The 75 Amax bullets and the 80 grain Sierra and Berger bullets are both fantastic). I would tend to avoid using "VLD" bullets (Berger) to begin with because they can be seating depth sensitive.

I would use either Hodgdon Varget or Alliant Reloader 15 powder and do up some test loads use the data from the powder manufacturer's website for the weights of bullets. Start low, shoot 3 shot groups with one load and then move up .3 grains and shoot a few more.

Pick the best groups and then play with the seating depth of the bullet. I would suggest starting at a length where the bullets touch the rifling, and move back in 5 thou increments. Once you find the best seating depth group, you should be on the money.

If you notice the bolt getting sticky to lift, or if you notice the primers are starting to flow and make a cup where the primer struck, you are at the red-line for powder charges. Back off and seewhat works.

Remember, fast does NOT mean accurate, and the most accurate loads are often not the fastest. I't take accuracy over speed any day.

 

[sunray]

Hi. Heavy bullets for sure. However, you must work up the load for your rifle. No two will shoot the same ammo the same way. Not even two identical, consecutively numbered rifles.
"...accuracy over speed..." Absolutely.
Do this.
Beginning with the starting load given in your manual, load 5 rounds only(A mag load if your rifle holds less than 5). Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5(mag load) of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual.
Then go shooting. Shoot at 100 yards, for group only, slowly and deliberately off a bench.
Change targets between strings of 5(mag load) and allow time for the barrel to cool.
When you find the best group, sight in at 100.

 

[smokingun]

I've also been told to take five different loads and five targets. shoot one shot of the first load at the first target, then one shot of the second load at the second target and the next at the third and so on. Then repeat till you are done. Is this good practice?

 

[shootist22-250]

Presently I have 3 - 223 rifles.
The load for each is exactly the same. Luck? Maybe.
These like IMR4198...19.6gn with a 55gn bullet...and primer makes no difference.

Testing technique that I use is ..........
example for 55gn bullets............
start at 18.0gn of IMR4198...3 rounds
For the next series add 0.2gn...3 rounds
Continue on until your reach 20.4gn or......... indications of excessive pressure show up.
Then choose the best.... and if you wish narrow the powder amount to a finer number.

This is how I do my testing...... your rifle may be completely different.
If you choose to use this information...you are doing so at your risk.

 

[zimbu]

I have a Varmint 1:8 twist that I use for long range (500-1000yd) plinking.

I load 80gr amax over Varget lit by CCI BR-4 primers and Winchester brass. COAL 2.410 from a modified mag.
I started at 23.9gr of Varget and worked up to 24.7 in .1 gr increments, 5 shot groups, 20degC ambient.
24.5gr at that temp puts 5 shots into 1/4" at 100 yd. When the ambient temp drops to 0degC I increase the powder charge to 24.7 to keep the barrel in tune. Gotta love a good 1/4 MOA load!

With a small case such as the .223, the consistency of your powder scale is absolutely critical. Plus or minus .1gr might be OK for most med capacity cases, but in my .223 .1 means the difference between a 3/4 MOA and a 1/4 MOA load.

I also loaded some 50gr Vmax for gophers with H335, BR-4, win brass, COAL 2.250.
Started at 24.2gr H335 up to 25.6 in .2gr increments. In my rifle 25.6gr put 5 shots into .220" at 100yd 3300 fps.

I'm sure someone will chime in and say that I could have found my load with a lot less rounds fired, and that may be true, but for me bullets are cheap and time to go shooting is not always plentiful. Coming home with two 1/4 MOA loads on the first developement run is as sweet as load development gets.

Work up safely and enjoy a fantastic rifle!

 

[kevin g]

I too have an 8 twist Tikka Varmint 223. The load development for this great gun was a blast!....1st Fav load was 69 gr Lapua Scenars / 24 grains of AA2230 / WSR primers /COAL...1.880...5 shots under a Tylenol Pill @ 100 yds
After talking to some of the " far away tiny group Guru's I'm now playing with the 80 gr A-Maxes and some Varget powder....24 grains once again gave me a great 3/4 " group @ 200 yards this time...first go round too! Can't wait for the next one!
As all have said before me...start out at minimum load...and work up watching out for pressure signs, keeping a good record of your bullets journey.