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I've been searching for quite some time for a better load for my 1-8" Tikka Superlite .223. My go-to load, named Pest Control, features a 50 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint at 3400 fps at the muzzle. Scary accurate! The problem is the ballistic coefficient. At just .238 this bullet drifts off like a 14 year old boy in math class. Shooting at marmots in any kind of wind is a learning experience.
So I tried Nosler's 69 grain Custom Competition, 70 grain RDF, 80 grain ELD Match (ELDM), and maybe a couple others. Different powders, primers, COAL, you name it. Nothing shot even close to Pest Control.
Then I started researching the 75 ELDM with a BC of .467. Using my Mountain Tactical magazines I could load into the lands if I wanted. So that's where I started.
*****THE FOLLOWING LOAD DATA IS SAFE IN MY RIFLE, NOT YOURS. START LOW AND WORK UP TO PUBLISHED MAXIMUMS*****
I found load data online suggesting 25.5 grains of Varget as the max. Utilizing the Sharpie method I got square land marks at 1.932". I selected three seating depths and three powder charges, and loaded 5 rounds of each. The BTO lengths were 1.930", 1.915", and 1.899". The Varget charges were 25.5, 25.0, and 24.5 grains.
I chronoed the 1.930" lengths and got 2976 fps at 25.5, 2916 at 25.0, and 2873 at 24.5 grains. Then it was off to the range.
The longer loads shot consistently better. I won't bore everyone with the details, but I found a fairly good load.
Five shots you can cover with a nickel.
Even with a penny.
I think I'll load a few more.
P
So I tried Nosler's 69 grain Custom Competition, 70 grain RDF, 80 grain ELD Match (ELDM), and maybe a couple others. Different powders, primers, COAL, you name it. Nothing shot even close to Pest Control.
Then I started researching the 75 ELDM with a BC of .467. Using my Mountain Tactical magazines I could load into the lands if I wanted. So that's where I started.
*****THE FOLLOWING LOAD DATA IS SAFE IN MY RIFLE, NOT YOURS. START LOW AND WORK UP TO PUBLISHED MAXIMUMS*****
I found load data online suggesting 25.5 grains of Varget as the max. Utilizing the Sharpie method I got square land marks at 1.932". I selected three seating depths and three powder charges, and loaded 5 rounds of each. The BTO lengths were 1.930", 1.915", and 1.899". The Varget charges were 25.5, 25.0, and 24.5 grains.
I chronoed the 1.930" lengths and got 2976 fps at 25.5, 2916 at 25.0, and 2873 at 24.5 grains. Then it was off to the range.
The longer loads shot consistently better. I won't bore everyone with the details, but I found a fairly good load.
Five shots you can cover with a nickel.
Even with a penny.
I think I'll load a few more.
P