223 Bolt Gun (current climate)

[6brshooter]

Go custom and buy on the sale section here. I snagged a nucleus 2.0 223wylde that was spun up by deep south with a proof steel. Giessele 2 stage, krg bravo, and Athlon midas HD. Literally everything was bought lightly used on here, I've got 2200 in. I forgot how fun and accurate a 223 can be.

 

[ToKeepAndBear]

I picked up a Tikka CTR 223 with 20" barrel December 2021, I love it. It is great out to 800 yards. If I wanted to shoot a 223 out to 1000 yards, I would go with a 24-26 inch barrel. I have other guns for those distances. I wanted the Tikka 223 to be a handy rifle with a suppressor that could be used at the range to 800 yards by kids/new shooters and for varmint/coyote hunting. It excels in those roles. Not to mention that it is efficient with it's use of powder, quiet suppressed, and has great barrel life.

The Tikka CTR is an awesome gun for $1000! The only things I have done to it are a Sterk precision bolt knob (sweet) and dropped it into a KRG Bravo. I feel like a Tikka CTR and KRG bravo are two of the nicest firearm products I own for the money! I have three Sako TRGs and feel like the Tikka is 90% of a TRG for about a 1/3rd of the price!

It exceeds Tikka’s 1 moa 3 shot guarantee at 100 yards by a fair bit. The photo is a 3 shot group at 300 yards that measured 0.19 moa.

 

[ToKeepAndBear]

800 yards

 

[BuildingConceptsllc]

bighorn origin and get a shouldered prefit for it. would be what i would do.

Yup. Love my origin 223 set up.

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

Love my new 16" .223. Its data lines up with my .308 inside of 600 and is a pleasure to shoot. Just dropping my mag length 77 SMK load into it produced the groups shown. Couldn't be happier.

 

[BiggBeans]

View attachment 7843413View attachment 7843414

what length handguard is that?

 

[powdahound76]

Just finished putting together my daughter’s 18” .224 last night.

First rounds down it this afternoon

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

what length handguard is that?

The 13" factory length. 16.5" brings the handguard right to the threads. I might swap the 16.5" on just to see how it looks.

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

Just finished putting together my daughter’s 18” .224 last night.

First rounds down it this afternoon

Keep us posted on how it shoots That was a big reason for me building the shorter .223. It is a really well balanced little rig.

 

[powdahound76]

If my 18” Mueller barrel chambered in .224 Wylde is any indication, it will be a friggin laser.

This is a local smith and his work is nothing but awesome.

Prior indicators on his barrels say with decent loading I should get .5 moa or below pretty easy.
Have seen more than 1 of his hit .3’s from 600-1050 yds (not me shooting).

 

[Bigmeech556]

Hey guys so I'm curious on some stuff right now my 223 bolt gun is a wylde chamber with .061 freebore. I ordered a brux barrel and plan to chamber it in 223ai. At first I was looking at the Manson. 124fb ai chamber but I'm thinking that's too much freebore because I wanna run the Berger 75 80 80.5 and 85.5 and when my chamber was new my oal jammed in lands with the 85.5 was 2.547. I'm curious if anyone has .124 freebore and what their oal was please

 

[jLorenzo]

Hey guys so I'm curious on some stuff right now my 223 bolt gun is a wylde chamber with .061 freebore. I ordered a brux barrel and plan to chamber it in 223ai. At first I was looking at the Manson. 124fb ai chamber but I'm thinking that's too much freebore because I wanna run the Berger 75 80 80.5 and 85.5 and when my chamber was new my oal jammed in lands with the 85.5 was 2.547. I'm curious if anyone has .124 freebore and what their oal was please

Might want to post on accurateshooter forums. Lots of technical knowledge on there as far as this kind of thing goes.

 

[BuLLet]

Got a new one just yesterday, tried out some factory blackhills 68 HP (really old stuff I had lying around). Need to load up some rounds for it. It's a 1-8, so I'll try out some 77 SMKs. Just need to find them in stock.

My son on it as well.

 

[padom]

bighorn origin and get a shouldered prefit for it. would be what i would do.

This is the easy button... then load 80's. I shoot 80 Amax (I have 4000+ I got dirt cheap when every shop was unloading the 600ct boxes to put ELD on the shelf).... 2900+ out of 26" 1:7 with H4895.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Got a new one just yesterday, tried out some factory blackhills 68 HP (really old stuff I had lying around). Need to load up some rounds for it. It's a 1-8, so I'll try out some 77 SMKs. Just need to find them in stock.

View attachment 7846964

My son on it as well.
View attachment 7846969

View attachment 7846966

Brownells and Powder Valley have 77s in stock but I like the 75 ELD and 77 RDF better at longer ranges.

 

[6brshooter]

This is the easy button... then load 80's. I shoot 80 Amax (I have 4000+ I got dirt cheap when every shop was unloading the 600ct boxes to put ELD on the shelf).... 2900+ out of 26" 1:7 with H4895.

I hate to agree, but yeah. I prefer the nuke 2.0 to the 2 origins I had, for no other reason than the nuke didn't need
any work on cocking piece to fix coc. I'm not sure I'd want to buy an impact, stiller or defiance in 223, but on actions like bighorn, arc, and deadline it's not expensive to swap to a 308 or mag bolt head for switch barrel.

 

[jLorenzo]

Anyone know some good sources for an Origin shouldered prefit?

 

[BiggBeans]

Anyone know some good sources for an Origin shouldered prefit?

I think Altus had some 223’s in stock the other day. Havent checked in a couple days. Might go look.

 

[padom]

I think Keystone has Green Mountain 224 blanks in stock to make any shouldered prefit you want for your origin... I know they have a 223 Wylde and a long freebore 223 reamer if you want

 

[reubenski]

Anyone know some good sources for an Origin shouldered prefit?

@Front Range Precision

 

[jLorenzo]

@Front Range Precision

Thats near me. I forgot about them. Thanks.

 

[BuLLet]

Got 500 77 SMKs from brownells on there way to me now...

I'll try out the 75 ELDMs soon as I can find those too.

Brownells and Powder Valley have 77s in stock but I like the 75 ELD and 77 RDF better at longer ranges.

 

[Bigmeech556]

Deep South tactical has an 223AI reamer that’s .100 freebore FYI

I ordered the dave Manson 223ai reamer it normally is .124 freebore I had it shortened to. 085

 

[Pharmseller]

Used Tikka Varmints are out there. I bought one from a member of this site last November. Put a fixed 12x with target turrets on her and worked up a loading using 75 gr ELDM.

I do not recommend this load. Do not exceed book maximums.

Initial development:

Confirmation and chrono:

They’re worth the search.



P

 

[reubenski]

Used Tikka Varmints are out there. I bought one from a member of this site last November. Put a fixed 12x with target turrets on her and worked up a loading using 75 gr ELDM.

View attachment 7879517

View attachment 7879518

I do not recommend this load. Do not exceed book maximums.

Initial development:


View attachment 7879520

Confirmation and chrono:

View attachment 7879519


They’re worth the search.



P

Ya, that's a pretty hot load

 

[ma smith]

2.477 OAL going 3100fps with 75gr ELM out of OEM stock tikka...

am i reading this right?

 

[Pharmseller]

2.477 OAL going 3100fps with 75gr ELM out of OEM stock tikka...

am i reading this right?

Yes

 

[Pharmseller]

.223 Rem TAC and 75 ELDM Experiment - Range day update

I have a new-to-me stainless Tikka T3 Varmint in .223, bought it here on the Hide. It shot my previous 75 gr ELDM load okay, but not how I know Tikkas can shoot. I figure that if I have to do it over I’m gonna do it differently. I did some research and decided to try TAC. I’m running it kinda...

www.snipershide.com

 

[Bigmeech556]

Yes

Nice how far off of jam was that distance? Also I don't think it's that crazy of a load I've pushed the Berger vld 80s to 3100

 

[Pharmseller]

Nice how far off of jam was that distance? Also I don't think it's that crazy of a load I've pushed the Berger vld 80s to 3100

Barely touching the lands. Not jammed but enough to leave a mark. Loaded pretty long, too.

 

[Bigmeech556]

Barely touching the lands. Not jammed but enough to leave a mark. Loaded pretty long, too.

O wow so pretty short freebore then

 

[Pharmseller]

O wow so pretty short freebore then

I guess. I’m way over standard magazine length. I’d have a single shot without the MT magazines.

 

[Sagesniffer]

Hey Folks,

I’ve been looking at picking up a 223 bolt gun for local PRS styles matches , we have 0-700 yards.
Clearly it’s not a popular caliber in terms of off the shelf rifles.

- My first choice was Tikka CTR, back ordered like 9 months since it’s a “sako select” now.

- Bergara doesn’t make anything for it

- Ruger American ranch? 16 inch barrel and weak stock options make me think twice about this.

Are people basically going custom actions to shoot .223? Pricing that out it seems like it’s going to be 3X the cost of a Tikka.

You are allowed to use gas guns but I really wanted to stick to bolt action for simplicity and effectiveness when suppressed.

Any guidance would be appreciated

Go with the tikka t3x heavy varmint,77gr bullet,good powder,brass,and primer. You won't be disappointed!!!

 

[Bigmeech556]

I guess. I’m way over standard magazine length. I’d have a single shot without the MT magazines.

So if you get the metal mdt mags or accurate ones you can take the insert plastic pieces out and dremel the front of them off then put it back together and boom metal mag that has a max oal of about 2.615

 

[GMZ]

So if you get the metal mdt mags or accurate ones you can take the insert plastic pieces out and dremel the front of them off then put it back together and boom metal mag that has a max oal of about 2.615

A few passes with a rat tail file did the trick for me.

 

[jLorenzo]

I'm working on my polymer mdt mags but they seem pretty close to right for my chamber. Jam is just passed 2.55 with most VLD style bullets.

 

[jLorenzo]

.223 Rem TAC and 75 ELDM Experiment - Range day update

I have a new-to-me stainless Tikka T3 Varmint in .223, bought it here on the Hide. It shot my previous 75 gr ELDM load okay, but not how I know Tikkas can shoot. I figure that if I have to do it over I’m gonna do it differently. I did some research and decided to try TAC. I’m running it kinda...

www.snipershide.com

Those 75gr ELDs are super hard to beat. Try some 8208 XBR if you get a chance. I got them up to 3044 at 35 degrees. No pressure signs, brass looks great. I'm working on a load for the 75gr BTHPs and Tac also.

 

[Bigmeech556]

Ya I just happened to like the metal mags alot better they seem to fit great and feed great all the time and don't have as much sprong sound when the last one chambers

 

[Bigmeech556]

Those 75gr ELDs are super hard to beat. Try some 8208 XBR if you get a chance. I got them up to 3044 at 35 degrees. No pressure signs, brass looks great. I'm working on a load for the 75gr BTHPs and Tac also.

How far off the lands did you have them?

 

[BuildingConceptsllc]

Those 75gr ELDs are super hard to beat. Try some 8208 XBR if you get a chance. I got them up to 3044 at 35 degrees. No pressure signs, brass looks great. I'm working on a load for the 75gr BTHPs and Tac also.

The 75 bthp and tac is awesome for 223. No reason to spend more on the bullet and tac gives great speed without pressure and is easier to get. Great combo

 

[RichS]

Nothing fancy, just a Howa mini action in Brownells/MDT. Next gun is going to be a Ruger American Ranch in .223. 20+ years ago I had a two Rem PSS. One in .308 and one in .223. I thoroughly enjoyed the .223.

 

[Seader1084]

Big Horn Origin .223
26” 1:7 Proof Research Comp prefit
Trigger tech 2-stage flat
DeadAir Sandman S
Manners T4A team elite
Razor Gen II 4.5-27
MPA BA mount 1.125” height
MDT .223 metal AICS mags


I’ve been shooting factory Remington 77 gr matchking bthp, shoots 1/4”-3/8” all day.

 

[Greenmoustache]

I recently picked up a .223 prefit for my TL3 (and Origin with the recoil lug swap) and fell in love. It’s similar to how I felt shooting 6 Dasher after years of 6.5 CM… but an order of magnitude cheaper. The barrel, bolt head, and magazine cost a total of ~$700.

I’ve been running 77gr SMK factory seconds + range brass I anneal and size and the performance is unbeatable for the cost. I still love the Dasher but paying almost $0.50/projectile, $1/piece for brass, and barrel wear are brutal at ~5k rounds per year.

 

[reubenski]

Same here. It's the TL3 trainer kit.

1. 26" Krieger Heavy Palma, 223 Wylde chamber, muzzle flats
2. Accurate mag AICs with the front trimmed out.
3. 223 bolt head from Zermatt
4. 8" crescent wrench to torque the barrel on and break torque to unscrew at the range.
5. Dillon 650 + bullet feeder
6. Hornady 75gr BTHP bulk pack, 16lbs of 8208, 3000pcs LC brass, case of Rem 6 1/2's.