Tikka loading recipe search

[B!ngo]

I have two Tikka's and am looking for some recommendations for reloading recipes that have worked well in those guns:
1. Tikka T3 Sporter 308, 1:11 twist, 24" bull barrel (this is the real 'keeper' in my safe). Currently in the hands of a well known gun-smith in Santa Clara for some usability work.
2. Tikka T3 Lite 223, 1:10 twist, 22.4" stainless standard barrel
3. Extra credit: I also have a Remington 700 CDL 223 with a 24" barrel (must re-check) and a 1:12 spin (sadly)
Most shooting will be paper 100-200 yards. I do plan to try some longer distances with the Sporter but don't have a plan yet.
I am not a sophisticated reloader with a lot of equipment but can carefully and repeatedly execute the basics and will not shy away from higher end components if there's merit to their use.
B

[JMP]

Use Varget or 4064. With a 168gr, 44.2-44.4 tends to be good. With a 175gr, 44.0gr tends to be good. It varies from rifle to rifle, but those usually work well all around. You can push it hotter if you feel so inclined.

[B!ngo]

Thanks. Just happened to get some Varget delivered today. Would you have any recipes for a lightweight .223 load (55, 52,50 gr bullet) with Varget? I have two bolt guns (1:12 and 1:10) in addition to an AR and I'd really like to perfect some loads for those two but they are implicitly limited in bullet weight.
Thx,
B

[JMP]

Thanks. Just happened to get some Varget delivered today. Would you have any recipes for a lightweight .223 load (55, 52,50 gr bullet) with Varget? I have two bolt guns (1:12 and 1:10) in addition to an AR and I'd really like to perfect some loads for those two but they are implicitly limited in bullet weight.
Thx,
B

You should be able to shoot heavier bullets in the 1:10". .223 isn't a very sensitive case, and the beauty of Varget is that it's pretty hard to overcharge until you are compressing a fair amount. Generally, look around the upper quartile of Hodgdon's load data and see what works well in your gun.

[Jeff213]

55gr hornady vmax with 25.5 gr of AA2460 2.260 total length for the 1 in 12(work up, this is a maximum load!)

69gr sierra match king with 25.3gr of varget 2.260 total length (no need to work up, not a hot load, just an accurate one) (for the 1 in 10 and ar)

[B!ngo]

JMP (and others), by heavier bullets, what do you suspect is the top end of that scale for the Tikka (1:10)? 62? 65? And for the Rem CDL (1:12)?
I'm finding this aspect of reloading a bit interesting but confusing with this variable thrown in (twist), which I've been well aware of from the first time I considered buying a long-gun, but not how it affects reloading.
Having the two bolt guns, plus an AR (1:7 I believe - or nearly so) creates a pretty wide spectrum. I assume that I won't be making a one-size-fits-three load. That being a bit OCD, I'll end up with a specific load for each of the three. If you are not a skilled and competing target shooter, do most people still create one load per rifle? Or one per rifle type (e.g. one for AR's, one for bolt?). I can imagine doing one tuned load per bolt gun would be fun. But if I had numerous AR's which many do, I don't imagine I'd create specific loads for each. Just trying to learn here.
Oh, and thanks so far. This is helpful.
BTW, has anyone reloaded with Norma 200?
B

[B!ngo]

Really? 69 gr is reasonable in a 1:10? I have to re-read the tables in my Speer and Lyman books...
Thanks,
B

55gr hornady vmax with 25.5 gr of AA2460 2.260 total length for the 1 in 12(work up, this is a maximum load!)

69gr sierra match king with 25.3gr of varget 2.260 total length (no need to work up, not a hot load, just an accurate one) (for the 1 in 10 and ar)

[J-cat]

Yeah, 1-10" is fine for the 69. Even says so on the box.

[Jeff213]

The 69 SMK should be fine for the 1-10 bolt gun. The only way to know for sure is to try it but if I was betting I would bet sub MOA for that load.


The 55gr vmax load with 25.5 gr of AA2460 will group well out of the 1 in 10 twist too btw.