Thread: 223 on deer

After a few thousand rounds my Savage Lightweight .223 has lost its accuracy with its favourite loads. I haven't looked into it too closely but because it still shoots with seated out projectiles Im thinking its throat erosion. Its probably only ever shot "warm plus" loads if the truth be known.

So Ive taken it as a good opportunity to re-barrel it from 1-9 twist to 1-8 in stainless and to go up one contour. The mag is 1.42" so it will handle 77/80 grn. I love this little gun:

Trueflight T3 contour fluted. Sandblasted.
20" threaded 1/2x20

It should still weigh under 6lb (5.5lb at te moment).

Smithing being done by a nice man on the forum.

That should be mag is 2.42"

That will be even more of a deadly weapon Bruce, "Warm Loads" lol I bet your brass wished for that.

Originally Posted by nor-west

That will be even more of a deadly weapon Bruce, "Warm Loads" lol I bet your brass wished for that.

Ha ha. Well they don't have a plimsol line so ive always thought you just fill them to the top.

Reloading is a bit like the law - sometimes what you do matters more than your intent....

We live and learn. Ive used hundreds and hundred of Targex 52 grn and 69 grn. Wonderful accurate killing machines for deer down.

I started cruising the internet looking for heavier bullets for my new 1:8 barrel and could only find what I already have (Ive got 2000 .224 bullets in stock - but use 600 a year at least). I like to try different bullets though. Mucking around, but I do have my main stays.

Anyway - a recess in my old brain told me that Targex make an 80 grain .224 and that would be ideal for the new barrel. And NZ made. An email, and yup Bryn does make 80 grn .224. BC .430. 200 in the making. Deer, be afraid

Excellent.

Purchased this off the forum couple weeks ago, 8 twister, barrel a tad shorter than I was looking for but hopefully I can work with it and took the punt, 16.5inch

Let's see how this combo goes,

Finally here - load development this weekend

Weighs nothing either

Ok I couldn't take it any longer so had to get in on the act.

I picked this up today, sighting in tomorrow then an evening hunt.

Tikka 223 1.8 twist

I have got a M7 in 1:9 twist and it loves the Hornady 55 SP which is handy as I have got heaps. I am looking at getting another 223 and the Tikka T3x is the current favourite, @Nathan F love your one mate How are these with the 55 grain in the faster twist? Anyone using this combo?

Must be something in the air... I have a 1:8 ordered going in a carbon stock and z5 on top.

Originally Posted by 223nut

Must be something in the air... I have a 1:8 ordered going in a carbon stock and z5 on top.

You're going to live up to your handle again.

Originally Posted by Shamus_

I have got a M7 in 1:9 twist and it loves the Hornady 55 SP which is handy as I have got heaps. I am looking at getting another 223 and the Tikka T3x is the current favourite, @Nathan F love your one mate How are these with the 55 grain in the faster twist? Anyone using this combo?

I got mine specifically for deer Shamus . Im working on 69gn and 77gn loads at the moment. I do have some 50 and 60g projectiles for stuff around the house but wont be fussy with that. Will prob just load to half of book max and get on with it.

Got my T3 with 55g hornady sp working quite well. Head shot a hind last week at 100mtr. Very satisfying on your own loads. Got some 73g eld m loaded to test groupings, struggling with OAL. The T3 seems to have a short throat so can only load them at 2.42in. Have a waterman Rifle magazine coming to allow me to use the longer bullets. Have a test sample of 69gr target so will see how they go. Is the maker of these a forum member?