Thread: My 223 journey

For those who have followed the progress of this rifle it’s been an interesting journey. Back in March after selling the 222 I needed something to replace it with. It was too nice to get dragged through the scrub. Practicality and bang for buck it’s hard to go past a tikka. Love or hate them they shoot.
I settled on a T3x superlite. First job was to cut the barrel to 16 “ and have a Finnish ASE suppressor fitted. Even though the bolts fluted I replaced the handle with a MTN and fitted a hitech stock. Optilocks and a Swarovski Z5 finished it off. The result was a very lightweight rifle that I now had to get to shoot.

3398 gms with 4 in the mag. After picking some other members brains to pieces ( thanks @Tahr ) I settled on 3 bullets. The 69 gn Targex and Sierra TMK and the 77gn Sierra SMK. I went with the lighter weighted projectiles to try and maximise as much speed as possible down the short runway. After some experimentation with powders etc I settled on 26gns of 2206H behind the 69gn. It’s verified through the chrono at 2920 fps.

The above photo was when I was experimenting with powder and using 2208. I’m not the best shot by any stretch but it just doesn’t seem to matter so friggin accurate. Case in point was loading up some 50gn v maxs. No development just 0.5 below max. Same seating depth as hunting bullet and into it on the magpies.

Deadly with a good rest. The next step find some time to go hunting. With the wx forecast looking mint I headed away on Thursday for a couple of nights. I wanted to get into my camp and check the situation after the worst of winter. It’s still pretty frosty out there in the hills with spring a long way off. I came across the first mob of deer on the way in. It was a painstaking stalk from first spotting them to getting into a shootable position. Lots of windfall and crap to negotiate. Anyway I didn’t have a lot of choice so settled the crosshairs on the crease behind the shoulder angling into the chest. Bang flop the hind went straight down from about 60 yds. Deer running everywhere. Gave it 5 mins then went through the process with the dog. She found her straight away.

Being only 2pm time was on my side so I removed the backstraps and hung the hind quarters up in a shady tree for pick up on the way home. Time for an autopsy.

The entry wound with the wound channel in the shoulder below.

Massive damage. Smashed bone and mush. I couldn’t find the bullet and it didn’t exit. My guess is that it acted like an RPG and just blew up the boiler room.
The next night after spending the day sorting out camp I found a spiker / young stag. This was feeding 168 yds away. I got a good rest and poked one into the front of the shoulder / base of neck. I love this rifle. No recoil and quieter than my .22. Heard the bullet go smaaaaack and again just bang / flop.

Again the wound channel was just devastating….

I followed the progress and found the bullet embedded in the skin on the other side of the neck

I weighed the bullet when I got home and it retained a reasonable amount of weight

So far,two from two. Early days but I’m very impressed with the results so far. I had 7 hours to think about it on the walk home but I wonder if by using a small caliber I’m more careful with shot placement ? I don’t remember having having such success with bang flops last summer using the 708. Maybe it’s because I just line up knowing I’m going to whack a big hole in it and the dog will find it of it walks too far ? Don’t know. Both these deer went down like lightening had hit them. Good times ahead this spring/ summer. I can certainly see why other members are sold on the .223

Great result !!!

Awesome report and results. I’ve had a few .22 centre fire rifles and will be taking out my carbon stocked Tikka .223 today, great little rifles.
I hope your lightening stick keeps knocking them over, but don’t be surprised if you get the odd runner! 😀

Good one Nathan
I fought myself against the whole T3 thing as my choice for a 223 but......
Tried the 65gr sierra SBT and that was it.

Very and interesting.

I BELIEVE you have hit nail on head...you know its a wee pill so make darn sure to poke it in right place.... If you have a copy of pack n rifle...re read chapter "222 the controversial one" the points Philip Holden made all those years ago are still relevant...with the exception that with heavy pills driven fast its NEARLY snapping on heals of the lesser .243 loads...
in the right place its deadly,in the wrong place its horrible.
keep slaying them,and if you happen to find some 50grn ttsx barnes....well I highly recommend them for sub 150yard reds or pigs.

Great write up, well done

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

I BELIEVE you have hit nail on head...you know its a wee pill so make darn sure to poke it in right place.... If you have a copy of pack n rifle...re read chapter "222 the controversial one" the points Philip Holden made all those years ago are still relevant...with the exception that with heavy pills driven fast its NEARLY snapping on heals of the lesser .243 loads...
in the right place its deadly,in the wrong place its horrible.
keep slaying them,and if you happen to find some 50grn ttsx barnes....well I highly recommend them for sub 150yard reds or pigs.

It’s interesting all right. I’d always turned my nose up at small cartridges. Since shooting a few deer with that 222 last year I’m
Hooked. Come the full 180 from the old days of big belted magnums !

That's good speed out of a 16" barrel

Great stuff i have the same a Tikka superlight but cut to 18" do you shoot those deer with the 69 targex?

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Great stuff i have the same a Tikka superlight but cut to 18" do you shoot those deer with the 69 targex?

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

Yep both with the targex

Originally Posted by jakewire

Good one Nathan
I fought myself against the whole T3 thing as my choice for a 223 but......
Tried the 65gr sierra SBT and that was it.

@jakewire Have you shot animals with the 65gr out of interest ? If so how did they perform ?

Nothing bigger than a wallaby so far Nathan
been fine out to 300 M

Keep us posted . @TARGEX your bullets are unreal

Originally Posted by Nathan F

@jakewire Have you shot animals with the 65gr out of interest ? If so how did they perform ?

I shot a good sized billy for dog tucker two weeks ago with this pill 150yards off hand in the crease bang flop with awesome performance no deer yet give me a couple of weeks I two am enjoying the light recoiling quiet surgical precision of the .223