Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Load recs for fast twist .223 and .22-250

I have Tikka rifles in both .223 and 22-250 with 1:8 twist barrels. I have not really shot long range and 300 - 400 yards is the farthest I have shot. I would like to find some recommendations for loads that have shot well in Tikka T3x rifles like this. Whats works for all of you!

Buy Sierra loading manual or just google them, not that hard.

in the 22.250 with a 1 in 7 twist, I shoot 68 & 75 grain BTHP Hornadys and the 80 grain A Max at distance out to 600 yds are our local range. That is about as far out as they post steel at.

My load with those is usually 33.3 grains of IMR 4064, IMR 4895 or RL 15. Plenty of other powders will work, but those are my choices. Everything I have are bolt action rifles, which I prefer over say the AR 15, with its limited magazine length.

There has been quite a few threads on the 1 in 8" twist Tikka 22-250. I even started one or 2, if I remember right. I even started a thread on the 62 TTSX in the Tikka 22-250. The heaviest bullet I've tried in that particular rifle was the 88gr Hornady ELDM, which shoots pretty well. Good luck with your search.

For chidts and giggles:

62gr TTSX:



69gr Barnes match burner:



77gr SMK:


88gr ELDM:

In the thread I started, we talked about what powders work well with this bullet and cartridge, with the 1 in 8" twist rate.

My t3x compact does quit excellent with the 75 bthp hornady.


75 bthp
Rp brass
Cci400
24grs imr4895


Had it out at 600 a few weeks ago.


I am running a mag that allows loading the Tikka longer than factory.

Love the prices on those 62 grain TTSX bullets. I think I have a box or two of them around to try but they were a lot more than that price!

I should have bought all they had!!!! I figured I'd leave some for someone else though. Well, at least I left them some TSX. I took all the TTSX. At times, that shop sells them for that. They buy estates, and then resell. I don't think they realize what they are worth. I bought a bunch of 68gr BTHP's there a couple weeks ago too. Figured I'd use them in my AR's or fast twist 22-250:

Nice find for sure

I load the 62 grain TTSX for 223’s and 22/250’s. 62 grain Bear claws also

The 73gr Berger is by far the most accurate/uniform .22 bullet I've ever shot. Repeatable sub 1/4" groups in my .223 superlite from a good bench setup.

I use the 75 gr Gold Dots and 77 gr TMK’s in my 1-8” 223’s and 22-250.

I would really like to find some more 75 grain Gold Dot bullets.

Me too!