Hand Skills
Well-Known Member
Tikka T3 .223's are built on a 'short action' 2.8" platform. Technically it's a long action but the bolt stop limits at 2.8".
The stock magazine is designed for SAAMI length cartridges (2.26"). My stock tikka mag will accept 2.275" before it becomes an interference fit.
There are aftermarket magazines available capable of holding longer cartridges. Some individuals have lengthened their factory magazines to accommodate greater OACL.
To find lands I take a guess and seat a bullet way out without any powder or primer in the case. Then gently try to chamber the round while bumping the seating die back incrementally. Once I can chamber the round, I'll seat the bullet half a hair (<.005) deeper. Typically I light a Q-tip on fire and 'smoke' the bullet (turning it in the smoke) at this point. The smoke provides a pretty clear indicator of where the bullet contacts the lands and it wipes off easily with paper towel. From there it's just fine tuning the seating depth until the lands leave a faint impression on the blackened bullet without copper showing through.
Seating a 75gr ELD-M to the lands gives OACL of 2.467" in my chamber.
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