Best Tikka prefit steel barrel

[ResearchinStuff]

The two worst were a 1-8” 243 and a 1-8” 223.

In the 223 I’ve tried 4 bullets. 53, 62, 73, and 75 grain. 4 different powders. I’m lucky if it will shoot 1.5” with the best loads every 10 shot group. But it’s good enough for practice. The 62’s and 75’s were around 3” groups.

The 243 was sorta better. 6 different bullets, 3 powders to get it under 1.5” consistently. It ended at 1.1” for 10 shots.

I had a lousy factory 223 barrel too, averaged over 2 moa with 75 hpbts, m193, and 77 tmks. replaced it with a PVA, and that might also be a lousy barrel, though it did FINALLY print its first ever 10 shot sub 1" group the last time I took it out, with nosler 77 hpbts. I sold off all the 75 bthps I was using, traded into some different powder, trashed all the brass, and once my new press gets here will be trying 77 tmks with benchmark and 8208 xbr. fingers crossed that it'll finally equal or beat my tikka 6.5 creed barrel.

the one combo that i have never heard of subpar accuracy from is a tikka 6.5 creed factory barrel. those seem to inevitably do 10 shots in 1.2 moa or better.

 

[dirtytough]

I’ve spent days and weeks trying to get many prefits and custom barrels to shoot 1.5 or better. Including the most expensive barrels money can buy.

Always? To the tune of what quantities and cartridges? I’ve seen nearly all aftermarket brands shoot great, but also have seen many not shoot.

I’ll look those numbers up once you share yours

So something being more money makes it better? Their manufacturing process is incredible to see in person. You should do some research on their steel used, their cold hammer forging, stress relieving process, and pressure chamber function testing. This happens to every barrel and gun that leaves the factory. This is not happening with your button cut blanks from barrel OEMs.

Not at all. I’m assuming most barrel manufacturers are manufacturing barrels to make money. If it costs less to manufacture a better product it’s hard for me to understand from a business perspective why you would manufacture an inferior product for lower margins.

I can provide more info when I’m back from shooting today.

Correct.

What do you mean? Profile? Twist rate? Stainless versus blued? Nitrided versus chromoly? What are you after here? You are reaching quite a bit, when I’m making a generalization based on 100s of samples of each. And clarified my statement in post number 69 of this thread.

I mean if you are saying with a large enough sample size x is better than y, I would expect the important specs of x and y to be the same.

Not SS vs CM. Not a .218 bore vs .219. Same velocity’s. Same rates of fire. Same internal barrel temps. Same same same.

It doesn’t seem like you are. Seems your mind is made up and all you’re doing is attempting to invalidate in order to potentially not have to walk your claim back a bit. I’m not interested in those types of back and forths on the internet honestly.

Here was my post.

Agreed. I’ve had a few Tikka barrels that take work to get around 1.25 MOA. Only 1 prefit is there. And it didn’t take work. The few bullets I’ve tried all shoot about that. All the others are under 1 MOA without trying.

I said I’ve had trouble getting a few Tikkas to shoot decent. Not even extremely accurate. Just decent. I haven’t had issues getting prefits to shoot decent.

Did I say prefits are actually better? Yes or no?

When you combine barrel longevity for cartridge, repeatability long term with very high round counts and barrels run at high temps, accuracy in large enough sample sizes for the data to matter, and less QC issue/hummer barrels per unit, aftermarket barrels absolutely do not win out over factory Tikka and Sako barrels.

So show me the data since you say aftermarket barrels aren’t as good. For every aftermarket barrel.

You made a statement so back it up. And with “large enough sample sizes for the data to matter,”

If you can’t it’s just another guy on the net typing up “facts” that he doesn’t back up.

 

[dirtytough]

I had a lousy factory 223 barrel too, averaged over 2 moa with 75 hpbts, m193, and 77 tmks. replaced it with a PVA, and that might also be a lousy barrel, though it did FINALLY print its first ever 10 shot sub 1" group the last time I took it out, with nosler 77 hpbts. I sold off all the 75 bthps I was using, traded into some different powder, trashed all the brass, and once my new press gets here will be trying 77 tmks with benchmark and 8208 xbr. fingers crossed that it'll finally equal or beat my tikka 6.5 creed barrel.

the one combo that i have never heard of subpar accuracy from is a tikka 6.5 creed factory barrel. those seem to inevitably do 10 shots in 1.2 moa or better.

Hopefully you can get it to shoot acceptable groups. It sucks wasting time and resources.

With the Tikka 243 I started thinking maybe I was just off. So I would shoot a few groups to warm up with the 223. Then I would shoot the 243. 2.7” group. Then I would shoot a 10 shot group with a heavier recoiling rifle to proof that it wasn’t the shooter. I swapped optics. Etc. It is just a picky barrel.

 

[Lawnboi]

I had a lousy factory 223 barrel too, averaged over 2 moa with 75 hpbts, m193, and 77 tmks. replaced it with a PVA, and that might also be a lousy barrel, though it did FINALLY print its first ever 10 shot sub 1" group the last time I took it out, with nosler 77 hpbts. I sold off all the 75 bthps I was using, traded into some different powder, trashed all the brass, and once my new press gets here will be trying 77 tmks with benchmark and 8208 xbr. fingers crossed that it'll finally equal or beat my tikka 6.5 creed barrel.

the one combo that i have never heard of subpar accuracy from is a tikka 6.5 creed factory barrel. those seem to inevitably do 10 shots in 1.2 moa or better.

Only prefit I havnt had easy results with is a 223 wylde pva. It’s sitting dormant for a time when I have more time to play.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Only prefit I havnt had easy results with is a 223 wylde pva. It’s sitting dormant for a time when I have more time to play.

I'll be super angry if this barrel also sucks.

 

[Lawnboi]

I'll be super angry if this barrel also sucks.

Im in a 223 barrel rut. Factory barrel wasn’t very good, this barrels not very good, LRI chambered proof has zero freebore and shoots well, but has to be loaded with almost no bearing surface above the neck.

Part of the reason I’m just going to shoot dasher for everything for a while.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

your dasher groups make me want to go dasher for everything.

 

[bojangles808]

When you combine barrel longevity for cartridge, repeatability long term with very high round counts and barrels run at high temps, accuracy in large enough sample sizes for the data to matter, and less QC issue/hummer barrels per unit, aftermarket barrels absolutely do not win out over factory Tikka and Sako barrels.

Are you rechambering takeoffs or just shooting as is? I know you're an 8tw 243 fan but any other takeoffs you are a fan of?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Are you rechambering takeoffs or just shooting as is? I know you're an 8tw 243 fan but any other takeoffs you are a fan of?

Any of the faster twist take offs I am a fan of and use. Usually it's twist on and go. I have a permanent "sell me your Tikka Takeoff Barrels" WTB ad here on Rokslide.

The number of barrels that "wouldn't shoot" or were replaced by an aftermarket barrel that get spun onto my actions, and then proceed to shoot 1-1.25 MOA with factory ammo would shock you.

 

[rharbaugh]

ACE barrels has on their website that they’re going to start doing tikka prefits. I inquired back in March and just got this reply.

“I apologies for missing this email earlier but we’re getting very close to having prefits ready to go. Looking like approx. a 6-8 weeks lead time depending on cartridge. What would you be interested in as far as cartridge and contour, we do offer a factory replacement contour as well as an ultra-light tikka contour?”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Latest from ACE

"We're doing a revision of our ultra-light tikka contour right now, we haven't cut a test barrel yet but should be very soon. With our ultra-light we will have a flare at the muzzle for 5/8-24 threads as part of ensuring enough strength at the muzzle. A standard Tikka T3x sporter also requires a flare in most cases to accommodate a 5/8-24 thread. On the Tikka Sporter contour we can also do a flare for an additional $50 if you prefer the 5/8-24 threads.

I will have to check our model to ensure we can do a 6-6.5 PRC on an ultra-light contour., it should be fine but I will need to check."

Ultra-light contour

 

[KU_Geo]

Any updates on new options or a good option for steel tikka prefits? Looking to spin on a 6mm creedmoor barrel on to a spare action I have laying around.

 

[hereinaz]

Any updates on new options or a good option for steel tikka prefits? Looking to spin on a 6mm creedmoor barrel on to a spare action I have laying around.

Right now. I have a couple 18” Preferred 6 cm barrels that came in, 7.5 tw, Hybrid Lite with 5/8 threads. And, some more on order.

I have had good luck with them and now stocking them we have continued having success. Here are the first test shots out of four different 22 creeds. All I did was torque the new barrel onto my test Tikka.

 

[Packmansion]

I have 3 preferred and 1 McGowan. They are all shooters. The McGowan was a little rough around the edges and required a return due to them getting the contour wrong. In the end they made good on their word.

 

[kswaterfowl]

3 prefits from preferred have been perfect. 2 prefits from mcgowen and both had to be fixed.

 

[Jimbee]

2 out of 3 of my McGowan Tikka prefits had to be sent back. I've had zero issues with 3 Preferred prefits.

 

[Jamr]

I only have a sample of one, but so far I’m happy with my Preferred barrel. It is a 18” 6 Creed.

 

[bojangles808]

3 prefits from preferred have been perfect. 2 prefits from mcgowen and both had to be fixed.

2 out of 3 of my McGowan Tikka prefits had to be sent back. I've had zero issues with 3 Preferred prefits.

when did you get your McGowans? I know they had lots of issues a couple years ago, but I thought the guy that was causing them left.

 

[Packmansion]

when did you get your McGowans? I know they had lots of issues a couple years ago, but I thought the guy that was causing them left.

I ordered mine in January. The customer service was respectful but response time was lacking. Barrel arrived quickly with wrong contour. Replacement barrels arrived very quickly. Despite the issues the barrel shot great and even with the return the turn around was still faster than pbb. But im set on pbb now just way less hassle, order and forget it.

 

[Jimbee]

when did you get your McGowans? I know they had lots of issues a couple years ago, but I thought the guy that was causing them left.

The first barrel was 3-4 years ago. The free bore was shorter than the dummy round I sent in. I sent it back and it returned with a really rough chamber that left rings in my brass. I eventually took it to a local gunsmith to have the chamber polished because McGowan would no longer respond to my emails and it was difficult to get someone on the phone. The second prefit was a 6cm, 2 years ago, no issues. This year was a 6x45 with short freebore. It's been sent back.

 

[kswaterfowl]

when did you get your McGowans? I know they had lots of issues a couple years ago, but I thought the guy that was causing them left.

One barrel was a 6 creed that was ordered in 2023. It had incorrect headspacing, and Dan was still working there at that time. He told me to take it to my gunsmith to have it corrected. Second barrel is a 6 creed from this year. I could barely chamber a factory round in it. Took some time to finally get a hold of Sam, which is the guy who took Dan's position. Sent that barrel back, and they said they corrected it. But I haven't tried it since I got it back.