Heavy Bolt lift on Tikka 6.5

[ElPollo]

I agree that the OPs’s problem is likely related to an issue with the ammo. I haven’t cleaned a centerfire rifle bore in six years and have one suppressor with more than 2500 rounds through it that has never been cleaned. Never seen a problem chambering ammo or accuracy in a factory barrel. Only once in a custom barrel that had a tight chamber, but that was not an intermittent problem. It did it all the time with several factory loads, but some worked fine. If you’re seeing this issue with the same ammo that previously worked fine, I’d try a different lot of the same ammo.

I cannot imagine cleaning a suppressor every 100 rounds. Man, OCD is a thing and it’s a fun-killer. If I had to do that, I’d take up a different hobby.

 

[Jake Larsen]

In back to back lot numbers of Hornday 6.5cm ELD-M’s match we had a difference of almost 200 fps higher MV, with the resulting issues one would expect from nearly 6.5 PRC muzzle velocities.

I’m sure some would have said it was the dreaded “donut”.

You think it’s different lots of powder causing the MV changes? Hard to imagine Hornady would tweak the load in their factory ammo without making an announcement.

I’ve never been a factory ammo shooter, but I guess you’d need to make sure everything you’re using is from the same lot, and re-check zero/MV when switching to a new lot.


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[nephewjephew]

To get back on topic a bit. I don't know if it is a "carbon ring" or not, it was just the first suggestion.

You said that you switched boxes, was it the same lot # of ammo?

I have seen lots vary by almost 200fps.

Looked though some notes and there's 356 rds on the gun through 3 different lots 40, 100, 216 rounds (all 147 eldm) in that order. Started a fresh box when the issue started and grabbed a different box that was previously shot (same lot). 16 rds total that day with that gun and maybe 6 rounds with a problem. My first thought was ammo, so I will pick up new box to see if its repeatable. If it continues with new ammo then maybe there's a deeper problem.

I like shooting guns I don't enjoy cleaning guns, I'm lazy in that regard. And I haven't had a problem with not cleaning for years now. I don't understand the apprehension from some people that are so opposed to ideas or process that are so easy to see if they work or not, some of these things are really easy to test yourself.

 

[jamesmc8]

Lots of Powder, even in the extreme line can vary in velocity too. Varget is one of the more stable powders. However when I switched to a new lot with some 6 ARC loads I lost 60 fps. Nothing else was changed and shot over a Garmin.