New Tikka 6.5 CM not grouping well

[MTManess]

I bought my son a new Tikka for Christmas. a TX3 lite Veil with the fluted barrel. We are using factory ammo. The ONLY one I can get to group is the Hornady 120 grain. That ammo shoots lights out, but anything else is well above MOA. Have tried Hornady ELDX 143 grain, Barnes 127 grain and Federal 130 grain. Wanting to shoot a heavier bullet but don't know what to do here. Anyone have any advice? If nothing grouped well I could understand maybe something wrong with the scope or mount or screws. Do these only like those lighter bullets or what?

 

[Matt5266]

Sometimes barrels take a little to settle in. Keep practicing with whats shooting good, then revisit the others. Also factory ammo doesn't always shoot that well. You reload?

 

[Antares]

Group size and round count for the groups would help (e.g., 3-shots vs 10-shots).

Make sure you try the factory 140 ELDM load.

 

[hunterjmj]

They the 140 eldm. I'm sure you probably have but make sure everything is torqued down.

 

[43.6N]

Welcome to Rokslide.
Usually you got to work through a bunch of things before you can be confident that the gun is “picky” or has a chamber or barrel issue.

So from the top:
1. Operator error. Are you printing the groups or your son? Do you have other guns that on demand will shoot excellent 10round groups? (Nobody knows your background, so reasonable to assume the worst)
2. Equipment install error. Are you 100% sure action screws are torqued, action is sitting in stock appropriately, no barrel contact, scope rings are torqued, scope parallax and focus is appropriate?
3. Shooting position: are you shooting off bags? Lead Sled? Prone? Standing?

 

[Kauaihunter]

Are you using a chronograph to check for consistent velocities?

 

[teflonhunter]

I bought a take off Veil barrel and screwed onto one of my Tikka's. It shoots lights out with Hornady 140 BTHP's and 140 ELDM's handloaded and sub moa with Hornady 140 match factory ammo.

 

[MTManess]

I am doing the shooting, not my son. All factory ammo, I don't reload yet and I don't have a chronograph. Shooting off a Caldwell sled. 3 shot groups. My other Tikkas shoot dang good. My fist thought and check was the gun (scews, torques, scope and mounts, etc) and I did ,but I am getting excellent accuracy with the lighter bullet. So that is what is giving me the confusion. I just didn't expect that much varience between the loads. I understand being somewhat different but it's a big difference in my mind. I will snap some photos of my targets and post them. One guy at the gun store just said "shoot what it likes and go hunting" Thanks for the input, keep it coming.

 

[TNKnoxville]

I have the same gun and it shoots the Barnes 130 TGK's well less than 1 MOA!

43.6N advice is sound.

 

[MTManess]

I forgot to mention that I have 4 rounds really bind up in the chamber when trying to eject them after firing. I had to to really pull on the bolt to get it opened. They ejected when it opened but it took some power to do it.

 

[Kow]

I’d check the simple stuff first: action screws, ring/base torque, and the scope. Then try a few factory loads from a solid rest and let the barrel cool between groups. If the 120s group, that’s a good sign the rifle can shoot and may just be load picky.

 

[Mike Islander]

ELDX 143 won't group for me either (T3X 18" barrel). ELDM 140 and 147 is lights out.

 

[River Reaper]

I’d check the simple stuff first: action screws, ring/base torque, and the scope. Then try a few factory loads from a solid rest and let the barrel cool between groups. If the 120s group, that’s a good sign the rifle can shoot and may just be load picky.

Came here to say this as well. Had a brand new, high end rifle recently that the action screws were completely loose in. I was getting terrible groups until I noticed one of them had almost backed completely out. Torqued everything to spec and it is shooting great.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Take it out of the sled. Then throw the sled in the trash.

Scope? Mounting system? Assembly technique? Barrel free floated? Action screws tight?

 

[skipper907]

I would suggest cleaning the gun to what you feel is best. The try a box of hornady 140 eldm if this doesn't shoot well I would also try the sako ammo that is what they use to test the accuracy at the factory.
When switching from lead core to mono bullets groups can get weird
Also check that the barrel is not making contact with the stock

 

[Pistolpete28]

As many on here have said, try the 140 Eldm. It shot extremely well out of my 20” tikka.

 

[43.6N]

I forgot to mention that I have 4 rounds really bind up in the chamber when trying to eject them after firing. I had to to really pull on the bolt to get it opened. They ejected when it opened but it took some power to do it.

What brand were they?

 

[43.6N]

Also, since this is going to be your sons rifle:
If the 120eldm is shooting really well, I would stock up and let the kid shoot. It’s a great low recoil load that will kill anything he points it at.

When I chronographed that exact load out of my friends new 20” T3X, it was right at 2720fps. Maybe not the velocity that was printed on the box, but still plenty to hunt and kill with. And for a kid (or anyone really) chasing the higher recoiling rounds really isn’t necessary.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I forgot to mention that I have 4 rounds really bind up in the chamber when trying to eject them after firing. I had to to really pull on the bolt to get it opened. They ejected when it opened but it took some power to do it.

Clean it really well then try some factory 147 M's and 140 also. They seem to shoot great in everything I've seen. I use the 147's for my Elk rifle.

Edit: but yeah as stated by others if the 120's shoot then roll with it. I'd have no problems blasting critters with the 120's.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Agree with other replies:

• Stick with the 120s
• If you do try other ammo, start with 140 ELDMs
• Ditch the sled man…like yesterday.