Show your Tikka ten round groups

[Q_Sertorius]

If you're referring to me, I WISH these were 1.5" at 100. These are all 3" groups lol. I'm fine with the 1.5" from the ELD-M (wish it was closer to 1" but that's fine), these 3" groups are no bueno. I know it wont like some rounds as much as others but not THAT bad.

With all due respect, I rather wonder if the fault isn’t with you and your aiming point. I find that I shoot far better groups when I turn the elevation up or down one or two MOA and have a simple 1 MOA dot or square as my aiming point. Otherwise, as the center dot gets hit and ragged, my aiming point becomes less precise.

Also, I try to shoot a series of 5-shot groups with plenty of time for mirage to dissipate rather than shooting 10- or 20-shot strings. This also helps keep me from rushing things.

On my last trip to the range, my groups improved dramatically when I ran out of the old pistol targets I had been using and started using the targets I got from S2H.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

If you're referring to me, I WISH these were 1.5" at 100. These are all 3" groups lol. I'm fine with the 1.5" from the ELD-M (wish it was closer to 1" but that's fine), these 3" groups are no bueno. I know it wont like some rounds as much as others but not THAT bad.

Your 73 eld group is 1.5 moa

 

[TradLife406]

My new 6 UM 40. With fire forming loads and cheap Hornady areomatch bullets. Just under an inch. Most accurate rifle ive ever owned. Way better than the custom I had and sold for this Tikka.


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[The Harbor Master]

With all due respect, I rather wonder if the fault isn’t with you and your aiming point. I find that I shoot far better groups when I turn the elevation up or down one or two MOA and have a simple 1 MOA dot or square as my aiming point. Otherwise, as the center dot gets hit and ragged, my aiming point becomes less precise.

Also, I try to shoot a series of 5-shot groups with plenty of time for mirage to dissipate rather than shooting 10- or 20-shot strings. This also helps keep me from rushing things.

On my last trip to the range, my groups improved dramatically when I ran out of the old pistol targets I had been using and started using the targets I got from S2H.

No disrespect taken at all, I appreciate that insight. I could definitely see how that would affect me. Maybe not to the point of doubling my groups (the 1.5" groups with ELDM are on the same style target), but coupled with mirage and a trash scope, I'm not doing any favors. The duplex is at least twice as thick as my Nightforce.

I'll test again with different targets in better conditions, and should see at least some improvement especially after cleaning out the barrel channel better. With a scope upgrade maybe even better than that.

 

[Formidilosus]

Boy, today sucked. Trying different factory loads to see what my T3X Compact .223 likes... so far the best I've gotten is 10rds @ 1.5moa with 73gr ELD-M (indoor range, seated, sandbags) and about the same with AAC 77gr OTM. Attached a pic of the ELDM as a "control."

I ordered a handful of stuff from PSA to try, as my other Tikka went through a half dozen or more factory offerings before finding what it likes and becoming a 1moa gun. Things did not go great.

75gr Sabre Black Tip - 2.9" group. Also had one fail to fire. Ejected it, rechambered, FTF again. Primer looked well struck.

69gr Sierra MatchKing - 3.4" group. Had one misfeed, on inspection the case shoulder had a bulge, almost a "lip" to it. Hard to see but attached pic anyway.

75gr HPBT - 3.7" group. Pretty obviously started stringing upwards, it was about 85⁰ out and I fired each 10rd group only stopping to reload twice (using 4rd mag). Walked 100yds to the target, back to the gun, load and shoot. Barrel was fairly hot.

Here's what I believe to be the issue, in order of likelyhood:

1. When I got this rifle I free floated the barrel with Dremel and sandpaper, action screws to 45 in lbs. After today's outing I checked the float with a piece of paper folded in half/doubled, and realized that about 2" in front of the action there is definitely resistance. If I forced it the paper went through but it got held up for sure. Im inclined to believe that Tikka barrels are properly stress relieved heat should not move POI, but the last group seems pretty obvious. Im thinking when free floated there may be no issue, but that snag in front of the action is enough to cause problems if it's hot enough? Either way, I went to town and you can at least get 1, maybe 1.25 dead cats in there now. Action screws are at 55in lbs now.

2. The scope is garbage. While I save up for a Credo I mounted a no-name 3-9x42 Cabelas scope I've had forever. The zero has held as far as I can tell (had a slight right to left wind today). However, the glass sucks of course, and the duplex is thick enough to cover the orange dot.

3. Its the shooter/distraction and discomfort. Hot, buggy, sweaty. Not focusing like I should. I need a lot more practice. Im sure I'm a factor, but I consistently shoot 10rds right at an inch with my 7mmRM super lite, and shot a 1.1" group with my buddys 6ARC just before. Not saying it's not me, but it's not like I shoot 3+" groups regularly...

4. The rifle doesn't much care for these factory offerings. Possible, but doubtful.

5. Some combination of the above.

Sorry for the long post, kinda just debriefing after a frustrating day. I plan to hit the indoor range this week and shoot the same ammo with the new freefloat/action screw torque, we'll see what happens. This gun is going to Kampfeld for cut/thread/cerakote at some point so I hope I can turn it into a shooter.

Barrel mirage from heat is a thing and will absolute causing group stringing. Get rid of the scope and let the barrel cool when you see mirage start appearing. In those temps, 7-8 rounds will about it.

 

[Steve300xcw]

, and the duplex is thick enough to cover the orange dot.

So dont shoot at dots. Staple a post-it note/business card etc to some cardboard and shoot for the corner.

Even with a finer reticle, I find that method a lot easier to shoot than just shooting at dots.

 

[The Harbor Master]

Barrel mirage from heat is a thing and will absolute causing group stringing. Get rid of the scope and let the barrel cool when you see mirage start appearing. In those temps, 7-8 rounds will about it.

So, 30 rounds in about 15 minutes is a bit much in 85-90⁰ huh lol. Thanks, I'll report back after making some changes.

Edit- thinking about this more, is the barrel mirage actually distorting the image through the scope so much that I'm really aiming at a phantom target image that is "lifted" higher than its actual position? If so, thats wild and reminds me I have a LOT to learn, with learning being the silver lining of a day of poor shooting

 

[Q_Sertorius]

So, 30 rounds in about 15 minutes is a bit much in 85-90⁰ huh lol. Thanks, I'll report back after making some changes.

Edit- thinking about this more, is the barrel mirage actually distorting the image through the scope so much that I'm really aiming at a phantom target image that is "lifted" higher than its actual position? If so, thats wild and reminds me I have a LOT to learn, with learning being the silver lining of a day of poor shooting

Yes.

Edit - During my last range session, where mirage was a definite factor, I worked out a system where I take 2-3 rifles with me at a time. I put up one target for each rifle/load combination and shot a 5-shot group from each one, setting each rifle aside with the breach open while I shot the next. Then I shot another five shots from each rifle. So, I was typically shooting one shot every 30 seconds to a minute, but not always from the same rifle. I ask for the range to go cold, record my results, patch targets, go hot again, and make any adjustments. Then repeat until I am done. I ended up with results with which I was happy and fired about 120 rounds in three hours at the range.

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