So I have an update and I’m now even more confused. In short, I went to the range today and shot very controlled off a bench with front/rear bag and found that the 223 had no issues but once again the 6.5Creed is showing a different POI with my first shot vs the next 3+.
Here’s the long version. My setup is two nearly identical tikka T3X lites, the first is .223 and the second is 6.5Creed. Both are set up with the Xeno Xero muzzle device and my suppressor is a harvester evo with the Xeno adapter. I used direct thread with 0 issues until this summer at which point I decided to try the Xeno system as I built an AR that used this muzzle device.
With the 223 and my suppressor today, I had zero issues. I re-zeroed with hunting ammo today. First picture is initial 5 shot group. Moved D0.1 and R0.1, shot group in second picture. Moved D0.1 further (so D0.2 total). I then proceeded to remove and re-attach the suppressor between each of the next 5 shots and shot the group on the third photo. Clearly no issues with the Xeno system on the 223 and it appears very consistent when removed and reattached.
Move on the to 6.5, do the same thing hoping won’t see any POI shift and I can blame what I saw last time on me, the shooter. This was the same 130 TMK load as last time I posted in this thread. First shot is marked for all groups with blue arrow in photos 4-7. The first three targets are 3 shot groups and between targets I allowed the can to cool to where it was just warm and could be easily held. For the last target I shot 5 total to see if it was still grouping well (I usually shoot this rifle with about 2” 10-shot groups prone off a pack so had hoped for this or better off a bench with bags. Similar to last time, most groups with the TMK’s appear to have a first impact that is 1.5-2” high and left, then the next shots all group fairly well. The last 5 shot group did not show this pattern but the other three did, as did multiple targets from last range session where I shot 10 shot groups.
I’m going to remove the Xeno system and try both rifles with direct thread adapter tomorrow. I’ll be sure to provide updates. As an aside, I did check scope rings, scope mounts and action screws afterwards to avoid other variables. Scope ring/mount were good. I found action screws were torqued to more than 45 but not quite 65 inch pounds. I have since added new loctite and torqued to 65 in pounds so that won’t be an issue next time.
Edit - Added photos
