Tikka .223 Sticking Bolt Lift with Norma Ammo

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Shot my last four boxes of Norma GTM 77 SMK .223 Rem out of the Tikka .223 REM and noticed some issues racking the bolt. At the top end of the throw it would stick pretty hard. Had to hit it with my hand to get it out of battery to pull back and eject. My understanding is heavy bolt lift is often a sign of over-pressure. 2620 FPS average out of an 18” barrel.

I’m shooting the Black Hills 5.56 77 TMK out of it without that issue. 2736 FPS AVG.

Probably going with different ammo as I can’t find the Norma cheap right now but curious about why it caused that and the BH doesn’t. Any ideas?

 

[hereinaz]

Strange. Was it stiffer to close at all?

 

[Formidilosus]

Shot my last four boxes of Norma GTM 77 SMK .223 Rem out of the Tikka .223 REM and noticed some issues racking the bolt. At the top end of the throw it would stick pretty hard. Had to hit it with my hand to get it out of battery to pull back and eject. My understanding is heavy bolt lift is often a sign of over-pressure. 2620 FPS average out of an 18” barrel.

I’m shooting the Black Hills 5.56 77 TMK out of it without that issue. 2736 FPS AVG.

Probably going with different ammo as I can’t find the Norma cheap right now but curious about why it caused that and the BH doesn’t. Any ideas?

Saw quite a bit of Norma 69gr shot last week. It too caused a bit of stiff bolt lift every once in a while. Most likely the powder that they are using.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Strange. Was it stiffer to close at all?

Not that I noticed.