Tikka accuracy issues - help!

[jmerchant.1]

I have a Tikka T3X stainless hunter (wood stock) chambered in .270 Win that has not met the “1 MOA Guarantee” since the first day I bought it new. I’ve tried about 12 different types of factory ammo (130gr, 140gr, and 150gr) with most groups averaging more around 2” or worse. A 1.5” group tends to be about the best I’ve seen on occasion. A professional gunsmith in my area pillar bedded the action for me which didn’t seem to really help (or hurt) anything. I don’t claim to be the greatest shooter but all shots have been taken off a solid rest with sandbags, allowing time to properly cool between groups. I’ve also made sure the action is torqued, barrel is free floated, crown is perfect, copper fouling is removed, and scope base, rings, and scope are all perfectly leveled and torqued properly. Scope is a Vortex and they verified that it is in perfect mechanical condition.

After inspecting the rifle closer with a borescope, I found the ream job on the chamber to be VERY rough where the rifling begins in the throat. I sent the rifle back to Tikka explaining my concerns with the accuracy and chamber job. 2 months later…they send it back to me and simply said the headspacing was very tight for the firearm so they adjusted that and polished the chamber. (I was a little disappointed that they didn’t replace the barrel.) They claim it then shot a .9” group for three shots which met their standards.

Now admittedly, I haven’t had a chance to shoot the rifle since getting it back but just looking for opinions as to if the “fixes” they performed are enough to drastically enhance accuracy. Certainly polishing the chamber couldn’t hurt but not sure tight headspace would make a ton of difference- maybe I’m wrong.

I haven’t lost total faith in Tikka but am somewhat soured by their customer service. Maybe I just happened to be one of the rare unlucky people that got a lemon. I have one other Tikka T3X in .243 that shoots fantastic.

Anyone willing to weigh in on my situation please feel free to offer advice. Like i said, I haven’t shot it yet to see if they truly fixed the problem, I guess I just have my doubts based on the ream job (polished or not). Here is a picture just for reference.


Thanks in advance for any constructive input!

 

[archp625]

Wont know until you shoot it. My recommendation would be to shoot it and find out.

 

[Dogman-K]

My question is did the gun go to Tikka or Beretta USA for repairs?
The reason that I ask is that my experiences with Beretta USA have been painful at best. Most people on Trapshooters who own Beretta shotguns would back my claim that they are among the worst in the business.

 

[Lawnboi]

Shoot it an find out.... they said they fixed some things, and shot it. And you even got the gun back, so I wouldn’t say they hung you out to dry...

Good news. Barrels are a consumable, that action holds a lot of value on its own. If it dosnt trip your trigger any longer have a good barrel screwed on, or sell it, I’d bet you could get a good amount even if you said the barrel was shit.

 

[jmerchant.1]

My question is did the gun go to Tikka or Beretta USA for repairs?
The reason that I ask is that my experiences with Beretta USA have been painful at best. Most people on Trapshooters who own Beretta shotguns would back my claim that they are among the worst in the business.

It went to Beretta. Being Beretta owns Tikka, I didn’t know you could send it to just Tikka…hmm…
And yes I wouldn’t call it good service by any means. Took forever to get through on the phone, they won’t send you a postage label, and they don’t even notify you when they ship it back. Especially with an adult signature required, it’s nice to know when it’s on its way. Luckily I happened to be home when it arrived to sign for it.
The most discouraging part was on the phone they advised me to send it in to them, but told me point blank they may not be able to do anything since having the action bedded technically voids the warranty on repairs. Thankfully (I guess) they did a couple repairs and didn’t just send it back and tell me to go pound sand.
I will shoot it of course and see what happens, just irks me the way that chamber looks. Shouldn’t be acceptable IMO for the cost of their product.
Lawnboi as you suggested, I will definitely be rebarreling it if accuracy remains poo poo.

 

[Dogman-K]

Sounds like my and many other’s shotgun guns experiences with Beretta. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them do away with the moa guarantee completely then fall back on their favorite line: "it’s within specs". They do it with their O/Us with point of impact issues. When you buy a $2000 - $10,000+ gun, you expect to have decent barrel regulation but apparently, to Beretta, having one barrel on the money and the other patterning 7"left and 8" low is ok. For a serious clay shooter it’s damn near worthlessness.

In fairness I should add that I recently bought a 270 Tikka T3X stainless lite, synthetic stock (not knowing the Beretta connection) and it’s a good shooter. My son is shooting and developing loads for it, since I just had rotator cuff surgery. So far, he has been able to squeeze .287 and .346 MOA out of it.

 

[HighUintas]

Is your recoil lug tight in the stock? I just recently bought a used Tikka wood stock for my action and the recoil lug was loose enough to fall out. No problem to me though, because I was going to glass bed it anyway

 

[jmerchant.1]

Is your recoil lug tight in the stock? I just recently bought a used Tikka wood stock for my action and the recoil lug was loose enough to fall out. No problem to me though, because I was going to glass bed it anyway

Yes, I’ve pretty much eliminated that as a possibility. I replaced it with a stainless steel lug which my gunsmith then glass bedded around so it doesn’t budge. I’m no gunsmith or expert but I’m still convinced the bad ream job isn’t giving the bullet a good start into the rifling but that’s just my best guess. My other .243 tikka hunter’s chamber looks perfect and (coincidentally?) shoots perfect.

 

[HighUintas]

Yes, I’ve pretty much eliminated that as a possibility. I replaced it with a stainless steel lug which my gunsmith then glass bedded around so it doesn’t budge. I’m no gunsmith or expert but I’m still convinced the bad ream job isn’t giving the bullet a good start into the rifling but that’s just my best guess. My other .243 tikka hunter’s chamber looks perfect and (coincidentally?) shoots perfect.

That's good you've got that eliminated. I wouldn't think a rough throat would cause that poor of accuracy, so maybe it's not quite concentric with the bore also

 

[Nomosendero]

Man, the Tikka issues seem to be rare, sounds like the luck I have experienced lately with others.

 

[jmerchant.1]

maybe it's not quite concentric with the bore also

I guess that could be possible as well.

Man, the Tikka issues seem to be rare, sounds like the luck I have experienced lately with others.

I know, I never did seem to have much luck with rifles out of the box. Thought surely the Tikka would be a pretty safe bet.

 

[CorbLand]

I know, I never did seem to have much luck with rifles out of the box. Thought surely the Tikka would be a pretty safe bet.

Every company can have one or two that slip through. Its a balance between quality control and cost.

In the end, you sent it back to Tikka/Beretta and they did some work on it. You wont know if what they did worked until you get a chance to shoot it. Go shoot it and see if what they did fixed it.

Guns are finicky and a thousandth of an inch can make or break accuracy.

 

[prm]

I‘ve had good luck with Tubbs Final Finish. Every rifle I’ve used it on shoots better afterwards.

edit: I have never used the entire kit, but if it’s that bad, perhaps it warrants a try.

 

[jmerchant.1]

I‘ve had good luck with Tubbs Final Finish. Every rifle I’ve used it on shoots better afterwards.

edit: I have never used the entire kit, but if it’s that bad, perhaps it warrants a try.

Is this a fire lapping process? I’ve always been told these do more harm than good

 

[Rob5589]

You haven't shot it since the repair so how do you know it isn't shooting well now? Shoot it, report back.

 

[prm]

Is this a fire lapping process? I’ve always been told these do more harm than good

Made every barrel I've done it on shoot better. 6-8 barrels maybe. It does move the lands out. But since it shoots better, that seems irrelevant.

 

[Dhbwa]

Made every barrel I've done it on shoot better. 6-8 barrels maybe. It does move the lands out. But since it shoots better, that seems irrelevant.

I don’t use the Tubbs kit as I have lapping compound and use it when I thought it might help and always helps. Just be judicious.

 

[Jlee91w]

OP, did you ever shoot it? Curious if it is any better?

 

[jmerchant.1]

OP, did you ever shoot it? Curious if it is any better?

Not yet, haven’t had a chance to get out to the range. Will be sure to report back once I shoot it.

 

[jmerchant.1]

Well men, I finally had a little time to shoot the T3X after it’s return from Beretta. I slowly fired two, 5-shot groups not allowing the barrel to overheat between shots. The first 5 were cheap 130gr Federal Blue Box. The second 5 were 140gr Federal Premium Berger Hybrid Hunters. Both printed 1.25” groups which is disappointing to me. I know that’s only ten rounds and will try some others next chance I get, but I’m not convinced Beretta’s “efforts” to fix it made an ounce of difference. I’m very confident in my rings/base and scope and all shots felt good from a solid bench with sandbags and no wind. I’m convinced it’s the rough ream job that’s hurting my accuracy. The rifle is Minute Of Deer all day long, but not fulfilling its 1 Minute Of Angle guarantee.