Tikka ACE Game accuracy expectations

SubMOA

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Recently purchased a Tikka T3 ACE Game in .223 with a 20 inch barrel with 1:8 twist. Have topped it with a Ziess Conquest 4-16x50. I bought this rifle with the expectation that it would match the .25 MOA results I get from my Tikka tactical in .308 using hand loads. Thus far I am barely maintaining MOA. I have tested ADI 69 grain and Federal Gold Medal 77 grain. Is there any one that can share insight on practical group size they are getting with factory or handloads with the ACE in .223 and a 1:8 twist.
 
Recently purchased a Tikka T3 ACE Game in .223 with a 20 inch barrel with 1:8 twist. Have topped it with a Ziess Conquest 4-16x50. I bought this rifle with the expectation that it would match the .25 MOA results I get from my Tikka tactical in .308 using hand loads. Thus far I am barely maintaining MOA. I have tested ADI 69 grain and Federal Gold Medal 77 grain. Is there any one that can share insight on practical group size they are getting with factory or handloads with the ACE in .223 and a 1:8 twist.

How many rounds in your groups?


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I generally shoot 5 rounds per grp. If I’m really trying to get a small grp, I will warm barrel with two foulers and pause one minute between shots.
 
I generally shoot 5 rounds per grp. If I’m really trying to get a small grp, I will warm barrel with two foulers and pause one minute between shots.

I usually discount any results less than 10-round groups, but five is still better than three. I don’t generally feel the need to let my barrel cool until I get mirage off my suppressor, but I try to keep myself shooting slow so I don’t rush shots. My normal practice is to shoot a 5-shot group with one rifle, then switch to another, etc., until each rifle has fired the desired number of rounds in the group. I’ll click off a couple of snap cap shots between each rifle and take a break if I start to feel fatigued.

My .223 T3X is getting the barrel cut and threaded right now, so I can’t comment on its accuracy yet. I have a ton of different factory loads to test once it gets back.

My 6.5 CM has managed to stay under 1.5” with Hornady 140-grain ELDM factory loads, which I consider just fine for a hunting rifle. I am optimistic that I can shrink that some with reloads, but if I don’t have time to reload before rifle season, I will happily use it as is.


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“Keep on keepin’ on…”
 
I usually get some rounds down the barrel, 100 or more before I start looking for an accurate load. I do pay attention to cold bore shots and look for issues that might indicate a bedding problem.
 
I usually get some rounds down the barrel, 100 or more before I start looking for an accurate load. I do pay attention to cold bore shots and look for issues that might indicate a bedding problem.

Yes. Shoot it some more and it may just settle down. Also, try some different types of ammo. Hornady Black 75gr HPBT and Hornady’s 73gr ELDM would be great.
 
Thanks everyone for your input. Yes, .25 MOA is definitely a high bar for any rifle. However, a .50 MOA should be achievable with the right ammo. I really curious if there are shooters out there achieving “good “ results with a specific ammo with this particular rifle. I do have a half dozen loads on order to test and will post results if you guys are interested. Just so you know, here is what a tikka tactical in .308 and 16 inch barrel is capable of with handloads.
 

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I usually discount any results less than 10-round groups, but five is still better than three. I don’t generally feel the need to let my barrel cool until I get mirage off my suppressor, but I try to keep myself shooting slow so I don’t rush shots. My normal practice is to shoot a 5-shot group with one rifle, then switch to another, etc., until each rifle has fired the desired number of rounds in the group. I’ll click off a couple of snap cap shots between each rifle and take a break if I start to feel fatigued.

My .223 T3X is getting the barrel cut and threaded right now, so I can’t comment on its accuracy yet. I have a ton of different factory loads to test once it gets back.

My 6.5 CM has managed to stay under 1.5” with Hornady 140-grain ELDM factory loads, which I consider just fine for a hunting rifle. I am optimistic that I can shrink that some with reloads, but if I don’t have time to reload before rifle season, I will happily use it as is.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”
Was your 223 barrel an Ace or factory? I'm in the same boat doing a conversion on a Tikka and I remain on the fence getting a factory from JAoutdoors or having UM cut an Ace for me (and have them install it).
 
Was your 223 barrel an Ace or factory? I'm in the same boat doing a conversion on a Tikka and I remain on the fence getting a factory from JAoutdoors or having UM cut an Ace for me (and have them install it).

My .223 is a factory barrel. The tracking information says it will be back tonight, which should mean I am able to shoot it on Friday morning.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”
 
Thanks everyone for your input. Yes, .25 MOA is definitely a high bar for any rifle. However, a .50 MOA should be achievable with the right ammo. I really curious if there are shooters out there achieving “good “ results with a specific ammo with this particular rifle. I do have a half dozen loads on order to test and will post results if you guys are interested. Just so you know, here is what a tikka tactical in .308 and 16 inch barrel is capable of with handloads.
No one outside of a benchrest competitor wouldnt be tickled pink with .25" 5-round groups if those are the norm for that gun. But you're also comparing factory ammo to handloads. I also dont know what the difference is between your two rifles, ie if one is a heavy gun with a 30x scope and the other is a sporter with a 9x scope, etc, or if they are apples:apples. ime you cannot expect groups like that from factory ammo from very many rifles, aftermarket barrel or not. With my tikka sporter guns with an oem barrel and a lower magnification scope shooting factory ammo I'd say .75moa 5-round groups would be a lot more realistic. Yeah, I get .5moa groups sometimes but that's not the norm for me.
 
I dont think there are a bunch of ACE rifles out there to draw from but I'd expect them to perform similarly to the CTR, Varmint/Super varmint, and tac A1 tikkas from a precision standpoint.

An occasional 0.25 moa 5 shot group is one thing, doing it on command is another. I've never had a rifle i could shoot that tight on command.

69 SMK ADI stuff hasn't been great in most tikkas barrels seen. 73 ELDm factory has been quite good.
 
Was your 223 barrel an Ace or factory? I'm in the same boat doing a conversion on a Tikka and I remain on the fence getting a factory from JAoutdoors or having UM cut an Ace for me (and have them install it).
My setup is 100% factory. It is a 20 inch barrel with a 1:8 twist. I also run an Omega 300 suppressor on it. I ran a pretty extensive commercial ammo test this morning and had some interesting findings. The rifle absolutely Does Not like Hornady match (White box) in either 73 grn ELD or 75 grn BTHP. Both shot greater than 2 MOA. It will shoot Hornady V Max 55 grn at about .5 MOA. Was also able to achieve.5 MOA with Federal Gold Medal with 77 grn SMK’s. The Federal Gold with Berger 73 grns bullets did open up to roughly 1 MOA. (Will retest the Berger). The clear winner was Federal Gold Medal 69 Grn SMK’s with a .3 MOA. I have included a pic of the winner. Hope this useful for other ACE owners.
 

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Are your group sizes repeatable? ie are those 5-round group sizes the average of several groups, or is that from only 1 or 2 groups? If that's from only 1 or 2 groups I'd be curious if you repeated the same test again if the result was identical?
 
As you know groups are never identical from group to group or day to day. However the information provided is a fair representation of what is what the rifle and ammo is capable of. Today was the first group testing for several of the loads, however I have tested the Federal Gold Medal SMK’s several times with a .5 MOA results, if I do my part.
 
As you know groups are never identical from group to group or day to day. However the information provided is a fair representation of what is what the rifle and ammo is capable of. Today was the first group testing for several of the loads, however I have tested the Federal Gold Medal SMK’s several times with a .5 MOA results, if I do my part.
Looks awesome for an Ace barrel (today) :), nice shooting! Did UM do the barrel or someone else?

Believe they quoted me a 1:7 build when I talked to them.
 
Looks awesome for an Ace barrel (today) :), nice shooting! Did UM do the barrel or someone else?

Believe they quoted me a 1:7 build when I talked to them.
You are misunderstanding the OP. His rifle is a new factory rifle that Tikka has produced called the Tikka ACE Game Changer. It is a chassis gamer style rifle for shooting PRS type matches. This rifle has nothing to do with ACE barrels made in Idaho.

Jay

 
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