Tikka experts, weigh in please…

[sooter76]

So I bought a Tikka T3x Lite Roughtech chambered in 6.5 PRC a couple months back. I’ve struggled to get decent groups out of it in multiple range trips with most being 1.5 MOA or worse with multiple quality hunting loads. Some of these groups have been downright abysmal being over 2 MOA, while a few have skirted just inside 1 MOA. I’m not a world beater, but I am a pretty decent shot. Finally today for some reason I started getting some really solid groups with most cloverleafing. I’m not doing anything different so I’m not sure what’s causing the drastic change. I’ve been using Hornady 143 ELD-X Precision Hunter for the last 150+ rounds at this point. I know that Tikka’s have a tendency to speed up after a few hundred rounds and I’m easily into the 200 round count, but I’ve never heard anyone talk about groups tightening like this.

This is my first Tikka, so I’m hoping those with more experience can give me some insight into why my groups may be tightening up like this.

 

[Snowwolfe]

The only thing that popped into my head is there was a small burr on the muzzle/crown and it finally was worn away by the shooting. A tiny defect on the crown can cause groups to go crazy!
Congratulations on your success with finding a good shooting combination

 

[Steve300xcw]

Hows it shoot with somebody else at the wheel?

 

[StuckoYota99]

What scope rings are you using and did you torque them properly? Is your action screws torqued properly? do you clean your rifle in between range trips?

 

[sooter76]

What scope rings are you using and did you torque them properly? Is your action screws torqued properly? do you clean your rifle in between range trips?

Vortex Pro Series… And yes, torqued to spec.
Action screws are torqued within specs, but probably at the high end. And yes, I clean my rifle after every trip… Tho to be honest it does occasionally take a few days to get around to.

 

[Matt5266]

Vortex Pro Series… And yes, torqued to spec.
Action screws are torqued within specs, but probably at the high end. And yes, I clean my rifle after every trip… Tho to be honest it does occasionally take a few days to get around to.

Quit cleaning it and keep shooting. Barrels probably just settling in, or as others said there was a defect that wore away.... or it's as simple as you are getting used to shooting it, 6.5 PRC isnt a thumper by any means but it's no slouch either.

 

[kickemall]

Definitely quit cleaning it.

 

[gentleman4561]

Have you compared it to another lightweight magnum? I have had multiple friends buy lightweight magnums and complain they don’t shoot, but it’s because lightweight magnums are no fun to shoot and most induce a lot of flinch.

 

[hunterjmj]

Agree, stop cleaning and see how she shoots. I'm around 200 rounds without cleaning and it's shooting lights out. I did clean it initially when I first bought it.

 

[199p]

I think its more just time in the seat shooting it, especially if your running stock recoil pad those are nasty

 

[SloppyJ]

Id bet it's just breaking in. I've never had one do anything that dramatic i just typically see an increase in velocity and more consistency in group size.