tikka t3x accuracy issue... maybe?

[rsipes3]

wanted to get some opinions from you guys on if if i got a rifle issue, optic isssue, or no issue at all. so a while back i picked up a t3x in 7mm-08. topped it with hawkins rings and a leupold vx3hd cds 4.5-14x40. i realize this may not be a great quality scope. from the start ive not been able to get what i would call good groups. although from the other posts in here this may end up being how it shoots and thats all the better its going to do. i shoot 5 shot groups giving several minutes in between and groups average around 1.25" at 100. some more, some less. im shooting handloads made up of peterson brass, and barnes 140gr ttsx, and ive tried varget and imr4064 powders. i havent messed with seating depth that much with this rifle. i seated them out to just fit in the magazine. i may experiment with that more later as well as different bullets but i need something that will work good for deer and elk in this caliber. ive put about 80 rounds on it so far.... well a few days ago i took a dremel to the stock support to remove the pressure point. i did not fully freefloat it all the way to the action like some reccommend. just the pressure point thats about 4" up or so. went out and shot 2 5 round groups today. at first i thought i was on to something. the first group looked promising and i thought hmm thats more like it... untill i dialed up 3moa and shot another group(same poa, new poi). now the group went from .75 to 1.8"... so im scratchin my head here as to whats goin on. the only thing i changed was i dialed up 3moa.. so im wondering if its a scope issue or if it just happened to be to coincidence. i know everyone is a fan of 10+ shot groups and im willing to try that next. but just was trying to find something decent without burning up a whole bunch of components. what would you all try next?

 

[atmat]

leupold vx3hd cds 4.5-14x40

Try a different scope. These things wander so much you’ll never get reliable data.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

How large are your 5- or 10-shot groups with factory ammo?

It’s possible this is just how the rifle shoots. Or just how you shoot this rifle (no offense meant).

My first step would be to check all the action screws, scope mount, rings, etc. make sure they are all good and tight.

Then check out the scope by swapping it out for another one.

Then consider whether there could be any issues with your reloads. Maybe try out some basic factory loads to establish a baseline?


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Macintosh]

FF. EP 17. Rifle system setup to mitigate issues with loss of zero or grouping - Shoot2Hunt

Form goes over the best rifle systems to mitigate the loss of zero or grouping.

shoot2hunt.com

M

Thread 'Most efficient process to diagnose and fix problems with loss of zero or change in precision?'

May 29, 2024

This topic of troubleshooting a loss of zero or a gun that seems to suddenly be less precise than normal comes up so frequently that I'm surprised I haven't seen a dedicated thread on the topic. I am interested in what people's specific process and order of operations is for diagnosing a problem with a rifle holding zero or a change in accuracy or precision. By this I mean, in a situation where a gun that was zeroed suddenly and inexplicably starts putting shots off the zero (shots were dead-on, now it's low and left), or precision changed noticeably (groups were...

• Macintosh
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Firearms

 

[rsipes3]

Try a different scope. These things wander so much you’ll never get reliable data.

it seems too coincidental to ignore

 

[rsipes3]

How large are your 5- or 10-shot groups with factory ammo?

It’s possible this is just how the rifle shoots. Or just how you shoot this rifle (no offense meant).

My first step would be to check all the action screws, scope mount, rings, etc. make sure they are all good and tight.

Then check out the scope by swapping it out for another one.

Then consider whether there could be any issues with your reloads. Maybe try out some basic factory loads to establish a baseline?


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

ive never shot factory ammo through it. i went through all the hardware the other night when i removed the pressure point in the stock. i do think the scope may be an issue. as ive stated above i feel like those results are too coincidental to ignore based off of the only changes ive made.

 

[SDHNTR]

You’ve only tried one bullet? If yes, you cannot yet say the rifle is inaccurate.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

ive never shot factory ammo through it. i went through all the hardware the other night when i removed the pressure point in the stock. i do think the scope may be an issue. as ive stated above i feel like those results are too coincidental to ignore based off of the only changes ive made.

I mean nothing against you personally, but I have encountered several reloaders whose ammo was all over the place. It’s sad, but true. If you are very confident in the consistency of your reloads and that you aren’t trying to force a powder-bullet combination that just doesn’t work, then skip over the factory ammo. But I usually test out a variety of different factory loads before beginning reloading. If all factory groups are terrible, something is wrong elsewhere in the system. I don’t like wasting time and components at the reloading bench if there may be other issues.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Q_Sertorius]

It’s also possible that you have the old Leupold two step going there. There is a reason I have sold all of mine but one… and it is for sale.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[rsipes3]

You’ve only tried one bullet? If yes, you cannot yet say the rifle is inaccurate.

ive tried 2. and i do agree with you im not nessecarily saying its inaccurate. im just trying to troubleshoot an accuracy problem

 

[rsipes3]

I mean nothing against you personally, but I have encountered several reloaders whose ammo was all over the place. It’s sad, but true. If you are very confident in the consistency of your reloads and that you aren’t trying to force a powder-bullet combination that just doesn’t work, then skip over the factory ammo. But I usually test out a variety of different factory loads before beginning reloading. If all factory groups are terrible, something is wrong elsewhere in the system. I don’t like wasting time and components at the reloading bench if there may be other issues.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

i get what your saying. and i may get some factory ammo to try.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

i get what your saying. and i may get some factory ammo to try.

I hope you are able to solve your problem.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

You’ve only tried one bullet? If yes, you cannot yet say the rifle is inaccurate.

I know it annoying when it’s not the bullet you want, but this is true

 

[bigunit]

Not every rifle likes barnes. And that is plenty acceptable accuracy out to 3-400 yards on elk and moose which is getting close to the lower end of expansion velocity anyway. I would try another bullet. Maybe an eldm or sierra tgk.