Tikka Woes

[roosiebull]

All my Tikkas
All my brother’s Tikkas
All my dad’s Tikkas
Shoot like the targets in the pics I posted.

Handloads, granted, but load workup was pretty easy.

7mm-08:
120 BT & TTSX
140 PT, AB, VLD-H
150 ELD-X

Pick your projectile. Big Game and a magnum primer, R-P brass.




P

Since when did you like tikkas?

I think you were a tikka fan before it was cool to be a tikka fan

 

[Pharmseller]

Since when did you like tikkas?

I think you were a tikka fan before it was cool to be a tikka fan

It’s been a minute or two.

And 30 pounds or so.

Used to be a Weatherby fan until I realized the big stylish “W” stood for Wish, as in “I wish this thing could shoot.”



P

 

[DudeMic.26]

I haven’t. Pulling it all apart today

Are you looking for Tikka 7mm-08 loads that are accurate?
That’s not a problem at all.
139’s, sst , 140 SGK, 150 SGK, or, federal fusion, is sold in 140 gr, although I found some 150 gr factory overrun once. They are very accurate.
The 150 gr SGK or federal fusion respond very well to IMR-4350.
The 139’s & 140’s I use IMR-4064
Accuracy and terminal performance on whitetail.. when I say accuracy.
The possibilities of one ragged hole are very real. With these projectiles and powder. I’m getting older and getting a rifle to group takes repeatability. Hold the cross hairs the same every time and the grip and trigger squeeze the same every time. IF I do my job- one ragged hole. Well under an inch. In my prime if a rifle would not shoot 3-shots- all holes touching at 100 yards- I traded it.. now that I’m older and my eyesight is failing me and my shoulder damage.. it’s more difficult but I get it done sometimes yet.. I’ve had a Burris Droptine on my tikka 7-08 from the beginning.
I’ve shot moa to 300 yards with 139 sst and W760.. which btw is not the most accurate powder so I don’t use it anymore and- NEVER will I use blc-2 again.. I may have to go to H4350 as IMR powder is owned by the same company that owns Alliant.. getting expensive.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I'm feel you, OP. I've had a few Tikkas over the years. Early ones (circa 2006-2010, mostly 308s and a 270WSM) shot great, all of them. Have had 4 since then (3 x 30-06, and one 7mm-08), have not been that great. To be fair, 1.5 to 1.7 ish MOA guns for 10 shot groups, with ammo they likes, but also to be fair 2 or 3 MOA with ammo they don't. Def not like the earlier ones I had that would tack drive nearly whatever I fed them.

i have a 7mm-08 currently that will run 1.5 MOA with ammo it likes for 10 shots, but have never got it under that. 5 or 6 bullets and 4 or 5 powders, all about the same

If I was a 3 shot group guy, it's shot a bunch of decent 3 shot groups. But by 5 to 7, the truth starts to show.

YMMV, but I haven't bought new Tikka that made me happy in nearly 20 years.

 

[DudeMic.26]

Since when did you like tikkas?

I think you were a tikka fan before it was cool to be a tikka fan

I’m interested in your 150 Eldx with Ramshot Big Game load. Please.

 

[DudeMic.26]

I'm feel you, OP. I've had a few Tikkas over the years. Early ones (circa 2006-2010, mostly 308s and a 270WSM) shot great, all of them. Have had 4 since then (3 x 30-06, and one 7mm-08), have not been that great. To be fair, 1.5 to 1.7 ish MOA guns for 10 shot groups, with ammo they likes, but also to be fair 2 or 3 MOA with ammo they don't. Def not like the earlier ones I had that would tack drive nearly whatever I fed them.

i have a 7mm-08 currently that will run 1.5 MOA with ammo it likes for 10 shots, but have never got it under that. 5 or 6 bullets and 4 or 5 powders, all about the same

If I was a 3 shot group guy, it's shot a bunch of decent 3 shot groups. But by 5 to 7, the truth starts to show.

YMMV, but I haven't bought new Tikka that made me happy in nearly 20 years.

I’ve had some Tikka in the last 10 years that have been superb.
Especially the 7mm-08.
And two 30/06’s ; Tikka makes the only 30/06 I would be interested in.
150 gr sst with imr-4064
My 7mm-08 is amazing accurate.

 

[JGRaider]

Never had an issue with Tikka accuracy since my first one, a M695 7mag in 1998.

 

[noisy]

Tikka T3x 30-06 is the most accurate gun I've ever owned. No comparison to the Model 70 I traded in when I bought it. That thing sucked. Could never figure out why.

 

[DudeMic.26]

Tikka T3x 30-06 is the most accurate gun I've ever owned. No comparison to the Model 70 I traded in when I bought it. That thing sucked. Could never figure out why.

I had wanted to like the 30/06.
I had tried, Remington, Ruger, Winchester.. I had pretty much given up- when a friend offered me a Tikka T3 Hunter. I purchased a synthetic stock. A limbsaver. I put a scope on it and probably the biggest surprise of shooting.
I did 3- 3 shot groups to align the scope. With factory Winchester power points. These groups were each either holes touching or very close. The third 3 shot group was one slightly ragged hole.
Over the next months. I took 12 shots on game with one miss.
(Too close, bad angle, shot low)
I’ve owned multiple Tikka rifles in different calibers - that is the stand out - Tikka also seems to have more felt recoil per caliber than most rifles- except for the 30/06. I accredited this to the limbsaver.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I’ve had some Tikka in the last 10 years that have been superb.
Especially the 7mm-08.
And two 30/06’s ; Tikka makes the only 30/06 I would be interested in.
150 gr sst with imr-4064
My 7mm-08 is amazing accurate.

I've had enough accurate Tikkas to be confident they generally make good, but I've had enough duds to know they ain't perfect either. I really really wanted the 30-06 thing to work, that's why I had 3 of them... but none of them would play nice enough. Oh well, such is life. I got one of the 06's rebarrled into a 7x57 1:8 twist Shilen, and it is tied with my old 308 Tikka for the most accurate hunting rifle I've ever owned or shot.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Sorry to hear you don’t like your rifle. I have four Tikkas at the moment and they all shoot fantastic. They all eat handloads.

I’ve found the stock triggers are excellent for a factory rifle. I’ve had no reason to mess with springs and make the rifle less reliable.

Seems like you’re swapping between cup and cores and monos. Are you cleaning your bore in between each switch? Some believe swapping between different bullet types without cleaning down to bare metal is needed. Perhaps trying that would yield better results?

I think the standard T3X stock is nothing special, but works. I have after market stocks on 3 of my 4 rifles. The one that’s still OEM is a CTR model. I actually don’t mind the CTR stock at all. However, it will likely be replaced with a McMillan when I have spare cash lying around.

 

[DudeMic.26]

I've had enough accurate Tikkas to be confident they generally make good, but I've had enough duds to know they ain't perfect either. I really really wanted the 30-06 thing to work, that's why I had 3 of them... but none of them would play nice enough. Oh well, such is life. I got one of the 06's rebarrled into a 7x57 1:8 twist Shilen, and it is tied with my old 308 Tikka for the most accurate hunting rifle I've ever owned or shot.

I’ve owned 2 tikka 30/06’s they run 150 gr factory loads- very, very well. But I hand loaded 150 gr sst for them..
I’ve owned multiple Tikka .308’s..
plus 25/06. It was accurate but not as it should have been.
A .243 win - Supreme Accuracy.
It was 1:10 twist and 95 gr hand loads were as heavy as it would go.. and keep the one hole accuracy.
I did have one Dud tikka - A .270 win - idk what was wrong with it. I didn’t keep it long enough to see..
But my 7mm-08 is my favorite of all.
It’s one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned..
I have had a Remington 722, in 222 rem.. that stands out as the most accurate..
Tikka are really good. They are mass produced products. Every one won’t be the same.
The action on the Tikka is what caught my eye on the first one I ever picked up. Smoothest action I had ever seen..

 

[wyosam]

All my tikkas have shot well, though I’ve only shot 2 in factory form. Have to say, I don’t love my Tikka 223. I want to like it, and it shoots fine, it just doesn’t do much for me. Kind of wish I’d put that money elsewhere. I guess it works out ok since I have to pretty much avoid recoil for a while post neck surgery. Maybe I’ll learn to like it more this winter.


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[DudeMic.26]

Sorry to hear you don’t like your rifle. I have four Tikkas at the moment and they all shoot fantastic. They all eat handloads.

I’ve found the stock triggers are excellent for a factory rifle. I’ve had no reason to mess with springs and make the rifle less reliable.

Seems like you’re swapping between cup and cores and monos. Are you cleaning your bore in between each switch? Some believe swapping between different bullet types without cleaning down to bare metal is needed. Perhaps trying that would yield better results?

I think the standard T3X stock is nothing special, but works. I have after market stocks on 3 of my 4 rifles. The one that’s still OEM is a CTR model. I actually don’t mind the CTR stock at all. However, it will likely be replaced with a McMillan when I have spare cash lying around.

The stock is really not that good in an otherwise great product.
Even the first gen TC Venture had a better stock than the factory T3x lite..

All my tikkas have shot well, though I’ve only shot 2 in factory form. Have to say, I don’t love my Tikka 223. I want to like it, and it shoots fine, it just doesn’t do much for me. Kind of wish I’d put that money elsewhere. I guess it works out ok since I have to pretty much avoid recoil for a while post neck surgery. Maybe I’ll learn to like it more this winter.


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What Twist is the barrel?
I have not used their .223 but my understanding is the barrel twist determines the bullet weight??
Hope it works out well for you! Good luck