Why does my tikka Suck?

z987k

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I scrolled through all of the threads on here about Tikka and came to the conclusion that you should sell that rifle and use the proceeds to take up crochet. It's impossible for a Tikka to shoot poorly, both mathematically and spiritually. Then again..........

Or, you should start a process of elimination. Scope, mount, bedding, ammo. I'll state that some rifles never shoot well. I've fixed more than a few that suffered from this issue. Most were re-barrelled. Oddly enough, all of these, as I think about it, were purchased USED. Hmmmm.

Jeremy
Even though I just sold a tikka purely due to lack of use, I do look with a real skeptical eye to used tikkas for sale.
 
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My sako finnlight (same barrel I believe) shoots much better with a totally filthy barrel. I shoot Barnes LRX out of it.
 

Calbuck

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I also shoot a T3 superlite 7rm and it shoots just about everything well..I use Barnes 150TTSX in CA, 162 ELDX out of state. Thing shoots 140's well also. I have tried 160 Sierra GK and they shoot decent. Nosler stuff pretty good. All over RL22 or H4831sc powder. All handloads, never have spent much time with factory loads.
 

sndmn11

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Check the bottom plastic to see if the screw holes are cracked, recessed, etc. The 30-06 I had was similar "all of the sudden" replacing with AL bottom metal because I liked the look made me discover that the bottom plastic holes were sunk.
 
OP
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Ffjmoore

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Jul 1, 2020
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Bottom metal looks in fine shape.

The rounds I have shot are all barnes.
139 lrx
150 and 160 both I believe are tsx

My handloads were (from memory) 65.3gr of rl22 and a 145gr barnes lrx.

My next move is to shoot some standard lead bullets.
 

BjornF16

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I also had a TIkka 7RM that would not shoot. I came to the conclusion that God hates 7mm.

HAHA! Sorry, that's not much help. To be honest I also had a Tikka 300 WSM that would not shoot under 2" with LOTS of different reloads, scopes and shooters. Sometimes you just get a crap barrel.

I had a 7mm-08 T3X that wouldn't shoot worth beans...tried all kinds of factory ammo.

Put on CarbonSix barrel and dropped into Allterra Arms stock...shoots great.

OP, let me know if you end up selling...I'm looking for a Tikka magnum for a project gun.
 
OP
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Ffjmoore

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Lol, everybody wants to buy my crummy shooting t3! I gave $400 for it and was planning to rebarrel and put it in a new stock. I thought I would just use it as is for a year. Now I'm sucked into finding out what's wrong with the thing!
 

Ryan Avery

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Shoot2HuntU
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Lol, everybody wants to buy my crummy shooting t3! I gave $400 for it and was planning to rebarrel and put it in a new stock. I thought I would just use it as is for a year. Now I'm sucked into finding out what's wrong with the thing!
Rule number one never buy a $400 Tikka.
 

Fatcamp

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Lol, everybody wants to buy my crummy shooting t3! I gave $400 for it and was planning to rebarrel and put it in a new stock. I thought I would just use it as is for a year. Now I'm sucked into finding out what's wrong with the thing!

Holy cats! It doesn't shoot that bad.
 

False_Cast

Lil-Rokslider
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Step 1: read this and make sure your scope is mounted correctly. https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/scope-mounting-to-maintain-zero.78482/

What’s the optic and mounting system? That’d be where I’d look first. Many scopes are not mounted correctly and fellas are quick to blame other things. I once saw a scope mounting instructional video on YouTube from a manufacturer that instructed customers to put oil on scope ring and base screws.
 
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Ffjmoore

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Everything torqued to recommend specs per manufactures. No signs of movement on the scope.20201215_180159.jpg
 

AKG

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Jan 23, 2020
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I had a tikka t3, I bought it about 10 years ago. Tried a large variety of factory ammo, hornady, federal, remington, barnes, etc. Never could get it to shoot acceptably 2"-minute of paper plate. I got a limbsaver pad, clamp on muzzle brake thinking I was being overly sensitive. Those made it more pleasant to shoot but didn't i.prove groups. Recoil lug was snug and in good condition.

Next was trying to grind the bump in the stock off; no difference. Then a different stock, again no difference.

Started reloading and got some more acceptable results; 0.6-1.5" groups at 100 yards. Tighter groups with 162 eldx, the bit bigger with 175 partitions.
I took it bear hunting and did shoot a bear with the partition. That winter I tried stretching it out with the eldx's, it maintained about moa groups to 400 yards. Then I moved back to 460 yards and had a few keyholes that managed to hit the backer board.

That was the end of the tikka 7rm for me. Last fall I ordered an x-caliber 6.5 prc prefit that wouldn't chamber a round. No help from x-caliber on the chamber issue. So it's been at a smith for a while to get the chamber straightened out for hopefully a future barrel replacement. I ordered a proof 6.5 prc prefit, it shoots well consistently. I haven't shot it much at e tended range yet but a few weeks ago I did set up a gong at 380 yds and shot 3 round groups on two separate days. One measured 2.5" and the other was right at an inch shooting 127 lrx. I'm happy I finally switched the barrel. The 7rm barrel might get turned into a tomato stake. Hopefully the smith can sort out the x-caliber barrel for the future.
 
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Everything torqued to recommend specs per manufactures. No signs of movement on the scope.View attachment 242821
I had a friend with this same type of issue years back. He finally brought me his rifle. The first thing I did was to pull the scope. One of the ring screws was sheared off. A quick replacement fixed all his problems. I would pull it all apart and reassemble everything, including floating and bedding it. But hey,like I previously said, if and when you are ready to part with her, let me know.
 

wyosam

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Aug 5, 2019
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Life is too short to fight with it. It’s the giving season, so I’ll give you the $400 you paid for it. Where are these $400 Tikkas when I’m looking for an action?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

rootacres

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Jan 5, 2018
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There are a lot of variables and I may not be on the right track but after reading your post there are a couple things that come to mind (and they are probably already mentioned, I didn't read all the posts)

1.) You only tested monos, maybe try Bergers or Accubonds. In my experience Berger Classic Hunters, Accubonds and TTSX have shot the best, in that order.

2.) Scope or ring issue

3.) Action torque spec. Tikka don't have the greatest factory stocks too.

Hope you figure it out, good luck
 
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