Tikka Accuracy

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Whaler63

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Hi Folks,

Curious if any of you Tikka owners have experienced accuracy issues. Or better put...what is the "Finnish National Secret" load used to generate that 1 MOA so highly touted?
 
My 1935 Tikka barreled Finn Army M-27 Mosin Nagant does it with hand loaded 7.62X54R brass, CCI primers 43 grns Varget, and A Finn D-66 projectile atop.
 
I have 595 & 695 Tikkas in 6 different calibers. All are sub-MOA guns with my reloads. Other than change out the trigger spring, they are just like they came from the factory. I attribute this to good barrels and good craftsmanship.

Members on this site helped me with my 30-06 load and the others I developed on my own. As an earlier poster mentioned, caliber would help.
 
My 30-06 is one that has its "own" load, it doesn't like any factory loads and doesn't like 180gr bullets. I found a node that has a .6gr difference. A friend that has one his likes a different load than mine, basically I think you will need to work up a load for your specific gun.
 
Sometimes groups widen if it is not clean. Mine likes to be real clean and shoot a couple sighters. Then it is about 1/2 MOA usually. I haven't kept track of round count but it does drop off after not a ton of rounds. under fifty I would guess. Or it could be something else I am not aware of.
 
Thanks for the input all. Apparently I'm the outlier. I've gone through 2 Tikkas in less than 2 years. T3x in 270 Winchester. T3 Forest in 270WSM. Both guns could not keep anything better than 2.3" at 100yds. I have 4 other rifles, including a 270win. All of which shoot below 1 MOA at 100yds (if not clovers) I have mounted all of my scopes and laser bore and leveled. All threads sealed with anaerobic "Blue" sealant and torqued to spec per manufacturer.

The first T3x was warrantied by BUSA. I have since given them another try with the T3 Forest in 270WSM. Topped with a new VTX DB 4-16x42 Deadhold and Gamereaper mount. I have shot factory ammo and tried to work up hand loads for this gun. My hand loading is as follows:

* Barnes TSX BT COP 140 gn. RL-22, 58.5 a 61 grains
* Nosler Partition 140 gn. IMR 4350, 57 -60 grains
* Nosler E-Tip COP 130 gn. IMR 4350, 59-61 grains.

*** NOTE. On my other 270 (Manlicher Shoenauer) w/VXII-3x9, I shoot 57gns of H4831 w/Nosler 130gn Partition well under 1 MOA at 100yds.***

I went to the range yesterday with factory ammo as follows:
270 WSM - Federal Premium 130gn COP
300Winmag - Remington Corelokts 180gn PSP (20 y.o. Ruger M77mkii w/VX3, 2.5x-10x40)

I shot both guns off a Caldwell Lead Sled on a bench at 100 yards (See attached photos) The picture with 2 targets is from the Tikka Forest 270WSM. The picture with the single target is from the M77mkii 300WM.
 

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Thanks for the input all. Apparently I'm the outlier. I've gone through 2 Tikkas in less than 2 years. T3x in 270 Winchester. T3 Forest in 270WSM. Both guns could not keep anything better than 2.3" at 100yds. I have 4 other rifles, including a 270win. All of which shoot below 1 MOA at 100yds (if not clovers) I have mounted all of my scopes and laser bore and leveled. All threads sealed with anaerobic "Blue" sealant and torqued to spec per manufacturer.

The first T3x was warrantied by BUSA. I have since given them another try with the T3 Forest in 270WSM. Topped with a new VTX DB 4-16x42 Deadhold and Gamereaper mount. I have shot factory ammo and tried to work up hand loads for this gun. My hand loading is as follows:

* Barnes TSX BT COP 140 gn. RL-22, 58.5 a 61 grains
* Nosler Partition 140 gn. IMR 4350, 57 -60 grains
* Nosler E-Tip COP 130 gn. IMR 4350, 59-61 grains.

*** NOTE. On my other 270 (Manlicher Shoenauer) w/VXII-3x9, I shoot 57gns of H4831 w/Nosler 130gn Partition well under 1 MOA at 100yds.***

I went to the range yesterday with factory ammo as follows:
270 WSM - Federal Premium 130gn COP
300Winmag - Remington Corelokts 180gn PSP (20 y.o. Ruger M77mkii w/VX3, 2.5x-10x40)

I shot both guns off a Caldwell Lead Sled on a bench at 100 yards (See attached photos) The picture with 2 targets is from the Tikka Forest 270WSM. The picture with the single target is from the M77mkii 300WM.

Oh man, don't tease! Please show us a pic of your Mannlicher–Schönauer!
 
My T3 Lite in .270 Win is extremely accurate with " a bunch" of IMR 4831 behind a 130 Nosler Accubond (3019fps). Killed a deer and a coyote with it. Kicks like a mule though, it's a legit 3/4 MOA load at worst and factory Federal Fusions shoot under MOA too.

I'm now working up a reduced recoil load to save my jacked up shoulder and a 110 Accubond and H4895 is showing real promise. Not done with load development yet.
 
Tikka rifles have some design features that contribute to accuracy and reduced manufacturing cost. The enclosed bolt makes for a stiffer action. The lack of an internal magazine also leads to better accuracy as well as non-traditional bedding systems. They don't waste time or money on aesthetic features and choose to concentrate their efforts only on accuracy and reliability. We see several new rifle designs that have copied those features and they are also proving to be very accurate at budget prices. Examples are the Ruger Amereican, TC Venture, Savage Axis Winchester XPR, and probably some others that don't come to mind at the moment.
 
Two of my regular shooting buddies have Tikka T3s in .308, and both regularly use Fed. Gold Match. They both regularly put 3 rounds into 2 touching holes at 100 yds. I usually get a 1/2 in. flyer. No accuracy problems with those.
 
I've only had my newly purchased older Tikka 658 in 30-06 out a few times but it seems very accurate. Definitely out shoots my ability to shoot rifles, I am the limiting factor.
 
Hi Folks,

Curious if any of you Tikka owners have experienced accuracy issues. Or better put...what is the "Finnish National Secret" load used to generate that 1 MOA so highly touted?
In my experience (I've owned 4 Tikkas and still have two of them), 1 MOA is routine and 1/2-3/4 MOA is very common.

In fact, one of the things I like about my Tikka rifles is that they have all been great shooters with just about any load.
 
No experience with Tikkas myself, but this video was recently posted about their new, pricey T3x Arctic rifle. FYI -- Mike here is an experienced target shooter who occasionally wins Swiss rifle matches.




Thanks for that Dave and all,

I know that 95% of the gun world sings the praises of Tikka. Most of which is founded. I was quite honest in saying that I am clearly one of the outliers...Along with the chap in your video. Here is one more. A reasonably comprehensive test from Scoutlook weather.

In my initial return Tikka aka Berretta USA was more than responsive in resolving the issues. I therefore felt comofortable in taking another run at Tikka. I have every confidence that this issue too will be addressed professionally and satisfactorily. How ever uncanny it may be to pull two rifles that spray 2+ MOA. I will update my progress.

Cheers,

-Whaler63
 
Could be the cartridge. 270 has never been a bench rest caliber and has poor reputation for accuracy. But some guys claim good groups with them so maybe the twist rate. My best 06 loads were about a grain less powder than max. Maybe try a bunch of different loads.
 
Wow. Two taboos in one thread, OP!

It would appear that it is highly frowned upon to offer anything but the highest of praise for any Tikka.

And it is absolutely blasphemous, and contrary to the good order, to offer anything but scorn for .270 Win, or any other standard action length cartridges. Indeed, the dogma must run to the point of suggesting, for example, that the .270 Win "has a reputation for poor accuracy" :thumbdown:

Very important to conform to these orthodoxies despite any evidence to the contrary.
 
If I read correctly you had asked for experience with Tikka's. My experience with Tikka's is limited. My experience has been good. It's like the Tikka shooters at the range whose experience is like mine. Wonder what would happen if you shot your rifle in a regular rest rather than that contraption you are using. With your experience it would be wise not to buy another Tikka...right?
 
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My experience with Tikka accuracy has been:

.30-06 T3 Lite - Good accuracy, ~ 0.75" with a few different loads, kicked pretty heftily.

.270 WSM T3 Hunter - Great shooter with 130gr Speer spbt and RL19. Also did very well with 140gr Accubonds and MagPro. Today I would try RL23 and RL26 first.

.270 Win T3 SuperLite SS - a bit finicky to develop loads for, but a strong shooter once I got loads worked out, especially for such a lightweight rifle.

.308 T3 CTR - Probably the best shooting rifle I've ever owned, shot an honest 0.25" 5 shot group and lots of others around 0.5" and less.

I've not heard great things about Beretta customer service. Of the two folks I've talked to that had serious issues with their Tikkas, one was taken care of by Beretta CS, the other was told to pound sand.
 
.308 T3 CTR - Probably the best shooting rifle I've ever owned, shot an honest 0.25" 5 shot group and lots of others around 0.5" and less.

I haven't shot a 0.25" five shot group with mine but around 0.5" with a variety of bullet weights is routine.

Some have said the 270 Winchester has a poor reputation for accuracy. My Thompson/Center Encore must be an exception since it's quite accurate.
 
My experience with a Tikka is limited to my .243, which is a 10 twist. For that one I have found any of the mid weight bullets pushed fast tend to shoot well. The groups seem to be better using ViitaVouhri or Norma powder but not all the time.
 
If I read correctly you had asked for experience with Tikka's. My experience with Tikka's is limited. My experience has been good. It's like the Tikka shooters at the range whose experience is like mine. Wonder what would happen if you shot your rifle in a regular rest rather than that contraption you are using. With your experience it would be wise not to buy another Tikka...right?
The Second Target in the photos I provided were from a 20 year old Ruger 300 Winmag. Shot on the same day and on the same sled. (Sub MOA). I believe I have therefore eliminated the sled as a potential issue.
 
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