Favorite factory ammo for Tikka 7RM

Vandy321

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Feb 5, 2019
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What have you found your tikka 7RM shoots the best, match or hunting, factory loads? Having a rough time finding half of the ammo I want to try, trying to narrow down my options. Hoping there is a trend out there as far as what the Tikka chamber likes best.

On my list or already have: all factory loaded
HSM Trophy Gold - Berger VLDs (168)
Hornady ELD-X (162)
Hornady SST (i think they're 140s?)
Barnes LRX (139l
Federal Premium - ??
 

Rob5589

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Mine both shoot the TTSX very well, reloads, not factory however. But I would definitely look into something with that bullet if open to a mono.
 

mt100gr.

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I didn't try many factory offerings before starting to handload for mine but the HSM 168 VLD load shot very well.
 

bmod93

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I've had good luck with the Hornady Eld-x as well. I haven't tried any of the other ammo on your list though
 

DRD

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Hornady 139 American Whotetail
Hornady 162 Precision Hunter
Sierra 150 Tipped Game King
Vortex 140 TTSX
Federal Premium 160 Partition

All of these shot .35-.75 during break in on mine. Only one in stock around here lately were the Sierras.
 
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Vandy321

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Thanks all for the inputs, I'll add a few of these to the wish list to try out during break-in
I've got some ELD-X on hand...gathering a few more boxes before I head out to test.

Anybody have ES/SD for any of these? I really want the HSM to work, i'd like to shoot that 168gr, but who knows when it'll be back on shelves.
 
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The sweet spot for my Tikka T3 SL in 7RM was the factory Barnes 160 grain VorTx TSX. I don’t know the logic behind Barnes not loading the TTSX bullet in this weight but every Whitetail I’ve shot with it was DRT. Sub MOA.
 
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The sweet spot for my Tikka T3 SL in 7RM was the factory Barnes 160 grain VorTx TSX. I don’t know the logic behind Barnes not loading the TTSX bullet in this weight but every Whitetail I’ve shot with it was DRT. Sub MOA.
Killed this doe today at 271 yards. DRT. BTW that is the exit wound.
 

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LeftyWilbury

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I have a stainless T3 hunter and a blued T3 hunter both in 7RM (because why not?). HSM's 168 Bergers were amazingly accurate (.5 MOA @200yd) but I was not impressed with terminal performance. Any of the Barnes loads in 7RM are coming in .75 - 1 MOA which works for my hunting.
 

Calbuck

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My Tikka Superlite 7mm loves the 162 ELDx over rl 22.. not factory loads but this bullet seems to be made for this gun! I'm running it right at 3000 fps and have several one shot kills with it out to 410 yards. That includes a 5 point bull elk. I don't have target MOA data for it but my data is counted in pounds of meat in the freezer.
 
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Factory Barnes TTSX 150gr and Federal Accubond 160gr both shoot ~1 MOA out of my Tikka 7mmRM and have performed well on game.
 

AirborneEScouter

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Don't have a tikka but I've shot the HSM Trophy Gold - Berger VLDs and the hornady ELD-X 162s and the hornady ammo is sub half-moa in my rifle. the HSM was still sub moa but it was a striking difference.
 

TheCougar

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Hornady ELDX. Shooter out of mine and the dope is right off the hornady app until about 800, then I have to deviate a bit. Worked on elk at 70, 300, and 600 this year. Just don’t shoot anything you plan to eat if you’re within 200 yards.
 

Jstcynske

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Just picked up a fierce rifle, would love the test out the ELD-X 162's but can't find them anywhere.
 
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Vandy321

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Those of you saying ELD-X...curious what "good" was to you guys...I'm barely MOA out to 500 yards with 162 ELD-X...the 139 Hornady SSTs are sub 1/2 MOA...still have a few boxes of federal/berger hunters to try, and cannot find LRX anywhere, but definitely not impressed with ELD-X today.
 

MightyMatt

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I was plenty happy with factory precision hunter ammo and the 162 ELD-X. I shot just over a 3 1/4" 5 shot group last fall at 500 with it. Mine is a stock T3 stainless other than a T2 terminator brake. I'm aware that's not bench rest accuracy but I was happy with that for a $500 rifle. Good enough to drop my muley on his ass at 400yards last fall with a single shot.
 
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What have you found your tikka 7RM shoots the best, match or hunting, factory loads? Having a rough time finding half of the ammo I want to try, trying to narrow down my options. Hoping there is a trend out there as far as what the Tikka chamber likes best.

On my list or already have: all factory loaded
HSM Trophy Gold - Berger VLDs (168)
Hornady ELD-X (162)
Hornady SST (i think they're 140s?)
Barnes LRX (139l
Federal Premium - ??
No lie I hit .75 MOA with good ole core lokts
 
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