New Tikka CTR: 1st range report

[Mulyhuntr]

The Tikka freebore is very long for 140s. A factory round may be jumping something like 0.100 or more. With 140 match burners, mine are loaded a touch longer than book COL and still jumping 0.110 ish.

That long freebore is likely why factory loads are slower than stated speed on box.

Why not load them longer? 147s get to lands no problem in factory mag.

 

[HighUintas]

Why not load them longer? 147s get to lands no problem in factory mag.

I likely will when I work on a hunting load. This is just for practice and it just fits the factory SA mag. I'll use 147s seated long with as much powder as possible and a LA mag for hunting

 

[Geologist]

Range report #2 (second time out with this platform). Yes, I currently only seem to have time to shoot once a month… my priorities are all jacked up between work and rebuilding a deck on our home.

Anyway, I tested two more factory offerings. All shots at 101 yards (from turrets to target) off a bench and Atlas bipod with rear bag, winds variable 0-10mph from 180 degrees.

Hornady 147 gr. ELDM

Federal Premium 140 gr. (Berger Hybrid Target bullet)



The worst 10-round group of the bunch was 1.05 MOA (Hornady 147 gr.).

One of the Hornady 10-round groups was 0.92, but if I dropped the flyer (it was me, I was squeezing the grip, and the weapon recoiled differently) it would have been the best group of the day at 0.60 MOA.


Here is the best 10-round group of the morning, (0.62 MOA)... Again, I was not taking my time, sending each 10-round group in about 2 minutes. Then waiting about 10-15 minutes for barrel to cool off to reduce mirage.


Very encouraged by the Berger bullets.

Total round count to date = 136

In the meantime, I've acquired the following kit in preparation for rolling my own… which I am expecting should tighten up groups a wee bit more.

• 500 pieces Starline small rifle primer brass
• Forster FL Sizing die
• Forster micrometer seating die
• Wilson expander mandrel die with 0.263 mandrel (for use on virgin brass)
• 21st Century expander mandrel die with 0.262 mandrel
• 300 Sierra MK 140 grain bullets
• 100 Berger 140 grain Elite Hunter bullets
• A bunch of H4350 and Win. StaBall 6.5 to test