Tikka won’t group…rifle bedding questions

[Kauaihunter]

I need my 30mm scopes to be right around 1.25” from the top of the action to the centerline of the scope on all my Tikka’s. YMMV as always but head/eye position for me is a factor. I have murdered two factory stocks myself in the quest to find the best setup for me.

Easiest route maybe would be ammo first, some different factory rounds and see how it goes.

Are you running a chronograph to see the velocities?

Clean the bore and start fresh. Or if you’re cleaning the bore all the time, don’t.

If available, different height rings or different scope.

Sometimes it takes a bit.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I have had 73 eldms shoot really well with 3 different a powders. Loaded whatever COL, usually .010-.015 off. But as short as 2.260. From 100-500 yards.

I’d surprised if it cant at least shoot to your expectations with a known good powder and 73eldms

But alas every barrel is different.

 

[gbflyer]

I think bedding can help, I've seen bedding done that has also hurt. Stress free bedding really woke up my .338 Federal barreled T3X when I put it in wood. It took me 3 tries to get it right.

I've plied the depths of the interwebs on this and read of accuracy gunsmiths who trend towards the honest, in my view, stating good bedding doesn't make a huge difference in hunting accuracy. If you are talking measuring in the .001's...yes. As long as it's a good setup to start with.

 

[JREG19]

Bedding it right won't hurt it, but I'm another vote for trying different ammo. Or bullet/powder combo for reloading.

 

[DeepMauka]

Those are good powders. Are you doing something goofy like putting the barrel on your rest instead of the stock? If not, it's probably just your barrel. Try the 73 elds maybe.

Resting stock on a bag. I had a bipod but took it off thinking that might have influenced my shot. This whole thing has really driven me nuts thinking I was doing something wrong. Shooting a couple different rifles has kept me sane and knowing I don’t just completely suck at shooting.

My tikka 223 went from shooting 1.5 to 1.7 inch 10rnd groups with 77tmks and lever/tac to .6 to .9 for 10 with 77tmk and benchmark.

Been mentioned a couple times now. Will try this next.

I have had 73 eldms shoot really well with 3 different a powders. Loaded whatever COL, usually .010-.015 off. But as short as 2.260. From 100-500 yards.

I’d surprised if it cant at least shoot to your expectations with a known good powder and 73eldms

But alas every barrel is different.

I will try this. Seeing if local gun shop carries benchmark.

I will give it all another try, and I have some 73eldms I will load up as well.

 

[Pharmseller]

If you’re in Oregon I can fix it.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I also run one of @Pharmseller 75eldm loads and it shoots well loaded long with a max charge of varget

 

[Mike D Texas]

If you’re in Oregon I can fix it.

He’s in Hawaii.

 

[DeepMauka]

Just picked up a pound of Benchmark to give the 77tmk one last shot. At $80/lb hopefully this works, haha. I will try other bullets as well moving forward.

Is it better to seat off the lands a specific amount or just to standard mag length? I have some of the rugged stitch mags so I can load whatever length.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

i am loading way longer than factory mag, but not long enough to be jammed.

 

[mtnbound]

Just picked up a pound of Benchmark to give the 77tmk one last shot. At $80/lb hopefully this works, haha. I will try other bullets as well moving forward.

Is it better to seat off the lands a specific amount or just to standard mag length? I have some of the rugged stitch mags so I can load whatever length.

I load them to 2.26.

 

[Pharmseller]

I also run one of @Pharmseller 75eldm loads and it shoots well loaded long with a max charge of varget

2.451” (1.915” BTO), 2852 fps from a Lite, 2927 fps from a Varmint.

Benchmark is 2.472” (1.940” BTO), 2836fps from a Lite, 2915 fps from a Varmint.

 

[TexasTB]

My 223 t3x tikka was picky as heck… never could get factory barrel to shoot less than 1.5” and that was with 60 vmax…. Maven RS 1.2 scope and UM Tikka rings…Tried 77 and 69 TMK, 73 and 75 eldm, 62 eld-tv and 60 vmax. Have tried Benchmark, Varget, TAC, 8208 xbr and Staball 6.5. Also went through whole process of degreasing screws and torquing to appropriate specs. Life is too short to have to f8ck around with that many combos and not find a decent load.

Decided to make bigger changes. Ended up getting a PVA wylde chambered 223 barrel and dropped it in a new Stocky’s stock and skim bedded it…never could get it to shoot 77 tmk - either barrel.

Finally found a load that My 223 PVA wylde chamber likes… 75 eldm and Varget or Staball 6.5. Getting 10 shot groups of 1”. Been one of the more picky rifles that I have.

 

[DeepMauka]

Life has been crazy lately, but finally got out and shot.

I shot groups of 5 each for a quick test: 73eldm, 77tmk and 75eldm. Loaded each group with Varget, 8028 xbr and Benchmark. Everything was 30k off the lands. Previously I was at 2.26” with poor results.

73eldm shot the 2 best groups with varget and benchmark.

Benchmark seems to be the ticket for the 77tmk. I like the velocity and It’s the best I’ve had out this gun so far.

I’ll load the best groups of 73eld and 77tmk up for 10 shot group to add a little more statistical reliability. If the Benchmark group stays under 1.5 moa (and should stay well under if the 5 shot sample was any indication) l’ll be taking this hunting in a couple weeks. I have really wanting to get some firsthand experience on animals with the 77tmk and a 223



Thanks for all the help.

 

[glock233]

I hope you didn’t bed a tikka. Retorque everything and check your recoil block positioning.

 

[DeepMauka]

I hope you didn’t bed a tikka. Retorque everything and check your recoil block positioning.

Didn’t bed it yet. Wanted to shoot the benchmark and a few different powders before I went that far. I’ve cleaned screws and retorqued everything a few times after initially setting up the gun and opening up barrel channel

 

[Harvey_NW]

I hope you didn’t bed a tikka. Retorque everything and check your recoil block positioning.

Why? A proper stress free bed job is a benefit to any rifle.

 

[glock233]

Why? A proper stress free bed job is a benefit to any rifle.

There is so little to be gained that it can't be the solution to an accuracy problem. The way Tikkas torque and use the recoil lug... there just isn't much there to collect with bedding.

Sure, when you re-torque things after bedding you might see improvement, but it's not going to be the bedding that changed anything.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Sure, when you re-torque things after bedding you might see improvement, but it's not going to be the bedding that changed anything.

Umm.. Okay.

 

[glock233]

Didn’t bed it yet. Wanted to shoot the benchmark and a few different powders before I went that far. I’ve cleaned screws and retorqued everything a few times after initially setting up the gun and opening up barrel channel

Before you go the full bedding route, try switching your stock with one with aluminum pillars. Or borrow a metal chassis from somebody and torque it right. You might be able to isolate a problem.

Typical bedding a fully torqued Tikka factory barreled action in a good stock isn't going to materially change anything. Tikkas gain their stability and accuracy from they way they are torqued tight against the action screws and the recoil lug.

I know there are people who do it, it just doesn't make any sense. If Tikkas were the only rifles in existence, glass bedding never would have been invented.