Tactical Tikka.

[Tank]

That is bleddy lovely Dave. What I wouldn't give for a rifle like that.

[baldie]

Been out with gun this morning, for a first serious load developement session. After a bit of bitting and batting, running it in last week, i settled at 37.5 grains of reloder 15 and a 123 grain scenar.

 

I knew this load shot, and it would also shooter a higher charge from initial testing. Anyway, the goal today was seating depth, and i ran various loads ranging from 20 thou out , to 5 thou into the lands. The gun likes the ten thou out, that became evident as the morning progressed.

 

 

 

It was also the first time out for the new Kahles tactical scope, and i have to say, on initial use, that i,m going to have quite a few NXS,s for sale shortly. This is one hell of a scope.

 

Anyway, the loads i shot this morning were all somewhat similar, as i said earlier, the gun showing a marked preference for that particular seating depth.

 

What i did find though was quite astonishing. I ran 2 batches of loads, the only difference being the primer. One lot had Br4,s in, and the other cci450 magnum primers.

 

Over the chrono, the magnum primers were way down on velocity compared to the BR4,s which is unusual.

 

 

 

The br4,s give an average of 2750 and the magnums an average of around 2690.

 

This is from a 20" Archer barrel.

 

All groups within the correct seating depth area gave 1/2" with predictability, but all groups exhibit horizontal spread. I think this is down to the Tikka trigger, which is probarbly at around 2Lbs, and i,m simply not used to it. All my rifles have Jewels set at 1lb, so its bound to make a difference.

 

I also think it needs more powder. This gun should safely run 38.5 grains, and i,m thinking that may also shrink these a little. If not, i,m going to try my old favourite ofVhit 540 and possibly varget.

 

Some more work to be done, but this gun is a very consistent grouper, and i,m very pleased with. With some more tweaking, i think i may find the grail.

[MJR]

Very nice Dave, getting there by the look of it. Very interesting about the primers.

 

Vince, Third eye tactical do Tikka rails and rings, including rings that fit straight onto the dovetail on top of the action.

[brown dog]

Been out with gun this morning, for a first serious load developement session. After a bit of bitting and batting, running it in last week, i settled at 37.5 grains of reloder 15 and a 123 grain scenar.

 

I knew this load shot, and it would also shooter a higher charge from initial testing. Anyway, the goal today was seating depth, and i ran various loads ranging from 20 thou out , to 5 thou into the lands. The gun likes the ten thou out, that became evident as the morning progressed.

 

 

 

It was also the first time out for the new Kahles tactical scope, and i have to say, on initial use, that i,m going to have quite a few NXS,s for sale shortly. This is one hell of a scope.

 

Anyway, the loads i shot this morning were all somewhat similar, as i said earlier, the gun showing a marked preference for that particular seating depth.

 

What i did find though was quite astonishing. I ran 2 batches of loads, the only difference being the primer. One lot had Br4,s in, and the other cci450 magnum primers.

 

Over the chrono, the magnum primers were way down on velocity compared to the BR4,s which is unusual.

 

 

 

The br4,s give an average of 2750 and the magnums an average of around 2690.

 

This is from a 20" Archer barrel.

 

All groups within the correct seating depth area gave 1/2" with predictability, but all groups exhibit horizontal spread. I think this is down to the Tikka trigger, which is probarbly at around 2Lbs, and i,m simply not used to it. All my rifles have Jewels set at 1lb, so its bound to make a difference.

 

I also think it needs more powder. This gun should safely run 38.5 grains, and i,m thinking that may also shrink these a little. If not, i,m going to try my old favourite ofVhit 540 and possibly varget.

 

Some more work to be done, but this gun is a very consistent grouper, and i,m very pleased with. With some more tweaking, i think i may find the grail.

 

Looks good Dave, be interested to see and compare where you end up against my struggle chasing the same 6.5x47 grail!

[Orka Akinse]

where's the range you were using Dave?

[baldie]

Its Mattersey near Bawtry Ian. One of the finest complexes in the country. We have a 100 yards fullbore, 4 x 5o yards, a Bianchi range, a shotgun slug range, a Barricade range, and a 25 metre pistol/carbine range, most with covered points. We are building a 300 metre range this year, after succesfully purchasing the entire site with help from Basc, who were outstanding , i would add.

Once we have better clubhouse/facilities, it will be one of the finest ranges in the country. We are about to start on a practical shotgun course, and hopefully a field archery course too. We have just put in an Airgun range. Here,s a couple of shots of some relaxaction after the rifle testing at the weekend there.

 

 

[dannywayoflife]

Wow a range facility for shooters run by shooters?

[baldie]

Loaded up some rounds with Varget to try yesterday.

I ran the popular 38.3 and also the 38.5 grain loads that seem to be popular.

Sat the scenars 0.005" off the lands and shot 3 groups with each.

These were the best two....just.

These were all 5 round groups, and took some separating. It shot them all equally well, and only the calipers could separate them.

 

 

What impressed me, what that before firing, i just knew where they were going to go. No flyers, no unexplained stringing , though the horizontal i was experiencing i,d put that down to the tikka trigger.

 

Thats now sorted and replaced with a 2 stage, 8oz unit.

 

I,m perfectly happy with it now, and i,m pretty sure it will take some scalps.

 

I,m also pretty sure i,m never going to mess about with reloder powders anymore too.

 

Never had any great success with any of them.

If Carlsberg made powder......it would be called Varget.

[dannywayoflife]

Dave what 2 stage trigger you put on it? I've been looking for one but can't find a CG one.

[baldie]

PM me Danny.

[Jagged 77]

There's no doubt the T3's make an excellent semi custom rifle, the 260 Dave put together for me has made consistent hits on 6" and 8" plates at 1150 yards and that's with a cheapo Bergarra barrel....

 

Mattersey looks like its coming along well! The Field archery sounds interesting.

[Orka Akinse]

Awesome range Dave. Any palns to reach out and become the Bisley of the North? Now that would be something...

[sauer]

i would give me left testicle for a range on my doorstep with even half these facilities!!!

 

or even a range full stop!!!

 

 

paul

[baldie]

Had the Tikka out with Rob, Dan, Colin and Bruce yesterday , down in Wales, and an excellent day was had in great company. Thank you very much guys .

 

We had a good chronoing session to start with, and Dans loads were going at around 2950 if i remember rightly, out of his AW which i think has a 26" tube [correct me if i,m wrong there Dan ]

 

The tikka was averaging 2856 fps with a 20" barrel and 38.5 grains of Varget...which is quite respectable i think.

 

I also think just a bit more could be squeezed using Vhit 540, but thats for another day.

 

Got a first round hit on a 6" gong at just over 500 yards with it....which made me smile....a lot !

 

Considering i didn,t initially know its velocity, and had no drops at all for it, we fudged a dial from one of Matts cards that Rob had, that was a similar velocity, and hit it first go.

 

Also attempted to Kill one of Bruce,s double gongs at around 160 yards.....with my 338. It put the slightest marks on the normal steel, and left the hard steel completely untouched. One of the rounds ripped the entire set up out of the soft , soaked ground, and launched it...so it wasn,t for lack of trying.

 

Anyone after a serious target that will last a long time, should contact Bruce, as they are truly excellent quality.

[dannywayoflife]

That's impressive speed from the short barrel Dave! Are long barrels over rated?

[brown dog]

Had the Tikka out with Rob, Dan, Colin and Bruce yesterday , down in Wales, and an excellent day was had in great company. Thank you very much guys .

 

We had a good chronoing session to start with, and Dans loads were going at around 2950 if i remember rightly, out of his AW which i think has a 26" tube [correct me if i,m wrong there Dan ]

 

The tikka was averaging 2856 fps with a 20" barrel and 38.5 grains of Varget...which is quite respectable i think.

 

I also think just a bit more could be squeezed using Vhit 540, but thats for another day.

 

Got a first round hit on a 6" gong at just over 500 yards with it....which made me smile....a lot !

 

Considering i didn,t initially know its velocity, and had no drops at all for it, we fudged a dial from one of Matts cards that Rob had, that was a similar velocity, and hit it first go.

 

Also attempted to Kill one of Bruce,s double gongs at around 160 yards.....with my 338. It put the slightest marks on the normal steel, and left the hard steel completely untouched. One of the rounds ripped the entire set up out of the soft , soaked ground, and launched it...so it wasn,t for lack of trying.

 

Anyone after a serious target that will last a long time, should contact Bruce, as they are truly excellent quality.

 

Photos?!

 

2856 is buzzing along, I'm accepting that from my 25.5" barrel (albeit a grain less powder) from a 20" I think that's excellent.

[baldie]

Yep, its a good speed. Initially doubted it with Robs chrony, so i got my CED out, and that was the same.

 

Rob took some pics i think ?

[Dan534]

Had a few pics but more porn pics tbh :-). Velocity with AW and n140 was about 2915 with chronos when the barrel was dirtied. Big difference between spotless clean barrel and dirty velocity wise. very surprised to so little difference between baldies awesome tikka with 20 inch barrel and my 26 AW barrel. May consider a shorter archer barrel when that ones shot out. enjoyable day.