Legendary Tikka T3 accuracy is true

JasonH

Well-Known Member
Hi All

Whilst waiting for my Forbes rifle I purchased a Tikka T3 Lite in Stainless/ Synthetic left handed in 30.06 to tide me by.

It finally cleared for pick up on Friday so I headed to the range with the new Zeiss Terra 4-12 x 50 fitted on Talleys with some factory ammo and Saturday.

I also took a precaution and fitted a limb saver recoil pad as well to try and minimise recoil.

To be honest I am gobb smacked with the results using factory ammo. I used 2 types 150gr Remington Corelokts and 150gr Fusions. Straight away with the remingtons at a 50 yd initial zero I had 3 shot, shot on shot clusters no issue.

When I moved out to 100yds it was shooting reasonably tight but then I started to flinch a little with the recoil so I stopped for a while and used some snap caps to practice and ditch the flinch and then loaded it with some of the Fusions. Straight away I shot a 3 group sub moa (see attached target ignore the 2 outer rounds as this was a result of the previous flinching) and this was off a wooden picnic table with a harris bipod.

Needless to say its got me questioning why I need a semi custom rifle and confirms the legendary status of the Tikka T3.

Next step will be to have a muzzle brake fitted to calm the muzzle flip down.

Jason.
 

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Good going! My T3 Lite loves the Rem 150-gr. It is a good place to begin, also, because they can be bought everywhere in the USA. Wait until yours is broken in.

Before messing with any changes. Try just shooting it off soft bags, and your hands. It it going to want to jump away from a hard support like a bipod on the forend. Mine is just straight back recoil offhand or sitting, bullet on top of bullet.
 
i bet if you got prone with your body weight in line with rifle to absorb recoil, load bipod correctly that moa group will shrink. Nice shooting my weatherby semi custom 30-06 wont shoot like that with factory ammo but shoots great with handloads.
 
I,m a huge Tikka fan. For off the shelf accuracy and value for money they take some beating.
 
I love mine in .243, I've addedd a Boyds thumbhole stock but other than that it's standard. I took it out for a check zero and to try some new ammo and it shot 0.6 moa with 95grain SST and 0.75moa with 75grain Accutips. With no adjustment of the scope the two groups were 1.6moa so not too bad for different factory ammo in different weights. I did find that loading the bipod and supporting the stock opened up the groups but they were tightest when I gripped the forend and pulled it back into my shoulder.
 
Thanks for the advice next time I go to the range I will take my dog done good range bag and try off there vs. the bi-pod.

Question when you say load the bi-pod what do you mean?

I'm also going to try some FMJ 146grn ammo for range work and exploring the rifles capabilities as this can be bought for $13 per 20. Where I go they have a 400yd set up and I'm itching to tryout some long range shooting.
 
Go to a gun show, or order some ammo... Federal 147 gr 7.62x51 NATO was $14.50 / 20 at Academy Sports. They may have some .30-06. The best source is the CMP. Lots of club shooters go together and buy a case of surplus M1 Garand ammo.

[h=3]Sales - Ammunition - Civilian Marksmanship Program[/h]www.thecmp.org/Sales/ammo.htm‎


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My former 25 06 using 85gr nos bal tips I shot sub inch at 400yds, a mate and I regulary put targets out to 400yds and shoot 1.5 inch 3 shoot groups, handloads though
 
Thanks for the advice next time I go to the range I will take my dog done good range bag and try off there vs. the bi-pod.

Question when you say load the bi-pod what do you mean?

I'm also going to try some FMJ 146grn ammo for range work and exploring the rifles capabilities as this can be bought for $13 per 20. Where I go they have a 400yd set up and I'm itching to tryout some long range shooting.

I take it to mean that you put the bipod down and then push the rifle forwards with your shoulder in the stock to put tension on the legs to firm everything up. I found that without holding the forend as well there was some muzzle flip which opened the groups. Not sure if this is down to how I'm holding it or the combination of mod and stock.
 
loading the bipod is simply using the weight of your body to applie forward tension on the rifle this allows it recoil consistantly. it doesnt need alot example a harris you applie this tension just before the feet roll out. I find it difficult to load a harris so use my knuckle to push 2 divets in ground to sit my bipod feet in. The secret is not to push your body into rifle as this puts muscular tension onto to rifle and will manifest into other issues. Simply just allow the weight of your body to push it forward. Ive seen a couple of clips on youtube that could probably explain it better.
 
The stock on a Tikka T3 is very stiff. It is glass fiber reinforced cross-linked polycarbonate. It more stiff than glass-reinforced nylon, from which many military and commercial stocks are molded. The barrel is fairly stout, and free floated, with plenty of clearance. My action sits onto a steel recoil lug which is molded tightly into the stock.

I don't shoot hunting rifles off a bipod ( HK-91 and FN FAL, yes, no problem, and no loading them up ). But sitting a bipod on a hard surface like a table top is going to tend to hop away from that surface, just like resting your rifle on a rock or a tree limb. You need to hold the forend.
 
I thought the T3 had a reputation of not shooting well off a bipod due to the fore-end being a bit flexible?.
I posted a target on here a few months ago I shot from 500yds, had 2 bang on and let one go a bit or the breeze took it,2.7 inch 3 shot group
 
Good thing i checked out this section first as I was gonna post a thread asking about the Tikka T3 stainless lite, I think for my first .243 it'll be the business.
 
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