Hi everyone I'm new to this forum and looking for some advice. I'm shooting a Tikka with OAL @ 3.290 because of the clip. I have two questions.!st- 168vld or 168 Nosler LRA. 2nd what would be a recommended powder I have used Retumbo, 7828, H1000, RL22 from min to max all with similar results with the best 100yrd group @ 1inch but they average 1.5. Retumbo and 7828 was about the same but don't know velocities. I don't know if I'm asking for to much or if a inch is good for this gun. I know VLDs shoot better close to the lands, but also read a lot of mixed feelings about the NLRA
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Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
Welcome to LRH!!!
I'd think about a different bullet weight if you are having trouble with the 168 grain offerings with your rifle. Some barrels just don't like certain bullet weights. The 150 ablr shoots well in my 10" twist stw but poorly in my 9 1/4" 7rum. I haven't worked with either of the bullets you are working with, but the 171 barnes has been flaky at best for me in my rifles. I'm partial to the 140 grain sierra and nos ab offerings in my 7mm's; the 150 ablr will likely be my lr pill in my stw if it proves out this year but I won't field a bullet that hasn't been shot and proved in my rifle at longer range while hunting.
As to tikka accuracy, I've got a lh t3 lite ss in 270win with a straight 10x elite on top that is sub moa with nearly any combination. The tikka rifles are light enough that you have to be extra careful with your shooting form with them.
I'd think about a different bullet weight if you are having trouble with the 168 grain offerings with your rifle. Some barrels just don't like certain bullet weights. The 150 ablr shoots well in my 10" twist stw but poorly in my 9 1/4" 7rum. I haven't worked with either of the bullets you are working with, but the 171 barnes has been flaky at best for me in my rifles. I'm partial to the 140 grain sierra and nos ab offerings in my 7mm's; the 150 ablr will likely be my lr pill in my stw if it proves out this year but I won't field a bullet that hasn't been shot and proved in my rifle at longer range while hunting.
As to tikka accuracy, I've got a lh t3 lite ss in 270win with a straight 10x elite on top that is sub moa with nearly any combination. The tikka rifles are light enough that you have to be extra careful with your shooting form with them.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Have your tried a ladder test with any of the powders? You know, picking your OAL and loading 5 sets up of each.
For example, pick a powder, primer, case, bullet, and OAL. Then start low and work up in 0.5gr incriments to find where it's getting the best accuracy.
Example: Say it shot best between 50.5 and 51 grains of powder...
Then don't change a thing, but load up 3 of each of these: 50.6, 50.7, 50.8, 50.9, and 60.0 grains and ladder test to see where the sweet spot is.
Mind you, let your barrel cool down completely between each group to find your best consistency.
For example, pick a powder, primer, case, bullet, and OAL. Then start low and work up in 0.5gr incriments to find where it's getting the best accuracy.
Example: Say it shot best between 50.5 and 51 grains of powder...
Then don't change a thing, but load up 3 of each of these: 50.6, 50.7, 50.8, 50.9, and 60.0 grains and ladder test to see where the sweet spot is.
Mind you, let your barrel cool down completely between each group to find your best consistency.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Jon, also, don't forget that despite weight, some barrels just don't like a certain bullet design either. For example. My Rem 700 Sendero SF 7mm STW (9.25" twist) loves the 180 Hybrids. But my Rem 700 custom built 7mm RemMag (also a 9.25" twist) did not. It only shoots the 168 VLD's and 160 Accubonds well.
Thanks for the info. I have loaded 5 rounds of each powder from min to max but only in 1 grain intervals.all my groups have been with the 5 shots starting with a clean barrel then one after the other. I have shot the 160 AB they seem to shoot the same. I'm trying to stay with the high BC bullets for long range up to 1000 yards. The gun is lighter than most long range set ups. I can hit targets out to 700 with any of the loads but I haven't shot paper at that distance. Wondering if I should try the 174-180s
It may be your clean barrel. Many rifles need a little fouling to really shoot well. If your group of 5 includes the first shot from a clean cold bore then you have a great shooting rifle. It is almost unheard of to have your first shot from a clean cold bore group with the other shots from a fouled bore.
Krakkon
Well-Known Member
It's over book max but 64 grains of h-4831 with a 162 amax shoot great in my tikka 7mag... I just can't seem to get very good velocities with my tikka..
I tried retumbo all the way up to 73 grains with a 162 and if I remember right I was only in the 2800's..
I'm waiting on a magnetospeed 3 to test the velocity on 64 grains of h-4831
I tried retumbo all the way up to 73 grains with a 162 and if I remember right I was only in the 2800's..
I'm waiting on a magnetospeed 3 to test the velocity on 64 grains of h-4831
I have mine sizedto fit the clip also ,but mine can go out to an oal of 3.370 in my savage 114.with the 168 vld I am using 70 grs of retumbo and getting between 1/2 and 3/4 inch groups.I do not have a set time to let the barrel cool down .I just go the feel of the barrel.As far as cleaning I run some wet patches and some clean ones every 3 shots.If I plan on shooting more than a dozen or so I'll run a brush down it.Thats always works for me.
I think 71 gr of Retumbo is the most consistent. But one question I never noticed this before but just above the belt the case has kinda a ring around it after I shoot frOm my tikka the only reason I noticed it was I took some and tried to run them through my rem 700 LR and I couldn't get the bolt to close and you could see where it was getting jammed on the ring looking mark above the belt. Is this because I'm over pressure or I'm not sizing them right. I did fire a few out of the 700 and didn't see the mark as pronounced
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
No, it's because your 2 rifles have 2 different size chambers cut by 2 different reamers. Sounds like the Tikka has a bit of a generous chamber compared to your Remington LR.
Watch out for that ring, as that can be the starting signs of a potential case/head seperation. Belted magnums are known for those. It can happen to all brass cases. but known to be a bit more common on the belted cases. If you FL sized your brass, and your dies are setup properly, you should have no problems fitting that case into either chamber.
That being said, the only time I interchange brass, is when I find a load that doesn't shoot good. Then I clean up the brass, FL size them, and put them in a seperate bag labeled with how many times they've been fired.
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This is once fired brass after fl sizing to the rcbs die set up procedure. I did call beretta USA they told me I could be the head spacing but it wouldn't be under warranty. So I don't know if I should send them the rifle or take it to a local gun smith. You can see from left to right unfired - once fired- fl sized. You can see the scratch where it jams in my 700.
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MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I guess I'm just spoiled by a smith who orders his own custom reamers that have a tight chamber with very little expansion allowed. But that brass looks like that chamber is quite generous in width. That brass is expandion a good bit.
I'd tell Beretta that they can either make it right, or give you your money back.
If they still say no, I'd have your smith reset the headspacing properly.
I'd tell Beretta that they can either make it right, or give you your money back.
If they still say no, I'd have your smith reset the headspacing properly.
