Help With Tikka

[docmark]

I purchased a Tikka in 7mm Rem Mag for my son and had a muzzle break applied before shooting it. Unfortunately, now I cannot get it to shoot well. I think I have tried everything. I seem to recall a discussion on here about a gunsmith that specializes in Tikkas. I am hoping someone on here can help me find him. Thank you for your help.

 

[MagnumManiac]

You need to eliminate causes before you diagnose a problem.
Remove the brake and shoot it and determine if it makes a difference.
How many brands of ammo have you tried?
Have you had the stock off?
If the recoil lug is not sitting in the recess correctly, this is often the cause of poor accuracy.

Cheers.

 

[JimIsland]

Have you checked the action screws? Looked down the bore with a light? What's not shooting well mean? How many rounds have you put through it? Is it a 9.5 twist?

 

[john k]

Did you install a self timing brake or one that needs timed?

 

[docmark]

Checked action screws, took off muzzle break, several different combinations of handloads, checked screws for tightness. break is not adjustable, new rifle with less than 100 rounds and all trying to figure things out, 2" groups

 

[K9TXS]

Is it in the cheap factory plastic stock?

 

[yukonal]

Do you realize Tikka has an accuracy guarantee?

It should shoot. 2 previous suggestions are very applicable.
1) check to see the action is setting onto the lug properly.
2) check to see that both action screws are torqued to spec
3) adjust the factory trigger to 2#
4) check scope for loose screws

If those are all good, start trying different ammo.

1) is where most accuracy problems occur, after the action has been removed (for whatever reason) and then put back together.

 

[birddog 68]

Edit: just seen #4 above which is my suggestion.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

What groups was it shooting before the brake was added?

Check the crown. Perhaps there's an issue there?

Any pictures?

 

[Tiny Tim]

Pardon my ignorance, but was the muzzle threaded by the factory? What twist rate? What bullets/ powders have you tried?

Try to be specific in your responses. If you had it threaded before you ever shot it, its difficult to have a baseline accuracy to work with.

Agree with responses #2 and #7

 

[FEENIX]

I purchased a Tikka in 7mm Rem Mag for my son and had a muzzle break applied before shooting it. Unfortunately, now I cannot get it to shoot well. I think I have tried everything. I seem to recall a discussion on here about a gunsmith that specializes in Tikkas. I am hoping someone on here can help me find him. Thank you for your help.

Checked action screws, took off muzzle break, several different combinations of handloads, checked screws for tightness. break is not adjustable, new rifle with less than 100 rounds and all trying to figure things out, 2" groups

"If" you went to a reputable GS, he does not need to be specialized in Tikka to thread the muzzle and install a muzzle brake.

You need to eliminate causes before you diagnose a problem.
Remove the brake and shoot it and determine if it makes a difference.
How many brands of ammo have you tried?
Have you had the stock off?
If the recoil lug is not sitting in the recess correctly, this is often the cause of poor accuracy.

Cheers.

This! It is hard enough to troubleshoot over the internet, esp. when there are too many unknowns, as evidenced by what others were asking about. Hence, you need to provide as much pertinent information as possible, including pictures.

 

[docmark]

I have done all of the above. I have tried many bullets and various loads. Berger, hammer, Nosler, Barnes bullets. My son was young and small and I had the brake installed. Once you do any modifications the warranty is off. I am not looking for suggestions. My recollection was that there is a gunsmith who only or mostly works with Tikkas and the only place I think I would have seen it is on here. If I can't find him I will move to plan B

 

[azsugarbear]

If a new Tikka is shooting 2" groups, my first thought is to swap the scope and confirm it is the rifle. If it is the rifle, then my next step would be to examin the crown, then the action screws.

 

[hawkeye35]

If a new Tikka is shooting 2" groups, my first thought is to swap the scope and confirm it is the rifle. If it is the rifle, then my next step would be to examin the crown, then the action screws.

I agree with scope first. Use a scope that is trusted and mounted correctly. These things just shoot. If somehow the crown was touched during brake installation, that would explain a lot. I broke mine in using Sierra 160gr SP and it was sub .5 MOA.