243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

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loneranger
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Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:47 pm

243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#1 Postby loneranger » Thu Apr 28, 2022 10:36 pm

So I have been playing with some loads for my new TikkaT3X 243 Forester. Beautiful rifle - I thought I found my go to load (87gn VMaxes, CCI 200 primers, Lapua cases and 39.9 2209). I literally was shooting repeatable .2 and .3 MOA groups, so I loaded a bunch more to take hunting and did a quick target test and you wouldn’t believe it, the groups opened up to 0.7 - 1.2MOA and I have absolutely no understanding why. Everything was the same as the initial test load. Ok so I thought I was a little low in the accuracy node and loaded a bunch more in 0.2 gn increments- I am up to 41 gn 2209 with the same projectiles but the best I can achieve is 0.6MOA.
I think I might have to go higher in charge weight, but does anyone have any similar experience or recommendations as to how to improve the performance?

dazza284
Posts: 117
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:12 am

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#2 Postby dazza284 » Fri Apr 29, 2022 12:33 am

Don't take this the wrong way but you have a factory rifle with non-target projectiles and your getting .6 moa I don't see a problem regardless of what you first got

Tim N
Posts: 1336
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:18 pm
Location: Branxton NSW

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#3 Postby Tim N » Fri Apr 29, 2022 5:07 am

Maybe check nothing has come loose
Otherwise you will just have to sneak in a bit closer to allow for the extra 1/2 MOA loss in accuracy 8)
We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training. Archilochos 680-645 BC

Barossa_222
Posts: 405
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 6:58 pm
Location: Barossa Valley

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#4 Postby Barossa_222 » Fri Apr 29, 2022 7:56 pm

Could just be you. Different day, different result. I would have thought that your powder charge would be up above 40gr in a 243, but in all honesty with my hunting guns I tend to be a bit lazy. 1-2gr under max load in adi or Harvey's book. Seat to mag length. Test. In that gun, half to 3/4 moa and I'm not testing any more. Minute of Fox or roo out to 200 yards is good enough for me with factory guns and minimal testing.

ShaneG
Posts: 574
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:25 pm
Location: Cairns

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#5 Postby ShaneG » Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:20 pm

Carbon fouling?

loneranger
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:47 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#6 Postby loneranger » Sun May 01, 2022 11:46 pm

Thanks for the response fellas. Carbon fouling wasn't an issue and everything was tight - the bench I am shooting off isn't the most stable, but I don't think the is the problem either. I know 0.6 MOA is reasonably good, but after being in the FClass game now for a while, you develop different expectations of accuracy, if you know what I mean. I really do think a rifle like this should be capable of clover size groups consistently.

I do think you might be on to something Barossa_222 - I have been reading a lot recently about 243 loads and I noticed that most shooters seem to have their loads above 40gn 2209, in fact closer to 42-43gns. I think I'll try upping the charges in .3 or .5gn increments to see if there is a node somewhere higher.

Any thoughts are still welcome though, especially those who might have a 243 that they shoot regularly...

BATattack
Posts: 1275
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:29 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#7 Postby BATattack » Mon May 02, 2022 11:42 am

Factory rifle, light weight barrel, hunting projectiles and shooting a calibre that is going to warm things up pretty quickly I'd be content with .5-.6 consistently even when the load is rite.

If it was genuinely shooting MULTIPLE consistent 5 shot groups in the .2 - .3 range you have and exceptional rifle. Being a forester maybe could do with some bedding to give that recoil lug and timber stock their best chance.

loneranger
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:47 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#8 Postby loneranger » Mon May 02, 2022 10:53 pm

Thanks BATattack - I was thinking bedding might help too.

Toe Cutter
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:53 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#9 Postby Toe Cutter » Fri Aug 05, 2022 1:30 pm

loneranger wrote:Thanks BATattack - I was thinking bedding might help too.


If you haven’t yet - you can get some bedding kits from here .. pretty good to deal with

https://highvelocityhuntingaustralia.com.au/tikka-t3-t3x/

Also check your trigger pull - original triggers may only get as lite as 2.5 pound - change of springs from this site will get it down to 1.5 pound which should tighten things up a bit

loneranger
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:47 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#10 Postby loneranger » Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:27 pm

I have changed springs already, but I think I have solved the problem. Did some more load development and increased the powder charge to 41.5 and 42gn 2209. Groups reduced down again to 0.2 to 0.3 MOA. I am going to try 41.7 and 41.9 to see if there is any consistency as I suspect that will be the middle of the accuracy node.

loneranger
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:47 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#11 Postby loneranger » Sat Dec 31, 2022 1:53 pm

Well I tried to find the sweet spot with 87gn Vmaxes and 2209, but just couldn’t get accurate consistent groups better than 0.6 -.7M0A Thinking of going to 75gn Vmaxes and maybe 2208.
Anyone had experiences with this combo in 243?

willow
Posts: 567
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2015 9:51 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#12 Postby willow » Sat Dec 31, 2022 8:25 pm

In a 6mm rifle of that magnitude, I'd be running no less than 105gr bullets to take advantage of the BC/velocity.

dazza284
Posts: 117
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:12 am

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#13 Postby dazza284 » Sat Dec 31, 2022 8:48 pm

willow wrote:In a 6mm rifle of that magnitude, I'd be running no less than 105gr bullets to take advantage of the BC/velocity.

He would need a 1 in 8 twist for that not quite sure what the Tikka Forester has and if he's only shooting short-range like out to 400 no need.

loneranger
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:47 pm

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#14 Postby loneranger » Thu Jan 05, 2023 10:44 am

Yeah mine is a 10 twist - tried 95gn projectiles and it didn’t like them at all, hence my suspicion that a 10T would be suited to more lighter bullets

BenW
Posts: 94
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:13 am

Re: 243Tikka T3x accuracy issues

#15 Postby BenW » Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:47 am

I had a 243 years ago and my go to load with 87 bthp was from memory 43 of 09. That being said a hunting rifle getting.5/.6 is minute of fox out yonder


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