1000 yard match with my new Tikka build

[BigBamBoo]

So I set off this morning to participate in a 1000 yard BR match at the local club I belong to. I was shooting the new Tikka 6.5X47 that Jason Chipley of Chipley Arms built for me just a few days ago.
I was delayed by road construction and showed up late. This means I was in the third relay...the relay where the wind really starts to blow.
And to make it even more fun...I have only shot this rifle once before at 100 yards while starting load development. I just ran out of time to go out and fine tune the load and verify how it shot at 300 yards. But such is life at times.

My first target I really knew was not going to be good. Between the switchy wind and me trying to get a feel for the rifle I just really was not happy. I felt better about my 2nd target and the wind had died down a bit. Then the third target had us back in the wind.

So I was very surprised when they called my name for 3rd place. I figured I was towards the bottom of the pack. None of my groups where very good...I am sure with some more load work and more time behind the rifle to find out how it likes to be driven, I can shrink them a bit.

As usual there was some good shooting done today and one of the members set a new club record with his score.

Here is the specs:

Tikka T3 action with HSS bolt shroud and over sized bolt knob/handle
Tikka T3 trigger that I worked over and is at 12 oz.
KRG Whisky 3 chassis
Kreiger med. Palma 1:8.5 twist barrel @ 28" and Badger FTE muzzle brake (yep...folks LOVE shooting next to me) chambered in 6,5x47 Lapua and throated for 130 VLD's
JJ front rest
Once fired Lapua brass...no case prep at all
130 Berger VLD's 20 thou off the lands
CCI 450 primers
42 grains of H4350
Shooting 3000+ fps
NightForce NXS 12-42 with 1/8 hi-speed knobs and NP-R2 ret.
TPS med. rings

Anyways...looks like the rifle is gonna really shoot...and maybe I will get to a point where I can start exploiting it.

Take care,Stan

 

[seanhagerty]

Congrats on doing so well.

You have now found another way to spend more time and money.

8)

 

[spclark]

Good job there!

(So you can use a muzzle brake in BR? Hmmmm. That front rest looks like it belongs on a Space Shuttle somehow.)

 

[bozo699]

Stan,
Great looking rifle, I have a factory T3 in 7mm-08 and just love it.
Nice job getting it centered up first time out, groups will get better
Wayne.

 

[BigBamBoo]

Thanks gents. I am pretty sure I can get those groups down with more load development and a lot has to do with how the rifle likes to be shot. I was trying different holds on the grip and pressure on the recoil pad. It seems to like some pressure and a light grip. It is really not the best designed stock for free recoil.
My 6XC BR (Bat action based) rifle did not shoot well at all with free recoil but like a firm grip and solid pressure on the recoil pad. I shot my best group ever at 1000 yards with that rifle (3.923").

So yep...more playing and shooting. I am thinking of ordering some 130 JLK's and try them out. I hear good things about those JLK's.

Take care,Stan

 

[Strut]

Big Bam, I have a tikka T3 I am considering using as a donor. The rifle is a 223 with 8 twist barrel. My concerns are; what is the barrel thread? If it is metric some gunsmiths may have trouble turning the thread. You obviously solved that issue. The Bolt face is small to suit the 223. Could the bolt face be reworked? The T3 uses a floating aluminum recoil lug. Is your tikka the same or did you adapt a fixed recoil lug? By the way your rig obviusly has a great deal of potential - Good luck as you develop your loads and technique on that outfit.

 

[BigBamBoo]

Hi Strut.
The barrel threads are standard so this is just like any other action. I am pretty sure the bolt face can be opened up. Will check it out when I get to the shop this week.
The recoil lug really is not a big deal. I know a lot of folks think it is. Just a FYI, the Sako TRG-22 and TRG-42 chambered in .308,.300WM, and .338LM use the exact recoil lug setup and you never hear anyone talking about those rifle and the recoil lug.
Now with that being said...the factory stocks on the Tikka's leave a bit to be desired and the aluminum lug they use does get beat up with the magnum calibers. We are working on a stainless steel replacement that should be available in a few months.

With this chassis it is pretty close to the TRG chassis and uses a V bedding channel with stainless steel recoil lug embedded in the chassis. This makes for a VERY solid chassis to receive fit. With no bedding required.

For hunting rifles we are using the Bell & Carlson stocks. They use a solid aluminum bedding block with integral lug that is epoxied into the stock. Again...a solid stock to action fit. We have built 5 of the hunting rifles based on the Tikka actions. All the hunting rifles we are chambering in WSM calibers.....270,.7mm,.and 300 WSM. Coupled with the Leupold MK4 scope with Kenton elevation knob matched to our in house ammo these are solid 1000 yard hunting rifles. We have a few heading to CO. this week for long range elk hunting.
Below is a picture of three of the hunting rigs. The one in the factory stock is our basic rifle. The other two are the ungraded rifles. We are using Shilen select match or Lothar Walther match barrels. The brake is our own design.

Take care,Stan

 

[hawghunter]

Great looking rifle and good job keep us inform.
Mark

 

[bozo699]

Stan,
Just curious what would a rifle like one of the top two in the photo cost to have built? P.M me if you would
Wayne.

 

[BigBamBoo]

PM sent Wayne.

 

[BigBamBoo]

Just a quick update. After shooting in the 1000 yard match last Sat. I have been wanting to do some more load work and get some more trigger time with this new rifle. So I hit the range today and shot at 300 yards with different loads.
Below is a pic of a five shot group that I think I will do some fine tuning on. The "flyer" came in on my 4th shot...not sure if it was me :whistling: the wind, or well...me. All the other groups I shot were around 1" - 1 1/2". It was not the best day to be shooting for groups...pretty windy, but I take what free time I can get. Bottom line....it looks like its a shooter!

Take care,Stan

 

[Danley]

Nice rifle & good shooting Stan! Was that with the 130 or 120 vld's?

 

[bozo699]

Nice rifle & good shooting Stan! Was that with the 130 or 120 vld's?

The target say's 120 vld

 

[BigBamBoo]

I only have 130 VLD's....you have to forgive my chicken scratch. I am going to drop the powder charge from 42.0gr. to 41.7 and try it again at 300 hopefully when the wind is not blowing as bad.

Take care,Stan

 

[johnu]

I would agree that Tikkas can shoot. Below is a 200y three-shot group from my new (to me) .308 Master Continental w/26" heavy barrel while doing some load testing recently:

I had only loaded three rounds with each charge, so I'm hoping it wasn't a fluke! At 45.5g of Varget the primers were starting to get a bit flat and there were faint impressions from the ejector and extractor cut-out on the case head - rifle has not been fired much, so there might yet be a sharp edge on those surfaces. Bolt lift was as easy as with other loads. Brand new Lapua brass, so it could have been a little extra head space. Next round of testing will be with once-fired brass.

Already shopping for my next one!

John

 

[bozo699]

John, nice groups with the .308, my 7mm-08 will shoot three just about the same, I am shopping for a 6.5X55 Swede, anyone have one of those yet in a Tikka? if so how did they ring out? Sorry Danley I blew the pic up and was sure it said 120, Stan my chicken scratch is much worse as I can't decipher my own chicken scratch : :
Wayne.