Finally! A 1/4" group

[southern_idaho]

This morning I shot my first 1/4" group (with my own rife). Previously I had achieved that only when a fellow shooter let me shoot his high dollar, 16 lb., .22BR at the range. Shooting at 100 yds.

My rifle is/was a Tikka T3 in .223, with a lightweight sporter barrel. The only thing I have ever done to it is adjust the trigger to almost as light as it will go.

I usually only shoot 3-shot groups because I know if I can't hit something in 3 shots, I sure as heck ain't going to hit it in 5.

I didn't even bring my spotting scope to the range this morning, so I had no real idea what the groups were going to look like - until I walked down to the target. Only shot three, 3-shot groups and they were (from first to last) 5/16", 1/4", and 3/4".

By the way, this is my first post in this forum - been a long time lurker!

 

[Raythemanroe]

Well, great shooting and once you get there I'm sure there will be plenty more! I should move to three shot groups, I have had four go into what would have been low .1's or high .0's and on the fifth I about cried it would of been my best group ever!

 

[Phil]

Good deal, and Welcome to the madness.........

What part of Southern Id. do you hail from???

I have rental properties in Nampa and visit from time to time.

Phil.

 

[southern_idaho]

Phil - Twin Falls area.

 

[Phil]

Always wanted to go there,havn`t made it yet!!!

We will have to talk about it later...

Phil.

 

[22BRGUY]

Nice shooting and Most Welcome to the site...as you have seen we need all the help we can get..........well some of us anyway.
Best Wishes

 

[SS427]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are hopelessly hooked.

 

[BigDMT]

Congrats on some great shooting and welcome to the site. There are many VERY experienced shooters and gunsmiths frequent this site and they will help you with just about anything. Take care

 

[Lapua40X]

Welcome, Idaho .... always good to hear from someone who had a good day at the range. This is a great site and, remember, we love to see pictures. ;D

 

[southern_idaho]

Pic

Here is the picture of my group.

Interesting thing is I used virgin Lapua .223 match brass. Did nothing to the brass except prime it, put some powder in it, seated a bullet and was done. Did not weigh the brass or the bullets. Did weigh the powder

 

[fdshuster]

Sako/Tikka rifles have a well deserved reputation for accuracy, right out of the box. Those hammer forged barrels will shoot! I've inspected the bores with my Hawkeye borescope, and they closely resemble my hand-lapped custom barrels.

Have several (Sako's), some friends have Tikka's, and all are very accurate and very easy to clean.

 

[southern_idaho]

What really amazes me about this rifle is how tough it is. I haven't done it intentionally, but its the most abused rifle I own.

Last winter while hunting coyotes, I slipped on a steep rock covered canal bank and fell backwards down the bank with the rifle slung over my shoulder. When I regathered my wits after landing, the rifle was laying about three feet from me, bolt open (there was never a round in the chamber). Upon picking up the rifle and examining it I found several deep scratches into the barrel, with bright fresh metal exposed. The Nikon scope also had some deep gouges and scratches in the body, but no glass damage.

Several days later when I shot it to check zero, it was still within an inch or so of where it should be.

Then, (I almost hate to admit this one) one day at the range I left the rifle with the forearm sitting in the front rest, and the stock resting in the rear bag while I walked down to set up my targets. (I see guys do this all the time at the range, and I used to do it myself all the time). When I got back to the bench it dawned on me that the rifle wasn't sitting there anymore. I look down on the concrete and there it lay. Now the scope is wearing a few new gouges. I put it back on the rest and begin shooting my groups - and I can't see that the point of impact had changed at all.

So the rifle and the scope now wear some pretty good battle scars - and I never leave a rifle on a bench without it laying flat on its side

 

[chino1969]

Congratulations. You have just passed through a portal that knows no end.

 

[chino1969]

Sako/Tikka rifles have a well deserved reputation for accuracy, right out of the box. Those hammer forged barrels will shoot! I've inspected the bores with my Hawkeye borescope, and they closely resemble my hand-lapped custom barrels.

Have several (Sako's), some friends have Tikka's, and all are very accurate and very easy to clean.

I have a Sako Vixen in .223 with bull barrel and factory adjustable trigger with holes in the triggerguard for adjustment. I ,too, have examined the bore with my Hawkeye and it is close to a custom barrel. It is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned and will give my custom jobs a run for their money.

 

[chino1969]

Re: Pic

Here is the picture of my group.

Interesting thing is I used virgin Lapua .223 match brass. Did nothing to the brass except prime it, put some powder in it, seated a bullet and was done. Did not weigh the brass or the bullets. Did weigh the powder

Beware; this stuff is addicting.

 

[Roarke]

Congrats!! Let us observe a moment of silence for your checking account as your accelerate into the black hole that is this sport.

 

[southern_idaho]

Congrats!! Let us observe a moment of silence for your checking account as your accelerate into the black hole that is this sport.

You certainly got that right. Just this week I started ordering components for my first build, so far I have ordered the barrel and a "parts gun" from which I will use just the action.

 

[Lapua40X]

Congrats!! Let us observe a moment of silence for your checking account as your accelerate into the black hole that is this sport.

You certainly got that right. Just this week I started ordering components for my first build, so far I have ordered the barrel and a "parts gun" from which I will use just the action.

Makes me feel a little bit better knowing there are others who've fallen into that black hole of the shooting sports. I'm working on a build for which I've already spent nearly three grand and still haven't selected a trigger for it. :-\