I will go first...I have a Ruger American in 6.5 Creedmoor. That rifle has grouped well with every ammunition, factory and handloads. Whenever doing load development, I have never seen any groups more than 1.25 MOA. All of my other rifles (some very expensive) range from somewhat picky to very picky.
What rifles are the least picky with ammunition?
- Thread starter USAFRet
- Start date
The 30BR seems to be the least picky with load development. However, the 243AI & 260AI are fairly easy to come up with a good accurate load for as well.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
My Cooper 223 Ackley is pretty accurate with just about any load that I’ve tried in it and the little Tikka T3 lite 22-250 is shooting very well with every bullet tried so far. Both are hunting rifles.
My 60’s Sako Forester .243.
@ Gary,..
What twist barrel do you have, on your Tikka .22-250 ??
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
Lefty, it’s the 8 twist.
Any rifle with a good barrel, properly chambered, an action that is bedded or held stress free, and a stock that allows consistent aiming and recoil will be very forgiving. If it is not, there is something broke.
In the old days I would have said Remington 700, but today, I don't know about them. But even the old ones required some stock work to get them to really shoot because of the poor bedding and those pressure points on sporter weight models.
I do know about Tikka's - all of mine are "five stars" - very accurate (w/ tuned reloads), flawless extractor design, factory stock stiff enough for accurate shooting, easily adjustable trigger, smoothest action I ever encountered on a factory rifle, butt pad (centerfire model) very effective non-slip and recoil management. The varmint model I have is a sub 1/4 to 1/2 moa rifle. It's still a mystery to me why they shoot so well with that recoil lug design.
My only concerning comments are that in cartridges heavier than 243, I found the recoil difficult to manage but I am a small, old guy. The other aspect that I am not thrilled with is the polymer magazine. While I am yet to experience a failure, like I did with my Browning X bolt, I wonder how these magazines will hold up over the long term with heavy field use, i.e. feeding.
I do know about Tikka's - all of mine are "five stars" - very accurate (w/ tuned reloads), flawless extractor design, factory stock stiff enough for accurate shooting, easily adjustable trigger, smoothest action I ever encountered on a factory rifle, butt pad (centerfire model) very effective non-slip and recoil management. The varmint model I have is a sub 1/4 to 1/2 moa rifle. It's still a mystery to me why they shoot so well with that recoil lug design.
My only concerning comments are that in cartridges heavier than 243, I found the recoil difficult to manage but I am a small, old guy. The other aspect that I am not thrilled with is the polymer magazine. While I am yet to experience a failure, like I did with my Browning X bolt, I wonder how these magazines will hold up over the long term with heavy field use, i.e. feeding.
One important aspect about Tikka's I forgot to mention in my previous post is that the new TX models with the modular stock design is a real significant plus.
I have added aftermarket vertical pistol grips to all of mine which has significantly improved my ability to shoot these rifles more precisely. While these grips do not affect the inherent accuracy potential of the rifle, they do align the trigger finger much better which results, at least for me, in better shooting.
One other item I added recently is the Beartooth stock cover which improved by cheek weld on my centerfire rifles. Also, the cheek contact / feel is more pleasant in cold weather.
Old farts like comfort. 
I have added aftermarket vertical pistol grips to all of mine which has significantly improved my ability to shoot these rifles more precisely. While these grips do not affect the inherent accuracy potential of the rifle, they do align the trigger finger much better which results, at least for me, in better shooting.
One other item I added recently is the Beartooth stock cover which improved by cheek weld on my centerfire rifles. Also, the cheek contact / feel is more pleasant in cold weather.
Old farts like comfort. 
About all the cartridges mentioned are short and fat. That helps with consistent powder burn. Look at a 6ppc. Short and fat. Doug
Every rifle can be expected to be picky. It just depends on how far outside of the factory load we take it. There is more to rifle accuracy than load. The “load” puts demands on the rifle at every point, including action, barrel length and stiffness, rifling, twist rate, bullet weight and architecture, etc. Working up a load requires selecting the bullet that likes the powder, seated at the proper depth with just the right neck tension, and fitted to a rifle that likes all of them.
30 BR ONLY WAY TO GO
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
Back in the day, when probably 99% of rifles were chambered with about six different cartridges, (maybe an exaggeration, but ya know what I mean) it seemed to me that most any bolt gun in 308 Win would usually shoot well.
I'm talking Rem 700's, 788, Ruger 77's, Winchesters, Savage, even the Marlin and Mossberg store brands and such. 308 was just a good shooting cartridge. jd
I'm talking Rem 700's, 788, Ruger 77's, Winchesters, Savage, even the Marlin and Mossberg store brands and such. 308 was just a good shooting cartridge. jd
IMO, You have an, awesome "Chance" of getting, a "Sweet Shooting" Tikka over, ANY other, Sub $1,000 Factory Rifle. My recent, T-3 , 24" in 6.5 Creedmoor shoots, very well ( usually, Sub 1/2 MOA with Proper, Bullet, "Tuning" ).
The light Weight of, the Rifle, makes a 7 mm Rem Mag or .270 WSM about, ALL, you want to shoot, off the Bench,.. UN-Braked ! Shooting a .300 WSM or .338 Win Mag in a 7.5 Pound, "All Up" Rifle, makes me WINCE,..
just thinking about,..it !
The light Weight of, the Rifle, makes a 7 mm Rem Mag or .270 WSM about, ALL, you want to shoot, off the Bench,.. UN-Braked ! Shooting a .300 WSM or .338 Win Mag in a 7.5 Pound, "All Up" Rifle, makes me WINCE,..
just thinking about,..it !
Last edited:
My Newer 6.5 Creed T-3's Barrel Looked to be, pretty "Good" !
But, I have my Own system of, light Polishing / Lapping Barrels ( the Rifling and the Throat areas "Ramp" ) with JB's on, a Patch over, a Bronze Brush "Gently" with, all Strokes ( 10-12 Max ) ONE Way, then, Barrel Break-in, Clean / Shoot 5 and again Clean / Shoot 10,.. clean, DONE and, they "Shine" after that, for easy cleaning with, VERY Little, Copper Build up.
My ole' Tikka T-3 .243 W. with, my 47 y/o Son shooting it, grouped .277 ( Ctr / Ctr for, 5 Shots ) with, 87 gr H-VLD's @ 3,130 FPS,.. Not Bad for, a Factory Rifle !
I seriously Doubt that, the Finn's would EVER sacrifice on,.. Barrel quality !
The Italians / Spanish ???
Last edited:
+ 1 ^^^^^^^
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.