Help!- confused by my target from the range today.

[Bill]

I took my Tikka T3 hunter to the range today for the first time, and am confused with the grouping. TBH experts, please help.

Tikka T3 hunter
7mm Rem Mag
Wood stock
Limbsaver recoil pad
Leupold VX1 on Talley scope rings

Pre-shooting ran a few patches through barrel, Rem oil and then dry patch.

No break-in with cleaning done.

Shot Remington 160 grain Core Locs and Barnes 140 grain Vor-Tx (copper) which I'm hoping to hunt with.

Shot to get on paper at 100 yards with 160 grain Core-Locs, got close to bullseye. Used 2 heavy rubber blocks at the range to steady the rifle.

This is the second target. Here's what happened.

Bullseye #1- bottom was 1st shot with Core-Loc.

Bullseye #2- switched to Vor-Tx. First shot nice, 2/3 go high left. Shots are 1-2 minutes apart. Then I left the bench to view with spotting scope.

Bullseye #3- Vor-Tx, same pattern. After shooting, left to go to spotting scope.

Bullseye #4- same again.

I not understanding this, and took the target to the range master inside. He said maybe the barrel is heating up, and suggested I try the Core-Loc and feel the barrel temp after each shot.

Bullseye #5- similar pattern, barrel is warm but certainly not hot. Go to spotting scope, barrel cools down.

Bullseye #1- 3 shots on upper half, similar pattern.

I'm scratching my head- first shot with cool barrel is always 'on', and 2/3d shots high left. The recoil was ok, and the barrel would jump up and slightly right one each shot




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[RF76]

Check the torque on the action screws and make sure they are set at 35lbs. Also my Tikkas love Nosler Accubonds and Ballistic Tips.

[txfireguy2003]

I'd say check your barrel channel to make sure you're free floating. Wait longer between shots. Try single loading each shot instead of feeding from the mag. Do each of these one at a time and report back. It certainly sounds like a heating issue to me, with some barrel contact that shouldn't be there.

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[lovemylegacy]

I'd say check your barrel channel to make sure you're free floating. Wait longer between shots. Try single loading each shot instead of feeding from the mag. Do each of these one at a time and report back. It certainly sounds like a heating issue to me, with some barrel contact that shouldn't be there.

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+
I have a Remmy that does the same thing

[txfireguy2003]

I also just realized who posted this, I'm bad about looking to see who posted what. Anyway, I remember that you just picked this rifle and sent the bolt off to LRI for fluting. If these are the first rounds down range, give her a good cleaning with a copper solvent and try again. It may just be the fact she's new and needs some breaking in. Also, try more ammo brands and loads.

I do still think heating issue with barrel contact though. The first round, while still "cool" hits center, then with each subsequent shot, the batten heats and the steel expands, causing more pressure on whatever is touching the barrel, pushing the muzzle up and left. I'm betting you have contact somewhere on the bottom right of the channel somewhere along the way. The fact that it's a repeating pattern of center hit followed two high left, then cool and back to center followed by two high left...... just seems like it's a consistent problem rather than something random like loose bolts or something.

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[JW]

Help!- confused by my target from the range today.

Clean it. Put a box through and then don't clean it.

Also do what's already been said. Especially about the barrel floating. Then go shoot it. THE SAME AMMO. [emoji2]


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[droptine8850]

I quit using Barnes ammo because I couldn't switch back and forth between it and normal lead ammo.....without scrubbing the sh*t out of the barrel. Clean the barrel really well and try it again with either one, but don't mix them.

[Drycreek3189]

Im in the bedding issues camp. There may be more than one problem, but bullets consistently climbing to one side as the barrel heats indicates to me bedding issues.

[Zen Archery]

I will agree with range master. Get an IR Thermometer they're less then 25.00. Note heat change. When it starts to spike over 7-9 degrees let it cool down. Also don't let new round cook in chamber.

[starn11gy]

Had a sako that did this. Floated the barrel and drive tacks after that. Someone had really messed the channel up. Bought new Remington and had same problem little build up in channel cleaned it and it shot well after that.

[Mike D]

I am in agreeance with everyone else. Seems like a heating and possible floating issue. It is consistent.

Also pick a bullet and stick with it instead of swapping back and forth.

Don't you have to use all copper bullets in Cali?


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[bboswell]

If you made a group using just your 1st shots you would be on target with a good group. This shows that it is a heat issue as mentioned above

[grizzman]

Usually if I have a barrell heating issue I will have a good group before it starts throwing flyers. With my Sako the flyers are still inside an inch.

It may be that the barrel channel needs to be sanded. I did that with my most recent acquisition and it helped.

I have a .270 that would do the same thing as yours. Never could find an ammo that would go under an inch. I bought some of the Ted Nugent ammo and it started printing much better groups. Sometimes you just have to find what kind of fodder your rifle likes.

[Hotrodd]

I also just realized who posted this, I'm bad about looking to see who posted what. Anyway, I remember that you just picked this rifle and sent the bolt off to LRI for fluting. If these are the first rounds down range, give her a good cleaning with a copper solvent and try again. It may just be the fact she's new and needs some breaking in. Also, try more ammo brands and loads.

I do still think heating issue with barrel contact though. The first round, while still "cool" hits center, then with each subsequent shot, the batten heats and the steel expands, causing more pressure on whatever is touching the barrel, pushing the muzzle up and left. I'm betting you have contact somewhere on the bottom right of the channel somewhere along the way. The fact that it's a repeating pattern of center hit followed two high left, then cool and back to center followed by two high left...... just seems like it's a consistent problem rather than something random like loose bolts or something.

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Some good information here!

[Bill]

Thanks. To reply:

Torque on action bolts- I need to pick up a T25 bit today.

Barrel contact- I could slide a dollar bill between barrel and stock at the range, and again today cold.

I cleaned after with Birchwood Casey Bore Scrubber 2 in 1 for copper and nitro fouling following the label directions. Any recommendations for something else?

CA will require non lead everywhere in 2019, but where I hunt is outside the so-called "condor zone" which is bs but don't get me started this early in the day!

I'm shooting the copper Barnes on recommendation of good friend who's a hunting machine, gunsmith, ex gunny for a SEAL team. I also ordered a bunch on sale at Midway USA.

How do I "check the channel?"

All my shots were single feeds into receiver, and probably less than a minute from chambering to shooting.

After a 3-shot sequence, the barrel was warm but not what I would call hot.

Happy New Year and God Bless Texas and your families in 2017!




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