*-_Tikka accuracy issues_-*

[wdallis]

I am having some accuracy issues from my rifle. I am wondering if that little tab that is touching the barrel is enough to mess my accuracy up? I can stack 3 dollar bills together and the dollar bills always stop on that tab. ( even 1 dollar bill will stop on it )

 

[someguy2800]

Never seen one with that in there

 

[JeffG]

That tab is an oversight. It shouldn't be there...

 

[wdallis]

I have filed it down, but it still hits the stock so far down. Does anyone know how far down the free float is supposed to go?

 

[Poper]

I have filed it down, but it still hits the stock so far down. Does anyone know how far down the free float is supposed to go?

I would file it down until a dollar bill will pass freely. I have three Tikkas and none of them have that contact point.

 

[Gtscotty]

What does it look like with the action out of the stock? Is it only visible on one side of the barrel channel?

 

[wdallis]

What does it look like with the action out of the stock? Is it only visible on one side of the barrel channel?

Yes it is only visible on that one side, all of the others are smooth. I have filed it down, but the dollar bill stops about 4" from where the barrel meets the action.

 

[Skylerbone]

I don't know that filing on it is the answer. While others may own Tikka rifles without it, this may be a new modification, perhaps to index the barrel to the center of the stock's channel.

I noticed on a new rifle of mine that as I tightened the forward action screw the barrel would torque its way to the left so I held it to the right until the screw was tight and when released, presto, it was centered.

You might simply carve a small recess in the stock to prevent contact and see if that cures it, just make sure when reassembling that the barrel is still centered.

 

[someguy2800]

With the way a tikka stock is molded it's pretty much impossible for the gun to be crooked in the stock. What does that piece look like with the action out of the stock?

 

[redbullitt]

When mine are bedded I make sure there is material about an inch, maybe more or less depending on barrel, in front of the action. Free floated otherwise unless you want to play with pressure points etc. I would make sure it is free floated close back to the action if possible (assuming it is like a typical bolt action, I dont have a tikka.).

 

[ms6852]

Email the pictures to the manufacturing company and ask them if that could be the issue.

 

[MCMXI]

With the way a tikka stock is molded it's pretty much impossible for the gun to be crooked in the stock.

Can you elaborate on this? How is the stock molded such that the barrel is guaranteed to be centered in the barrel channel?

 

[Kingcreek]

My only tikka is a laminated stock but I thought tikka guaranteed moa with all their rifles and included the test group in he box with the new rifle or atleast a signed verification card.
Might check in with the tikka gurus over at tikka shooters forum.

 

[dranrab]

I am interested in seeing how Tikka responds if they are brought into the loop. Tikka customer service doesn't normally get the same high marks as Tikka manufacturing.

 

[WelshShooter]

Never seen that on a Tikka, the only thing I can think about is the recoil lug which is built into the stock (it's the opposite to a Remington 700).

Perhaps it's some tooling or fixture accidentally left in the stock during the moulding process?

 

[Newtosavage]

That tab is not an oversight. It's in both of my Tikka synthetic stocks. I've removed it with my dremel tool on both of my Tikka's so I have zero barrel contact. It's not hard to do.

Having said that, I shot both of my rifles under an inch with factory ammo with that tab in place. So if yours isn't shooting well now, I don't think removing that tab will change that much.

 

[Newtosavage]

As for your accuracy issues, how many types of ammo have you run through it? My stainless '06 T3x will eat anything I feed it, but my .243 T3 really likes Federal Fusion (.75") a lot. Other ammo was just so-so (1.5").

 

[wdallis]

I took my dremal tool and made the barrel free floating. I am going to try and do some shooting this afternoon. I will post pictures of the results.

 

[wdallis]

Alright everyone, you will be pleased to know that making the barrel free floating fixed the problem. I bought 2 boxes of the less expensive 129 grain hornady American whitetail. With this ammunition, this gun is shooting 3/4 moa. Sorry I couldn't get pictures, it was getting dark on me quick. Will try to get some this week.

 

[someguy2800]

Can you elaborate on this? How is the stock molded such that the barrel is guaranteed to be centered in the barrel channel?

Tikka actions are rounded on the bottom with flat sides. The stocks are molded with a round contact point front and back and flats on the sides that mate to the flat sided receiver. The width between these flat sections on the sides are slightly smaller than the action so its actually a press fit and it takes a couple pounds of force to push the action into the stock. If you put the action into the stock even without the screws its impossible to move the action side to side in the stock at all and if you hold it upside down the action will not fall out even with no screws in. They are basically bedded from the factory. This is a picture of my Tikka's stock with the action out.

 

[someguy2800]

Alright everyone, you will be pleased to know that making the barrel free floating fixed the problem. I bought 2 boxes of the less expensive 129 grain hornady American whitetail. With this ammunition, this gun is shooting 3/4 moa. Sorry I couldn't get pictures, it was getting dark on me quick. Will try to get some this week.

My guess is that that piece was preventing the action from fully seating in the stock? Your the 2nd person I've ever heard with an accuracy complaint of a tikka. I'm curious how many tikkas have that piece, never noticed one

 

[wdallis]

Sorry it took so long to respond, been at my witts end with this gun, I finally found a buddy that had a Boyd’s laminate stock that he would let me borrow. I just shot this evening, now granted these shots are at 50 yards, but I would think that they would be under 1” still at 100 yards. For whatever reason this gun loves the Hornady whitetail 129 grain factory ammunition. I have yet to send any reloads down the tube, but on a positive note I now have plenty of brass, lol. Thank you to everyone that commented. ( By the way, this is a 5 shot group )

 

[Picher]

All my rifle barrels are now free-floated at least 1/16" everywhere. They all shoot better than what the factory bedding would do. Most are also pillar-bedded and epoxy-bedded in the action area. Front and bottom of recoil plates are free-floated.

 

[Slamfire]

I am a fan of the free floated barrel. I took my SAKO Finnbear in 30-06 to CMP Talladega and it puked chunks at 300 yards, in the original factory stock.





The barrel touched on the bottom of the stock, otherwise seemed OK. I did not want to whittle on the factory stock, until I had some practice on a cheaper stock.

I put the action in a Bell & Carlson stock



I "pillar" bedded the front and rear action screws, and I routed out the stock channel, a bunch, and made sure the barrel was free floating from the receiver forward. Well, it shot better, but not great. So, under the theory that that the action/barrel needed to be stiffer (that is, a Hail Mary idea) I added bedding compound under the barrel. That actually improved things.











This rifle is not as accurate as my pre war M70's in 30-06, but it is much better. Based on my experience with these tupperware stocks, bedding the actions in the tupperware stocks, with a good Devcon epoxy, can't hurt, and probably will improve accuracy. And, it is critical that the barrel be free to vibrate without hitting the stock channel. Bedding under the chamber has given more consistent results than not, but, I don't really know why.

 

[Picher]

I never heard of greasing cases. That would put more strain on the bolt. I've always sized cases to fit the chamber, to minimize stretching and prolong life.