I just spoke to my father, who for years has been a supporter of the idea that Barnes puts forth. He's recently used Berger bullets to good effect. Per him “Nothing I have shot with either one has lived”. He did mention that he has never recovered a bullet from either brand, but is convinced that the Bergers create a larger exit hole, and have… Read more

Considering you'd be going from a .308 to a .30-06, you would only need to ream a new chamber in the existing barrel. They shoot the exact same bullets as they're both .30 Cal

In that case you would need to remove the existing barrel, set it back half a thread, cut the new chamber for .30-06 and put it back on. There's no getting around the need… Read more

My smith also cursed me out when he had to take the barrel off my .270 T3 for it's .280 Ackley replacement barrel. My dad has a 695 that he had re-barreled as well.

Tikkas are notorious for having a tight fitted barrel. They are threaded, not hydraulically pressed, however they do have thread locker on the first couple of threads, and tight… Read more

Great points. I'm sure when Jason makes it back from SHOT he'll take this into consideration. Always nice to have more opinions. I'm just biding my time for the announcement of the bigger ones.

It's the same book that the OP mentioned. He actually linked directly to the main page, the link I posted is basically just the shop page for the main site, and has this and several of his other books listed as well.

Hope this helped. I wanted to be able to find it on Amazon, but sadly, the one mentioned isn't available there, though a couple… Read more

My dogs woke me up in the middle of the night so I thought I'd dig around on the interwebs at 0320 and find this for you.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/shop.html

When I first purchased my used Tikka T3 to build into my .280 Ackley Improved, it was also a blued T3 Lite in .270 Win. I payed $450 at the gun shop, and it looked as if it hadn't been shot. With the rail and cheek riser, you could throw in a bit more of course.

As for modifications, the Tikka Performance center from Mountain Tactical produces… Read more

That's about where I've got mine, but it must be a longer tube than your model since it clears the front of the rail just fine. I think Vortex has approximately the same eye relief on most of their scopes, so you're in the ballpark for a good sight picture. I'd suggest removing a notch or two, or just making it receiver length and touching up the… Read more

I have tried that. My fireform loads group quite well and spit a 139 Hornady Interlock on average 2870 fps. It doesn't compare to what I'm getting with full up AI loads of 180 Berger Hybrid Targets and around 3000 fps. I haven't tested enough to see what works best, and am still waiting for the long action DBM to be able to load a longer COAL.

I… Read more

Keep in mind J that you can purchase .280 Ackley brass from Nosler, now that it's standardized. They also sell loaded ammunition.

The .284 Win is also a winner when you consider that it's fairly easy to get components, and it's not as difficult to load longer bullets since it's a shorter fatter alternative. I've also never understood why 6.5mm is… Read more

These are what I've been using since my smith put one down my freshly cleaned barrel and it came out dirtier than I care to admit. Screw them down tighter to the base of the adapter, and they flare out a little. Don't screw them down hardly at all (my smith machined off about half of the threading on the adapter) and they're fairly small. If you… Read more

Best 'magnum' without going to a different bolt face than the .30-06 is probably going to be the .280 Ackley Improved.

You're not going to find 'true' magnum performance in the .30-06 bolt face, but it comes the closest that I've been able to find, and uses the incomparable ballistics of the 7mm platform. If you end up getting a barrel with a twist… Read more

260 Remington Ackley Improved if you're going for 6.5mm

I should probably have clarified a bit. I love my set up, and if you're running a stock size barrel, low rings should work fine clearance wise. Still a good idea to wait and see where your scope will be comfortable for you though.

So, in answer to the original question, with a rail, and medium rings, even with a palma contour, clearance probably… Read more

Eric, I've got the Vortex low rings with MT 20MOA rail mounting a 6-24 Viper HS 30mm tube 50mm objective and it works great. It barely clears my barrel, and I can't use the scope covers that came with it, but my barrel is a lot thicker than factory.

I've got to agree with Eric on this. Twist rate is the major thing you should probably change. A twist of 1:8″ will handle anything well, especially if you're trying to stretch the range out. You'll need the faster twist to stabilize heavier rounds that have better ballistics for downrange performance.

I've recently put together a T3 similarly that… Read more

Alright Dog Down!, you wanted velocities. My brass fireforming load is 52gr of H4350 under a Hornady 139gr Interlock BT, which spits at a pretty consistent 2870 fps. This is basically a standard .280 Remington load to blow the shoulders out on the case.

For my actual finish loads I'm using Berger 180gr Hybrid Target bullets. I've tested a few… Read more

Directly from the website order page for Gen2 rails:

“These rails are full, MIL-STD 1913 spec rails machined to an amazing +/- .002” tolerance.  Machined from one piece of 6061 aluminum and MIL-STD Type 3 anodizing, these rails will give you a lifetime of service.  Type 3 anodizing creates a hardened coating with a Rockwell Hardness value between 6… Read more

As for the screws, get quality parts. I've got 3 pairs of the hardened action screws from the store here for insurance, since the second time I torqued down the factory screws to 35, they stripped the head. Haven't had a problem AT ALL, with the new ones, and have two spare sets.

My smith was cursing me for having a Tikka when he needed to remove… Read more

How long is the barrel? It's also only 43 fps and not much sample size provided. How many at each charge weight did you chrono?

You're on the right track with the burn rate making a difference though, if the bullet's already exited the barrel while the powder is still burning because there was more of it to burn, then you'd lose speed. A lighter… Read more

Damn it. This is why you shouldn't let the guys at Bartlein convince you that 1:9 twist will be fine. I KNEW i should have gone with 1:8, good thing i went with 1:8.5 inch twist in the end. It's better than 1:9 anyway. Thanks for the info on the 195's.  And they're hunters too!

Looking at the specs, they're only 0.022 longer than the 180's, with a… Read more

I too am anxiously awaiting new bottom metal. It's the final component of my rifle.

I've resorted to working up a load that fit in my magazine, as deer season is 3 weeks out. It's not really ideal, especially with those huge, long, 7mm 180gr Bergers, but it's what I've got to work with.

We did get em through the chrono at 3050 fps, but after that,… Read more

https://tikkaperformance.com/tikka-parts/tikka-t3/tikka-steel-lug

Solved. Mine fits perfectly, and very snug.

To be honest Dog Down, so am I. The tripod was having a hiccup and so we weren't able to set the chrony up at the range last time. Apparently it's missing a screw and the diffusers don't work so well when they're pointed at the dirt.

It'll be interesting to see what velocities I'm getting with the fireform rounds as opposed to the eventual full… Read more

Thanks Al! Originally I ordered a 31″ and Bartlein ships an extra inch on the blanks for threading and crowning, however my smith has been so impressed with the quality of the Bartlein product, that he barely had to take any length off for either. He explained that somehow he managed to magically grow the barrel to 32″ when he measured it. I… Read more

If I remember correctly, all of the Tikka's have the same bolt length, so anything in the .30-06 bolt face 'should' work as far as I know. Since the case head is the same with all of the bolts in that group, headspacing shouldn't be an issue. I'm currently using the same bolt from my .270 Tikka T3 for my .280 Ackley Improved build and it works… Read more

Rebarrel the .308 to 260 Rem. Problem solved 🙂

Accubonds look nice, and the BC numbers are unbelievable. Literally. I don't believe them.

It's been a couple of months now and I was wondering if everything is still on track to meet the dates put forth in Jason's first post.

I'm anxiously awaiting those 3.6″ COAL bottom metals. Hoping they really will be available in June.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

Hodgdon has data for the 130 Barnes TSX, it's not tipped, but the tip probably won't matter to the bearing surface and therefore the chamber pressure.

Any light coating of gun oil should keep it from rusting until you're able to get a more permanent solution to the problem.

There are a couple posts already regarding this issue. They are:

https://tikkashooters.com/public_html/technical-articles/reloading-question-measured-col-won%27t-fit-magazine/

and

https://tikkashooters.com/public_html/general-discussion/loads/

LOL, I think he's just setting up the thread so as he works on it he can edit each post with his steps and have them all listed on the first page. It should be really interesting to see how it develops. I look forward to pictures Dog Down!

Berger (I know you're using Barnes) suggests a minimum twist of 1:11 up to their 210gr VLD's. I'm sure using that 150 TTSX you've got more than enough twist. Even if you're over-rotating it, it's not like the jacket's going to fly off of a Barnes, they're solid copper.

I picked up a set of the hardened screws from MT. I'm not looking back. I stripped out one of the factory ones torquing it down to 35 inch pounds. I'm hoping it was either a soft screw, or a really sharp bit, but either way, I got the first set of hardened screws they shipped.

I just checked and Witt Manufacturing makes their brakes from 416 stainless. It's the same stuff a lot of after market stainless barrels are made of. You're probably fine for some time Eric.

Vixty on the other hand with the Kahntrol brake (I can't access their site due to my antivirus detecting malware and blocking it) may have an issue. Theirs are… Read more

What is that thing MADE out of? Also, what's with the line around the center? It looks like what you'd find on injection molded plastic parts.

The brake DOES look like it's functioning though.

In my experience on this forum, Eric doesn't mess around. I picked up a Redding competition set with a bushing style neck sizer and micrometer seating die. It mentions not compressing loads, so I won't be able to do that. Haven't been able to use it yet since I don't actually HAVE a rifle in that caliber though. Still waiting on the new barrel… Read more

You might also try CFE-223 from Hodgdon. You're shooting Barnes which iirc are solid copper, so a powder that helps limit copper fouling is probably a decent choice. Velocity on Hodgdon's site list is comparable to slightly higher than Varget, with CFE-223 starting loads at 46gr and max at 49.5gr.

Either way, Varget/RL-15 are both fine for that… Read more

You're probably ok with this set up. I've got a Viper HS 6-24x50mm with lows, but on a rail, and it doesn't come near the barrel. I'm on Vortex Tactical low rings.

With a .243 Win and that many rounds with those pressures, I'm surprised it's not shooting worse than it is. I imagine it's almost certainly the barrel. That caliber likes to burn em up.

Unfortunately, I don't have any information on barrels in Australia.

Wait, are we seriously going to debate using rational thought the decisions someone in some office made?

I don't think you're missing anything really all that obvious. They're just really really proud of their product. It's why I purchased a T3 Lite used at the gun shop and am building my own off of the action.

It's probably the adjustable stock as standard, along with the different muzzle threading and a manganese phosphate coating on the barrel. Or… and I'm spitballing here, it's so expensive for consumers because if they list it at that price they're able to have wiggle room to wrangle M/LE contracts.

I do have to admit, it's a lot more difficult to compare different models on the 2015 Tikka website. I prefer multiple tabs. It looks like the caliber choices between the two only meet on 308 win. CTR has 260 Rem, whereas the Tac has 223 Rem, and 300 Win Mag. Adjustable cheek piece is standard on the Tac, only an option on the CTR. The muzzle… Read more

Maybe you can spend the downtime formulating new CNC programs for awesome new gears?

Thanks for the update Jason.

When I spoke with Robert the other day he told me you weren't supposed to do any work for two weeks after your surgery. I applaud your dedication to us that you've defied the order and given us this information.

That said… Hurry up and get better so that you can get back to what you love! (Which coincidentally will… Read more

The aluminum recoil lug is fairly easily damaged with heavy recoiling calibers. I'd suggest checking it for an inverted trapezoid and/or replacing it with a steel one to start. Make sure the action screws are torqued to the correct specs as well.

From what you've mentioned about it shooting great in the past is what leads me to suspect the lug, but… Read more

To be honest, I think one of the major sellers at the Tikka Performance Center are the rails due to the fact that Tikka factory rails aren't really the greatest thing ever. Additionally, with the integrated pic rail recoil lug machined to slot right into the Optilock hole on top of your receiver, it really solids up the rifle.

Once you've gone with… Read more

You may also want to purchase an upgraded recoil lug. With the heavy recoil of that caliber the aluminum one will undoubtedly not last long.

I developed a .30-06 load early last summer with 185gr Berger Juggernaut Tactical OTM and 61 grains of RL-22. The bearing surface is actually fairly low considering how heavy the bullet is, so it acts more like a Berger 155gr.

We were shooting down a 29″ pipe, so depending on what you have, velocities might be less than the 2900 with 61, or the… Read more

If I did that I wouldn't have had the pleasure of handcrafting something to work very well, knowing I'm the one that did it, and would have spent 30 times what it cost to make mine, before shipping.

I'll stick to the craft store and a skiving knife.