Thread: Factory/Factory 223 Accuracy Challenge

Originally Posted by Tentman

It didn't shoot 73 or 77 TMK reloads either, however 60 Vmax reloads were fantastic.

Twist rate?

Originally Posted by Fisherman

Twist rate?

1:8. It doesn't have an excuse as far as I can see. The fact that it shot extremely well with one projectile (Hornardy 60 V-Max with my random "standard load) just suggests to me that Tikka/Sako barrels are no different from any other factory stuff and they have the ability to send out extremely fussy barrels between pretty good ones - just like any other manufacturer.

Originally Posted by kiwi303

very interesting data, I would expect the lighter overall weight of standard hunting rifles to have an effect on dispersion.

Am quite keen to test this my Tikka varmint as a comparison.

I'm pretty skeptical about this too. Until you get into the higher grades of barrels (well beyond the factory offerings that grace the shelves of our gunshops) all the evidence I have suggest light and heavy shoot the same. For at least the last 6/7 223's here I've tried getting them "hot" to see if they walk and none have. The pencil thin Howa here can be shot as fast as you can get a sight picture and it doesn't show any increase in dispersion. This is completely contrary to my previous thinking, and I have probably sold a nice rifle I liked, that was just a wee bit less accurate than I thought cause it opened up when more than 5 rounds were sent.

Originally Posted by Tentman

It didn't shoot 73 or 77 TMK reloads either, however 60 Vmax reloads were fantastic.

Is it a 1-8 twist seems to be something wrong there

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Originally Posted by Tentman

And now a Tikka enters the picture, I just bought this approx 400 round 20" Elite off a forumite.

Attachment 283769

This T3X doesn't shoot with 73 ELDM's, that's 2.07 MOA. Ouch.

I know not realevent, handloads but might be interesting. Same projectile, 2 different lots of cases GC & old laupa, shot in clumps of 3 rest, standard Tikka mag lenghth Ave speed 2780, SD of 18

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Is it a 1-8 twist seems to be something wrong there

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Well it's got "Cal 223 Rem 8" stamped right there on the barrel so you'd have to think it was a 1:8 twist rate.

Originally Posted by flock

I know not realevent, handloads but might be interesting. Same projectile, 2 different lots of cases GC & old laupa, shot in clumps of 3 rest, standard Tikka mag lenghth Ave speed 2780, SD of 18

Attachment 283811

Good shooting there. I shot it with 73 reloads, gave up after 5 got to 50+mm, 77 TMKs showed initial promise but also blew out to way over 50mm.

Originally Posted by Tentman

Well it's got "Cal 223 Rem 8" stamped right there on the barrel so you'd have to think it was a 1:8 twist rate.

Correct I'm wondering if it's stamped wrong.
Maybe worth measuring it

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Results aren't out of the ordinary from what i see with factory tikkas with a reasonable proportion of factory ammo

Ill put some factory 73s through one at some point

I wonder if this just proves that factory ammo is crap.
I've never seen a Tikka shoot that bad with reloads.

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

I wonder if this just proves that factory ammo is crap.
I've never seen a Tikka shoot that bad with reloads.

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How many have you see with 10rd groups though?

Factory ammo shoots fine out of a better match barrel

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Correct I'm wondering if it's stamped wrong.
Maybe worth measuring it

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I just measured it and it is 1:8. Ran the borescope (Mines a cheapie) up it and it's looks pretty good, no visible corrosion or garks. It does have a really really nasty looking carbon ring, never seen one like it before, like a little mountain range between the area of the case mouth and the end if the neck cut. Will get some CLR on it and report back. I don't normally sweat about carbon rings ( all the used Howas we've gotten recently have some sort of ring and still shoot ok) but . . .

Originally Posted by Tentman

I just measured it and it is 1:8. Ran the borescope (Mines a cheapie) up it and it's looks pretty good, no visible corrosion or garks. It does have a really really nasty looking carbon ring, never seen one like it before, like a little mountain range between the area of the case mouth and the end if the neck cut. Will get some CLR on it and report back. I don't normally sweat about carbon rings ( all the used Howas we've gotten recently have some sort of ring and still shoot ok) but . . .

How was the bore right at the muzzle and sharpness of the crown? As that is the most important. A perfect barrel with a shit crown will shoot worse than a moderately pitted barrel with a good muzzle and crown.

Originally Posted by Roarless20

How was the bore right at the muzzle and sharpness of the crown? As that is the most important. A perfect barrel with a shit crown will shoot worse than a moderately pitted barrel with a good muzzle and crown.

Crown looked fine.