Tikka #2

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I got a call today that my second Tikka was in, a .243 this time, and I picked it up tonight. When I got it home I noticed two differences from the first Tikka. The action screws on the first were simple slotted bolts which take real care not to bugger up. I thought that needed some improvement and I guess they read my mind because this one came with nice Tork head action bolts and a wrench to fit them. The second thing was that my first came without scope rings and this one had them, but as far as I'm concerned they could have dropped the price a dollar and kept them. I used the same Dednutz mount as I did on the first. I really have to give Julian credit for pointing me towards these mounts, they are without a doubt the best I've ever used. I didn't go high power with the scope it's a simple fixed power 4X40 Nikon Buckmaster. Very bright and edge to edge clear. I'm hoping to get to the range tomorrow and also hoping I have another shooter here.
Don

[DocHolladay]

Alright, I think I might have to jump on this .243 bandwagon.

[juliang]

Hey Don, welcome to the club!!! Mine also came with the tork bolts and scope mounts!!! I have a bunch of old Tikka mounts now, wonder if they're worth anything for scrap? I'm glad you like the Dednutz mounts, I should be on commission for them the amount I have sold for them on various forums. It was only last week that I found you can buy them from Natchez, Midway etc for less than I paid for them direct from the factory!!!
Let me know how you get on with load development. I tried 3 different loads yesterday with various results. Two of the loads left 2 rounds together and 1 flyer, the third group was .59" The problem is that I could have been responsible for the flyers, so back to do it all over again. Best group with Sierra 85gr was with Varget, 36.9gr. I received a Sierra manual in the mail yesterday with some 100gr bullets, more to try. Good luck and let us know how it shoots.

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admin said:

Alright, I think I might have to jump on this .243 bandwagon.

Doc,
Jump on, there's plenty of room. There are a few cartridges that are known to cover more than one base. The .243 is among the best for that multi-purpose and probably the most popular also.
Don

[bigblue]

Julian,
The slotted action bolts may be unique to the stainless rifles, but these Torx bolts on this new blued rifle are a definite improvement.
I plan to try some of the loads I already developed for the Stevens rifle and retry some that didn't work well with the Stevens. As is my habit, I'll also pick up a box of factory ammo to try in the rifle. I'll let you know what works for me and what doesn't.
As for the Dednutz site selling mounts for a higher price, I noticed that to be the case with many companies.
I use Midway for 90% of my online purchases. Too many if you were to ask some people around here. LOL Midway is very dependable. I don't buy gun cleaning chemicals or primers and powder online. The shipping charges just don't make it worthwhile. I can drive to Cabelas or Gander Mountain for less than I'd get charged for shipping those items. I do have a reloading supplier that I pass on the way home from work and his prices are $2-$3 cheaper per pound of powder and I don't get hit with the $20 haz mat shipping fees.
Don

[juliang]

Don, Believe me Midway and I are very good friends! There is a local reloading shop where I also get my powder and primers, plus bits and pieces. The guy was so helpful when I started that I want to help him stay in business. His powder prices are really good too, which helps. It is also one of the few stores where you can smoke!!! Scared the hell out of my mother in law, smoking in a powder keg store, she was amazed!!

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I was blessed with taking my Wife and Daughter to the mall today. So while they were shopping I slipped out and stopped by the local reloading shop. I was looking for some dies and cases for the .35 Rem. He didn't have either in stock, but I did pick up a box of WLR primers, Sierra .35 200gr. Pro-hunter bullets and two pounds of powder, RL-7 and IMR4350. He doesn't allow me to smoke in there. I also bought a box of Federal .243 100gr. and Federal .35 200gr. ammunition.
When I got home I loaded a few more rounds for the .243 using 58gr., 75gr., 87gr. and 100gr. bullets. I'm off to the range tomorrow.
I checked Midway tonight and although their catalog lists .35 Rem. cases, their website doesn't. I ended up ordering both the cases and Lee Pacesetter dies from Grafs & Sons.
Don

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Here are the results from the Tikka .243's first trip to the range. I shot these three shot groups at 50yards.

In this first photo I had used 58gr. Hornady V-Max bullets over 47.1gr. of H414. The group measures 3/8".


This was shot using 75gr. Hornady V-Max bullets over 42.4gr. of H414. This grouped at 1/2".


In this last photo I used 100gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter bullets with 40.0gr. of H414. This group measured just under 1".
I'm going to load a few variations on each of these to try on my next range trip. So far so good, the rifle shows real promise.
Don

[DocHolladay]

I like the first group. It appears that you are close to having a perfect .243 load for your rifle.

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Doc,
I look at the three targets and see that each has at least two bullets in the same hole. That tells me it must be possible to get them all to do that. It may just take a tweak or two to get them shooting on the money. I'm going to adjust the powder amounts up and down on each of those loads and try the original loads again. I was shooting in the rain that day and may easily have pulled those flyers. I want to eliminate that as a possibility. I also have a new Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 scope coming that I think will help my shooting with this rifle a bit.
Don

[juliang]

Don, I have tried several loads for Sierra 85gr bullets and had identical results to you. I have 2 through the same hole and one flyer. I thought it was me till I got it right on the 60gr bullets. I spent the money saved on car insurance at my local reloading store, which included 1# Accurate 4350 at their advice. I have now ordered the Lee crimp dies for 243 and 308, I've been reading that they can really improve accuracy. They are on sale at Midway so I am looking forward to trying them. Supposedly they give greater consistency. I hate full length resizing and use the Lee collet, neck size only dies whenever I can. I have found that I often have loose bullets so, this could cure it. Do you have any experience with these?

[bigblue]

I use the factory crimp dies with every rifle caliber I load. I usually buy Lee's Pacesetter dies which include the crimp die. I tried neck sizing years ago and didn't see enough of a difference. With some rifles you can run into feeding problems with neck sizing, of course that's not the case for bolt actions. I also run the cases through a trimmer after cleaning and resizing them.
I usually shoot groups of three, but after seeing the two in one whole and a flyer, I may change that to four until I get it straightened out. I'm pretty much sold on H414 for the .243, but I'm sure open to your results.
Don

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I'm trying something a bit different with my loads for this .243. I bought a box of Hornady 100gr. round nose soft point bullets to try. These bullets have a very long bearing surface for their weight and have a reputation for deeper penetration. I'm hoping to give them a try at the range on Saturday.
Don

[DocHolladay]

A new hog/deer round??

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Doc,
Yeah that's what I'm hoping for. As I think Julian is trying, I'd like to get two loads, one a varmint round and the other a round for heavier game like deer or hogs. I know the heavier rounds can take out varmints, but obviously the lighter rounds won't work for deer, but if I can get those 58gr or 70gr Hornady V-Max bullets to work for varmints and something like this 100gr. RNSP bullet for deer, I'll have the best of both. I've never really put any serious effort into getting two such various loads to work in one rifle, but the .243 is a good choice for that and I have to thank Julian for suggesting it and leading the way.
My biggest problem right now is getting range time. By time I get home from work it's getting dark and the weather hasn't been cooperating much on weekends. With the approach of daylight savings time in another month, I'll get the chance to do some evening shooting and that will help tremendously.
Don