Too bad the bolt throw is twice the length of the cartridge.
Actually the tikka t3 has the shortest bolt throw of any long action made because the trigger group is located tight against the magazine. For instance.......a Remington 700 short action is relatively close to the same bolt throw as a long action T3 because the trigger group is a mile from the magazine.
I'm not sure that 44gr of 4831 is the ideal powder and charge. The results at 100 yards were good enough to know it would shoot, but wouldn't win any 100 yard group contests.
I quickly took it out to 600 without messing any more at 100. Too many times I've been caught up with the paper at 100 yards. From now on - with all my hunting rifles - if its dancing around the same one inch square, I'm taking it long. If the holes touch, even better, but I'm not going to obsess over it with a hunting rifle shot from field positions.
I have a feeling it might even be a a little better with a grain less. I'll try next time, or even see what 4350 will do. I'll post back here with any changes.
I shot 4350 (IMR and H) behind a lot of the 87/90s in my Tikka .243.... but it ran best with 87s and IMR 4064.... I believe that's the load I'm shooting in the video where the wind is ripping....
You better pray to the God of Skinny Punks that this wind doesn't pick up......
Yeah Tikkas take the fun out of tinkering. A couple weeks ago I bought a SS T3 in 30-06 that was too much gun for the original owner, he only shot 14 rds through it since new. I loaded up some 155 gr Scenars with H4350. Had 5 each of 59,59.5, and 60 gr loads and went to the range this morning. First 5 shots below.....load development complete! If I hadn't shanked that one shot , it would be the sickest group I have ever shot! I've got a Mule Deer tag for southern Utah this year, hopefully the Scenars work!....grin
my p.o.s. [bleep] t3 .243 wont shoot 1 hole w/factory generic 80 grainers; only slight less then .5" ; splurged and tried the 95 grain fusions for a couple of bucks more..same results, with a random .3" ; guess i will have to live with it or start reloading ,
Apparently I got a lemon.Dagnammit My 270 Winchester Superlight will only do .80 with Hornady Whitetail 130 grain factory ammo and .75 with Federal Fusion 130 grain Factory ammo For 3 shots at a hundred yards using Leupold VX1 3-9x40.
I am guilty of guilty of tweaking my trigger by filing the head of the adjustment screw so it would back out farther and get a one and a half pound trigger pull.