Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles T3 + 6.5 Creed + SWFA = Easy Button

I picked up a stainless Tikka in 6.5 Creed this winter. Mounted a SWFA 6X in Sportsmatch rings and threw together a couple starting loads with the 123 SST, 130 TGK, and 140 Match Monster (Midsouth). Finally got to the range last week and holy crap! The wind was gusting pretty good L>R but these are the results! No bedding, lapping or 100 trick moves. Just mount a scope and shoot.



This combo almost takes the fun out of load development! It took a grand total of 1 round to zero at 100 yds; these are literally the first groups fired and I haven't shot at the range since Nov.

One negative is that the velocities were way lower than 'book' values. I shot one other group with H4350 and a Fed 210 (not pictured). Velocity was about 50 fps higher than with the CCI200 and the POI moved up about an inch. I'm hoping switching to the Fed 210 and bumping up the charges will give similar accuracy with more representative velocity from the 24 inch barrel. I'm basically looking for a good, light target/varmint load and then will try some big game bullets...thinking the 130 Accubond may be a good one. The 130 TGK shot darn well if it will hold together, it is one LONG bullet and I wonder if the BC is listed lower than actual. I normally love Barnes for hunting but like them started at 3K; this isn't a speed demon.

Alpha brass(LRP),'17,147's and 200's.

Hint...............

Big Stick, you try RE 16 yet? I’ve been running 16 but haven’t tried 17. Curious if there is a difference aside from 16 being supposedly less temp sensitive. 16 has outshined by a large margin, 4451 and Superformance with 147’s, BR2’s, and the weak link - Hornady brass.

I've got some,but tend not to "fix" schit...that ain't fhuqking broke...................(grin)

I'm currently getting an average speed of 2830 fps with 43 grains of RL17 , cci 200, and Hornady brass with the Berger 130 grain hunting vld. Single digit ES and SD. Accuracy is the usual 1/2 MOA you expect from the 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm fiddling with RL16, but it has some big shoes to fill to replace RL17.

This is what I've gotten so far with RL16.
130 TGK
42g = 2824
42.5 = 2852
43.0 = 2882
43.5 = 2910
44.0 = 2951

Pretty smooth acceleration. Getting a little drag on the bolt handle at 44 grains though.

+1.

I would revisit that sst under better conditions. Not sure what your seating depth was,but I'd try a little more throttle and some jump. The 120 Ballistic tip responded well for me with RL17.

Tikkas suck.

Indeed...

Nice shooting! Great setup

My Tikker likes the 120's BT, if you're looking for some light bullets, 1 in group @ 300 yds. with little load development using H4350.
.

16 bore, how so? Not being snarky, want to hear your take. All I have seen so far is “Damn, these thing shoot!” from pretty much everybody. A contrarian take could be enlightening, as I am in the market for a couple of good mulie and elk rifles, and while I am not smitten by the Tikka, after so many positive accuracy stories, I am paying attention. Not in love with the slow barrels, but accuracy has a quality all its own....

16 is fantastic in 127-140 bullets. The 147s seem to shine with 26. Running both a Fieldcraft and a T3X in 6.5 Creed. The T3x is wearing an SWFA 3-9 SS HD on Sportsmatch rings. I’d give the edge in accuracy to the Barrett, but the T3X is still quite good so far.

OldGrayWolf,
16bore accidentally had his sarcasm font turned off...

139 Scenars aren’t too shabby out of the Teekers either!

What's your poison?

43.5 gr H4350 2.86 OAL CCI 200’s

Definately shooting like a Tikka.

123 and 139 Scenars are still the most accurate of all the bullets I’ve run through about a dozen different Creed/.260/x47/x55s.

123 Amax/ELD is a close second.

I could dig a Tikka Lite Creed.... though it would get chopped to 20” immediately.

This!

That's a heck of a start with that one! Good shootin'.