Hello! Picked up a Tikka T3 243 for the kids to plink with and mabey a little coyote control... My plan was to load up some Sierra 85g HPBT’s for it. Sierra load manual suggests a coal of 2.650. My chamber measures 2.617 to the lands with this bullet. Its a little short I would say. Is this a Tikka thing to have a short chamber? I have read in the past that some 243’s had issues with bullets jamming in the lands... I should be able to back it of .020 of the lands from MY coal and work up from there? I have never seen loading manual suggested coal be longer than a factory rifle’s throat.... Thanks for any input!
Short throat Tikka 243???
- Thread starter 7mag
- Start date
Interesting. I've got a .243 Tikka T3 also, though I've never used those bullets. I think mine is on the longish side, although I could still load my 0.015" jump rounds in the mag the last time I measured the distance to the lands.
If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll check a couple loaded rounds for OAL. Every rifle is a bit different, though. Mine's got about 500 rounds through it, so there's some throat erosion happening by now.
If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll check a couple loaded rounds for OAL. Every rifle is a bit different, though. Mine's got about 500 rounds through it, so there's some throat erosion happening by now.
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john-brennan
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
In my Tikka I use a 2.710" OAL in its chamber for best accuracy.
Firm contact, just as I always do. I loaded one up as per book and it wouldnt chamber without ramming the lands. I loaded some up .020 off the lands and will see how they shoot. A friend measured a factory Federal round with the same bullet (85g hpbt) and it was 2.540. This is the only time I have ever seen loading manual COAL not fit a factory rifle. I always measure before loading anyway.... Just thought I would see if anyone else has seen this with a T3
The closest thing I have to the bullet you're using is probably a 70 gr Sierra Match King BTHP. With that bullet, I make contact with the lands at an overall length of 2.710" on the loaded round I measured (2.695" + 0.015" jump). That leaves me with a base to ogive measurement of 2.300 using that 0.015" jump to the lands. I haven't measured the distance to contact lately, as long as the rifle shoots well I don't bother with it. It'll only get longer as the throat erodes.
All the ammo I've loaded has been longer than the book COAL to get to my usual starting point of 0.020" from the lands. I don't normally measure OAL, most of my rounds are single loaded so max. magazine length isn't an issue.
At least you're not a newbie reloader, you've got a good grip on what's going on with your rifle.
All the ammo I've loaded has been longer than the book COAL to get to my usual starting point of 0.020" from the lands. I don't normally measure OAL, most of my rounds are single loaded so max. magazine length isn't an issue.
At least you're not a newbie reloader, you've got a good grip on what's going on with your rifle.
That is unsual maybe they made a mistake. I have identical rifle and it's got a very long freebore. I don't see it being a problem as it means you just seat the bullet a bit deeper in the case. Better then mine where it's so far out of the case it doesn't have much neck tension holding it.
