Tikka t3x 7mm08 started shooting horrible

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Foxracing cr

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Hey guys, I have a tikka t3x, 7mm08, I've had very good luck with .5 inch groups using 4350 and sierra, and noslers, and now I've noticed during load development I can't get any loads to group better then 2 inch's. Tried taking the stock off, and the lug won't come out of the stock, so I'm pretty stuck on what to do. I've tried different scopes, to eliminate broken scope, but didn't work. Anyone have any tips? Can a lug cause bad groups? Or the speed bump? Thanks everyone:confused:
 
If it shot good before and not now, chances are the stock didn’t change, maybe a loose screw but don’t worry about the recoil lug, if it won’t come out that good it’s not the issue. Check your torques. Give your bore and chamber a good clean, you could be fouled or carbon ring if you have shot a lot or rounds. I’d double check your ammo, did you change lot numbers of any components?
 
Tikkas are light and prone to group shifting when the barrel heats up. Mine are anyway. Also they seem very sensitive to shooting form. They'll keep you honest thats for sure.
 
Try a different scope. I had a similar experience with a good rifle while trying out new reloads. The not so old scope "fell apart" inside with the recoil and was resettling in a different place after each shot. I bought a new scope in a hurry and fired three or four shots for confirmation. When I fired one shot at the deer and it went down, I held the rifle across both hands and laughed saying, 'all that trouble for one shot'.
 
Foxracing cr said:
Hey guys, I have a tikka t3x, 7mm08, I've had very good luck with .5 inch groups using 4350 and sierra, and noslers, and now I've noticed during load development I can't get any loads to group better then 2 inch's. Tried taking the stock off, and the lug won't come out of the stock, so I'm pretty stuck on what to do. I've tried different scopes, to eliminate broken scope, but didn't work. Anyone have any tips? Can a lug cause bad groups? Or the speed bump? Thanks everyone:confused:
Click to expand...

To get the lug out, tape the jaws of a vice grip just a bit so not to gouge the lug, snap vice grip onto lug, turn over and clamp the vice grips in a vice, tap with a soft mallet on the stock front and back of the lug position and the lug comes out easily.

No real reason to remove lug as with an X it should be steel as opposed to the old aluminum lugs.

What combination of components are you using and is the scope reliable at holding and returning to zero?
 
Hey guys, thanks for all the replies. I did a good deep clean of the barrel just recently, although I don't clean the barrel too often. I usually only do once accuracy goes down. It was fairly fouled for sure.

I got the lug out of the stock, then reassembled everything, and also changed the scope over, but to only shoot 1.5 inch groups again. Everything is tight , action screws are set at 45lbs. It is a different box of sierra Sbt. But should still shoot better then that.
 
Hey guys, thanks for all the replies so far. I did use a 2in1 cleaners. Not blue on patch but more black from fouling. With little pieces of copper on the patch.

The crown looks good as well, the gun has about 500 rounds on t.
 
Foxracing cr said:
Hey guys, thanks for all the replies so far. I did use a 2in1 cleaners. Not blue on patch but more black from fouling. With little pieces of copper on the patch.

The crown looks good as well, the gun has about 500 rounds on t.
Click to expand...

A lot of 2 in 1 cleaners don't do a good job on copper. I would be researching whether your particular product actually works on copper. If your patches had no blue on them I would be suspect that it doesn't.
 
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Suther said:
A lot of 2 in 1 cleaners don't do a good job on cooper. I would be researching whether your particular product actually works on copper. If your patches had no blue on them I would be suspect that it doesn't.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I use Mercury Quicksilver Power Tune ( yes it is for engines but it works so well that Sinclair stocks it!) or Amzoil for taking out the powder fouling first, then I do an overnight soak of Wipeout, patching out the next morning.
That stuff is incredible , and the bore scope proves it!
Cat
 
Do you have a go to factory load that shoots well?
There are so many variables involved here but I would suspect:
1) scope ring and scope mount
2) any bedding/stock issues
3) ammunition
4) rifle bore

Around 80% of my ‘rifle can’t shoot’ are scope, ring and scope mount related.
My debugging method is to start by considering that the scope and the ammo are the source of the problem and move from there.
 
Sounds like copper fouling to me. A change in lots for components shouldn't increase groups x3.

It sounds like you have tried most everything else. At that point it's time to look at the indian not the arrow. In the past, going to the range with a proven gun and load......tired, jacked up on three coffees......i just switched to shooting Rim fire. My groups were horrible. YMMV.
 
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