Author Topic: Twist rate on Tikka 595 in .308. (Read 1300 times)

borg1 · « **on:** August 10, 2004, 04:25:29 AM »

i own a tikka .308, which was bought the year before the t3's were released for sale. I shoot 150 gr bullets, but have not been able to get 3 shot groups better than 2" at 100 yds. My trigger pull is only 3.5 lbs and i am using a solid rest.

My gun seems to be a bit long throated because the bullets never touch the lands. I was wondering if perhaps the twist rate would be more conducive to a heavier bullet. Perhaps these heavier bullets are also seated a bit further out as well. i have some ball ammo that is seated 4 mm higher than my deer loads and they usually touch the lands... accuracy is not much better, but hey, they're ball ammo loads.

Any information is appreciated...

longwinters · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2004, 04:14:47 PM »

I think it is 1-11. My finding is that while my Tikka (243) and Sako rifles shoot bullets in the lighter range ok, they are at their best with the higher weight bullets.

Long

TomC1426 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2004, 05:20:52 PM »

longwinters,

I'm thinking hard (real hard :lol: ) on the T-3 Lite in .243 cal. standard barrel. Have you tried the 55gr ballistic and if so how are they on accuracy? I live in Ohio, so most of the use will be for ground hogs and coyotes, but I wanted the option of a deer rifle if should hunt in another state.

Man I just love the way that gun shoulders.

Thanks
Tom

longwinters · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2004, 11:12:56 AM »

The 55gn ballistic tips out of my Tikka 243 would group at moa or a little better. When I went to the 70 - 85 gn bullets my groups went to 1/4 -1/2". Now I am not a great shot so others would probably do better.

Long

oneshotonekill · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2004, 03:25:27 PM »

The 595 in .308 has a 1:11 rh twist.

Zachary · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2004, 04:27:50 PM »

I think that's the same in my Sako 75 SS. And given that Sako and Tikka barrels come off of the same assembly line, that makes sense.

Zachary

borg1 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2004, 09:02:44 AM »

Thanks all for the information. I am thinking of trying larger grained bullets (165's and 180's) and then if accuracy does not improve, i will buy a collet die and find out seating length of 150 gr bullets to get best accuracy. i really love the 150's in the .308.

eroyd · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2004, 11:12:08 AM »

My Tikka 595 (whitetail syn) in 308 prefers 155 gr Sierra MK's over the 168's. It'll put 5 155's into 1.5" at 200 yards where as the best I can do with any 168's is about 2.0". Seems to prefer near max loads. My 308 Sako is the opposite.

Throat length does seem long in my Tikka and Sako's and I recall reading somewhere that euro. manufacturers have a different philosophy on this, perhaps someone else can elaborate. With some bullets I can load to just fit in the mag. and they're not touching the rifling.