Hello all, New guy here. Here's my problem . After reading glowing reports on TIKKA accuracy and quality I purchased a new stainless T3 lite in 338 Federal. Nice gun if I could get it to shoot decent groups. I am not new to shooting or reloading by a long shot , but this one has me scratching my head. Best group so far in 1.5 at a hundred yards. I tried Sierra,Speer. and Barnes bullets from 185 grains to 225 grains , Powder , 4985 , 335, and Varget in various loads from light , mid , to hotter ( max) . I tried Federal factory ammo . I have swapped factory mounts for Dead nutz mounts, Luepold v111 4.5 x 14 for Luepold v11 4 x 12 . This thing never shoots at the same place twice. Barrel is free floated and nothing touching it. Last outting it shot 2.5 inch groups . Do I have the dreaded bad gun ? Any help or experience would be greatly appreciated . Next stop is back to the factory .If they are agreeable.

Welcome to the forum jj. Rules are simple, be nice and join in. If you check out our FAQ section at the top of the page if gives some good info on navigating the forum.

Before you send that Tikka back try some forearm pressure. Just loosen up the stock screws enough to slide an old credit card or two under the forearm. Tighten up the stock screws. Shoot the gun. Groups may or may not improve. If this works then glass bed in a pressure point where the credit cards were. Often this will cure a free floated rifle problem.

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Bob from Idaho

Thanks for the welcome ! Great to be with folks that enjoy the shooting / hunting experience. I thought about putting some forend pressure on the tikka , but the darned synthetic stock is hollowed out . I might be able to get something right at the tip. If that works I could build up the forend and add some pressure to the barrel. Thanks for the reply.

That's good info, especially for light barrels.
But since Tikka offer an accuracy guarantee, you might do better leaving it untouched and having it replaced.

Snow.

That is unacceptable for a Tikka.My T3 Swede consistantly will put 2of 3 in the same hole.Average group under 1".I would suspect scope/rings but you went there.Factory ammo should shoot great if not I'll bet she's off spec.Barrel should float,check all screws scope and stock.DON'T ALTER IT,RETURN IT.

No experience with a Tikka but I have a Rem 700 that came with a flimsy synthetic stock. I discovered the stock would flex when I set it on a rest and contact the barrel at different points. I couldn't get a consistent point of impact no matter what I did. Then I wedged a folded business card between the barrel and tip of the forestock. Bingo, I got super accuracy. I replaced that stock with a rigid laminate and now have a real tack driver.

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Remember - always have your democrats neutered or spayed - Ann Coulter

Im experimenting with this myself. My barrel is .620" at the muzzle. I've used a piece of spool out of a roll of tape right at the tip. Just curious to see how it works

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Volatile & Unstable

Before I start tinkering , I am going to give the factory their chance to make it right , If it comes back and is not any better , I will start with rebedding and forend barrel pressure . Stay tuned in this may take awhile. Shipping the rifle back in the am. Thanks to all.

How about break in did you shoot enough to break the barrel in and did you clean all the copper out during break in. Now my savage 17hmr is free floating and does not group well I will try out that credit card trick.

All the Tikka T3 lights we have at work have a pressure point in them including my .243 i have at home.

I did break in the barrel as I started out. Cleaned it at the range . Though It did get dirty in between cleanings I never saw copper residue as I have from my short mags.
Hey kc1029 , I am curious , did you add the pressure point to your guns ? Mine was without a pressure point and the stock is hollow at the forearm (synthetic stock). Did you have problems ? Prior ?

I did not add the pressure point it came from the factory with a pressure point bout in the middle of the barrel. My stock is not really hollow it has giant X in the forarm of the stock then about halfway down it there as a plastic ring that adds the pressure point on mine.
I have not had any acurace problems with my t3 lite .243 holds a nice group about .7 @ 100yds and i have yet to play around with other loads yet.
I am still using the tikka rings and i have a VXIII 3.5x10 on it. Let me know if you need a picture or something of my synthetic stock.

Ok, thanks KC . Thats what mine looks like too. The little plastic rings threw me off . Its not what I think of when I think of a pressure point. But your right . Well I sent mine back to Beretta today . We will see what happens . Thanks for the input.

Dont they come with a 5 shot MOA guarantee as in Australia? Over here the rep tells us that 2 rifles of 15,000 have been replaced due to faiure to achieve the accuracy guarantee with factory ammunition. If you deem it inaccurate, its returned and tested with a range of good factory ammunition and must achieve 3 groups of 5 shot under MOA to come back to you with a bill for $150 for wasting their time. 2 people however lucked into a new rifle free of charge.
Cheers...
Con

No they come with a 3 shot MOA at 100yds. but yet they dont tell you what ammo they used to get that group. I just talked to our Beretta rep about this cause he was into work this morning and he basically said that a majority of the time they will do nothing about it. Not the kind of customer service i really want but then again i have had numerous complaints about berettas customer service not being the greatest.

Oh , I am not feeling good about this ! Yes I heard about the 3 shot group guarantee with factory ammo.
Being that nobody but Federal has loadings for this the choice is limited . I tried Fusion loads, and a bunch of different bullet / powder combination reloads.To no avail. The Federal shot about 2 MOA. I hope this factory trip works out , As I don't want to spend a buch of time and money for a gun that won't shoot. Like I said before . If it doesn't get better after the factory trip, I will try some bedding and pressure point work. After that it will be replaced. Oddly enough I had ordered a Kimber from my local dealer in 338 Fed over a year ago. He couldn't deliver so the TIKKA plan B . I should start thinking about plan C if the TIKKA fails. With rifle season a month away here in Pennsylvania , I guess the 308 Remington 700 will do.

The best way to fix that Tikka, is to trade it for a Savage. Accuracy problem fixed

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Volatile & Unstable

My hunting buddy who retired recently selling his gun store had a similar problem with a 243. He had accuracy problems and clip problems. Bought one of the higher capacity magazines and when inserted could not be removed. Local gunsmith got it working but the experience didn't endear the rifle to him. When he took it to the range the next stop was a "for sale" sign in his store. Several days later it became someone elses problem. I've been told the T3 is the very bottom of the Sako line. If that's the case them maybe Tang has the answer.

This is the Beretta reps response from an Australian forum. I'm amazed that for once we seem to get a better deal than you guys in the States!
Cheers...
Con

<< This is how it works from Sako's point of view.

They test fire the rifles for 5 shot groups using Sako ammunition before being shipped.

If you buy a T3 or Sako 85 or 75 brand new, the rifle should then be able to shoot at least MOA with quality factory ammo, certainly there may only be a couple of brands or loads that will be ideal, however, you will find them suitable with most quality brands (but not always).
I dont think it would be possible to guarantee acuracy with every bullet weight and brand.

If you make modificationds to the rifle such as bedding, shortening the barrel, aftermarket stock etc. then that would void the warranty. Accuracy issues must be brought to our attention within the first 12 months of purchase.

In the last 4 years we have only ever replace 2 rifles for accuracy reason!
That is 2 out of over 15, 000 rifles sold!

I do however get about 6-8 rifles back per year as the Customer (end user) claims to have accuracy issues. Most of the time it seems to be a scope/mount issue, but sometimes the end user has the problem themselves, large magnum calibres can do that to some people. I personally test the rifles , we fit our own burris scope and Optilock mounts and then shoot a few different brands of ammo. If I get a 5 shot MOA group 3 times, then that rifle is fine.

Therefore if your a crappy shot, its not Sako fault.

It must shoot 3 x 5 Shot MOA groups with Factory ammo, if it does not after I have tested it, we will replace the rifle.
However if it does shoot fine, then you will need to pay us for the time and ammo used to prove that you need to change your scope/ammo/shooting skill or mounts. Generally around $150. which includes freight.

The bottom line is if you know the scope is fine (tried it on another rifle) the mounts are all done up properly and are of quality, tested it with a few choice brands of ammo (maybe a few differnt bullet weights), have not modified it - then 99.99% of the time there should not be a accuracy issue. As a last resort, get a experienced shooter to also have a go before blaming the rifle.

At the end of the day, this is the fairest way to guarantee the accuracy and as stated before, if its less than 12 months old and inaccurate (unmodified), we will replace it for you!

If someone sent me that message i wouldnt buy another thing from them
very condesending, to say the least.