Tikka barrel swap?

[Contender-1]

Interested in the groups opinion on a aftermarket barrel for a Tikka TAC A1? Factory barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor with 200+/- rounds down range. My Lab Radar is chronoing 3 different rifles shooting Hornady 140gr. ELDM. 2 with muzzle brakes @ 2600 fps
1 with a suppressor @ 2610 fps. All 3 are accurate but, this just seems very slow to me. Am I wrong? Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Bob

 

[celltech]

Barrel length? If you got the 20" or shorter, then sounds right to me: https://rifleshooter.com/2016/02/6-...el-length-on-velocity-cutting-up-a-creedmoor/

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Yea, details would help.

On barrel swapping a Tikka, it is easy, nothing special about it, same threads as an M700, if I recall correctly.

 

[Contender-1]

Barrel length? If you got the 20" or shorter, then sounds right to me: https://rifleshooter.com/2016/02/6-...el-length-on-velocity-cutting-up-a-creedmoor/

24” from factory plus the brake

 

[CaptNemo]

Factory Tikka barrels are “Meticulous”.
They are generally very accurate but velocity is less than aftermarket barrels.
The T3’s and early T3x rifles take some coaxing to remove the factory barrels, the later barrels are reported to be not as tight.
I changed the OEM barrel on my T3 in .223 Rem and it was a bit of work to remove.

 

[sturm45]

Seems a little slow to me. I was getting 2600-ish with the 140s from my 20" CTR.

How's it shoot? If the accuracy is there then no real reason to change it out unless you are trying to push the range out a ways.

 

[Contender-1]

Accuracy is sub- MOA. The lack of velocity makes wind calls at distance even more challenging

 

[Blackice55]

If you decide to get rid of the factory 6.5 barrel let me know. But if you put a little heat on the barrel I’ve never had one have an issue. I’ve only done 4 though.

 

[skyrep]

I had a Tikka 3X in .308. It was very accurate. However slower then a turtle. Had a new barrel put on and it made a new shooting rifle. I’ve heard that Tikka barrels are on the slow side.

 

[Contender-1]

I have a T3X in .308 that is lights out accurate. Never been one to tear a part a great shooting rifle. If I were to consider changing to a thicker/faster/better barrel, which one is recommended?
Bob

 

[Sniperwannabee]

yep tikka barrels are known to be slow.....but extremely accurate

 

[Shootnwrench]

Tikkas are known to be slow barrels.

Drop to 130’s and get the speed up. You have to balance BC and Velocity.

In a very broad sense think....
A .500 G7 at 1500fps suck balls.
A .250 G7 at 3000fps not so bad

But honestly a 140 ELDM type bullet @ 2600fps still beats the golden standard 175smk at 2650fps so.......

Drop to 130’s or spend money on new barrel or shoot the dam thing and learn the wind.

 

[ncr92]

Barrel will be shot out about 2,500 rounds from now. Shouldn't take long.

 

[Antares]

That seems a little slow to me even for a factory Tikka barrel. I have a very similar rifle (Tikka, 6.5CM, 24" factory barrel with brake, approx. 150 rounds down the tube) and it shoots the factory 140 ELDM at 2705 fps. For whatever that's worth...

 

[clcustom1911]

Tikkas are only slow because they have excessive freebore. I've measured 4 different Tikka 6.5 creedmoor chambers at about 0.300 freebore. Factory ammo is gonna run a lil slow in that. Pack thay case with more powder and seat it out closer to the lands, my 24" superlite hunting rifle will hit 2935 fps w/ a 143eldx and 48.3 gr RL26 in lapua SRP brass.

Damn, that's a stout load!

I'm at 47gr of 26 under 142's and getting 2850.

 

[clcustom1911]

I run 47.6 @ 2890 for accuracy. I started having larger es spreads about 47.8gr due to compressed loads I think. 48.5gr gave me ejector marks, but 48.3 gr had no bolt lift or ejector. I loaded up to 50.2gr rl26 in my nephews 20" Tikka creed with 143s and hit like 2899 from a 20" pipe! No psi signs on the Hornady brass other than labradar data!

A short barrel and complete powder burn has always been one of my concerns with R26. Good to know it can still work! Great info.

 

[cruze5]

got a 20 inch 260. reloading the 140smk I am getting up to 2800 depending on the powder charge.

shooting factory ammo is definitely limiting your speeds

 

[lonestar1845]

My 20" CTR in 6.5 was getting 2580 with hornady factory 140's. I'm getting 2800 with it now loading 140's over RL16 with no pressure signs. Keep the barrel and start reloading. Tikkas are shooters.