Thread: "HELP" T3 with shocking grouping ???????

Hey There People I have got a T3 in 223 with 8" twist. approx 8 years old
I cant get it to group smaller than 2" with an average group of say 4 to 6 " at 100m. with the odd flyer not even on paper????
I have owned it since new, rifle has at a educated guess has fired around 250 to 300 rounds (Mostly at the range trying to sight it in)..I'm not a hundred percent sure how long its been out or even if it has ever shoot well in the first place???? I bought a new Leupold 3x9 AR scope (Not Cheap) at around 100 rounds after i noticed i couldn't hit the side of a barn.
It has never had a hard knock or drop that i know of,
I have optilock rings from new, (Scope is tight) also tightly screwed to stock.
I have free floated the Barrel, trigger is at about 1.5 to 2 pounds
I have cleaned it after every shoot, (hot and cold).I have left it dirty on purpose, (hot and cold)
I have used factory ammo from $65 to $15 for 20, Different pills from 50,55,60,62,69 & 72 grains, And approximately 8 different brands.
I got a friend who shoots comps with his 223 to work a few loads up and he worked on the jump and We used top quality formed cases once fired from my gun, diff types & weights of pills up to 75 grains (once got 1.5" group think it was a fluke)
Buy the way I can shoot clover leafs no probs with other good rifles when i have a good rest or bags etc.
WHAT DO I DO NEXT???????

Check the recoil lug is actually engaged in the action.

Check the recoil lug is actually engaged in the action.
Check all action and scope screws are firm.

Try another scope to eliminate the scope having a issue . Also check that the recoil lug is inplace and the action is seated on the lug .

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Check the recoil lug is actually engaged in the action.

This. I had a mate having all sorts of issues with his a7 shotgun patterning. Turns out his recoil lug had fallen out completely.

It's really easy to not seat the stocks properly on a t3

Fire a group of 5 shots, if the recoil lug isnt locking the action you should get "2" groups, one of 2 shots quite close together and another of 3 a little way away from the other. Called double grouping its quite diagnostic of poor bedding. Of course if the rifle was pressure bedded in the first place free floating the barrel wil just have made it worse.

All the above. Suppressor fitted?

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Try Hornady 75 gr steel cased ammo, if that doesn't worry I'll give you $100 for it. To be fair I've own two Tikkas, sold because of accuracy, a Remington with an after market trigger I should have kept and now a Kimber, finally got it accurate on Norma 55 grain. You can get a harmonic ring for the barrel, which may help. You can bed the stock. You can hand load, but that's not the point of a 223, you could take it to the Sika show and complain to the importer, he offered to fix my last Tikka or replace it free, I sold it the week before. Or you could get the Happy mods done to the stock. The 223 is a difficult round to shoot accurately, very fussy. But that's just my opinion, shot a Fallow at 160 metres the other week, neck shot, dead! Suppressor could help, vary the number of segments.

thanks fellas
yeah I've had three different scopes on rifle my mates put one of his comp scopes on it to try not sure what type? and i'm quietly confident in new leupold??
I will try the recoil lug how will i know if it is seated well or not?????
can any one give me contact details for tikka importer/dealer in New Zealand??

Originally Posted by HWWSM Guy

thanks fellas
yeah I've had three different scopes on rifle my mates put one of his comp scopes on it to try not sure what type? and i'm quietly confident in new leupold??
I will try the recoil lug how will i know if it is seated well or not?????
can any one give me contact details for tikka importer/dealer in New Zealand??

Sure as shit it will be some thing simple as have a seen my share with lose bases and not seated in the stock properly.
Just tried some 77g belmont which went under moa easy.
It won't be the rifles fault I doubt.
Good luck !

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Tikkas shoot good, my money on a defective scope.....yes even Leupold.

Do you use a bipod and bag or bag and bag for testing?

pull it all apart and start fresh and torque everything. you will fell the action locate on the recoil lug. swap scope and rings out.

Any damage to the crown of the barrel?

i have done both... last time at the range used two very sturdy and well formed sand bags and could all but let the rifle go and it would stay on target.

not that is visible to the eye checked that also