Today was the first day since getting my tikka m595 bush gun that I've had a chance to test it out to a degree.
When I bought it, chopped it and suppressed it with a ultra light dpt, I quickly sighted it in and went hunting. Shot a couple of deer so was happy, then loaned it to a mate while went to Canada who shot a handful of deer and a few tahr out to 300m. Reckoned it shot well enough.
So today I fitted a new Zeiss 3-9 on it properly and had three different factory loads to check out. I will eventually reload for it but have a few packets of ammo lying about to get through first.
It Iook four shots to be on target, 1.5 inch high at 100m. Then i shot a five shot group with each load in between giving the barrel a quick clean and time to cool.
Long story short, all loads grouped well for factory ammo. The worst was Remington 140g corelokt at 1.24 inch.
The best was Winchester 140g super x at bang on an inch.
The federal 150g blue grouped well too at just over an inch. Surprisingly its point of impact was only slightly different to the Winchester ammo.
Most surprisingly all loads grouped within two inches of the point of aim. I ended up with a golf ball sized ragged hole instead of a bullseye after 15 rounds.
For interests sake I took the suppressor off and put a handful of the best grouping Winchester ammo through. It neatly grouped in 1.35 inches slightly low of my point of aim.
While I haven't checked at 200m or closer at 50m (I will eventually) I reckon for a bush gun I'm pretty safe with any of these loads and if I feel like carrying with the suppressor off four clicks up and I'm bang on target.
I've never had a rifle shoot factory ammo so consistently. My last tikka was a m695 7mag. It was fussy as!
Anyway pleasantly surprised with this gun that's for sure, no excuses for missing now!!
