Are tikka barrels always slow?

[LJT88]

Can you reload and get your velocity back to “normal” speeds or are tikka barrels always slow compared to other barrel brands of the same length?

I’ve heard that tikkas have really long throats and that causes the slow speeds so could you load your bullets long and tighten that gap up and get some speed back?

I don’t reload yet but looking to get into it in the near future and not really wanting to swap barrels on my tikka. It constantly shoots sub half min but is wicked slow. 24in 6.5 cm shooting factory 140 ELDM at 2580-2600.


Sorry for the potential stupid question.

 

[4O6shootist]

Tikkas have long throats, its to keep psi down, lawyer BS. This also reduces velocity. The few tikka 65cm barrels I've been around have near 100k more freebore than saami. However they're accurate and last a long time with the hammer forging. The slow thing can be fixed with more powder. I handload my nephews 20" youth model tikka with 122gr copper solids at 3k fps with Varget. Half moa and plenty for his deer killing out to 500y.

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

Tikkas have long throats, its to keep psi down, lawyer BS. This also reduces velocity. The few tikka 65cm barrels I've been around have near 100k more freebore than saami. However they're accurate and last a long time with the hammer forging. The slow thing can be fixed with more powder. I handload my nephews 20" youth model tikka with 122gr copper solids at 3k fps with Varget. Half moa and plenty for his deer killing out to 500y.

What is your load for that? If you don’t mind sharing…. I had 43gr of H4350 with hammer Hunters 124gr at around 2800 or so. Have some varget that I was thinking about trying next time I load some.

 

[4O6shootist]

What is your load for that? If you don’t mind sharing…. I had 43gr of H4350 with hammer Hunters 124gr at around 2800 or so. Have some varget that I was thinking about trying next time I load some.

41.8gr varget, 122 Cayuga at 2.88 coal. Hdy brass, 210M primer. The pva 122 Cayuga is more comparable to the 123 absolute hammer.

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

I’ve got a sample box of the absolute hammers I should try also. Thanks for the the info!

 

[viking78]

Can you reload and get your velocity back to “normal” speeds or are tikka barrels always slow compared to other barrel brands of the same length?

I’ve heard that tikkas have really long throats and that causes the slow speeds so could you load your bullets long and tighten that gap up and get some speed back?

I don’t reload yet but looking to get into it in the near future and not really wanting to swap barrels on my tikka. It constantly shoots sub half min but is wicked slow. 24in 6.5 cm shooting factory 140 ELDM at 2580-2600.


Sorry for the potential stupid question.

Stainless Tikka barrels are faster than chromoly barrel, what i have noticed by my self.
My T3 Varmint 24" SS .260rem with 123gr Scenar and Vihtavuori N160 with load that you can find from VV reloading manual, gives that
123gr Scenar speed, that is closer to 2970 fps.
20" CTR black, that was quite slow.

 

[Gwak2006]

Yes, they are. I have a 24in 6.5 PRC that I am only getting 2850-2875 ft/sec with 143gr Precision Hunter. I haven't worked a load up yet.

 

[Hickswr]

Yes
All are slow with factory ammo-
Handloads and more powder remedy the slowness

 

[TX_Diver]

What are some other "temp insensitive" powders you guys like for 6.5 creedmoor w/ 140-147 bullets.

These are my results I just posted in the reloading data thread. Bit slow but also 32 degrees and a 19.25" barrel (stainless).

T3x Lite w/ original barrel cut to 19.25". New starline brass 1x resized w/ CCI primers & H4350. Measured w/ a magnetospeed sporter attached to a suppressor w/ sensitivity on Hi 2.

Went through a ladder with some 140s and 143s today just to get an idea of what velocity I'm getting. 32 degrees out. 70 in the house and I brought rounds out 3 at a time and shot them in different orders each time. Just trying to see if I get pressure signs anywhere. Loaded as long as they'd fit in my CTR magazine. I have all the measurements written down and how far off the lands they are in a different book. I loaded these a year ago and never got around to shooting them. Will post headstamp pics later and see if anyone has an opinion on pressure signs. Maybe a minor swipe at 43+ but I get that fairly often from this gun so hard to say.

One thing that's interesting is that the 143s are slightly faster than the 140s. Guessing that has to do w/ bullet shape and bearing surface? 147s are also faster but it was 15 degrees warmer when I shot those.

140 Hybrid Target

H4350

6.5 CM

Charge

36​

37​

38​

39​

40​

40.5​

41​

41.5​

42​

42.5​

43​

43.5​

140 Hybrid

Book Velocity

2378 @36.5

2634​

Berger

34-40.3

Chrono Velocity

2298​

2354​

2435​

2450​

2509​

2529​

2556​

2605​

2634​

2657​

140 Elite Hunter

H4350

6.5 CM

Charge

38​

39​

40​

40.5​

41​

41.5​

42​

42.5​

43​

43.5​

140 Elite Hunter

Book Velocity

2471​

2731​

Berger

38 to 42.3

Chrono Velocity

2290​

2344​

2408​

2460​

2479​

2512​

2570​

2598​

2633​

2649​

143 ELD-X

H4350

6.5 CM

Charge

36​

37​

38​

39​

40​

40.5​

41​

41.5​

42​

42.5​

43​

43.5​

143 ELD-X

Book Velocity

2400​

2500​

2600​

2650​

2700​

Hornady

Chrono Velocity

2344​

2405​

2444​

2511​

2503​

2557​

2563​

2629​

2651​

2662​

Older data for reference
156 EOL shot at 42 degrees

H4350

6.5 CM

Charge

37​

38​

39​

40​

40.5​

41​

41.5​

42​

42.5​

156 EOL

Book Velocity

2405 @36.5

2627 @ 40.3

Berger

34-40.3

Chrono Velocity

2265​

2282​

2354​

2449​

2447​

2473​

2500​

2536​

2576​

147 ELD-M w/ CCI Primers at 47 degrees

H4350

6.5 CM

Charge

36​

37​

38​

39​

40​

40.5​

41​

41.5​

42​

42.5​

43​

CCI

147 ELD-M

Book Velocity

2400​

2500​

2550​

2600​

Hornady

34-40.3

Chrono Velocity

2252​

2291​

2321​

2455​

2495​

2491​

2548​

2553​

2583​

2616​

2629​

147 ELD-M w/ WIN Primers at 47 degrees

H4350

6.5 CM

Charge

36​

37​

38​

39​

40​

40.5​

41​

41.5​

42​

42.5​

43​

WIN

147 ELD-M

Book Velocity

2400​

2500​

2550​

2600​

Hornady

34-40.3

Chrono Velocity

2254​

2323​

2370​

2430​

2510​

2534​

2558​

2590​

2621​

2658​

2637​

 

[wade2big]

Tikka will be slower with any given charge compared to others. Bump up the powder charge and you can fix that. Remember not to shoot this load in another rifle as it may very well be overpressure in a non Tikka barrel.

 

[wade2big]

Yes, they are. I have a 24in 6.5 PRC that I am only getting 2850-2875 ft/sec with 143gr Precision Hunter. I haven't worked a load up yet.

Mine identified as a 6.5 CM as well. When you load for that factory 6.5. Prc barrel you will be pleasantly surprised.