Went to the range again today. Slowed down a lot between shots. Trigger was much better. Groups much better. It shoots the 55, 75, and 68 grain bullets all pretty good with a slight preference for the 75. Groups at 100 yards ranged from .5" to around 1.5" including all flyers but one or two really bad ones that were clearly my fault. Average group size was around .75" with the 75 grain bullets and .8"-1" for the 55 grain bullets and the 68 was in between.

Overall, excellent performance. However, waiting around to shoot that slow is infuriating. And I really want a vertical grip. The T3x varmint solves both of these problems and adds a cheek weld on the stock that will help. Found it for $775 shipped for a 1:8" twist, so I'm going to put this lite model up for sale and move to the varmint. Hate to do it after 2 range sessions, but I should have listened to Jason the first time around. It would make a great rifle for a young shooter or someone who doesn't like recoil or someone more patient than me. I've got $475 in it and that's what I'd like to get out of it.

Good to hear it went from 2-4" groups last time out to .5-1.5" groups. Big improvement, what did u change besides waiting more between shots?? And how was the trigger much better than last range report? It was already adjusted as low as it would adjust?

I put a yodave spring in the trigger since the first trip. Even adjusting the factory trigger down, it was still unacceptably heavy IMHO.

I think the combination of the trigger, waiting between shots, and just having a better day as far as stability and trigger control goes were the big difference.

edit: I was getting 1" groups at the end of the first range session when I slowed down some and the barrel had broken in. I think it was just the trigger and 75 grain ammo that made the improvement from there.

You'll love the T3x varmint. Excellent shooter

When you slowed down some: YES.

When the barrel had broken in: NO

I've never seen a Tikka that had to be "broke in". They're usually as good as they are going to get on the first shot.

I won't argue with you. I was shooting so fast at the beginning that I can't really pinpoint the cause. I'm just trying to convince myself I didn't waste 50 rounds of ammo.

At least it was 40 cents a round.

Anytime you burn gunpowder it's never a waste.

Shooting is always a learning process .... no matter how proficient you are.

I've learned that JG is always right. Always.

I've learned that even when JG is wrong he still thinks he right

Well he wasn't wrong on this one. I like the gun and it shoots good, but I'm not gonna wait around that long all the time.

Just be very aware that even with a heavy varmint profile barrel the throat can get extremely hot before you can feel it on the outside surface of the barrel. Many guns have been ruined by continuous shooting when the shooter thinks the gun "isn't very hot". I know of 2 that were destroyed in a prairie dog town and the shooters had no idea that they were damaging the guns. Throat erosion usually isn't a factor with a 5.56 rifle, but it can happen.

Interesting.

So how fast can I reasonably shoot or what do I need to do to make sure that doesn't happen?

Some of the competition shooters here can likely tell you more than I can about that because they've got more experience with it. Summer heat will be huge factor, but my opinion would be not to shoot more than 20-25 rounds without letting it cool. And even more may be fine. It's not likely that you will do any damage under what might be considered "normal" shooting conditions. But running a couple hundred down it quickly on a hot day wouldn't be a good idea. Just use common sense and you'll be fine.

I wasn't trying to scare you but your concern about having to wait for the barrel to cool brought this to mind. Honestly it's not likely that you'll do any damage with a bolt action gun, but it is possible if you go "Rambo" with it.

Oh ok. I won't be going Rambo with it. They do cease fires every 20 minutes or so. If I can fire 20-30 rounds in that time frame comfortably, then it'll get a 10-minute break and I can get back at it. I probably won't ever shoot more than 100 rounds in an entire range session.

Thanks for all the help!

Just for kicks... this is what the military recommends as the max limit for safe use when shooting the M14.

1 minute 40 rounds
2 minutes 40 rpm ( 80 rd total)
5 minutes 30 rpm (150 rd total)
10 minutes 20 rpm (200 rd total)

The military is concerned with battle conditions. Not benchrest accuracy.

But based on his latest remarks, it's not going to be an issue anyway.