Well had the new Tikka out to the range today and am quite happy with how it shoots!

The 26 grain Barnes Varmint Grenades did not perform nearly as well as I had hoped and am not going to worry about any more load workup with them at this time.


The 32 grain Hornady V-Max grouped considerable better. Best 5 shot group was about 1.1" at 100 yards with one shot being a flyer. These loads had the bullet seated at 2.300" and were loaded with 28.3gr of H335. This was a max suggested load, and showe ZERO signs of pressure. So I may play with seating depth and increase load by .1gr increments and pay very close attention for any signs of pressure.


I am also going to try the 40 grain V-Max now as alot of people have had great luck shooting these bullets.




The only real issue I am having however, it seems as though there may be some flaw that doesnt allow the mag to seat properly...I was having to physically hold it in place for the rounds to feed properly...I am going to have to perhaps try a new mag, or see if there is something wrong inside the mag-well...It will have to wait for now though, don't have time to wait for it to be sent away for any repairs!! LOL!!

Try loading one rd less in the mag....sounds too simple but it just mite be a over compressed spring. Does the mag seat and lock when empty?
Dan

Does it whether its one round or 6 loaded in the mag...And no, doesnt seat and lock when empty...might have to send it for warranty :( AFTER gopher derby in June!! LOL!!

Shop where you bought it, have they got another mag you can try????????Sounds like a mag problem.
Dan

The place I bought it from is almost a 4 hour drive from here...

Wifey also has a T3. Tried both mags in mine, then both in hers...they both are loose in mine, and tight in hers...

Took both recievers off the stocks and put the calipers to the steel bedding block(Or whatever the hell that is...)and mine is .007" longer...might make a difference?? Rounds fed fine with her block in my stock...

Might get my friend to surface grind it for me...more field testing...LOL!!


Just trying to decide if I should play with powder charges a bit more, or seating depth....

Went to the range for an hour or so today to try out some 40grain V-max in the .204.

My gun seemed to like these a bit more! Best group was with 26.8 grains of H335 and well under an inch! The bullets were seated at a COAL of 2.250"

Going to try starting at 26.6 and go up .1 to 27.0 grains...and pay close attention for signs of pressure. Tho at 26.8 there was nothing to indicate any over pressure.


http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...4/IMG_8787.jpg

See from there what the best groups are, then maybe mess with the COAL and see what happens...

So far I am just having fun shooting it! LOL!!

Tried out some H322 yesterday...40 grains bulles were more of a pattern than a group.

The 32 grain Vmax shot pretty good at 24.5 grains of powder...4 shots less than half inch, but one flyer...and that might have been me...going to test a 5 shot ladder starting at 24.3 and go to 24.7 by .1 gr increments and see what happens...then mess with COAL.

Going to pick up some RL-10X yet, and my friend has some Benchmark for me to try out.

I still have some time to get a good load worked up for this rifle...just wish this caliber wasnt quite so picky!!

And so far I have at least 2 loads that will work decently in it. They just wont be great for the 500 yard shots! LOL!!

The CZ 527 American is available in .204 Ruger.

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-527-american/

Good ol CZ.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...3/IMG_0951.jpg

Ok so what happened?

We are not 100% sure....but do know the case head seperated....this thing blew up right beside me...sounded like a 300 wsm going off.

We dont think the cases were over charged...but they were old...so perhaps weak cases?? Blew back and caused another case in the mag to discharge. Pretty scary!!!

that wasn't a CZ capt.. but a Norinco...

Heh....whoopsy!! Ya, I was thinking it was a CZ....My bad....


Anyway, where that CZ is concerned...its a wood stock...I prefer synthetic...and a SS barrel.

The CZ 527 Varmint looks nice, but not left handed....meh.

Ah well, I loves my Tikka T3 SS Varmint :D Well worth the money I paid for it!!!

Ahhh we are almost total opposites then as not only am I right handed but I detest plastic stocks and I do like blacked steel (blued so some) ;) give me nice warm friendly wood any day. Heck I am even going to make a Walnut grip to replace the plastic one on my recurves riser. Plastic feels so alien :eek:.

I hate cleaning my rifles :D So blued is a bad idea....lol!! I dont have any "Pretty" rifles...I beat mine up pretty good :D