Tikka T3x slow?

[senderomag]

Hi all. Was thinking on buying a tikka in 6.5 prc but heard there barrels are “slow” and might only get velocity’s similar to 6.5 creed. Can anyone confirm or deny this. Thank you

[elkhunter11]

I have owned four T-3 rifles, all produced the expected velocities for the cartridge, with my handoads.

[JD848]

My bro has a 6.5 creed in a tikka t3x and he scored a tikka t3x 6.5 prc and the prc outshoots the creed in velocity like it should .Same weight in bullet ,very accurate to boot .

[brewster29]

I have three Tikkas. All pretty much match book hand load numbers. There’s no way a 6.5 PRC is going the to be the same velocity as a Creedmoor. My 20” barrel PRC is still 200 fps faster…

[Dewey Cox]

Where did you harvest this pearl of wisdom?

[huntingfamily]

Originally Posted by senderomag

Hi all. Was thinking on buying a tikka in 6.5 prc but heard there barrels are “slow” and might only get velocity’s similar to 6.5 creed. Can anyone confirm or deny this. Thank you

I've heard it a number of times as well. Just Google 'are tikka barrels slow'.
I've only owned one tikka and it wasn't for very long so I can't provide any real world results from load testing.

[300magman]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Where did you harvest this pearl of wisdom?

Lmao. Don’t know why this made me laugh like it did.

OP, I’ve had a few Tikkas, all shot at or near to expected velocities.

[Smokinyotes]

I’ve got 8 tikkas. If you use factory ammo the velocities are much slower than what is printed on the box. So either the ammo manufacturers lie about the velocities or Tikkas are slow. Or possibly a combination of both. I don’t shoot factory ammo and find on several of my guns I have to add a few grains above book max to meet published loads.

[32-40win]

I have a Ruger that's 100fps slower than my Rem so far in my testing. Have two Tikka's that are clocking the box velocities of a factory rd, happy with the velocities of a reload in them. Any mfgr can have a slow barrel, it happens, even with custom barrels, .0002 +/- here, .001 there, .003 there, can make for a fast or slow one, all according to tolerances and tooling used in making bbl's and chambers. Along with the fact that factories change powders and don't tell anyone, and don't change their box to read to suit.

[fps plus]

These days correct terminology is

Velocity challenged

[Dick284]

Factory velocities are far from realistic, often quoted with un common barrel lengths, and such.

Also keep in mind ammunition manufacturers are in the game to see ammunition, so if some liberties are taken in advertising, what’s the big deal if it drives sales.

Go watch Mason Leather on YouTube he cronies lots of factory ammunition, and only a few times has the factory ammunition lived up to the advertised specs……..

[3blade]

Ammo manufactures use longer custom barrels to get those numbers.

Tikkas (and most factory hunting rifles) use shorter factory grade barrels.

Weatherby controls the barrels actions and ammo, their selling point is and always has been velocity, so they tend to meet published specs.

Some semi custom rifle manufactures use custom grade, longer barrels

The “is brand slow vs fast comparison” comes from people comparing between the groups with unreasonable expectations.

Would a tikka t3 be slower than a weatherby or proof research? Probably, even accounting for length. Doesn’t make the tikka a bad rifle, most are very accurate.