Thumbcocker
Active Member
Took Mrs.Thumbcocker to the range with 3 rifles. Tikka .308, Ruger #1 .30-06, and Ruger 77 6.5x55.
Testing started with one round of factory ammo. Results 180 grain .30-06 NO! 150 grain .308 Not too bad. 6.5 x 55 fmj 160 (?) Grain. Not bad.
Next cast loads. .30-06 with Ranch Dog 165 fp and various charges of Reloader 7. Recoil was fine but accuracy was so so.
Ruger 6.5x55 with Lyman discontinued boolit that had the extra lube groove out on the nose. I think they were called silhouette. Charge was 4759. It would group 3 into an inch and then open up to 1 3/4 to 2".
Finally the Tikka .308. Ranch dog 165 fp. Powder was 31.0 of 842. This is a surplus powder that the vendor said to use H335 data for. When we chronographed this load last fall it had extreme spreads in the triple digits. Not encouraging. Velocity ranged from 1907 to 2102 on on string and 1981 to 2125 on the second string. Second string was 4 shots.
So we were not holding out a lot of hope but Mrs.Thumbcocker showed considerable snake eyed concentration.
Target is below. She then proceeded to shoot clay birds and clay bird bits for a while.
So we are looking for a Tikka T3x Lite compact. The one with the adjustable stock.
Testing started with one round of factory ammo. Results 180 grain .30-06 NO! 150 grain .308 Not too bad. 6.5 x 55 fmj 160 (?) Grain. Not bad.
Next cast loads. .30-06 with Ranch Dog 165 fp and various charges of Reloader 7. Recoil was fine but accuracy was so so.
Ruger 6.5x55 with Lyman discontinued boolit that had the extra lube groove out on the nose. I think they were called silhouette. Charge was 4759. It would group 3 into an inch and then open up to 1 3/4 to 2".
Finally the Tikka .308. Ranch dog 165 fp. Powder was 31.0 of 842. This is a surplus powder that the vendor said to use H335 data for. When we chronographed this load last fall it had extreme spreads in the triple digits. Not encouraging. Velocity ranged from 1907 to 2102 on on string and 1981 to 2125 on the second string. Second string was 4 shots.
So we were not holding out a lot of hope but Mrs.Thumbcocker showed considerable snake eyed concentration.
Target is below. She then proceeded to shoot clay birds and clay bird bits for a while.
So we are looking for a Tikka T3x Lite compact. The one with the adjustable stock.