Tikka Reputation

[elkermarty]

I won a Tikka in 7mm Rem.Mag. So I loaded it up and thought I would break in the barrel. To say that the rifle will shoot 1 1/2" groups or even 2 1/2" groups out of the box, I question. My self not being a 7MM person, I decided to change it over to something a little bigger. I bought a Douglas XX barrel in 338 Win Mag. Now with a new barrel and just some run of the mill hand loads it WILL shoot 1 1/2" and less groups. The added weight was nothing. The rifle now only weighs 8 lbs 0 oz. I left the barrel at 26". This weekend I will start to work up the hand loads.
I think that the addition of the new barrel made this a first class elk rifle. I am going to shoot 210 gr Nosler Partition. The powder, I will have to try some and see where it takes me. The break in loads was shot with 68 gr H414.
Again I am VERY pleased with the out come.