Flattened softpoints after recoil

[jpuke]

Has anyone else noticed that upon firing their Tikka, the subsequent rounds in the magazine have the points deformed?  The round just under the bolt gets the most deformed while those below will only have the point flattened a bit.  I noticed this while doing my final sight in for deer season with my 30-06 T3 Lite.  I thought it might be just the 5 rd magazine that I was using but the same happens with the 3 rd magazine.  Maybe I'm looking for an excuse for a few flyers in my groups but the first round out the magazine hits exactly where I want with the subsequent rounds going 1-1.5" away from that point.  It sounds trivial, but I have gotten stellar (sub MOA) groups when single loading at the bench. 

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed the same thing.  I thought it might be due to the fairly weak spring tension in the Tikka magazines.   

[ratgunner]

I have noticed the weak tension in the mags also.Havent had any accuracy problems though.Mine is a .270 and the bullets arent deformed.Maybe you can try those plastic tipped bullets?

[Brithunter]

Hmm I would have expected better but the cure is quite simple and there used to be a gustom smith doing this to a lot of different rifles. Trouble is his name escapes me right now!!!!!!

The cure is bevelled strips fixed to the inside of the magazine which hold back the shoulder so the head of the cartridge remains against the rear wall of the magazine. Parker-hale had these ribs pressed into their magazines as did BSA so that is why I am surprised that Berretta does not have these on the Tikka and Sako rifles. I suppose it's the usual short cuts to cut costs!

[jpuke]

I am going to load up some Barnes TSX bullets in the near future - hopefully this solves it.

[Brithunter]

Hmmmm modifying the magazine as suggested will probably prove cheaper in the long run!