I have recently bought a Tikka T3 lite in .223. Does anyone know what size scope you can put on with the factory mounts (40MM, 42MM, 44MM etc)? Also do you think a 3-9 is enough scope for general varmint hunting or would you get a 4-12 ?? I am leaning towards a 3-9 x 40.. Thanks

On the rings--I'm no help(because I put Talley's on all mine). But 40,42,44 will work--I'd bet.

I have a 4X12 Leupie on mine, and could get by nicely with a 3X9. If you do a lot of target practice, get the 4X12. If you are just going to just get it sighted in, then hunt with it, the 3X9 is your scope.

I have Sako / Tikka Optilock rings and bases o the new style Optilock ringmounts on all my Sako and Tikka T3 rifles. Here in Canada we do not get the "Free Rings" with the T3 rifle.

As for scope 4-12 or 6-18x40 Leupold VX2 get my vote. I use Leupold on all my rifles. I have a 6.5-20x40 LEupold on my 22-250 Sako m75ss rifle and a 4-12x40 on my 243.

Maybe a Bushnell Elite 3200 5.5-15x40 would be another scope to look at.

The factory Tikka rings have plenty of clearance for the Burris FFII 3-9x40 atop my T3. A 44mm would fit, and a 40AO probably would, too. For a hunting .223, I would recommend the Burris like mine, 3-9x, with Ballistic Plex. If you are doing varmint work, look at a 4-12x40 with parallax adjustment. I would try a Swift, Mueller or EABCO, all of them very reasonably priced and slim.

A Leupold VXII 4-12x40 AO works great on my .243 Tikka (with about 1/8" clearance) using the factory rings. I had planned on replacing them with a set of Warnes, but they are doing fine so far.

In keeping with the "Lite," I put Burris compact scopes on my .300 Win Mag and .243 T-3s. For called predators and general purpose hunting, they work fine. (I think they are 4 - 12.) You may want a bigger scope on your .223 if you are using it for prairie dogs or ground squirrels.

I have a win model 70 with heavy barrel .. bipod etc.. for that type of work.. it has a 6-24 x 50 on it. This is mainly.. well I just wanted another rifle.. maybe Bobcat or Coyote. I already have a .243

the factory rings don't offer that much clearance. to me they are about right for mounting a 3x9x40 scope, however if the gun is a varmint model you will loose a little bit, I just set up a 204varmint and tried mounting a 6-20x42 ao sightron, it would not fit with the factory rings, I had to use talley highs to make it work.

4.5-14x44 Burris FFII with Ballistic Plex fits mine, and makes it pretty handy for lots of stuff. Not the lightest option, but I bought mine for the twist and accuracy of a 223 that would shoot everything well, so that wasn't the main consideration.

If you're going to tote it a bunch and want to keep it light, I'd probably go VXII 3-9x40 and call it good.

DJ

My two T-3's both wear 3.5-10x44 Zeiss Conquests w/ factory rings. Great combo.

I ended up buying a 3-9 x 40 scope for the .223.. I had bought a couple of 4-12 x 40 scopes last year for other rifles (.243, .30-06) and ended up selling them an buying 3-9 x 40.. Maybe I am tradional (ie. old fashioned)..lol

I use burris mounts/rings and leupold vari x II 3x9x40 mm. Looks good on the rifle and balances and points nicely.

I got a Bushnell elite 3200 3-9x40 on mine and its great! I may be selling that scope with another rifle though, and if so i will be putting a 3200 in 4-12 on it....Either Or will work great Pal!

I just recently swapped out my OEM rings with a set of Warne's. You'll love them.

I have the Tikka T3 Lite in .308 and it sports a Nikon Prostaff 3x9x40 BDC Reticle i use the factory scope mounts i have never had any problem. The Prostaff is clear as a bell it has never moved i hunt with this rifle and reload for it. This past deer season 3 Deer came along about 9:00 am shot all 3, 1 Buck 2 Does here in the South lots of Doe days

Which rings did you get, medium, high?