Rounds look long, do they fit in the box?

Dober

Now I have a reason for all those tennis balls in my back yard - I knew they were coming from somewhere!!!!!!

Gus

Dober,

Yes they do with 4mm to spare

That stock is next on my list...

"Yes they do with 4mm to spare"

That's the beauty in the long action for a rifle chambered in the Swede.

Don't forget to minus the .224 bullet dia.
Got a couple more groups like this & one smaller!
My range is 99 yds to muzzle of gun (yes I know, it's cheating)



Guess I can shoot rifles better than camera's

Liar! Jamie drove one right up to your doorstep and you peed on it! I saw the pic!

Here are a couple pics of my Tikka .25-06....LOVE that gun! And a pic of a target at 300 yds. The Federal Fusions shoot awesome and put animals down with the quickness!

Chris

Ya i think im gonna try one in a 30-06 ss with a leupold for the glass

DAT is my new favorite pic!

Mark-
In case you're not aware, the 6.5x55 T3s are built for the long (30'06) magazines and bolt stops. FWIW, in my T3 6.5 Swedes, I have no clearance issues when seating 140 A-Maxes out to 3.225 inches OAL or the 142 SMKs out to 3.118" OAL.

Like this?



P

Here is mine. Its a 270 Win with a VX3 4.5-14x40 CDS in DNZ lows with a Limbsaver pad.



Still working with loads but here is how its shot so far...




[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...9-E0A5CD986DF7-5598-0000081D0947B8CC.jpg[/img]

Deertracker,

Good looking groups!! Good choice in scopes, too.

I was up near you last week. Flew into Great Falls, then went up to Glacier for 3 or 4 days. Saw lots of bear and some goats. Weather was considerably more pleasant than it is here.

Thanks! Hopefully it wasnt smokey up in Glacier for you. Yesterday it was so smokey here that we couldnt see more than 3/4-1 mile.

Its a smokey bish here too!

No, it wasn't smokey. I had my peeps with me and everything was good. I've been out before but they haven't. They were impressed. It rained the last night, but other than that a splendid trip! I am eligible to retire now but may work up to 8 more years to get the full retirement benefit. We'll see. I talked to some kid in Scheel's who started working there 2 weeks ago. Plan is to maybe move to Great Falls after I retire and work at Scheel's or Big Bear part time just to get beer and pizza money and see all the new toys that come out and talk to the hunters and fishermen. Sure is nice out there. Can't wait until I can move out!

DELGUE,

I lived in Great Falls from Dec 2001-Mar 2005. It was by far my favorite assignment. I spent WAT too much money at Scheels and Big Bear along with several other gun shops. I would love to move back after I retire from the AF, but the wife is not having it. Jobs for her career field are few and far between there and low paying compared to other states. I am in AK and while I like it, hunting access is not near like it was in MT unless you own a plane or boat, and I own neither.

Hudge,

Copy. You musta been at Malmstrom. I figure the cost of living has to be less there than here, and between my company retirement and SS and beer and pizza money from Scheel's or Big Bear I oughta be ok. Although eventually I'll just subsist off what I get from my company and SS and just hunt and fish and camp all the time, which is kinda what I wanna do anyway. As long as I have a few coins for reloading components and new flies once in a while, a new tent periodically, and some grub, I'm good to go.

I've kicked around Alaska, but I'm thinkin' it's more a younger man's place, and the cost of living up there has to be higher. Besides, I'm into mountain man history and such and Montana and neigboring Wyoming are prime pickin's for that kinda thing.

I've managed to remain unencumbered with a wife all these years, and my dog goes with me, so the world is my playground!

200 yds:



300yds:



520yds:

Dogcatcher,

That's good shooting, sir! What's the caliber on that?

Don't believe him... those targets were shot at 50 yards. He has a tough time gettin' steady

Drew is that thing coming along with you after a buck this year?

Thanks. 6.5x55, 120gr ballistic tip.

Tanner, going to take it antelope and deer this year. Actually, probably elk too. Since I'll have a deer tag, might as well put an elk tag in my pocket too to up the odds.

Nice. That stock looks pretty damn good on there!

Tikkas suck. What kinda speed are you getting outta those nosey ball tips?

Here's a 5 round group my buddy shot with his Tikka Varmint in 6.5x55. I have the same rifle but my results have not been quite so impressive!

One of the greatest hunting photos I have ever seen.

Very first 3 shot, 100 yard group fired from my Tikka T3 Lite.



Hornady .243 95gr Superformance SSTs.

Expat

Go with the 7mm RM...you won't be sorry

Good looking gun and group did you paint the stock?

Are the factory rings ok or would you use a set of talley?

Paint the stock...yes....talley rings are on order. I'm not crazy about the factory rings.

I agree. I'm diggin' that painted stock!

Yes, I was at Malmstrom and loved every minute of it. If I was able to get to pick anywhere out of here, it would be FE Warren, WY. The jobs that are there for the wife are actually pretty high, almost double what they are in MT (at least state jobs), and of course the federal pay would be the same no matter. I like the western US and its vast history as well. Oh well, I've got 39 months left here, and I plan to enjoy all of it.

Tikka's actions/rifles might be cheap & ugly 'lookin, but they shoot very well. Nice paint job mailmanmark.

I'm still waiting to hear about failures with these things. AD's, broken bolt handles, malfunctions, jams, anything....Lotsa talk about schit "looking" cheap and plastic, but yet to hear a puke.

maybe I'll be a little rougher with mine....

Hudge,

I hear ya. If I couldn't retire to MT, then it would be either WY or UT for sure. Just looked up Warren. It's pretty far south, but that would make it easy to go play in CO as well as WY, which isn't a bad thing.

I've never really vacationed in CO, despite my love for the West being ignited by Michener's book 'Centennial' about the fictional Colorado town of the same name. I've hunted there a few times in the NW corner for deer.

I'm thinking I need to take a vacation to MT and just hit some of the towns to see where I'd like to retire to, although Great Falls leads the choices right now since it has a Big Bear and Scheel's and Fuddruckers and is fairly centrally located (north to Glacier, south to Yellowstone/Tetons, with lots of wilderness and national forests within striking distance). But I'd still like to explore a bit and see what other Montana towns have to offer.

16Bore,

I've got a Tikka 595 in .223 sitting in my closet right now that only fires about every 4th round. I haven't had a chance to get it to an authorized repair station yet, but it's a Tikka, and it quit working. I'm not saying that consequently all Tikka's are bad, but it is what it is. And I wasn't 'rough' with it or abuse it in any manner.

be curious to see WTF on the 595. Click no boom?

Yeah. About every fourth round goes off. Took the bolt apart and didn't see a prob. Tried again and same result. It hasn't been used all that much, so I dunno what got into it. The fact that it happened has made me a little nervous about my T3 in '06. If that T3 wasn't so dang light I'd kick it to the curb just as a precaution. A T3 in 270 would shine, but rifles gotta work, ya know? Having one go south plinkin' at Brer Coyote ain't a deal, but if one crapped out and I missed out on a shot at a deer or elk, I would be pissed beyond belief. The doubt about the T3 caused me to grab up a 77 Hawkeye stainless in left hand, just in case I boot the T3 or it develops an issue.

Never heard that one. Handloads? Are you getting any marks on the primer or what?

Where are you guys finding t3's in the 6.5x55

Factory. Winchester white box 45 gr JHP's and Remington 55 gr FMJ. Primers show what appear to be light strikes, i.e. small faint dimple.

Here is mine in 3006. 180 gn hornady over a bit of h4350. Tarhet at 100. Couple of sighters and a 3 shot center group. Not too bad.

Threw some loads of RL-22 and 150 BTips and this is how it shot the first group.


I ran out of chronograph light so I didnt get to shoot the rest of my test loads but two of the 3 shots clocked at 2797 and 2802! Going to go out and shoot the rest in the morning!

@DELGUE and slg888....appreciate your positive feedback...thanks again.

Gunchamp that is a good looking gun is that B&C stock?

Just be a little choosy if ya get one.....

BC Tikka Stocks.....

My guess is BC would have sent another, but I'm kind of a one shot wonder so to speak....

Anyone got any new pics

7mm-08




P

.30-06






P

T-3 stainless HB Varmint 22-250
Leupold VXII 4x12 CDS-AO
Sterk titanium bolt shroud
Delta Tactical bolt handle
GRS stock

Target:
Shot this doing load development a couple of weeks ago,
1 fouling round out of a clean, lightly oiled barrel, next 4 rounds went into a group measuring .410 OAL minus .224 = .186

I held a T3 stainless today in 243 at Sportsmans Warehouse. Think it might be my next rifle. Here in SC I don't need too much more since I already have 2 375's. Got a little 2.5-8 Leupy that would complement it nicely for deer and hogs. I got a box of 80gr TTSX that should work fine.

Here are 3 T3s. A 25/06,a 338 Stainless,and a 7 Rem Mag. I've dropped the 7 RM into a Hunter wood stock since this pic was taken. Here is her pet load.

The 338 is no slouch either.

Maybe there should be a thread for crappy Tikka groups, this is getting boring.....

Here is the first and last load I tried in a T3 22/250 I had a couple years ago.

Here she is in New Mexico on a little predator vacation.I use to be in the custom predator call biz. Dogwood Creek Calls.

A big old PA Sod Hog. And the T3 22.250

what are the best rings for these as I heard the factory ones suck? Heard the talley lighweights were pretty good.

Easy to unsuck the Talleys too......

what sucks about em?

I KNOW..............!!!!!!!!!!
Booooring...........

Knock it off!


P

Talley Mojo

I don't have a picture of a group from this rifle, but it shoots like the rest of them. This is my third one. (270, 7 Rem Mag, and this 7-08). I can't believe how well these rifles shoot. I love they way they feel and how slick they are. This one was harder than the other two to settle on a load. I was (and am) using the 162 A-Max and worked up loads with Varget, Hunter, IMR 8208, and H4350. Everything was okay, but it got great with the 4350 and playing with the seating depth. Going from 2.8 to 2.81 made all the difference. I don't think it's the gun being picky, that bullet is just really sensitive regarding depth for me.

T3 Lite in 7-08 shooting the 162 A-Max at 2670.
Limbsaver pad, Talley rings, Karsten cheek piece. Even though I've had no problems with the factory parts, I switched to a steel recoil lug and a Lumley steel bolt shroud.

It has a Leupold Mark AR 4-12 with the Mil reticle on it, but I changed out the factory BDC dial for a straight MOA one. It has the Alumina flip-ups and a Sinclair level. I know a hunting rifle doesn't need all that, but I shoot a lot with it just for fun. At 5K elevation I run out of scope adjustment at 900 yards. (24 minutes.) Shooting a balloon that far out with a light weight rifle is a kick.

My biggest peev with these guns is that I can't put my thumb under the scope and around the action to carry it they way I like to. Since it is usually on a sling or in a Kifaru Gun Bearer, I can live with it for the way it shoots.

Just thought it would be good to bring this topic back. Anymore

.270 Win
140 Berger
Fed 210
58.2 grains 4831sc

Going out Saturday to sight mine in for the first time (30-06). I will bring back results...

I'll add mine to the list. It's a T3 Lite in .243 Win. Below is it's first group ever, shooting factory 95 gr Fusions. I bought it in September and really love it.





Here's a whitetail I dropped at 295 yards, one month later.



Eric

Tikkas kinda make you feel silly for playing around with builds.

155 Scenars in my SL this fall right before season.

The 'x'd out shots are 168 BT..

3 shots at a hundred out of the .223 SL.

75 gr Amax with Varget...

More 155 Scenars...

40 gr Varmageddons...

More three shot groups of 75 gr Amax...

Best group of my life. Three shots again with the 75 Amax...

More of the awesome Scenars...

Last one for now...

Note: these were all fired over a bag off the hood of my Jeep while crouched over (and I'm 6' 1", so I had to CROUCH!). No bench rest.

The 60 gr Vmax load was with a Bushnell fixed 10x.

The rest of the .223 were with a Vortex Viper 2-7x32

All the .308 were with a Leupy 6x36

These Tikkas make it hard to justify a custom.

Now if Tikka would only give me a fast twist .243 and .22-250...

If McMillan could get the bottom "metal" flush, we'd all be schitting in high cotton.

Yeah, I keep waiting to hear if they resolved that issue.

I think Dogcatcher just got one (a Sako Hunter pattern) and was going to get it up and going. Hopefully, he will post pics on one of these forums.

Tho' I've been eyeballing Manners EHS-T REALLY hard, as well...

Great shooting Mojo! Talking about an un-finicky rifle!!!

Eric

Just got my 308 back together. Stock dipped by Northwest hydroprint and Eddie Fosnaugh did the titanium cerakoting. See how she shoots Friday.

Wow, that looks great. I'm getting my stock dipped also, hopefully have it finished pretty soon. Thanks for sharing the pics.


BD

The Fiestaware sets off the skulls nicely. Pretty wild looking stock.

Anyone shooting a heavy caliber notice if the dove tailed aluminum recoil lug has deformed or become imprinted?

It doesn't seem to have affected the accuracy of the ones posted on this thread. Nice groups.

7mm Rem Mag/162 A-Max at 522 yards. I'm loving this rifle.




Tanner

Nice FatMax!

Heavy pos!

That's what she said! Aced it!

Tanner

500 yards, .223 plastikka, 65 gr. GK's, little bit of a breeze..

[video:youtube]http://m.youtube.com/watch?list=FL_vg1Ki7Epxu9639qF7jV5Q&v=7LgSQeApITw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7LgSQeApITw%26list%3DFL_vg1Ki7Epxu9639qF7jV5Q[/video]

Tanner's pic reminded me of this one...

Posted this in a LRF thread. the good ole 155 Scenars again at 574 yds...



Tanner, perhaps we're genetically related as my Max is also Fat...

[bleep] bro, that ain't no joke! Nice!

Tanner

I seen a Scenar once....

Groups and POI like this highly intrigue me. Good shooting from all you Tikka nuts. Another thing that intrigues me is you don't hear about failures like other manufactures have or poor QC. Fill me in on how these things holdup after serious use. I'd like to try one of these things out one of these days. I love how slick the action is and they also offer them in left hand version, which is a plus. I'd probably try a 6.5x55 swede, since I've never had one before...Thanks for posting your pics guys. It makes a believer out of me..

Plastikka .223 is purposely abused, and loves it.

Good luck finding a swede. when you do, buy it.

BSA, the pre-64 Tikkas are the best ones to get!

Eric

I got one last year, and it is the stainless synthetic variety, and does that thing ever shoot. I was out a few weeks ago and shot 5 three shot groups with different bullet weights, powder charges etc, and the worst one of the 5 was just under an inch. The best one was 0.503 -- average was 0.640. Hard to find a load that won't shoot in that little Swede. And it just has a Redfield 3-9x40 cheap scope on it. Pretty clear and seems to shoot just fine.

I think they're still for sale up in canuckistan, new.. .260's, too?

We get the cast offs down here.

I just picked up 6.5 ss lite here. I have only shot 2 loads. Prvi cheap ball 3 shots .89 at 100. Nosler factory 140 abs, 3 shots .62.

It is a shooter. Have a b&c stock coming for it, used DNZ 30mm lows, and put an aluminum shroud on it.

I love the gun,smooth as silk and great trigger. Only thing I do not like is the detachable mag.

Only thing I would like better is a sako A7 ss in 308 I think. Should have bought one when they were blowing them out a few years ago.

Heading to Kansas next week, good luck to all. Spence

So they pretty much shoot everything into small groups.

Why?

Because all rifles shoot small groups on the internet.

Well JohnMoses, not all of my rifles have shot so well. I have had some that would not, even after tweeking, loading, bedding, recrowning, etc.. you name it. Ones that come to mind were a flat minty Pre-64 Win 70 FW in 30-06 I hated to let that one go but it just would not group well, no matter what I fed it or did to it. Also the two WSMs I had, Kimber and Win 70, both were sink holes of time and money. Most any other guns I have I had I could get to shoot something really well after tuning the gun or the loads. The nicest thing about the two T3s I have owned is they were both hammers straight out of the box, no tweaking or loading needed. I sold my 300 Win Super Lite due to the recoil, a little much for me. Loving my 6.5 Swede T3.

I think there are really four main reasons Tikka's shoot so well , I will list them in the order which I think they impact the accuracy, from most to least.

1. Great barrels. The Sako made barrels are really nice, always have been. They use the same quality tubes on all the Sakos or Tikkas. I only bore scoped one, a Sako 85 Hunter in 260 Rem. The barrel was super smooth and the rifling well cut. As good as many custom tubes I have seen. My Rem 700 LTR in 308 I looked through right after the Sako 260 looked like a sewer pipe in comparison, but it shoots well also, but not as good as the Sako or my Tikka. The single most accurate rifle I have ever owned or seen shot was my factory Sako A1 6PPC with a light sporter barrel. I am still kicking myself for selling it but that is another story, it was a laser beam.

2. Long Barrel tenon. It supports the barrel really well, as good as many custom actions out there, the T3 tenon is longer than 700s or 70s..

3. The actions are very true due to great machining and stiff due to the smaller ejection port and the single feed design. The bolt lugs have VERY good and even contact. I have checked the Tikka lug contact on the two I have had. Both were very even with nearly full contact, basically as good as you would get with a gunsmith tuned and printed 700 .

4. Great triggers out of the box.

I only wish they had a top feed non detachable mag, that is the only thing I really dislike about the Tikkas.

For more info see this link, excellent Tikka info.

http://www.kineticresearchgroup.com...r%20and%20Against%20the%20Tikka%20T3.pdf


Good luck all and be safe. Spence

O good trigger makes for a better shooter, for sure, and quality time behind the trigger with some knowledge of what it takes to shoot a decent group helps too. I have some accurate rifles, well . . . . my definition of accurate anyway. My rifles are all shooters, and all hunting rifles, and most of them are as they came from the factory with the possible exception of an adjustment to trigger press weight. I like my hunting rifles to break clean at 3 pounds or so.

John Moses,

I have a 12 year old Browning Eclipse M1000 in 300 WinMag that will push bullets into small clusters as well, but at 11.25 pounds, I am getting too old to carry it afield like I did back when.

I got my B&C stock today for my T3. Unlike 16 Bore's experience the fit and finish on this one is pretty good. The pad grinding is nice as well. The actual weight difference on my shipping scale vs the factory polymer stock WITH a Limbsaver pad is 3 ounces. The Limbsaver weighs more than the factory pad for sure.

I like the feel, only gripe I have is the pistol grip is a tad fat. But nice overall. Happy with it. I will let you know how she shoots with it and post some pics when I get back from Kansas.

Be safe all Spence

Ya I would like to see some pics

Maybe they got the hint.

I agree 16bore. If I had gotten one that looked like yours I would be pissed and sent it back. I bought a used one and was told the finish was good so I took the plunge, good price as well.

Spence

Here is a group from my Tikka T3 Lite .243 topped with a Burris FFII 3-9 with the Ballistic Plex reticle. The rig scope, sling, full magazine and all weighs 7lbs.

Its Three shots at 200 yards Moderate load of 70 grain Nosler BT 45 grains H4350 3212 fps


This target is a 100 yard zero check target before deer season. I shot a three shot group (measured .236) then moved the scope up one click then two clicks (1/4 inch) left for shot four then moved it two more clicks for left for shot five.

Even with scope adjustments all five shots landed in just over 1.25 inches.

The load is 41.0 grains of H4350 95 grain Nosler BT Winchester cases with Remington 9.5 LR primer at 2954 fps.

.....and with a Burris FFII 3-9x40 with ballistic plex reticle. Come on, are you pulling our leg??

Nope, it were one of them slovenly old Burris's

I'll keep using my Burris' too. Just don't tell anyone

Me too. They just seem to work.

Ok, one more at 520. Nobody likes a braggart.



Tanner

Ok Tanner, when you going to take the training wheels off of that one?

How is the felt recoil on the 7Mag in the T3?

It's fairly stout. I put on a Limbsaver and that helped quite a bit.

Tanner

I had thought about building a lighter .280AI for general hunting use but as good as the Tikkas shoot I will likely just get one in 7RM or maybe 7/08.

270 rolling 110's at 3,400 wouldnt suck.

The .270 running 110's would be another good option.

I bet the new 100 grain Accubond for the 6.8 out of the .270 Winchester would put the hurt on a deer too.

Do you guys have to let the barrel cool between groups or do Tikkas shoot this well when they're hot?


Okie John

My practice is to rotate 3 - 5 rifles/pistols to keep things from getting too hot.
No need to stress the barrel or alter poi's. Others may vary.

I agree. I never let my barrels get smoking hot. Sure, I'll post those 10 shot groups, but those are shot just as they would be in slow fire competition. 1 shot/minute. I was checking out the superlites yesterday. Pretty sweet rifles....

Nice group! Did you just get the Tikka? What scope/rings? Been thinking about a 7 mag and may just go Tikka.

He posted that almost exactly 3 years ago. He's probably been though about 18 rifles in that time, ranging from Remington 700 to mauser 98... He's still trying to find the "perfect" rifle... Just sayin.... I believe he's trying out a 338 with 250 scenars now days...

No. No thang to shoot 10-20 shots as fast as you can. The gun will group what it's going to group and unless the barrel is junk, heat will not open the groups up or cause "walking".

Bringing this one back from 3 years

You guys have a recommendation for stout 30mm rings for a Tikka? I want to mount a 3-9x42 with a 30mm tube as low as possible. Thanks.