Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting T3x CTR/ SWFA 3-9X42 thoughts

I have decided to pull the trigger on a CTR 24" 6.5 creed (as soon as they are back in stock at Whittakers) in an effort to put together a mid-long range hunting rifle (600 yard plus - assuming competent shooter). I don't want a flyweight as I just feel a little more weight would be appreciated in this platform and use. However, my hunting is in steep, rugged, Idaho backcountry wilderness so this can't get to heavy.

If I try to stay somewhat light, I could go a SWFA 3-9X42 with quality rings and be at 9 pounds - which sounds good to me for its intended usage. Anybody else think this would be a good way to role? Anyone shooting something similar for LR hunting?

I have the 3x9 on a savage116, and it is a good set up to 600 yds. My youngest boy has one on his tikka 243,and he is good with it out to 600 as well. They are a very good hunting/long range scopes. You will like it.

You'll be over 9 pounds with such a setup. I had the same setup, but in a 20" 260, and the bare rifle came in something like 4 ounces over advertised weight.

Not sure what you expect this rifle to accomplish that your current 280 AI will not already do?

ETA: The big difference is this rifle will have a big obtrusive magazine adding extra weight and bulk. Buy a regular Tikka Lite - will shoot just as well and will be a lot more portable.

This is my Wife’s 20” CTR .260. She and our teenage kids have packed and hunted it for the past 3 years. Waging war on deer and elk up over 10,000’.... then antelope and coyotes on the plains. It’s hammered many hundreds of prairie dogs. It’s set-up to be as light and user friendly as possible: Leupold 3-9x40, Mil-Dot, 1/2 MOA “CDS” turret. Scope sits in Low Talleys, the 16’bored one’s. All-up, with sling and 5 rounds.... it weighs 8lbs 3oz. It’s about as perfect a 600 yard hunting rifle as a guy could want.... except for the lace paint job.

For a hunting gun, that you’ll pack, I’d go 20” 6.5 Creed. You won’t miss the velocity at all, and the gun will be both lighter/handier. If you go 20”, Low Talleys, 3-9 SS... you’d probably be under 9lbs, I’m thinking 8lbs 13oz.

I do love my 280 ACKLEY and with the NF SHV, it is an excellent long range capable rifle that I have total confidence in and truth being told, will still be my go to rifle for deer/elk.

The CTR in 6.5 creed has just got my rifle looneyism going as I would love a "true dedicated lr rig" and something that would be a lot easier/cheaper to practice with. I would love to bang steel with it all summer and then have it available to hunt with as needed. Also, in my ackley, my new 140 handloads I am working on our running around 3250 FPS. That kind of performance all summer long would burn out a barrel quite a bit quicker than a 143 at 27-2800. Again, the rifle looney is coming out.

Sounds like a good plan!

Definitely will be over 9 lbs with that setup. My 20" CTR in 6.5 with the same scope is 9 lbs 5 oz but could probably be very close to 9 lbs even if I lost the rings and rail for talley lightweight lows

Not exactly what you are contemplating but I have a T3 Lite in 6.5 Creedmoor. It has Leupold Dual Dovetail mounts and an SWFA 6x42. One of the most accurate rifles I have owned and shoots half MOA to as far as I have tried, which is 500. Will shoot most everything MOA or better for 10 shots. I haven't gone to 600 plus but did head shoot a coyote at 550.

I weighed my sons tikka t3x with ss3x 9 the other day, and it was 8 lbs even with an empty mag. At 500 he shot a 3 shot 4 " group, prone, no wind.Seems like a pretty good light weight long range option.

I've got the same rifle except with a 20" barrel wearing the same scope with swfa rings and the factory rail. It weighs 9lbs 6oz.

I think you will like the setup but i would really think about getting the 20" barreled model

So the 143 ELD X precision hunter ammo is rated at 2700 FPS and I have talked with a lot guys who load that bullet safely and accurately to 2800 ish - maybe a touch more. If I dropped to the 20" barreled version of the gun, would it be safe to assume 2600 FPS factory and a good chance of 2700 fps out of a quality handload?

Was this the 20" barreled version?

Tikka list the 24" barreled version at 7.4 pounds - so lets say 7 pounds 7 oz. The swfa is 19 oz, and talleys say 2.5 oz. My math tells me the 24" gun should be about 9 pounds unloaded???

Tikka lists the 20” version at 7.5 lbs.... IME, they’re about 7lbs 4-5oz.

You’re not gonna be under 9lbs with a 24” gun and a SS 3-9.... No matter the mounts. You’ll be 9.25 lbs with the 24” gun and a 3-9 SS in Talleys.

9.25 still wouldn't be too bad in a "dedicated LR rifle that could through 143 grain bullets out at 2800 fps". My LAW 280 ackley with 3-10x42 SHV, butler creek cover, and Talleys weighs 8 pounds 10.2 oz, another half pound wouldn't kill me lol

24" barrel.

I packed a 23” barreled Rem 700 in 7 Rem Mag, wearing a 3-9 SS for mule deer and some elk this year, it weighed about whatbuour .280AI does. I’d rather pack the 20” CTR any day.... but, I was glad to have the horsepower of the 7 Mag when it came time to shoot a buck.

Given the choice, I’d just pack the .280 for all things tag punching..... which means I’d set the CTR up as a play gun.... so weight wouldn’t matter as much.

I laugh at people that worry about shaving ounces off a gun/scope rig. I have carried relatively heavy rifles over mountains for years and always figured that if 10-12 ounces, or a pound, is a game changer, then I probably should have spent more time working out before the trek. The heavier rifle is more stable on shots and I am not going to fret about a few ounces here and there. I will take a 24-inch barrel any day. It gives you good velocity and is still plenty easy-handling. The 3x9 should do real well on that rig.

You guys are probably going to get tired of me - but its the winter, what else better to do than talk guns.

Based on this thread and what you have all chimed in - which situation would choose:

1. 24" CTR, 3-9X42 swfa, talleys - plan on 9.4-9.5 pounds

2.. T3X Lite SS, 30oz NF 3-15X50 in rail/rings - be at 8.5 pounds ish

I’d go CTR with the NF 3-15.... you already have an 8lb hunting rifle.

Or T3 Lite with the 3-9....

I cant afford a ctr and a nf....lol