Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tikka T3x Lite 22.3" vs 24.3"?

I'm picking up a Tikka T3X Lite in 6.5 Creedmoor, but wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on the barrel lengths right now. If I decide to go with stainless, the longer 24.3" barrel lenght seems much more common up here right now.

How does it handle? Worth having, or more hinderance? I'm sure its quite subjective but happy to hear from all points of view.

Mine was a 24" T3X Lite as well. I didn't really notice the 24" much myself, but I will say I liked the 22" Tikka's more.

I have a blued 24" T3X and have enjoyed it alot. I'm not much of a stand hunter, and I've never thought the 24" to be a hinderance. It's a very mild kicker as well. Like all Tikkas.....extremely easy to find accuracy. I feel the same about my T3 22" 7mm08. Never really notice the difference between them.

If its not that much more noticable, hmmm....

Never really objected to getting a 24" barreled 30-06 out of a blind window when blind hunting before.

Thanks for the opinions on the longer snouted version. I've only handled and shot the 22" versions with the sporter barrel....which are nice!

I like mine. Its a 6.5 creedmoor superlite and I don't notice any difference between it and my 22" 7mm08 and 22" 308w stainless lite's. If getting the 24.3" model, I'd personally look for the superlite instead of the lite model. The 22" lites are fine though.

I always prefer shorter barrels. I’d go 22”

Do you guys find there's much difference between the blued and stainless Tikkas?

Not prone to ignoring my rifles or leaving them without a coat of oil, but I do look for swamp donkeys in some pretty wet places once in a while

I’d stay SS all day long on Tikkas myself Igloo. Very small upcharge for the rust resistance they offer. They aren’t perfect but they are pretty durable rifles.

Had one blued 7-08 and it was fine but I’d have likely kept it if it were SS.

I have both blue and SS. If not much price difference I prefer SS. But when I bought my blue 6.5 CM rifle it was $600. SS was $750. Not worth $150 more to me. My 308 is SS. But I ran across a deal on it for $600.

SS is easier to keep looking nice, but with reasonable care it isn't a problem. I have blue guns that are 60-100 years old. They have a few character marks and the blue is worn thin in spots. But they haven't fallen apart.

To the original question. My 308 is 22", the 6.5 is 24". I'm tempted to chop 2" off of both.

SS all day long. Never wanted or needed a longer barrel, the 75 fps you loose you won't notice. I've chopped a few inches off a few rifles.

This^^^^

I have S.S. Tikka Lite's with 22 and 24 inch barrels. To be honest with you, I really don't even notice the extra 2 inches. They shoot great and I like them alot.

Spot on Scotty. I’ve got (3) 24” Superlite models. A 6.5 CreedBun, 308 W & 300 Win. They balance well enough but you know you’ve got a 24” tube in front. My .308 SL with a 22” is perfectly balanced over a 3rd mag. In every case (for me) the 5rd mag puts the carrying hand awkwardly forward of the balance point. I’d stay 22” myself & choose a 270 or 30-06 to get it. 22 is perfect in this platform imo.

Agreed. This was the 270 SL and was a great rifle but I’ll likely never get over carrying my M70’s so I recently sold it. But it was about as nice as I’ve done for an all around blaster that carried well and shot amazing too.

I have the 24" Superlight Creedmoor that I turned into a 6.5 RPM. The extra length paid off for that conversion. I have not hunted with it yet, but I have nno issue with the longer barrel.

I have Tikkas in both barrel lengths. Unless I was buying a magnum cartridge, like my 7RM, I’d prefer the 22” barrel. I’d also take stainless rifles every time.

I have a LH 22" Tikka T3 SS wife has a RH Tikka T3 SS 24" LH rifles were a group buy from Whittakers supposed to be 24" happy that were not, prefer the 22". Both in 6.5 CM

Another 22” vote.
Have a tikka 6.5 SL with 24”, few other tikkas with 22”. Prefer the 22 barrels
Magnum calibers. Sure they need the length.
Standard calibers 22 for the win

I like my 18” Tikka T3x in 6.5 Creedmoor. It makes for a handy truck gun when checking the cows and pasture fences. Easy to get it in and out of the truck and it rides on the seat good.

The downside is that I lost some velocity but it did kill a 7 pt buck last year at 280 yards using a 130 grain Berger VLD Hunting bullet traveling at 2600 fps. This year I’m going to use a 120 grain Nosler BT and pick up a little velocity.

If I had it to do over I would have had it cut to 20” and wouldn’t have lost as much velocity. It is still very accurate out to 500 yards which is the farthest I’ve shot it.

Go SS with a 24” barrel for the 6.5 Doucheknot.

From Remington in 2003.
MV 2000-2500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
MV 2500-3000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
MV 3000-3500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
MV 3500-4000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.
Lyman reloading.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 1000-2000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 5 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2001-2500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2501-3000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3001-3500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3501-4000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.
Don't let facts get in the way of a good story.

Just reading this made my ears hurt!😬

22” and longer for me for shooting centerfire unsuppressed.

I don’t always have time for ear pro in hunting situations and the difference between an 18” and 22” barrel is vastly different on the ears.

That's a thing of beauty right there.

I really like the stainless rifles as well, but my last Tikka purchase was a blued Lite model, only because I could not find a stainless 22-250 with the 1 in 8 twist.
That's good advice and what mine is. ^^^^

Good numbers. Some claim they see more than that, but I have not. When cutting 3" off of my 7mm rem mag, I was actually surprised it did not lose much in terms of velocity, or accuracy, but it did balance and carry better. Winchester should have made them 23" from the factory!!!

I have always preferred shorter barrels as it makes for a much handier (and better looking to my eyes) treestand rifle. the reduction in bullet velocity is negligible... given a choice id go with the 22"....Good luck....Hb

I have a few Tikkas cut to 18 inches. They balance well and are not overly long with suppressors.

This.

SS and 22 for the win as questioned.

Thanks all!

I may switch over to 7mm-08 if it means getting the configuration I want but we'll see.

Some beautiful rifles and rigs here!!

Same here.

22” by far. Took a 24” tikka SS creedmoor on my last two sheep hunts. First one was no problem, second hunt involved lots of bushwhacking through alders……never again will I take a 24” barrel on a hunt with any chance of brush busting!

I am sure there are a few things more miserable, but it takes me a while to think of them.

I despise alders.

The Mighty -08 is never a bad choice.

Elk to coyote.