Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Most accurate cartridge in a Tikka

I am looking for another Tikka. I have them in 308, 7mm08 and .223 varmint.
What is the most accurate Tikka I can get that is smaller than a 30 cal?
Primary use will be deer hunting and range use out to 300 yards.
I will be using factory ammo if that makes a difference.

Your recommendations will be appreciated.

Thanks

Buddy had one in a 25-06 that was a 1.5 MOA gun, he put it in a different stock and the groups shrank. I think the rifle is great as is and most have shot MOA or less in a 270, 223 and 308. I guess I'm saying the cartridge doesn't matter, it's usually the nut behind the butt.

I really wish they would ship out some more left handed models in 223 for the SS T3x, though.

Factory ammo favors the creed.

Look high & low for a 6.5x55 or 260

Factory ammo also may require a search

Or.........maybe the 6.5 Needmore

https://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka-T3x-Lite-65-Creedmoor-Stainless-Steel-JRTXB382.aspx

6.5x55 Swede

https://www.eurooptic.com/JRTXA751-Tikka-Tikka-T3x-Hunter-6-5x55-SE-S-S-FB-224--barrel.aspx

Easy. 6.5 CM.

More available of course

I'd take that, cuz the mag length and twist rate.

Yep, the 6.5 Creed has everything going for it. Lots of easy to find and relatively inexpensive factory ammo, room in the magazine box for the heavier weight bulllets. As much as I hate the term "inherent accuracy" the 6.5 Creed seems to fit that definition.

I have not seen a Tikka that did not have above average accuracy for a factory rifle. Just bolt on a scope and sally forth and slay creatures great and small.

drover

.243

I have Tikka's in .223,..243x2,6.5 CMx2,.260,7-08 and .308. The .260 ctr is the most accurate.

My 25 Creedmoor is an absolute dream to shoot, and accuracy is amazingly predictable. Made some of my longest deer shots with it too.


Tikka T3 25 Creedmoor

I have had many Tikka's in many calibers from .223 to .300 WM. All are good shooters with factory ammo.
The 6.5 PRC is a great caliber like a grown up Creedmoor.
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a decent popular caliber with tons of factory ammo choices too. I have a CTR in this caliber which offers many factory upgrades.

I have owned and/or loaded for maybe 15 Tikka T3 or T3x rifles in a variety of cartridges from 223 to 30-06. They have all been very accurate.
But to meet your criteria, assuming that whatever Tikka you buy is NOT a lemon, then there is only one logical choice. Get a 6.5 Creedmoor.
Right now I have a 223 SS Superlight, a SS 6.5x55 Lite and a blued CTR in 6.5 CM. The CTR is the most accurate although not by a huge amount.
As much as I hated to admit it, since I've been a 6.5x55 fan for 50+ years, there is NO comparison in the availability/variety/quality of factory ammo between the two.
The CM wins that battle hands down!

The 6.5 should be at the top of the list for sure. Kind of a rhetorical question from the OP.

If I had a 7mm08, I would not even consider a 6.5 anything. There’s not enough difference between them for you to “need” the other one. Of course, if you want it, then by all means.

Ron spomer says there is no such thing as an "inherently accurate" cartridge.

By that logic....all should shoot the same. So pick your poison.











Yea, I don't believe it either. I'd go 6.5CM.

My 6.5x55 outshoots my brother’s Creedmoor

Where are you sourcing the factory ammo for this that the OP said he'd be using??

Or was this just a humble brag kinda post?

My 30-06 absolutely loves 180 Barnes TTSX. It shames every custom rifle I’ve had.

That would be my go to

.223 Varmint.

Black Hills 77 TMK factory ammo.

Use the money you were gonna spend on the rifle and buy ammo.





P

7mm-08/.308/6.5 Creed/Swede is the same cartridge, really, anyway.





P

The boring old .270 Win is nobodies favorite anything...but I personally witnessed some 5 groups shot with two Tikkas, at Sportsmen's Park range in Grants Pass a few years ago, that absolutely astounded me. Full on lightweight hunting rifles, with 'normal' hunter optics, shot by two accomplished riflemen and master handloaders.
My point is not to ballyhoo the .270, but to illustrate that a well made, well fed, well shot rifle can be amazing in YOUR favorite cartridge, which need not be the latest fad of the month cartridge.

I bought a Tikka 22-250 with 1-8" twist barrel, never shot worth a fhuqk. tomatoe staked the barrel and it is now a 6mmAI that shoots wonderful

How is the factory ammo availability?




P

That was kinda a cluster, surprised I agreed with Burns on that one.

It's hard to beat a 6.5, but do agree if you have the 7mm-08, it doesn't make much sense to get a 6.5, now a 6mm Creedmoor or even a 22 Creedmoor would make me happy. Does Tikka even chamber for the 22 or 6mms?

300 WSM

and fk the gd creedmoor

The 6.5 CM is the easy button. But it would be hard for me to justify one with both a 308 and a 7-08. For me the 6.5 splits the difference between 223 and 308 which are the 2 I shoot most.

I’ve got 4 Tiikka’s and the most accurate is my 7-08. My pickiest one to date is the 6.5 CM.

My 22-250 does real well!

Both my youngest son and I had stainless T3 rifles chambered in 243 Win. Both would shoot multiple handloads from 70 grain to 100 grain bullets 1/2 inch or less. I still kick myself in the arse for selling that rifle!

Had 3, T3 308, CTR 308 and T3x 7mag, all stainless.

The 7mag was the pickiest. Both the 308's load development was the easy button.

The clown is just here to get eyeballs to his website - covertness is not his strong suit.


6.5 Creedmoor is the way I'd roll.

OP

If you want another rifle then the 6.5 CM makes the most since far and away since you don't reload.

I'd be inclined to agree with Pharm though. Take that money and buy some 77 grain TMK black hills ammo or 73 grain ELD-M hornady and shoot the devil out of that 223.

The 264 Kreed steals The Show. Hint.

I only have (5) 8” Teeker 223’s,but admittedly have never rolled Factory Fodder in them. Hint.

Just sayin’………

I've owned several in different calibers and all of them shot extremely well.

Creed wins. Didn’t need to “find” additional ballots in the trunk of a car. Decisive victory.

I agree, especially for someone who doesn’t reload.

DF

I'd would choose the .270 Winchester.

You just trying to get Ingwe all riled up.....

Ha!

DF

I could have suggested the mighty .270 Ingwe!

223 REM 50gr bt 26gr h335 3440 fps

Nice.

Were are you finding that factory loaded?

Especially since he’s deer hunting.

The .223 Rem with proper bullets is skookum.




P

Ha!

That ought to get a rise outta him.

DF

For the factory ammo choices alone 6.5 Creedmoor without a waver.

That's a no-brainer.

Non reloader, the Creed is hard to beat.

DF

For a 900 yard head shot no less.

I have a Superlite in .300 Win Mag that is a dandy shooter, if I can convince myself that my face won’t actually fall off if I shoot it 5 times in a row. 3 shot groups are doable, but painful, 5 shot groups are…. fatiguing to say the least. The cool part is, every time I shoot it my ancestors get to shoot with me because they feel it too.





My daughter has a LH Superlite in .308 Win and it is a true sub MOA rifle. We’ve only shot 110 and 125 gr bullets in it so far but these are the first two groups she shot with it..





A 125 gr Accubond at 3000 FPS has proved to be an excellent field load for her.





My wife (we) has a blued lite in .270 Win and it will shoot a house on fire as well..





Moral of the story, Tikkas are awesome!

Todd

As many have already stated. The 6.5 Creed is the easy button if you do not reload. The 270 shoots really well also.




6.5 Factory ammo



270 Factory ammo


I sold two custom rifles that did not shoot this good and bought two more Tikka T3x's.
They are the best shooting out of the box guns available today imo.

I have owned 3 Tikkas and currently own 2. Chamberings: .243, 6.5CM, & .308. The 6.5 is the most accurate and least picky. With the 6.5 I once shot a 6-shot 1” 100 yard group with 6 different factory loads with bullets of different constructs weighing from 120 - 143 grains.

Expat

I have the Tikka 6.5 PRC. It's sub-MOA out of the box and I have killed lots of critters with it. Dropped a 265 lb Whitetail in its tracks from 150 yds out last season.

the .270 win I had was unreal and one of most accurate rifles I ever had, it ate 130gr fusion factory ammo that I could dial to 700 yards and hit dead middle of rock across valley, 5 shot sub-moa with several factory ammo's, .5 to .6 ctc range

but I expect many tikkas do this, I haven't pushed my new 308 to 5 shots, 3 tell me what I need to know when chasing the factory load I'll choose for it, I had .243, .204's (that would do 1" groups at 250 with factory 39gr Sierra blitzking) and I'm sure I'm forgetting some....a sako a7 in .270 wsm that was same way with several factory ammo's in the .5-.6 ctc range for 5 shots

if you like a long action cartridge to fit the magazine go .270 win, it's a 600 yard cartridge though so a bit overkill for 300 yard deer, get a ruger American ranch in 6.5 grendel and shoot factory 123gr eld-m and that's a very accurate 300 yard deer smasher, have killed them to 420 with mine, plus bull moose, wolf, antelope, black bear (7 species of Alberta big game total)....I wouldn't get the 6.5 grendel in a tikka though....the stubby American ranch is a sweet little set up, get a suppressor for it if you can, perfect, if you have multiple tags you'll be able to knock a couple down at a time as they don't seem to hear the 52,000 psi cartridge much at all even without a suppressor which I don't have and can't have, people don't talk about that enough, the animals do not react much to 52,000 psi cartridge only burning 30gr of powder...it's pretty awesome, the 6.5g ranch would sound like a .17 hmr with a suppressor fyi, I'd almost give a limb for a tbac ultra-5 on mine...calling in multiples on coyotes or wolves would be dreamy with that set up, never mind being able to dump deer to 450 without much issue....less is often more, can't do more with 30gr of powder than the 6.5g, the 21st century does offer some pretty cool benefits

the 6.5 creedmoor using it's 21st century efficiency is a 600 yard cartridge also...to me it's the equivalent to the .270 win which is my favourite of the 20th century cartridges imo....they will both land around 2000 fps around 600 yards with respectably modern factory loaded bullets....I shoot factory only also, but still a ballistics nerd, I fish my face of lots too so am saving reloading for retirement fun...not quite there yet, the tikka's annoy me when it's not a full length cartridge and you have to live with a full length action and especially a full length magazine! that sticks out on top of it....

anyway...tikka in .270 is my favourite set up no question, the best of the 20th century cartridges, a proper 600 yard cartridge, and perfect fit in action/magazine....that is the way

Poobs has been noticeably absent as of late

He’s selling on Classifieds. Just not here.

DF

How much accuracy do you need for a 300 yard shot at deer? Not much. 2 moa will get the job done. Ever read or hear a Tikka barrel shooting larger than 2 MOA? Not me. Shoot a few loads for accuracy testing.

You already have a rifles on your "want list". (a Tikka "under 30 caliber"... your 7mm-08, and your 223 - if you consider that a 300 yard deer round). Why don't you use it? What type of accuracy do you get from it?

If you simply want a Tikka in 6.5 CM, then just buy one.

Scratching my head on this one.

I have always found rifles to be individuals. Each seems to prefer a specific load or ammo. My longest shot was 130 yards made with an open sight Marlin 1895. Last three have been under 45 yards. I still shoot rifles at 100 yards and experiment with loads for best group.

My recommendation as well. My middle boy killed a giant buck at 165 yards with a T3 in 243. Took three steps before dumping.

I’ve been load developing with a T3 in 7 Mag. With a 168 berger going 3080 FPS, it’s 0.45” at 100 yards using a 1” dot 2-12 Athlon.

Lotta rifle for not a lot of money.

I have them in 243, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 and 7 Rem Mag.

The answer to your question is the 6.5 Creedmoor.
That said, it's not my favorite
I owned, shot, worked on a number of Tikkas
I like the 308 myself.

Not sure why you’d buy a tikka in a Kreed when the Swede is available. Hint

Because of an insane amount of support from the ammo makers

Yeah, don't bet the farm on factory Swede ammo outshooting factory Creed ammo.

If you can find some, that is. Creed ammo is everywhere.

DF

For all the bad press we heap on the Creedmoor it has a lot going for it; second only to 308 for readilly availble hunting ammo, low recoil, high BC bullets are the norm. It Fits a short action magazine, kills above its expectations and is very easy to find good loads, both handloads and factory.

Yep, a master stroke by both gun and ammo makers. The right stuff (with the right twist).

Hard to fault. But that doesn't stop folks. Jealousy? Someone making a gun better than mine?

A cheap off the shelf rifle with off the shelf ammo that outshoots my high dollar custom whatever?

Yeah, Lots of ammo for haters....



DF

Any cartridge can be accurate in any rifle including Tikka's IF you tailor the bullets and powder to the rifle. That's what handloading gives vs shooting factory rounds.

The CM will be more accurate and ammo is much cheaper and available. Big Swede fan but he said "accurate"

Swede shooter, and I'm one, needs to be a reloader.

Creed, not so much.

I have one of those, too. You gotta really be on your game to reload better ammo than factory. Maybe a challenge to load some just as good.

DF

It's easy to load more accurate ammo than factory. But for factory ammo, the creed definitely has the swede beat. Hint..

I shoot both cartridges and while I don’t have anything negative to say about the Kreed, in the tikka, the Swede is just a better package. It’s the perfect length for the tikka action. I wish Tikka would chamber a 7x57 as well. Another perfect fit.

Admittedly , it’s making less and less sense to hand load these days, with the price of components.

Congrats to your daughter on her fine looking deer and elk.

That always makes a dad proud.

Nice job!

The op specified factory ammo.....

A good friend of mine shot a three inch group at 600 yds with his tikka 270
Hard to beat them numbers
He got the gun and scope for a steal at cabelas also
But with that being said , he ain’t your average shooter either .
He shoots right with some of the best out there
Kenneth

Just read the post above , this was not with factory ammo

6.5 CM is the easy button for sure, tons of ammo everywhere.
But If you have 308 and 7-08 , I'd probably go with 243 to stay in the 308 family.
I wouldn't shy away 6.5 PRC or 270.
Do you reload?

Hard to beat over the counter 6.5 creed.

There is plenty of cheap 6.5x55 available and the ammo seek search returned over 500 options. From ¢.70 to $2.75 a round

Cheap 131gr SP6.5x55 $14.30 a box


I have an old Swede built on a Mauser that belonged to my uncle, it's decently accurate inside 300yds, just not sure what it would do with premium ammo, he had about 10 cans of surplus that is probably older than me.

I was curious about availability, only reason I looked.

Now in a Tikka, or in general, how accurate is the Swede overall?

I agree that the Creedmoor is the easy button, but the 270 has peaked my interest.

Found this thread after posting the above

How accurate is your Tikka 6.5x55