Tikka for hunting? Thoughts in general

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelan
I’ll be hard to catch today a couple of appts before I travel for work.
I went with 34 gn 2208 same as the last load. The rifle hasn’t been out in a while but she went ok last time. Targets and foxes
I hope she gets onto a pig with it to see how it goes.
I know your dislike for the cartridge and projectile. Coming from the 20” Barrel May be a handicap
I’m hoping the projectile is not all bad, I have a few boxes purchased in my travels.
These are the 95gn Hunting projectile not Varmint
I’ve used Nosler 55gn Varmint in my 26” barrelled .223 with great success including head shooting of pigs.
To date no issues with Nosler but always listening, observing and learning.

CBH
Chris you haven't chosen the best powder for the 243. Your load is probably only turning up 2600 fps out of that short barrel plus it's max load.
I would try AR2209 or AR2213Sc, both these powders should give close to 3,000fps.
Try a 44gn to a max of 47.5 of 2213Sc. The max should give 3,200 fps in a 22 inch barrel.
39 to 42 gn of 2209. Max load should give 3,100fps in a 22inch barrel. If your rifle is a Tikka t3 expect lover velocity than the book. 2 people I know and have chronoed loads for in the t3 were getting just over 2,800fps with max load and the 87gn hornaday VMax.
Have fun working up loads mate.

 

[Newby]

From what I have read the general opinion seems to be that the ejection problem was only with the early production 85s. Do you disagree?

Sorry, I cant help with production dates or series. There are instances of the problem reported in Aus with both large and small calibres.

Not hard to take some empty cases with you if you are looking at a potential purchase.

I am aware of the fix for the extractor, but have no personal experience with it, so can't comment on its effectiveness.

 

[wesheltonj]

You might look at sakocollectors.com

 

[John Camp]

You might look at sakocollectors.com

I spend some reading threads on sakocollectors. Right now I am thinking I might do well looking for a well kept L61R or L579.

 

[John Camp]

In fact I’m sure:

View attachment 325433

This

Tikka T3 T3x Lite Bolt 6.5 Creedmoor 24.3" 3+1 Synthetic Black Stk Blued
BRAND TIKKA MAGAZINES
ITEM 45234
SKU JRTXE382
UPC 082442884912https://lockedloaded.com/product-category-group/rifles
$466.99


https://lockedloaded.com/product-category-group/rifles

 

[ryan80]

I got the stainless version in 6.5 from locked and loaded for $499 a month or two back. Am very happy with it so far. Put Talley rings and a Leupold vx3 2.5-8x32 on it. Very smooth, accurate, lightweight rig. Just over 7 pounds total.

 

[John Camp]

I got the stainless version in 6.5 from locked and loaded for $499 a month or two back. Am very happy with it so far. Put Talley rings and a Leupold vx3 2.5-8x32 on it. Very smooth, accurate, lightweight rig. Just over 7 pounds total.

Is that a hand gun scope?

 

[Goose Cracker]

I suggest you save up to buy the Sako View attachment 325571
Three of my Sakos
L to r
270 23/250 338

Those are beauties Doc. I have one Sako, an 85 Hunter in 338 Fed. Really nice gun, very pretty, well-made, and a terrific trigger. But I hate the weird, non-parallel integral bases. I notice you have Optilocks on one, they just strike me as chunky and awkward on such a nice gun. I like the “one piece” mounts on the two on the right. What are those mounts?

 

[Dr Ray]

Those are beauties Doc. I have one Sako, an 85 Hunter in 338 Fed. Really nice gun, very pretty, well-made, and a terrific trigger. But I hate the weird, non-parallel integral bases. I notice you have Optilocks on one, they just strike me as chunky and awkward on such a nice gun. I like the “one piece” mounts on the two on the right. What are those mounts?

Honestly cannot recall. Btw I have my triggers adjusted to 1.5 pounds pressure.

 

[ryan80]

Is that a hand gun scope?

My mistake, x36, not x32. It appears they do make a handgun scope in x32, but this x36 riflescope is what I have. Sorry for the confusion.

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/compact-scopes/vx-3i-2-5-8x36mm

 

[Standard Velocity]

Just bought a T3 stainless light as an all weather option. Can’t bear to let a gun rust. Used to use an inexpensive Model 7 when it rained but found I was still anal about taking it down and oiling. Hopefully this T3 will let me hunt rainy days with a clear conscience.

The VX3i mentioned above is a great value for most of the hunting I do. I have one on my 375 and will be putting the same on this. Lightweight with reasonable magnification on both the top and bottom ends. I wish Leupold made a similar scope in the VX5 line. Not sure if it’s the coatings or better quality glass but the VX5 line is optically superior.

The Tikka appears to be a decent rifle and I’m sure it’ll go bang. There are a few plastic parts I’d prefer be metal and apparently the aftermarket parts exist. By the time I have replaced the bolt shroud, bottom metal, magazine and maybe the stock I’d have paid for a nice Kimber mountain rifle. We will see.

 

[John Camp]

My mistake, x36, not x32. It appears they do make a handgun scope in x32, but this x36 riflescope is what I have. Sorry for the confusion.

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/compact-scopes/vx-3i-2-5-8x36mm

OK, and that is great scope.

 

[shootist~]

I replaced the bottom metal on my Tikka Hunter 30-06 with a set from HighDeseretRifleWorks dot com. Very happy with it. It comes with a shim kit to allow some custom fitting (if needed) to get the magazine seating depth just right. My 5 round mags now hold five instead of four.

This along with a bedding job on the wood stock made for a significant improvement in group size. (I'm unsure which contributed the most since the bottom metal arrived as my epoxy was in the curing phase.)

 

[John Camp]

The Tikka appears to be a decent rifle and I’m sure it’ll go bang. There are a few plastic parts I’d prefer be metal and apparently the aftermarket parts exist. By the time I have replaced the bolt shroud, bottom metal, magazine and maybe the stock I’d have paid for a nice Kimber mountain rifle. We will see.[/QUOTE]
This is exactly what I have wrestled with. My son and I spent some time last night looking for components and adding up the cost to replace the plastic on his Tikka.

 

[perttime]

This is exactly what I have wrestled with. My son and I spent some time last night looking for components and adding up the cost to replace the plastic on his Tikka.

Because the rifle needs it, or because your son wants it?

People now build all sorts of custom jobs out of Tikkas, just like they do with Remingtons. Mainly, it is because they WANT something Special and Unique. A stock Tikka is a bit boring, but it does what it says on the box.

 

[John Camp]

The Tikka appears to be a decent rifle and I’m sure it’ll go bang. There are a few plastic parts I’d prefer be metal and apparently the aftermarket parts exist. By the time I have replaced the bolt shroud, bottom metal, magazine and maybe the stock I’d have paid for a nice Kimber mountain rifle. We will see.

This is exactly what I have wrestled with. My son and I spent some time last night looking for components and adding up the cost to replace the plastic on his Tikka. There is also the concern of weight. I thought his .270 was 6 lbs 3 ounces but we weighed it and it is almost 6 lbs 10 ounces. Replace the plastic and then add scope, rings, sling, and ammo it will be over 8 lbs. These days that is really heavy for a mountain rifle. The answer then is a stock upgrade. A Wildcat stock would take off 10 ounces and certainly be an upgrade. At +- $300 delivered that would be a great deal.
Atlasworks bottom metal $95.00
Mountain Tactical 3 round magazine $70.00 (back order)
Mountain Tactical bolt stop $40.00
Wildcat Composite stock $285.00
http://wildcatcomposites.com/Tikka.html#features10-49
Because I think every rifle needs open sights
NECG front ramp and partridge sight $50.00
NECG classic rear sight base and mini express insert $125.00
So total would be $665 plus maybe $50 for shipping and another $100 or so to drill and tap for the sights. $815
I only paid $400 for the rifle so after everything we would have $1215 in it. That would be right in the neighborhood of a new Kimber. It would weigh about the same as the Kimber Classic and about 8 ounces more than the Montana. We would be fine with that. I enjoy the build process so the pain of waiting for delivery and dealing with back order I can deal with.
The question then is: would we rather have a customized Tikka or a stock Kimber (I would also add sights to the Kimber). I have never owned a Kimber. I have handled a few and believe them to be top of the line as far as factory mountain rifles, but the Tikka is just that reliable and accurate. Besides, there is something to hunting with a unique rifle. So last night we made the obvious choice and decided to customize my son's Tikka .270, and buy a Kimber Classic in .308 for me. That way we can compare the two rifles properly. Gonna start that right after I buy my first Sako, and right now I am favoring the AV.

 

[gordon kings langley]

Shot some 300 cull animals with my .30-06 using 200grn nosler partition
Every thing from Impala to Eland, never had a problem. Put a quality bullet in the Boiler house and down they go.

 

[Standard Velocity]

This is exactly what I have wrestled with. My son and I spent some time last night looking for components and adding up the cost to replace the plastic on his Tikka. There is also the concern of weight. I thought his .270 was 6 lbs 3 ounces but we weighed it and it is almost 6 lbs 10 ounces. Replace the plastic and then add scope, rings, sling, and ammo it will be over 8 lbs. These days that is really heavy for a mountain rifle. The answer then is a stock upgrade. A Wildcat stock would take off 10 ounces and certainly be an upgrade. At +- $300 delivered that would be a great deal.
Atlasworks bottom metal $95.00
Mountain Tactical 3 round magazine $70.00 (back order)
Mountain Tactical bolt stop $40.00
Wildcat Composite stock $285.00
http://wildcatcomposites.com/Tikka.html#features10-49
Because I think every rifle needs open sights
NECG front ramp and partridge sight $50.00
NECG classic rear sight base and mini express insert $125.00
So total would be $665 plus maybe $50 for shipping and another $100 or so to drill and tap for the sights. $815
I only paid $400 for the rifle so after everything we would have $1215 in it. That would be right in the neighborhood of a new Kimber. It would weigh about the same as the Kimber Classic and about 8 ounces more than the Montana. We would be fine with that. I enjoy the build process so the pain of waiting for delivery and dealing with back order I can deal with.
The question then is: would we rather have a customized Tikka or a stock Kimber (I would also add sights to the Kimber). I have never owned a Kimber. I have handled a few and believe them to be top of the line as far as factory mountain rifles, but the Tikka is just that reliable and accurate. Besides, there is something to hunting with a unique rifle. So last night we made the obvious choice and decided to customize my son's Tikka .270, and buy a Kimber Classic in .308 for me. That way we can compare the two rifles properly. Gonna start that right after I buy my first Sako, and right now I am favoring the AV.

I’m considering most of the changes you are. It feels a little counterproductive unless you like a project (I do).

I purposefully bought mine in 308 with the idea that I can chop 2” off the barrel if I want to. I want something lightweight, compact (getting hung up in netting and branches is frustrating) and weather proof. Just cutting it down would give me all of these benefits for the cost of recrowning.

Replacing plastic is really only necessary out of principle. It took a long time to accept aluminum parts as less than total blasphemy.

As a side note, have you seen the High Desert bottom metal? Looks less tactical to me.

 

[John Camp]

have you seen the High Desert bottom metal? Looks less tactical to me

I do like the looks more but it is $50 more and on back order. When it comes time to ordering the components I will look closely.

 

[John Camp]

I purposefully bought mine in 308 with the idea that I can chop 2” off the barrel if I want to

If I started from scratch I would buy a .308 and cut it down as well. My son's .270 was unfired for $400 and I could not pass that up.