Tikka CTR or Varmint for dedicated range rifle

bluesclues said:
The bipod is primarily because I really do enjoy shooting from a bipod, either from a bench or prone.
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You might "enjoy" it, but it's not nearly as stable a platform as a good benchrest/rear bag set up.

You stated you were looking for accuracy and maybe light, club match shooting.

Why "shoot down" any chance you have of winning, by installing a bipod?????
 
milkbone96 said:
Yeah, the Varmint with the 5-25x50 in the chassis is a heavy pig, but shoots like a dream. The Yo Dave trigger is nice too. The CTR is mostly on the range, but it comes with me on out of province hunt trips "just in case". I carried that pig for 2 days on the bogs of NL a few years ago while I waited for the Purolator pouch with my main rifle bolt that I accidentally left on my bench back home while packing last minute..lol..(flame away, boys!)

For a nice range gun, go with the Varmint in a good chassis with a decent scope. Set it up right for the job you want it to do. Skip the CTR - if you want something lighter and "handy", use one of your hunting rifles. On your budget, maybe look at Arken or US Optics or something further up the line but used (lots of goodies on the EE). Go Big Tactical sell both Arken and US Optics, and they are totally top notch to deal with. They also sell KRG and other great chassis systems.

I've run Vortex PST Gen 2s on all my bolt guns for several years now as they seem to cooperate with my eyeballs better than the Bushnells and Nikons I've had in years past. That said, glass in the newer ones - to my eyes anyway - isn't nearly as good as that in the ones from around 2018-2020, so I'd probably look elsewhere today if I had to replace them.

Like someone else said, if just bench shooting 90+% of the time, skip the bipod and invest your bipod $ in a decent set of bench and rear bags. I got my Armageddon Gear bags at one of my LGSs (Victory Ridge) and they're great. YMMV.

Good luck and have fun!
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I appreciate the response,.especially regarding the scope. My hunting rifles run mid range Burris, Vortex and Bushnell scopes but, none are FFP or above 12 power.

After reading a number of forums and reviews, I thought the DNT was a good mid level, good bang for my buck scope. Also, considering the Bushnell Match Pro but, am certainly open to suggestions and recommendations on other options. Budget for a scope is approximately $1200 all in.
 
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bearhunter said:
You might "enjoy" it, but it's not nearly as stable a platform as a good benchrest/rear bag set up.

You stated you were looking for accuracy and maybe light, club match shooting.

Why "shoot down" any chance you have of winning, by installing a bipod?????
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That is a fair assessment and one of the reasons I posted this thread. I am learning a lot from the responses here.
 
bluesclues said:
I appreciate the response,.especially regarding the scope. My hunting rifles run mid range Burris, Vortex and Bushnell scopes but, none are FFP or above 12 power.

After reading a number of forums and reviews, I thought the DNT was a good mi level, good bang for my buck scope. Also, considering the Bushnell Match Pro but, am certainly open to suggestions and recommendations on other options. Budget for a scope is approximately $1200 all in.
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I havent read much about DNT, but maybe they are decent too. Go Big sells DNT - call them and they'll set you straight on all the options in your price range.
 
bluesclues said:
I appreciate the response,.especially regarding the scope. My hunting rifles run mid range Burris, Vortex and Bushnell scopes but, none are FFP or above 12 power.

After reading a number of forums and reviews, I thought the DNT was a good mi level, good bang for my buck scope. Also, considering the Bushnell Match Pro but, am certainly open to suggestions and recommendations on other options. Budget for a scope is approximately $1200 all in.
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Bass pro has a deal right now on Vortex viper pst gen 2's 5-25x50 FFP. I just picked one up. I think only the millirad reticle is discounted but that worked for me.
 
bluesclues said:
Appreciate your insight.
I don't want to derail my own thread but, what, in your opinion, would be a better scope option, maxing out at $1200 taxes in? Looking for a FFP MRAD with at least 25 power.

Thanks
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Tricky at that price point. If it were me, I'd be combing the used market for a Vortex Viper PST or Burris XTR.

If you're set on buying new, the Bushnell Match Pro ED meets all your requirements (hard to find in stock though, and made in the Philippines iirc). I also own a Sightron S-tac 4-20x50 FFP which I've taken out to 1000m been impressed with. No Christmas tree reticle though, if that's important to you.

If this is going to be a range toy, you may want to consider how important FFP is to you.
 
HighSpeedLowDrag2023 said:
Tricky at that price point. If it were me, I'd be combing the used market for a Vortex Viper PST or Burris XTR.

If you're set on buying new, the Bushnell Match Pro ED meets all your requirements (hard to find in stock though, and made in the Philippines iirc). I also own a Sightron S-tac 4-20x50 FFP which I've taken out to 1000m been impressed with. No Christmas tree reticle though, if that's important to you.

If this is going to be a range toy, you may want to consider how important FFP is to you.
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I have seen some very good options on the EE. Doesn't have to be brand new.

Heading to my LGS today to start looking at different scopes. Will compare new to used prices and options and, will call some of the businesses recommended soon. I would prefer to buy once cry once if possible. However, I am aware that if the PRS style match bugs bites, all bets are off.
 
bluesclues said:
I appreciate the response,.especially regarding the scope. My hunting rifles run mid range Burris, Vortex and Bushnell scopes but, none are FFP or above 12 power.

After reading a number of forums and reviews, I thought the DNT was a good mid level, good bang for my buck scope. Also, considering the Bushnell Match Pro but, am certainly open to suggestions and recommendations on other options. Budget for a scope is approximately $1200 all in.
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Take a serious look at Arken. You have to spend way more than $1200 to see minor increases in performance over one.
 
I went with a T3 Sporter some years back, as they were clearing out left handed ones in .223 at the time. I love it. The Gun Dealer has tikkas on sale right now
 
jparent said:
Take a serious look at Arken. You have to spend way more than $1200 to see minor increases in performance over one.
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Handled the Arken EP5 Gen 2 today. Really quite liked it. Handled a few Vortex in the same price category. The Arken was the better of them in my opinion. Definitely in the consideration pile now.
 
Nobody has mentioned magazine length, the CTR takes 2.45" + and the plastic tikka ones are 2.26"

If you put the Varmint into a chassis that takes AICS mags, then save the $ and go Varmint SS

With the 8 twist barrels, you will benefit by loading a 75gr ELDm out to 2.42+ OAL
 
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I went through this same exercise last year and was mulling it over for the last couple of years.

I'm primarily a service rifle guy, so when the AR was banned that hit me pretty hard.
I tried the 180 and other self loaders which was ok until they too were OIC'd.
Tried the maverick/renegade which didn't float my boat.

I've had a few precision rifles, but only one in .223 - a Savage VLS - which shot lights out.
The problem with it was I held very little interest in belly or bench shooting, and if I did want to shoot that style, I'd gravitate to a different caliber, so I sold it.

If you think you'll want to shoot positional shooting at all, then the answer is easily the CTR.
Even if you are predominantly shooting from the bench, the threaded muzzle gives you options for a muzzle device, whereas the Varmint will cost you extra should you choose to equip one down the road.
While the CTR mags are expensive, they are a "buy once, cry once" commodity. They are excellently built and low profile.
If they are still too rich for your blood, the MDT AICS ten round plastic mags fit the CTR with very little modification and are relatively cheap.
Todbartell's point about the long OAL that both the MDT and the oem CTR mags are capable of holding is another excellent feature of the CTR.
 
beltfed said:
I went through this same exercise last year and was mulling it over for the last couple of years.

I'm primarily a service rifle guy, so when the AR was banned that hit me pretty hard.
I tried the 180 and other self loaders which was ok until they too were OIC'd.
Tried the maverick/renegade which didn't float my boat.

I've had a few precision rifles, but only one in .223 - a Savage VLS - which shot lights out.
The problem with it was I held very little interest in belly or bench shooting, and if I did want to shoot that style, I'd gravitate to a different caliber, so I sold it.

If you think you'll want to shoot positional shooting at all, then the answer is easily the CTR.
Even if you are predominantly shooting from the bench, the threaded muzzle gives you options for a muzzle device, whereas the Varmint will cost you extra should you choose to equip one down the road.
While the CTR mags are expensive, they are a "buy once, cry once" commodity. They are excellently built and low profile.
If they are still too rich for your blood, the MDT AICS ten round plastic mags fit the CTR with very little modification and are relatively cheap.
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Thank you for this.
I appreciate the different perspectives and will likely end up with both in the long run. Just have to save a little more.
 
todbartell said:
Nobody has mentioned magazine length, the CTR takes 2.45" + and the plastic tikka ones are 2.26"

If you put the Varmint into a chassis that takes AICS mags, then save the $ and go Varmint SS

With the 8 twist barrels, you will benefit by loading a 75gr ELDm out to 2.42+ OAL
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The heaviest bullet I have reloaded is the 77 gr Barnes Match Burners in the standard T3X plastic magazine. The aftermarket chassis is looking more beneficial everyday.
 
bluesclues said:
I can appreciate this.
I already have a couple dedicated hunting rifles. This one is for the range. I really like the heavy bbl because I don't have one. But, as mentioned earlier, the handiness of a shorter bbl coupled with the 10 rounds was also appealing in the "tactical" sense. Yup, not advantages necessarily in a range right though.
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Hey OP...

Just saw this and thought of your hunt for a scope... i dont know much about Riton, but others here do:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...riton-5-25x50-ffp-milrad-illuminated.2563378/
 
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