How Viable is the Tikka Varmint for hunting in the bush?

bitruns

bitruns

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Looking to buy a new gun for both plinking and hunting and was wondering if the Varmint Tikka is too heavy to be taken backwoods.

The barrel is heavy enough for repeated plinking, but is it too heavy for being taken hunting?

I hear people say that the few pounds makes a world of difference for longer hunts, but as an averagely strong individual I cant help but think 10 pounds is really not that much.

I’ve been considering the CTR for the slight reduction of weight, but is it necessary? Or is the varmint fine for hunting.
 
Honestly depends.

I have hunted with CTR, Varmint and Stainless Lite. Never really noticed much of a different unless it was on one shoulder for a super extended time period (over an hour of hiking) but that comes down to having the right sling or mounting it to the backpack then I don't notice.

Some people pinch ounces like others pinch pennies and every bit they can shave off the better for the back country hunt.

I shoot well with my CTR and it groups nice so its my go to for any hunting I do at the moment until I get a new barrel spun up which will be a shorty but sendero profile so not sure I will save much weight.

Buy the rifle you want I am sure you can make it work.

B
 
All depends on the type of hunting you do IMO. I've got one friend who has bad knees so can't get too far from the truck even if he wanted to; for him a 10lb rifle wouldn't be a big deal, one could argue its even a good thing because heavier guns tend to be easier to shoot (the weight makes them more steady). Meanwhile I will frequently go 5km or more from the truck, and when you're going 10+km in the mountains of BC in a day the pounds add up - my 8lb5oz gun is heavier than I would like it to be, but I'm also carrying a pack with enough supplies that I can spend a night or two in the bush if something goes wrong.

Only way to really find out if its too heavy is to try it out though...
 
yeah, 8lbs is definitely leaning toward the heavier end. Add a few oz's for your loaded mag, and 1lb for the scope. There are better things to choose for 1500$ if you want a light gun you can hike a long way with.

Otherwise, a SKS can be plinked and hunted with and is the same weight!
 
I've owned a varmint, a CTR, many stainless lites and a battue model of T3/x'. Still own the CTR, a stainless lite and the battue. I personally wouldn't carry a heavy barrel in the bush hunting since there's really no need. My varmint was a "bench only" gun and my CTR is likely to be the same. The other 2 get regular usage and carried for miles and miles on hunts. It all really boils down to the type of hunting you do. If you tend to cover a lot of ground on foot, a heavier profile barrel will make it's presence known pretty quickly and you'll soon find yourself resenting it. If you tend to hunt from a blind not far from your truck or house, a "bean field rifle" (as the concept of a heavier profile barreled rifle used for hunting is sometimes known as) wouldn't be a bad choice at all. It's all about the style of hunting you do really. My .02$
 
bitruns said:
Looking to buy a new gun for both plinking and hunting and was wondering if the Varmint Tikka is too heavy to be taken backwoods.

The barrel is heavy enough for repeated plinking, but is it too heavy for being taken hunting?

I hear people say that the few pounds makes a world of difference for longer hunts, but as an averagely strong individual I cant help but think 10 pounds is really not that much.

I’ve been considering the CTR for the slight reduction of weight, but is it necessary? Or is the varmint fine for hunting.
Click to expand...

I carried a Remington 700 Varmint in .243 around Sidney Island off the Southern Vancouver Island for a weekend...
It got old fast and I was younger then too.
So, your mileage may very on what you are considering.
We hiked from the near the boat launch to the Provincial Park and around and across to the South to the conservatory sections and back up the Eastern side from Friday evening to Sunday mid day.
Lovely walk, but a mountain rifle weight barrel might have been a better choice for me that weekend.
Just my thoughts.
Rob
https://www.sidneyisland.com/map.html
 
I have one in the 22 250 caliber. one thing I will say about it is front heavy meaning that when you hold it wants to drop forward. because of the heavy contour barrel.
 
9.3 Hunter said:
Lift man ... muscles and no potatoe chips
Click to expand...

That has little do with it. I carried a heavy varmint gun all over the place when I was young, spry, in good shape and with boundless energy. It was still unbalanced and heavier than it needed to be for carrying around and I got sick of it. YMMV.
 
I prefer lighter rifles myself. But have friends that hunt with heavy barrels and they feel they point better. Just depends on the individual I suppose.
 
meatsticks said:
That has little do with it. I carried a heavy varmint gun all over the place when I was young, spry, in good shape and with boundless energy. It was still unbalanced and heavier than it needed to be for carrying around and I got sick of it. YMMV.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I have carried far heavier things around the Bush all day walking through stuff I would avoid at all costs while hunting. Why subject yourself to that if you don’t have to? If you are successful you are only going to be carrying more weight

A light gun is more likely to be in hand than slung over your shoulder too.

If you are hunting small southern Ontario woodlots or sitting fields who cares? Ontario is a big province though, I have no clue how people hunt in the shield/ boreal

Does heavier guns being “steadier” apply at all when shooting offhand? Seems like it would do the opposite from a balance and ability to hold stable perspective
 
Every body is different. I am better offhand with a heavy rifle than with lite.

I’ve hunted coyote with HB Tikkas in 204, 222, 243, and 22-250. Walking through 6 inches to a foot gets tiring with all your gear plus a heavy rifle but I still use a HB 220 swift in Rem 700.

Moose hunting I walk a lot and carry a Tikka lite and a savage 14 that I made into a 35 Whelen with a medium contour barrel. I notice the difference in weight with the whelen but offhand shots it is what I would use every time.
 
It would be too heavy to carry around most/all hunting rifles (carrying guns) are light contour barrels (sporter barrels/pencil barrels) you get up to perhaps three dead on shots before the barrel heats up and the mirage would affect accuracy. Keep the heavy gun for the bench and a lighter one for hunting applications - also you do not need a honking huge magnification scope - learn to shoot at 4x - my hunting scopes are 2-7x32 (Weaver Kaspa) - I set up a 4 inch circle sticker (Amazon) at 200 yards - as long as I can hit it consistently I am good to go. I also have a Celestron Travel scope that I use to see my hits at that distance.

Just my two cents
 
I have a sako 85heavy barrel, laminate stock .22 250.

It's damn heavy. After using my T3 pencil barrel deer hunting, First carry with the Sako for coyotes makes it feel like 20lbs. I don't mind it too much but everyone that holds it they always comment on how heavy it is. Walked 3 miles yesturday with it according to the gps
 
Try going on a hike carrying a 10lb sledgehammer. Make the hike as long as and as far as you'd plan on hunting with your new rifle. Granted a sledge isn't balanced the same as a rifle but should give you a decent idea of whether or not you want to hunt with a 10lb rifle. If it doesn't bother you, then send it and get the heavy barrel. If it does either get the lighter rifle or get into "hunting shape" before season begins.
 
No way possible I'd be draggin' that boat anchor through the woods. BTDT ----> Never again!

Why make work out of something that is supposed to be fun?
 
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