Lightweight options for Tikka Varmint

[owlowl]

It sounds kinda odd to begin with, but I'd like to lighten my Tikka Varmint stainless in 223. As it is right now, it is 13.7 lbs (6.2kg) unloaded, bipod included. 12.7 (5.6) without bipod. I find it too be too much overall and too front heavy.

I like everything about my current setup, only want it to be lighter. Which of the following would you do:

A) Sell varmint, buy Tikka light in 223. However there is no Compact in 223 and there are not that many lights in 223 stainless.
B) Cut varmint to 20/19 inch from 23.7 Possibly cut and flute. But its not a fresh barrel, I had it for a year, around 800 round count at least.
C) Shootout current barrel and put a custom barrel on it. However this may take quite some time.
D) Change everything around - stock, rails, rings, optics to be significantly lighter. Don't touch the varmint barrel itself.

Please one of the 4 options, "buying steyr scout" will be another thread, thank you )

 

[SuperCub]

Why not offer to trade the varmint for a T3 Light on the EE?

 

[hoytcanon]

It's a Tikka... don't drop money into it. Sell it and buy a rifle more suited to your taste.

 

[cdn shooter]

Sell it and get something lighter.

Option C will take a very long time. Like 10,000 more rounds kinda time.

 

[Homesteader]

Buy a T3 light, shoot that, if you like it, keep em both, or sell the one that doesn't float your boat. I love my T3 lite with 1 in 8" twist. Barrel is plenty stiff, and very solid, yet packable/portable.

 

[phinton81]

I thought Varmints were around 7 3/4 lbs naked? What do you have on it for rings/bases/scope to make it so heavy? Maybe change up that setup?

Patrick

 

[owlowl]

It's a Tikka... don't drop money into it. Sell it and buy a rifle more suited to your taste.

Well if it's so worthless, why loose money on resale all the time, cheaper to cut it off and then sell it for action parts at a penny anyway? As for dropping money - why rem and savage are worth dropping money into, but tikkas are not?

I thought Varmints were around 7 3/4 lbs naked? What do you have on it for rings/bases/scope to make it so heavy? Maybe change up that setup?

Patrick

Well, aftermarket stock - 3.3lbs (1.5 kg), SB PMII 3 12 x 50 1.9 lbs ( 0.86 kg), ATRS rail 4.9 oz (0.138 kg), Vortex rings, aftermarket shroud, bold handle, atlas bipod 12.7 oz (0.36 kg). So 6.3lbs (2.9 kg) of "not Tikka Varmint itself".

 

[phinton81]

"As for dropping money - why rem and savage are worth dropping money into, but tikkas are not?"

Because, it's not a Ruger...

 

[medvedqc]

cut the barrel it will be lighter ...

 

[Mount Sweetness]

Sell it for sure

 

[hawk-i]

"As for dropping money - why rem and savage are worth dropping money into, but tikkas are not?"

Because, it's not a Ruger...

More like because it's not a few Select Ruger models

 

[hawk-i]

Well if it's so worthless, why loose money on resale all the time, cheaper to cut it off and then sell it for action parts at a penny anyway? As for dropping money - why rem and savage are worth dropping money into, but tikkas are not?



Well, aftermarket stock - 3.3lbs (1.5 kg), SB PMII 3 12 x 50 1.9 lbs ( 0.86 kg), ATRS rail 4.9 oz (0.138 kg), Vortex rings, aftermarket shroud, bold handle, atlas bipod 12.7 oz (0.36 kg). So 6.3lbs (2.9 kg) of "not Tikka Varmint itself".

What stock do you have on it?

 

[owlowl]

This one
http://cms.german-gun-stock.de/index.php/en/chassis-en/8-hauptmenue/9-predator

 

[hawk-i]

Nice looking stock....did it tighten up the groups at all ?

 

[owlowl]

Nice looking stock....did it tighten up the groups at all ?

Well, didn't get worse for sure. But no significant shift to be amazed about. Don't have a lot of data to see it yet, no quality ammo at hand.

Plastic factory:

GGS:

 

[owlowl]

Funny how it all sounds in perspective:

- cutting 3 inches of the barrel will be 208 grams less (7.3 oz)
- cutting 4 inches 277 grams (9.7 oz)

Bipod coming off gives double of weight saving. After that with the full rifle at 5.6 kg, that would be be 3% (4%) change in weight with 20/19 inch barrel.

ATRS pic rail (!) is practically 2.5 inch of varmint barrel in weight.

Just the scope equals 12 inches of barrel length in weight!

It seems I need an aftermarket irons more )

 

[todbartell]

Get a T3 Lite, mine is under 8lbs scoped (with a 20+ oz Vortex) and will flirt with half MOA if I do my part

75gr Amax @ 100y

365 yards with 53gr HP

 

[blwebster]

Well if it's so worthless, why loose money on resale all the time, cheaper to cut it off and then sell it for action parts at a penny anyway? As for dropping money - why rem and savage are worth dropping money into, but tikkas are not?



Well, aftermarket stock - 3.3lbs (1.5 kg), SB PMII 3 12 x 50 1.9 lbs ( 0.86 kg), ATRS rail 4.9 oz (0.138 kg), Vortex rings, aftermarket shroud, bold handle, atlas bipod 12.7 oz (0.36 kg). So 6.3lbs (2.9 kg) of "not Tikka Varmint itself".

THe Tikka Varmint as it come from the box shoots just fine, and only a bedding job and stabilizing the forend was needed. If you still have the original stock, then use it as it will be better. Do NOT chop the barrel either.
If you need a lighter stock then get rid of all the extra heavy stuff you put on the rifle and put the barreled action into a Manners Edge Carbon fiber stock. Heck, even the Bell & Carlson Medalist stock will do just fine and is light enough for you.