New Tikka

Tomochan

Tomochan

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Location
The Cariboo, BC
Owning Remmington, Savage, Browning and Weatherby I decided it was time to try out a Tikka. I don't need another deer rifle so the idea I had in mind was to put together a "poor man's precision/tactical" and so I ordered a Tikka SS Varmint in 6.5x55. I will use a spare Shooter's Ridge bipod I have and, for optics, I will mount, using EGW base and TPS rings, a Falcon Menace 4.5x18x56. If anyone out there has advice re this set-up, comments, criticisms or simple laughter let's hear 'em :) Seriously though, any advice re: 6.5x55loads that have worked for you in the same model of rifle will be of most interest.

My impression of the gear and a range report re accuracy to follow.

Cheers

Bob.
 
Sounds like you're pretty much set and ready to go.

Loads? Start with some Lapua brass and some 139 Scenars or 140-142 gr. Match Kings. As far as powder, it all depends on what your rifle likes. Try the usual known burn rates for this cartridge and you're all good.
 
As far as target loads the 123gr and 142gr Sierra Match Kings are nice as are the 139gr Scenars. For deer I've used pretty much all the Hornady 129-140gr offerings and for long range really like the SST's. Just started using the 130gr Accubonds when the wife was drawn for cow elk. No game report yet, but they are proving to be pretty accurate.
 
Tikka smartly made their barrel 1:8 twist so you can use any 6.5 bullet you want. I second the Lapua brass suggestion and if you are an experienced re-loader, don't be afraid to push the envelope a tad. The Swede case is capable of withstanding tremendous pressure.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I must say that buying a Tikka was, at one time, really not likely but hearing nothing but good news about the out of box accuracy that I felt I just had to have one :) Luckily for all of us, wives and girlfriends understand that all rifles are $100 and ammo is free eh...NOT LOL !!!!!!!!!
 
Awesome kaliber choice!
I just set myself up with this one aswell and I love it.
Such a SOFT shooter. My load is 130gr. Sirocco sitting
on top of 46.0grs. of IMR4350 (46.5gr. is max.), 24"
bbl and it shoots/groups very, very well.
 
Oh, I have "even poorer man's setups as well" LOL - it's all relative, and in this forum I think even my best bit of gear comes up short. Anyway, the rifle and some other goodies arrived yesterday and first impressions are :

Not bad, not bad at all ! Nicely packaged and with a readable ( when I got to the English bit ) and reasonably informative user's manual. I had mentally prepared myself for the plastic and, yes, plastic it was but not as bad as I was fearing ( I had only ever held a Tikka T3 with a synthetic stock once before ) and it had a better tactile feel than for example the Savage 10FP or the Ruger synthetic but not as nice ( subjective evaluation ) as a Weatherby synthetic. All fit and finish looked very good indeed. The metalwork appears to be flawless and all machining looks to be perfect. The bolt and magazine were in separate bags and the magazine looks sturdy but, of course, to me it feels odd being plastic but it seats well with a firm, and audible, 'click'. The bolt was as smooth as glass and slipped in to the receiver beautifully. I worked the action a few times and was very impressed with the slick and super smooth cycling and 70 degree bolt throw. Dry firing, I observed zero creep and a crisp break each time - IMO this trigger is significantly better than Remington's new X Mark Pro and superior to the Savage Accutrigger of which I am a fan.

New RCBS dies and a box of Sierra MK 140g HPBT were included in the goodie box so now I am on the lookout for good brass.

TPS rings in hand, I am eagerly awaiting the EGW base and the Falcon Menace - then off to Mission ( or PoCo if I don't feel like the drive ) to see what it is like. Of course, knowing me, if I have to wait too long for the scope I may canabalise one of the others just to get out there - mental picture ....... other rifles hiding in the safe crying "not me, no don't take my scope off me"

So there you have it - a "newbie report for newbies". Range report and pics of final set-up in due course.
 
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