T-3 .223 load ideas & advice please

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Just pulled the trigger & purchased a T-3 SS in .223 for :sniper:

I found this info page
http://www.tikka.fi/pdf/specs/LiteStainless.pdf
when you look up twist rate it lists both 1-8" & 1-12" :confused:
anybody know which I'm gonna get??
I'm thinkin maybe the V or Tactical version uses the 1-12" rate.
Will the 1-8" stabilize lighter 40gn bullets??

All comments appreciated, what bullets tend to shoot best in this gun, I've got a selection of .224 bullets already & will probably have 50 rounds made up before it even gets here :rolleyes::)
 
senior said:
Just pulled the trigger & purchased a T-3 SS in .223 for :sniper:
I found this info page
http://www.tikka.fi/pdf/specs/LiteStainless.pdf
when you look up twist rate it lists both 1-8" & 1-12" :confused:
anybody know which I'm gonna get??
I'm thinkin maybe the V or Tactical version uses the 1-12" rate.
Will the 1-8" stabilize lighter 40gn bullets??
All comments appreciated, what bullets tend to shoot best in this gun, I've got a selection of .224 bullets already & will probably have 50 rounds made up before it even gets here :rolleyes::)
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I had a .223 T3 Lite in 1 in 12 twist. The twist rate was not stamped on the barrel. I now have a .223 T3 Lite in a 1 in 8 twist, which is stamped on the barrel. I expect the 1 in 8 is probably the more popular make.

I haven't tried a 40 gr bullet in the 1 in 8, but no problems with the 45 gr Winchester white box factory ammo. Also likes reloads in 75 gr Hornady Amax.
 
senior said:
Is that in a Tikka?
If so what twist rate does your have?

Thank you CV, if mine handles 45-75gns I would be quite happy :)
I can leave the 40gn V-max to the Hornet :)
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Yep - Tikka T3 Varmint with 1 in 8" twist. I'm getting 5 shot groups at a liiiitle under .5 inch - around 0.47"

I used some 45 grainers, but accuracy wasn't as good as with the 55's. I'm still working on getting some 75grainers loaded up. :)
 
With my .233 T3 Varmint – 1:12 twist barrel, I shot as good as just over 1/2" with 55 gr VMax during the summer time (when I am not shivering).

60 gr. VMax is also pretty good. Anything over 60 gr. wouldn’t group less than 1”.
 
With my T-3 Lite Stainless I'm shooting Hornady 52gr HPBT Match bullets with 25.5gr (if I remember correctly, we just moved and everything is still in boxes) Benchmark powder with good results on paper.
 
imknadian said:
I use 40gr vmax in my t3 lite in .223 with h322. It will shoot .25" groups with that load. I think around 25.5 -26grs of h322 I am using.
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Is your a 1-8" twist or 1-12" ?

Managed to get to my range this week with my ATV, had been keeping the trailed plowed but getting close to NO GO, only to find the snow load collapsed the roof :rolleyes: Couldn't even drag a shooting bench out from under the roof so I only shot enough (of the seat of my atv) to get my scope close.
 
canucklehead said:
My 'go-to' load in my .223 Varmint is 25.4gr of H335 under a 55gr VMAX. A little warm, but kills gophers like nothing!
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I've got the same rifle (T3 Varmint heavy barrel with 1 in 8 twist) and I get the same kind of accuracy with H335 and 60 gr Sierra HP bullets.
Now I've gone heavier with 63 gr. soft points Sierra bullets and Varget, and still getting the same accuracy. My rifle shoots everything about the same from 45 gr. Remington or AE factory ammo up to the 75 grain Hornady HPBT that I loaded up myself. Everything shoots about 1/4" groups at 100 yards.
The only ammo my rifle doesn't like is Winchester. I've tried the white box FMJ, 55 gr stuff and it's awful (about 1" groups) and so is the Winchester 45 gr. HP ammo (the box with the gopher on it).
 
proonur;2822302(about 1" groups) and so is the Winchester 45 gr. HP ammo the box with the gopher on it).[/QUOTE said:
Aren't gophers bigger than 1" ;):p


Curious about you guys useing A or V-Max bullets :cool:
I did my usually seating depth check by putting a case with a neck just snug enough to hold the bullet so it's set back to max chamber depth. Then I minus'd 15 thou for finished COAL. Loaded a few rounds to try & low & behold they wouldn't fit in the Mag!
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