T3 Lite or T3 Varmint?

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canucklehead

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Hey guys,

I've recently decided to buy a .223 for my gopher slayer. I've been shooting for years with just a .22, but wanted something a little more, explosive. :D

The fact that I'm left handed makes my selection VERY limited.

I've narrowed to down to a Savage 12VLP (impossible to find - 6-12 months before the next ones are available in Canada), or a T3 Lite or T3 Varmint.

My question - from the Tikka website, the only differences between the T3 Lite and the Varmint are the heavy barrel, cheekpiece and 1.5" barrel difference.

Is the Varmint worth the extra $175? I usually slay about 150-200 gophers per day, and some days as many as 500 (yes, they are CRAWLING all over the place), so I'm thinking the HB will give an advantage for long strings.

Is the cheekpiece any good? It's 'non adjustable', but I'm guessing that just means not field adjustable - it must have spacers or something, right?

Any input would be appreciated!
 
Other options include the CZ 527, which is available in left hand in .223 or .204, or soon (I'm told late October) even a T3 Lite in .204 and left hand. You're right about the heavy barrel offering an advantage for sustained fire, though.
 
If your in a field where you can't load fast enough to kill the suckers then I would get the HB Varmint over the Sporter barrel Lite.

I had a Lite .223 and the barrel heats up pretty fast.

Richard
 
I would spend the extra $175 and go with the HB. The cheekpiece isn't really field adjustable but also may not be an issue with the scope you put on it. Adjustable cheekpieces are great for target rifles with iron sights where you need to adjust the rear sight from 300 to 1000, in order to keep the same cheek pressure. When using a scope once it is set you never need to move it.
The Tikka has a 1:8 twist so you can shoot 80 gr bullets and reach out as far as you can see them critters.
 
How about accuracy wise? I'm assuming both are free-floated? Can you bed these rifles (I'm guessing no)?

If they made the CZ527 in something LH other than the plain wood (laminate or synthetic), I'd buy one in a heartbeat! Alas, it's old-man wood or nothin! :)

Rem 700 is in the same boat - LH models are few and far between. I looked at the 700VSF in LH, but it's only 1-12" twist. What's the point if I can ONLY shoot 45-55gr?
 
My buddy has the Varmint in 22-250, really nice gun. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase one, shoots like a dream too! The gun seems to balance out nicely with the heavy barrel.
 
Don't mean to hijack this threat. We all know ammo is going up in price, but from what I understand (overhead in a gun shop) 223 specifically is going up in price from $3 to $11 a box due to the war. Perhaps another caliber may be in order to save money, especially if you're shooting 200 plus rounds in a day.
 
I reload, so I don't really care about factory load prices. Also, if .223 goes up, (BTW - where do YOU get it for $3 per box?) it's due to lead/copper/brass cost - which all rounds need, so they'll all go up.

I have about 3000 once fired .223 brass here, and have an AR as well, so I'm sticking to .223.

Reason? 22-250 is a barrel burner (especially rapid fire), brass is more expensive. .204 Ruger components are most costly. .243 doesn't interest me at all. :)
 
canucklehead said:
How about accuracy wise? I'm assuming both are free-floated? Can you bed these rifles (I'm guessing no)?

If they made the CZ527 in something LH other than the plain wood (laminate or synthetic), I'd buy one in a heartbeat! Alas, it's old-man wood or nothin! :)

Rem 700 is in the same boat - LH models are few and far between. I looked at the 700VSF in LH, but it's only 1-12" twist. What's the point if I can ONLY shoot 45-55gr?
Click to expand...

Tikka are one of only a select few that have a 1MOA guarantee on all their rifles. You cannot go wrong with a Tikka as far as I am concerned. If mine had been a HB I would still have it today.


Ducimus said:
I meant increasing in price from between $3 to $11 a box.
Click to expand...

Prices were supposed to jump that amount as of Sept 1 as well according to all those "in the know" on the inter####. AFAIK all ammo is still the same price as it was 19 days ago:confused:
 
i shoota T3 varmint in 22-250 and if i did it again i would go with the super varmint for the extra $$$, when you do decide to buy the gun do yourself a favor and order it direct from factory with the single set trigger, i kick myself everytime i shoot that i didnt bother getin the single set
 
The single set trigger would be very nice to have. I have a T3 Lite stainless and set right down it is still pretty nice though.
 
I have the tikka varmint with a stainless barrel and I bought a Nikon 6-18x40 scope for it. This is in .223 is shoots like a dream, the barrel does heat up in rapid fire but so would any gun. This is a very accurate rifle, I plan on gopher hunting but still need to find a place to hunt. This will be my first choice when heading to the field. As far as I know the stock isn't adjustable but then again I have never had any interest in the subject seeing as the gun fits me liek a dream the way it is:D
 
O yea also this gun will shoot any kind of ammo. Even the cheapest stuff fires as good as the expensive stuff which saves you a lot of money in the long run but seeing as you reload tha wonbt be an issue, and this gun has a 6 round detachable box mag which is very handy for fast paced shooting and if you feel like it the gun can shoot as a single shot but just popping a round in the chamber with the mag attached, the round will feed just the same as if it were in the mag. The bolt is amazing too, it feels the same to close it without a round in as it does with a round in it! I love this gun!
 
The T3 Varmint is a great gun and would certainly be a better choice than the lite for what you are doing with it.

There was a T3 Tactical with the 20" barrel on the EE a couple days ago for a great price (Approx $1100). If I were you I would grab that one as it has the adjustable comb as well. I personally prefer the shorter barrels and have most of my rifles cut down, ballistics don't suffer enough to make any noticeable difference but the rifles are much handier to use.

If you don't like the stock, trade me for my Varmint stock.
 
Well - I finally made my choice today - T3 Varmint from P&D Enterprises!

Now I just need to wait for the package to arrive!!! I'm hoping to turn it into a fall coyote killer..
 
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