Tikka CTR or Varmint for dedicated range rifle

Well, after reading a lot over the last few days, watching a ton of review videos, and digging into the responses here, this is what I am thinking.

Tikka Varmint.223
MDT Field Chassis
20 MOA rail
DNT The One scope
Bi pod

Primarily bench rest shooting, where I can spend an entire Saturday at the range plinking steel. It will regularly see a bunch of friends and family put a lot rounds through it in a day.

Still very interested in your opinions and experience so, please continue to chime in here with your advice.
 
I've got a T3x lite in 223 and a varmint in 6.5x55. I had intended on getting a 223 varmint, but the T3X lite was too good a deal to pass on. The only reason I can see going with the CTR is if you feel like you need a factory threaded barrel and/or factory 10 round mags. There are lots of options for T3x rails under $100 (Leupold, Talley, MDT) along or 1 piece scope mounts like the Talley's.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be grabbing the varmint, shooting it in the factory stock to start, and putting the money I'd saved on a chassis into a little better glass (while I haven't looked through the DNT, I own a couple of Arkens. They're very good for the price point, but another $500 is going to get you into Japanese glass and a noticeable improvement).

Down the line, if you decide you want a threaded barrel, most gunsmiths should be able to take care of that for about the cost of a replacement CTR magazine. And the chassis or stock is always an option if you want different ergos or to run AICS mags.

Regardless though, you're not going to go wrong with whatever you choose.
 
I have a field stock and only got it because it was $150 black friday sale. If you can swing the extra couple bucks for the oryx or xrs chassis it'd be well worth it especially for a range only gun. Alternatively buy the rifle and shoot it in factory form and enjoy your new laser beam. It'll shoot great as is. Get your hands on some different chassis and see what fits best, save a few more dollars, and upgrade down the road. There are als good deals to be found on the EE periodically. Just a friendly suggestion.
 
OP, when push comes to shove, buy what "appeals" to you, not "someone else." Then you won't regret anything.

I have a Tikka T3X Compact Tactical, with a 22.5 in bbl or 570mm.

I don't know if it's offered with different twist rates, but mine has a 1-8 twist, which is fine for 55-90 grain bullets.

My rifle came with a detachable "brake/flash hider," but it's mostly for show, and it was the first thing to be eliminated.

This rifle will shoot any factory ammunition I've shot through it into less than one MOA. The worst was factory surplus RUAG, fmj, 77 grains, and it was about 3/4 moa at 100yds.

It will shoot my handloads into less than 1/2 moa consistently out to 400yds, which is as far as I've shot it.

I like this rifle because it covers all aspects of what I would use it for, under all conditions.

These rifles are very accurate, maybe not as accurate as some "custom builds," but it will give most of them a hard pressed run for the money.

I have one load that utilizes 77grn SMK #9377 that will shoot consistently into less than 3/8 moa when I take the time to do it right.

It doesn't shoot 45 grain bullets well, but is OK with 55-90 grains, depending on length.

If you're a velocity freak, you need a longer barrel, I shoot the velocities my rifle likes best.

You seem pretty intent on a "bipod." WHY????? They are a pain in the back, butt, and shoulder, and don't function nearly as well off the bench as a good adjustable, padded bench rest, with a heavy base.

Spend the money on a good, heavy adjustable bench rest and rear bunny bag.

My rifle carries a Zeis Conquest, 6.5x20x50mm, with 1/4 moa adjustments, and side adjustable AO. It's not the highest quality scope by any stretch, but it's better than others in the same price range.

A decent scope, combined with an accurate rifle, is a dream machine IMHO.

When accuracy is your goal, look for the best optic for the money you have to put out.

As for magazines, is your heart set on ten rounds????

The original magazine will hold ten rounds. I don't like shooting ten round strings, unless I have time to allow the barrel to cool a bit between shots. Not because I'm worried about wandering accuracy, but it's just hard on the leade and throat.

When I looked at the prices of Tikka magazines and some of the after market offerings, it made me cringe.

I opted for MAG3D, five round magazines, which are available from the US. Yes, they ship to Canada, and you can purchase 5 magazines for the price of one factory mag. However, they are 3D printed and only hold five rounds, which, for me, isn't a big deal. They function flawlessly, under all conditions, from -25C to +35C, once you've sprayed a bit of silicone lubricant into them.

One other thing to think about is how you deal with the ergonomics of standard 13-13.5 inch stocks.

If you're one of those folks that just can't abide a stock not fitting you perfectly, under the conditions you shoot, the UPR is definitely the way to go.

The other thing to consider is that the T3x Tactical has optional height cheek risers available, and stock inserts for the butt to lengthen it.
 
On account of the one size fits all action etc. I hated the unreliable feeding issues I had with a T3 222. Accurate guns, but I resorted to a single shot feeding ramp. I never intend on getting a T3 again unless it is a long action round with a .470" rim or larger... unfortunate, they are otherwise very decent rifles. I don't like plastic stocks, but far as they go, the T3 Varmint stock is okay. I don't know what they changed from the T3 to the T3x, but they are still using the same action and magazines so I'm going with "no significant change."
 
HighSpeedLowDrag2023 said:
I've got a T3x lite in 223 and a varmint in 6.5x55. I had intended on getting a 223 varmint, but the T3X lite was too good a deal to pass on. The only reason I can see going with the CTR is if you feel like you need a factory threaded barrel and/or factory 10 round mags. There are lots of options for T3x rails under $100 (Leupold, Talley, MDT) along or 1 piece scope mounts like the Talley's.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be grabbing the varmint, shooting it in the factory stock to start, and putting the money I'd saved on a chassis into a little better glass (while I haven't looked through the DNT, I own a couple of Arkens. They're very good for the price point, but another $500 is going to get you into Japanese glass and a noticeable improvement).

Down the line, if you decide you want a threaded barrel, most gunsmiths should be able to take care of that for about the cost of a replacement CTR magazine. And the chassis or stock is always an option if you want different ergos or to run AICS mags.

Regardless though, you're not going to go wrong with whatever you choose.
Click to expand...
Appreciate your insight.
I don't want to derail my own thread but, what, in your opinion, would be a better scope option, maxing out at $1200 taxes in? Looking for a FFP MRAD with at least 25 power.

Thanks
 
bearhunter said:
OP, when push comes to shove, buy what "appeals" to you, not "someone else." Then you won't regret anything.

I have a Tikka T3X Compact Tactical, with a 22.5 in bbl or 570mm.

I don't know if it's offered with different twist rates, but mine has a 1-8 twist, which is fine for 55-90 grain bullets.

My rifle came with a detachable "brake/flash hider," but it's mostly for show, and it was the first thing to be eliminated.

This rifle will shoot any factory ammunition I've shot through it into less than one MOA. The worst was factory surplus RUAG, fmj, 77 grains, and it was about 3/4 moa at 100yds.

It will shoot my handloads into less than 1/2 moa consistently out to 400yds, which is as far as I've shot it.

I like this rifle because it covers all aspects of what I would use it for, under all conditions.

These rifles are very accurate, maybe not as accurate as some "custom builds," but it will give most of them a hard pressed run for the money.

I have one load that utilizes 77grn SMK #9377 that will shoot consistently into less than 3/8 moa when I take the time to do it right.

It doesn't shoot 45 grain bullets well, but is OK with 55-90 grains, depending on length.

If you're a velocity freak, you need a longer barrel, I shoot the velocities my rifle likes best.

You seem pretty intent on a "bipod." WHY????? They are a pain in the back, butt, and shoulder, and don't function nearly as well off the bench as a good adjustable, padded bench rest, with a heavy base.

Spend the money on a good, heavy adjustable bench rest and rear bunny bag.

My rifle carries a Zeis Conquest, 6.5x20x50mm, with 1/4 moa adjustments, and side adjustable AO. It's not the highest quality scope by any stretch, but it's better than others in the same price range.

A decent scope, combined with an accurate rifle, is a dream machine IMHO.

When accuracy is your goal, look for the best optic for the money you have to put out.

As for magazines, is your heart set on ten rounds????

The original magazine will hold ten rounds. I don't like shooting ten round strings, unless I have time to allow the barrel to cool a bit between shots. Not because I'm worried about wandering accuracy, but it's just hard on the leade and throat.

When I looked at the prices of Tikka magazines and some of the after market offerings, it made me cringe.

I opted for MAG3D, five round magazines, which are available from the US. Yes, they ship to Canada, and you can purchase 5 magazines for the price of one factory mag. However, they are 3D printed and only hold five rounds, which, for me, isn't a big deal. They function flawlessly, under all conditions, from -25C to +35C, once you've sprayed a bit of silicone lubricant into them.

One other thing to think about is how you deal with the ergonomics of standard 13-13.5 inch stocks.

If you're one of those folks that just can't abide a stock not fitting you perfectly, under the conditions you shoot, the UPR is definitely the way to go.

The other thing to consider is that the T3x Tactical has optional height cheek risers available, and stock inserts for the butt to lengthen it.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
That's a lot of info to digest. I appreciate it and will now continue researching.
 
I have both and they're both great. The CTR barrel dia at muzzle is 20mm, Varmint is 22mm. Not a huge difference. My mostly stock CTR is for over-100yd target shooting and my backup rifle on hunting trips. My Varmint in a KRG Bravo chassis isn't my backup hunting rifle.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
At 500m, a 223 rifle does not need a 20 moa rail.

For bench shooting, get yourself a decent bench rest and rear bag. Not the super cheapo models but a decent, solid one. Bipods are the worst choice from a bench.
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The bipod is primarily because I really do enjoy shooting from a bipod, either from a bench or prone.
 
milkbone96 said:
I have both and they're both great. The CTR barrel dia at muzzle is 20mm, Varmint is 22mm. Not a huge difference. My mostly stock CTR is for over-100yd target shooting and my backup rifle on hunting trips. My Varmint in a KRG Bravo chassis isn't my backup hunting rifle.
Click to expand...
I can appreciate this.
I already have a couple dedicated hunting rifles. This one is for the range. I really like the heavy bbl because I don't have one. But, as mentioned earlier, the handiness of a shorter bbl coupled with the 10 rounds was also appealing in the "tactical" sense. Yup, not advantages necessarily in a range right though.
 
calgarycowboy said:
I have a field stock and only got it because it was $150 black friday sale. If you can swing the extra couple bucks for the oryx or xrs chassis it'd be well worth it especially for a range only gun. Alternatively buy the rifle and shoot it in factory form and enjoy your new laser beam. It'll shoot great as is. Get your hands on some different chassis and see what fits best, save a few more dollars, and upgrade down the road. There are als good deals to be found on the EE periodically. Just a friendly suggestion.
Click to expand...
This is what I plan to do.
I will probably just enjoy it with the sock on it for awhile, while looking into upgrading to a chassis as funds become available.
 
bluesclues said:
I can appreciate this.
I already have a couple dedicated hunting rifles. This one is for the range. I really like the heavy bbl because I don't have one. But, as mentioned earlier, the handiness of a shorter bbl coupled with the 10 rounds was also appealing in the "tactical" sense. Yup, not advantages necessarily in a range right though.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the Varmint with the 5-25x50 in the chassis is a heavy pig, but shoots like a dream. The Yo Dave trigger is nice too. The CTR is mostly on the range, but it comes with me on out of province hunt trips "just in case". I carried that pig for 2 days on the bogs of NL a few years ago while I waited for the Purolator pouch with my main rifle bolt that I accidentally left on my bench back home while packing last minute..lol..(flame away, boys!)

For a nice range gun, go with the Varmint in a good chassis with a decent scope. Set it up right for the job you want it to do. Skip the CTR - if you want something lighter and "handy", use one of your hunting rifles. On your budget, maybe look at Arken or US Optics or something further up the line but used (lots of goodies on the EE). Go Big Tactical sell both Arken and US Optics, and they are totally top notch to deal with. They also sell KRG and other great chassis systems.

I've run Vortex PST Gen 2s on all my bolt guns for several years now as they seem to cooperate with my eyeballs better than the Bushnells and Nikons I've had in years past. That said, glass in the newer ones - to my eyes anyway - isn't nearly as good as that in the ones from around 2018-2020, so I'd probably look elsewhere today if I had to replace them.

Like someone else said, if just bench shooting 90+% of the time, skip the bipod and invest your bipod $ in a decent set of bench and rear bags. I got my Armageddon Gear bags at one of my LGSs (Victory Ridge) and they're great. YMMV.

Good luck and have fun!
 
bearhunter said:
OP, when push comes to shove, buy what "appeals" to you, not "someone else." Then you won't regret anything.

I have a Tikka T3X Compact Tactical, with a 22.5 in bbl or 570mm.

I don't know if it's offered with different twist rates, but mine has a 1-8 twist, which is fine for 55-90 grain bullets.

My rifle came with a detachable "brake/flash hider," but it's mostly for show, and it was the first thing to be eliminated.

This rifle will shoot any factory ammunition I've shot through it into less than one MOA. The worst was factory surplus RUAG, fmj, 77 grains, and it was about 3/4 moa at 100yds.

It will shoot my handloads into less than 1/2 moa consistently out to 400yds, which is as far as I've shot it.

I like this rifle because it covers all aspects of what I would use it for, under all conditions.

These rifles are very accurate, maybe not as accurate as some "custom builds," but it will give most of them a hard pressed run for the money.

I have one load that utilizes 77grn SMK #9377 that will shoot consistently into less than 3/8 moa when I take the time to do it right.

It doesn't shoot 45 grain bullets well, but is OK with 55-90 grains, depending on length.

If you're a velocity freak, you need a longer barrel, I shoot the velocities my rifle likes best.

You seem pretty intent on a "bipod." WHY????? They are a pain in the back, butt, and shoulder, and don't function nearly as well off the bench as a good adjustable, padded bench rest, with a heavy base.

Spend the money on a good, heavy adjustable bench rest and rear bunny bag.

My rifle carries a Zeis Conquest, 6.5x20x50mm, with 1/4 moa adjustments, and side adjustable AO. It's not the highest quality scope by any stretch, but it's better than others in the same price range.

A decent scope, combined with an accurate rifle, is a dream machine IMHO.

When accuracy is your goal, look for the best optic for the money you have to put out.

As for magazines, is your heart set on ten rounds????

The original magazine will hold ten rounds. I don't like shooting ten round strings, unless I have time to allow the barrel to cool a bit between shots. Not because I'm worried about wandering accuracy, but it's just hard on the leade and throat.

When I looked at the prices of Tikka magazines and some of the after market offerings, it made me cringe.

I opted for MAG3D, five round magazines, which are available from the US. Yes, they ship to Canada, and you can purchase 5 magazines for the price of one factory mag. However, they are 3D printed and only hold five rounds, which, for me, isn't a big deal. They function flawlessly, under all conditions, from -25C to +35C, once you've sprayed a bit of silicone lubricant into them.

One other thing to think about is how you deal with the ergonomics of standard 13-13.5 inch stocks.

If you're one of those folks that just can't abide a stock not fitting you perfectly, under the conditions you shoot, the UPR is definitely the way to go.

The other thing to consider is that the T3x Tactical has optional height cheek risers available, and stock inserts for the butt to lengthen it.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply, there is a ton of good info here.

I will mostly hand load for it. My T3X Lite in .223 loves the heavy bullets so I am hoping with the same twist rate and similar bbl length, most of my loads will just transfer over to the varmint.
As far as the bipod goes, I do understand that there are more effective ways to gain accuracy through stability but, I do enjoy shooting from a bipod both from a bench and prone. Plus, at the end of the day, I am not chasing one ragged hole groups. I really enjoy ringing steel at various distances quickly and efficiently from a bipod. The 10 round steel magazines just appeared better built and, well more ammo in the mag also appealed.

The replies here have been incredibly informative and I really appreciate the information provided. I am now thinking about some fun club level matches and future upgrades that I hadn't considered before.
 
bearhunter said:
OP, when push comes to shove, buy what "appeals" to you, not "someone else." Then you won't regret anything.

I have a Tikka T3X Compact Tactical, with a 22.5 in bbl or 570mm.

I don't know if it's offered with different twist rates, but mine has a 1-8 twist, which is fine for 55-90 grain bullets.

My rifle came with a detachable "brake/flash hider," but it's mostly for show, and it was the first thing to be eliminated.

This rifle will shoot any factory ammunition I've shot through it into less than one MOA. The worst was factory surplus RUAG, fmj, 77 grains, and it was about 3/4 moa at 100yds.

It will shoot my handloads into less than 1/2 moa consistently out to 400yds, which is as far as I've shot it.

I like this rifle because it covers all aspects of what I would use it for, under all conditions.

These rifles are very accurate, maybe not as accurate as some "custom builds," but it will give most of them a hard pressed run for the money.

I have one load that utilizes 77grn SMK #9377 that will shoot consistently into less than 3/8 moa when I take the time to do it right.

It doesn't shoot 45 grain bullets well, but is OK with 55-90 grains, depending on length.

If you're a velocity freak, you need a longer barrel, I shoot the velocities my rifle likes best.

You seem pretty intent on a "bipod." WHY????? They are a pain in the back, butt, and shoulder, and don't function nearly as well off the bench as a good adjustable, padded bench rest, with a heavy base.

Spend the money on a good, heavy adjustable bench rest and rear bunny bag.

My rifle carries a Zeis Conquest, 6.5x20x50mm, with 1/4 moa adjustments, and side adjustable AO. It's not the highest quality scope by any stretch, but it's better than others in the same price range.

A decent scope, combined with an accurate rifle, is a dream machine IMHO.

When accuracy is your goal, look for the best optic for the money you have to put out.

As for magazines, is your heart set on ten rounds????

The original magazine will hold ten rounds. I don't like shooting ten round strings, unless I have time to allow the barrel to cool a bit between shots. Not because I'm worried about wandering accuracy, but it's just hard on the leade and throat.

When I looked at the prices of Tikka magazines and some of the after market offerings, it made me cringe.

I opted for MAG3D, five round magazines, which are available from the US. Yes, they ship to Canada, and you can purchase 5 magazines for the price of one factory mag. However, they are 3D printed and only hold five rounds, which, for me, isn't a big deal. They function flawlessly, under all conditions, from -25C to +35C, once you've sprayed a bit of silicone lubricant into them.

One other thing to think about is how you deal with the ergonomics of standard 13-13.5 inch stocks.

If you're one of those folks that just can't abide a stock not fitting you perfectly, under the conditions you shoot, the UPR is definitely the way to go.

The other thing to consider is that the T3x Tactical has optional height cheek risers available, and stock inserts for the butt to lengthen it.
Click to expand...
Lots of great info there for blues..
 
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