Tikka T3 Tactical
- Thread starter slick39
- Start date
Josh, looks like we're in the same market. A vendor near me was highly recommending the T3 Tactical. He said that he has sold quite a few and that his customers often come back to the store with 3/8" 100yd groups. I was almost going to commit to a 2007 T3 Tactical in .308 (24" bull barrel) but I thought that cruising the forums would be a wise thing to do first. That might have been a mistake - now I'm more confused than ever. I'm really only interested in trying my hand at long range BR shooting and it's hard for me to tell where lies the point of diminishing returns. For example, if I buy a $1400 T3 Tactical as stated above, how much more accuracy will another $600 on a "better" gun get me?...What about another $1000, or $2000?... What about going to a custom rig?...And then there's the caliber question. For me there's more grey in all these questions than there is in my hair...and that's alot.
Dave
Dave
I have a Tikka Varmint and my buddy shoots a Tik Tac. Either way you can't really go wrong. You just need to decide if you need a muzzle brake, adjustable cheek-rest and a Picatinny rail that the Tactical offers. If you can live without these then the Varmint is a cheaper option. Tikka does offer a Picatinny rail that uses the factory drilled mounting holes if you really want to go with a rail. I just went with Talley Lightweights on my Varmint in 6.5x55.
Bulldog said:
Other than the fact that the Varmint is approx. $500 cheaper, would you go with the varmint over the tac because of the caliber (6.5 x 55) alone or because you don't need/use the extra features that the tac offers?
I am looking to purchase a tikka for long range target and varmint shooting and was leaning toward the T3 Varmint in 6.5 x 55.
I think alot boils down to what size of groups are you looking to achieve and what kind of shooting you are wanting to do? I think that a rifle that can shoot 1/4" groups would be about the best that alot of the best shooters on here could do and not always consistantly. If someone says that a certain gun can do 3/8" groups at 100 it is fully believable but can you or I do it consistantly? Probably not without alot of regular shooting to keep in the know how. Spending alot of money doesn't mean you will always get small groups. If you want the look tactical feel then pay the money but if groups are what you want then you'll have to spend some time to get consistant and stay here. Just go with a known make like a Rem. 700 or Savage or Tikka that is known to shoot good groups and save your money on all the goodies. My uncle has a heavy barrel stainless Tikka in .308, not the tactical, that will shoot the 155 palma sierras into .75 to just under .5 inch groups on a regular basis. He has bad days where he can barely keep them in an inch and good days where he can come into 3/8 consistantly. Not the gun's fault but his fault. I have an older Rem. 700 .308 VSSF that hates the 155's but loves the 175 SMK. I have shot one inch groups but on average it is .75. I have had days where the gun would shoot 2, 5 shot groups close to 1/4 inch and then it would be hard to duplicate. Not the gun's fault, my fault. I know I'm long winded but I think you get the drift.
When I bought my first Tic Tac in 308, the varmint was nowhere to be found. It was also a question of what components I could find. The Tic Tac is a great rifle, and I would say it is as accurate as the best factory rife from any manufacturer.
Given that the workings and the barrel are essentially the same, (minus the threads for a brake and the parkerizing) I strongly second the vote for a varmint in 6.5X55. It is a superb cartridge and the tikka heavy barrel rifles are capable of great things. (My 308's consistently shot .3 groups at 100 with hand loads) But to milk the most out of it, I had to seat on the lands and that made the rounds far too long for the magazines.
Ballistically, the 6.5 bullets are generally superior, and the 6.5X55 is a superb cartridge out to 1000 meters. Given the light weight of the gun, it is kinder to shoot all day. You are not as likely to find a box of 6.5 factory ammo at "bubba's bass and bullet store", but then if you're shooting factory loads, don't expect accuracy to be as good.
As good as they are, you will basically have to content yourself with the rifle as she sits. Aftermarket stocks do not exist, and the weird recoil lug configuration (integrated in the stock, not the action/barrel) makes finding an alternate very difficult if not impossible without lots of modification. This also impacts bedding the action. The rail is nice, but it is not tapered.
Thoughts to ponder.
Given that the workings and the barrel are essentially the same, (minus the threads for a brake and the parkerizing) I strongly second the vote for a varmint in 6.5X55. It is a superb cartridge and the tikka heavy barrel rifles are capable of great things. (My 308's consistently shot .3 groups at 100 with hand loads) But to milk the most out of it, I had to seat on the lands and that made the rounds far too long for the magazines.
Ballistically, the 6.5 bullets are generally superior, and the 6.5X55 is a superb cartridge out to 1000 meters. Given the light weight of the gun, it is kinder to shoot all day. You are not as likely to find a box of 6.5 factory ammo at "bubba's bass and bullet store", but then if you're shooting factory loads, don't expect accuracy to be as good.
As good as they are, you will basically have to content yourself with the rifle as she sits. Aftermarket stocks do not exist, and the weird recoil lug configuration (integrated in the stock, not the action/barrel) makes finding an alternate very difficult if not impossible without lots of modification. This also impacts bedding the action. The rail is nice, but it is not tapered.
Thoughts to ponder.
R93 said:
Actually I use all the features
Have the break, like the stock but the Rail sucks imo (while torquing my rings it actually bent). I just ordered a replacement 25MOA rail from the states today.
I like the caliber option as well but even if I was to stick with 308 I'd order the varmint if I had a do over. The tactical has some cool factor to it but I think you could do yourself a favor and use the $500 on ammo to shoot or to set yourself up a good loading station.
For what its worth the t3 shoots factory match all day in 1/2 to 3/8" 5 shot groups at 100 yards. I still shoot my all factory Remington 700 in 260 Rem more
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$1400 for a Tikka Tactical?! PM on the way.giface said:
Also: a thing to keep in mind is that it's about the man behind the rifle, not the rifle itself, that does the shooting. I know my 700P will outshoot me for a very long time, and I payed way less than $1400 for it.
-Rohann
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Definately right there. I'd take my "cheap" 700P with HWMNBN's tweaks over a T3 Tactical any day, and for $250 cheaperOrvis said:Bulldog, I don't think Rohann is disputing the price of the Tikka. I think he's referring to the fact that there are other rifles out there that will do the job just as good for less money. Like a Remington or a Savage.
.-Rohann
