Using a light/hunting rifle as a precision rifle base

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Roddy

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I was thinking of getting another precision rifle in .308 but I realized I really don't shoot the guns I have enough. My "hunting" rifle, as in the one I take out once a year for deer season, is a Tikka T3 Lite.

The T3 Lite is very accurate for a few rounds but then groups open up, at least it seems that way to me. I was thinking of getting a better scope and trying to find a T3 Tactical take off stock so I could have an adjustable cheek piece.

Would a light barrel hold me back a lot? I was thinking it would just really slow down my rate of fire but if I shot slow enough it would still hold tight groups.

My other option was getting a new .308, either a 700 Police or 5R or T3 Tactical and using that but then my T3 Lite will never get used. On the plus side I would have a spare PRS rifle.
 
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I had a Tikka t3 lite in .223. Easily under moa at 100 yards with mediocre hand loads. I upgraded to a 5r In .308 because of the stock and barrel profile on the t3.
The pencil barrel will never cool during the summer. Maybe consider selling it and getting the tactical or CTR. I believe those two rifle fit your criteria, couple pounds heavier but whatever.
 
clickclickboom said:
I had a Tikka t3 lite in .223. Easily under moa at 100 yards with mediocre hand loads. I upgraded to a 5r In .308 because of the stock and barrel profile on the t3.
The pencil barrel will never cool during the summer. Maybe consider selling it and getting the tactical or CTR. I believe those two rifle fit your criteria, couple pounds heavier but whatever.
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That's a good idea ccb. A couple pounds isn't bad. I don't carry the thing for days on end in the mountains. Part of the reason I never shoot it is I have to shoot it so slowly.
 
Oh and one more question about T3's.

Can there be issues with inletting and installing AICS bottom metal? Feed issues or anything like that?
 
Tikka are rapidly getting a lot more after market support. PM me if you want to know about profit barrel options that are just appearing south of the border. With a modest investment in tools, you could easily run a heavier barrel for target and competition and keep the pencil for hunting.

As for fitment of AICS bottom metal, I'm not sure, but I believe the DBM that fits existing Tikka stocks works fine. Coretac Solutions and 693 precision sell Tikka DBM and can probably set you right.

For what people will ding you for a T3 Tac take-off stock and a DBM, you're well on your way to the cost of a chassis that will accept AICS mags. Again, PM if you want to talk in detail.

Good luck!
 
Thanks jadam. What made me want a .308 target rifle is I handloaded about 350 fairly light but accurate rounds before I rebarreled my rifle. Now my only .308 is this pencil barrel and I can't shoot more than a dozen or so rounds an hour with it.

The T3 Tactical's look nice but so do the new T3 A1 Tac's or whatever they're called!
 
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Roddy said:
Thanks jadam. What made me want a .308 target rifle is I handloaded about 350 fairly light but accurate rounds before I rebarreled my rifle. Now my only .308 is this pencil barrel and I can't shoot more than a dozen or so rounds an hour with it.
The T3 Tactical's look nice but so do the new T3 A1 Tac's or whatever they're called!
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I used to learn with my hunting rifle (Browning A-Bolt Stainless with a pen barrel) as I was begining long range shooting. The rifle is very good and accurate. But the barrel heat up quickly... I've got a way to cool it down quickly, I use a paintball CO2 tank, and spray the compressed gaz into the barrel/action. It cools down the barrel very fast if you want, or what I do to extend the CO2 tank as most as possible, is I send a little constant jet for one minute, between shots, so the barrel stays warm but not too hot. And the tank last me long enough for two shooting sessions (25-30 cartrige each time approx.)
Then I purchased a rifle with a heavy barrel... And now feeling more happy. And in PRS compétitions, you may have to shoot long strings of shots quickly, regarding the stage you are in. But this is another story...

Dark
 
Thought you had a 308 and 6.5 barrel for your AI?
If you have to buy another rifle I'd go for a Rem 700 5R. That 300win i just bought shoots Fed Powershok 1/2 moa.
 
cr5 said:
Thought you had a 308 and 6.5 barrel for your AI?
If you have to buy another rifle I'd go for a Rem 700 5R. That 300win i just bought shoots Fed Powershok 1/2 moa.
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I do but it's a bit of a procedure to change barrels. I have been looking at the 5R's but these Tikka are nice too.
 
I went with a light Palma and some bolt truing etc. on my T3 put it in an MDT LSS chassis it's a 300 WSM, shoots .2 at 100yds. P.M. me for the guys info if you want it, as he's not a sponser here.
 
Roddy said:
I do but it's a bit of a procedure to change barrels. I have been looking at the 5R's but these Tikka are nice too.
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I had a buddy over the other day with a Tikka T3 Tactical and it was shooting some very impressive groups for a stock rifle shooting cheap hunting loads.

I think I would just use your AI with the 6.5 for yotes and precision and your Tikka for hunting, you've pretty much got all bases covered if you feel like swapping over the barrel on the AI once or twice a year. Your AI will out shoot any $1000 rifle you buy to keep yourself from having to swap the barrel over.
 
vultr said:
The Christensen arms carbon barrels can be had installed for around a grand as well - pencil barrel weight and bull barrel performance. Certainly more scratch than a standard steel barrel though
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Well not a premium Bartlein barrel like I just bought. I may get a new 6.5 barrel for my AI and will keep that in mind.
 
If you are not shooting comps and just shooting targets for accuracy/fun do what varmint hunters do and hang or wrap a wet towel or cloth over the barrel. Or buy a new rifle because you deserve it.
 
I took a stainless/synthetic LH T3 lite in .22-250 and re barreled it to a 6.5 Creedmoor with a 26" Bartlien barrel a few years ago and it's still shooting incredible! I'd just recommend witching the barrel and stock, which as the other posters have said, you can do for reasonable money.
 
I'm having a Tikka T3x rebarreled to a 280AI, the barrel is a #3 Benchmark cut to 23". If the barrel is screwed to the receiver 'stress free' and floated it will be a good shooter, later it will be bedded as the final tune.

Handloads must be exact one to the next, the velocity spread must be single digit, the load must hit a barrel node.

Your scope must be repeatable and accurate in its adjustments. This can be tested and verified. Quality of glass is a concern but not anything to get all in a lather about, spend the money on the mechanics......the glass will be good enough.

Now with all that it should be a < 1 moa set up at least for 5 shots.

The rifle I will get is designed around the 162 ELD-X and will reach to ~730 yards within the bullets performance window.

I have other Tikka's rebarreled that are sub 1 moa, and a stock Tikka that will run into the 0.3's on a good day.

Accuracy per dollar the Tikka's have it hands down, no aftermarket triggers, no blueprinted actions.......don, even require an aftermarket barrel if you are happy with factory offerings.
 
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