.243 T3 Lite

[Doug Beach]

Bought one of these on a whim. Don’t know yet what the future holds for it, I might just end up using the action. For the moment, it’s in stock form, in what appears to be excellent condition. I may use it as is for coyote, deer, & pigs here in Kalifornia. As we are limited to non-lead bullets for most things, I’m looking at the Barnes 80 TTSX.
What’s your experience with this cartridge / bullet combo on game?

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Yes, yes, yes.! 80ttsx + superformance powder or R17. You won't be disappointed. Tikka t3 is great ! Only thing better is a model 595/695. Older, before Beretta bought them out.

 

[theallcineyes]

i had the lite in stainless chambered in 243. I shot several yotes past 500 with my farthest being 713 yards shooting 87gr VLD. This gun shot .5MOA-.75Moa no problem. sweet factory trigger also

 

[K22]

My 243 Tikka T3 is an excellent rifle - excellent accuracy, smooth action, great trigger, great extractor design and the synthetic stock is stiff enough to for accurate shooting. Mine groups in the 1/2" moa range with tailored reloads.

The best combo I've found is the 85 Sierra BTHP with either IMR 4350 or 4064, Federal 210 primers. This bullet is an excellent all performance bullet that can be used for varmints, predators and deer. With deer keep the shots broadside just behind the shoulder and they'll either drop in their tracks or run very short distance before piling up.

One note of this bullet, in my Tikka I had to seat the bullet to 2.610 over all length to stay about .010" off the lands. This is due to the ogive of the bullet rather than the free bore of the Tikka.

However you probably can't use this bullet in CA due to the lead restrictions.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Have the same gun. It shoots the 80 gr ttsx vortex ammo right at moa with a 10x scope and mediocre bench/bags. It would not stabalize the 90 gr Etip, a real shame. It shot blue box 80 gr federal SP also moa. Federal 55 gr NBT around moa too. I got a good bench now and harris with protektor bags. Plan to ammo test this fall, as I been working on other guns and its been on the back burner. Luckily, I left CA so I don't shoot the TTSX anymore, but that is what I would load for coyote and medium game in CA. If I ever rebarrel I would do a faster twist so I could shoot the nosler etip and maybe some of the higher BC bullets.

I have an identical setup in .223. To be honest, I still reach for the .223. I can watch the dogs and jackrabbits drop in the scope most the time, and for dogs I can take 1 shot without hearing protection. I wear hearing protection for all hunting even with a .22 rifle, but don't like it calling predators.

 

[Doug Beach]

Anyone know what the twist rate is? Mine is still in CA jail.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Anyone know what the twist rate is? Mine is still in CA jail.

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