I am getting older and carrying my 700 Sendero is getting a bit heavy. I want a great shooting rifle that will be lighter and much handier to shoot. My current rifle is easily under 1/2 MOA and I admit I am spoiled. I love the Swede stats and was looking for some input. Anyone have some experience with the Tikka or Bergara in 6.5?
6.5x55 Swede Tikka, Bergara or something else?
- Thread starter Djasi1
- Start date
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Tikka builds a great rifle. Great factory trigger, smoothest bolt on the market and side bolt release. Their factory barrels are accurate. I shot my CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor yesterday. I haven’t shot it in years. I had a box of reloads for it, so I took it to my range. It shot into 3/4” for a couple 5 shot groups.
Now I love the 6.5x55 and I have 4 guns that shoot it, one being a custom. I tried to repress my Creedmoor dislike and studied my reloading book to compare the numbers. They really are about equal in performance on paper.
The reason I mention this is because there is a CTR for sale at a good price on the sale board. I’ll also mention that I own 8 Tikkas and they all shoot well, except one. It’s an old 595 in 223 and I can’t get it under an inch at 100. It keeps spitting a flier that ruins the group. I guess I’m spoiled by my other Tikkas.
I was tempted to buy that CTR because of the good price, but it’s the exact gun I have.
Now I love the 6.5x55 and I have 4 guns that shoot it, one being a custom. I tried to repress my Creedmoor dislike and studied my reloading book to compare the numbers. They really are about equal in performance on paper.
The reason I mention this is because there is a CTR for sale at a good price on the sale board. I’ll also mention that I own 8 Tikkas and they all shoot well, except one. It’s an old 595 in 223 and I can’t get it under an inch at 100. It keeps spitting a flier that ruins the group. I guess I’m spoiled by my other Tikkas.
I was tempted to buy that CTR because of the good price, but it’s the exact gun I have.
Sounds like you probably need to look at the T3X lite to cut weight, the CTR will be about the same weight as your Sendero according to info I see. The nice part of the T3X is, odds are it'll be a shooter, and you don't need to do anything exotic to the existing trigger, other than maybe put a Yo Dave or McCarbo spring in it, if you want to, which is a ridicuously cheap and easy task. And if you decide you don't like the stock, there are plenty of alternatives around.
rockhound78
Silver $$ Contributor
Going to suggest the Ruger #1, but might be a bit heavier than you want
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
The less big game hunting I do, the less I care about the feed system on rifles. And even for hunting, a single shot would suffice most always.
Quickest way to shed a pound or two of weight on a rifle is to leave off a magazine full of shells. I don't know what you're doing with your rifle, but that might be something to think about.
Our rifles are kind of ironic. The more weight we add to em, the more expensive they get. -- If ya want to make them even more expensive, just try to make them lighter.
jd
Quickest way to shed a pound or two of weight on a rifle is to leave off a magazine full of shells. I don't know what you're doing with your rifle, but that might be something to think about.
Our rifles are kind of ironic. The more weight we add to em, the more expensive they get. -- If ya want to make them even more expensive, just try to make them lighter.
jdThe "easy Button" for Me was, a New Tikka, T-3, Lite SS, Lefty, in 6.5 Creed. to replace, the .243 Win and .270 WSM ( My Elk Rifle ) that, I gave to, my "Lefty" grandson, a couple of years back and I Have, NO regrets, on my choice of,.. Rifle & Cartridge ! With, Scope / mounts, etc., the weight is Sub 8 Pounds and "Clover Leaf's", 3 of the 130 gr., ELD-M's with, 43.3 grains ( "Thrown" Charges ) of StaBall 65 Powder @ 2,850 fps.
With, the PVA Back Country Brake on it, there is, very Little, Recoil,.. w/ the 130's !
It's Dream to Carry and Shoot, all Field Positions at, 8 to 10 inch, Steel Plates out to, 850 yards !
The Swede is hard to beat for a reloader, it is a varmint, deer or Moose cartridge. It works with a 20" barrel and can be had in many different actions by many makers. Dozens of BR shooters started BR competition with a 6.5x55, it is that accurate. It is also accurate with 85s to 160 grain bullets and all kinds of powders.
You really need to meet a Finn that hunts with 6.5x55, they hunt everything with the 6.5x55. We live in an area where we have many national and international ammo and gun test program visitors from multiple countries come to our testing facilities. Asking them about hunting in their countries is most interesting.
I lke the bolt guns, myself and own a dozen 6.5x55 rifles. Difference is I do not buy, I build on the dogs I find in shops or from individuals that do not take care of their guns.
You really need to meet a Finn that hunts with 6.5x55, they hunt everything with the 6.5x55. We live in an area where we have many national and international ammo and gun test program visitors from multiple countries come to our testing facilities. Asking them about hunting in their countries is most interesting.
I lke the bolt guns, myself and own a dozen 6.5x55 rifles. Difference is I do not buy, I build on the dogs I find in shops or from individuals that do not take care of their guns.
Rubberduckie
Gold $$ Contributor
I've got a tikka t3 forest. It really likes berger 135 classics and h4350. 1 hole groups. Tikkas are fantastic, smooth and with a cheap trigger spring upgrade are the best factory rifles.
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