My take on tiika 223

[Strut]

Recently bought a T3 lite in 223 with 8 twist. My intent was to get a "walk around" varmint shooter. Been working up loads and at least for my rifle here are my observations;
Overall I have been very pleased. It is light and the rifle seems well built except for the design of the magazine. The cost of replacement magazines is also a rip off.
The magazine being so limited is a real annoyance. Found a link about how to modify on this forum but after altering it it is OK.
The gun prefers extruded powders. IMR 4064, Imr 4895 and Varget in that order. H335 is only so so and ww748 is no good at all.
I have really good loads for 50, 53, 55 and 60 grain bullets I have had limited success with 69 gr Sierra and HDY 75 Gr A max bullets don't shoot worth a hoot.
I am thinking about getting a larger caliber and will probably get another Tikka. Most likely a 30-06. Anyone here have any feedback on larger calibers in Tikka T3 Lite?

 

[zcrackshot]

I own four Tikka's, a 223 8 twist, 243 10 twist, 6.5X55 Swede, and a 308 Varmint. All of which have exceeded my expectations with my Swede shooting as accurately as most of my customs. I modified my 223 mag as well and it now holds 75 or 80 gr bullets with ease when seated just off the lands. I'm surprised that you're having trouble getting yours to shoot. My 223 loves the 75 gr A-max over 25 grains of Varget 15 thou off the lands. I shoot Lapua brass and Win SR primers. I started with Fed GMM primers and was getting groups in the .63"-.78" range. My grouping got considerably better when I switched to the Winchesters, now in the .25"-.55" neighborhood. It also groups 70 and 75 grain Berger VLD's very nicely. As far as larger calibers...... My swede is a one ragged hole rifle as long as it doesn't get hot. It will shoot 120 Nosler BT's and 130 or 140 Berger VLD's into tiny holes! My 243 and 308 have been slightly neglected in the load development department but both group well under an inch with the starter loads that I have been shooting out of them. My good friend owns a T3 lite in 270 Win and also 270 WSM. Both group around 3/4". Hope this helps and good luck!

Zac M.

 

[groundhogsniper23]

i got a t3 varmint in 8 twist and love my gun but yea i wish it held 75 grn a max's in the mag. right now i am shooting the hornaday tap 75 grn bthp ammo and its really dhooting good. half in or better if i could shoot.

zcrackshot how did youi mod the mag to hold the amax's?

 

[zcrackshot]

To mod the mag the bottom snap on piece has to be removed. Be careful not to mangle the little studs on the side that hold it on while removing. I used a knife to pry one side open and hold it open while I pried the other side and it popped right off. Remove the follower and spring. The plastic piece that is in the rear of the mag is only 1/32" or so thick and can easily be removed. I cut it out with a blade attachment to my soldering iron. The view from the top has plastic that must be cut as far back as you want the shells to sit. In my case I cut the opening just over a 1/4" towards the back of the mag. Be careful not to cut into the feed lips on each side of your cut. The feed lips must be smoothed out from the inside and bottom with some sort of small file of knife to assure no hang-ups during feeding. As long as the feed lips are properly smoothed out everything still works. I made a piece of wood that pressure fit into the mag the exact thickness and depth that I wanted and pushed and glued it into the back of the mag. I'm sure there are better ways of doing this but I was in a hurry. This is to create a new 'back of the mag' for the shells to rest against. After the 'wood' or new back stop has been set in place you can replace the spring and follower on the bottom of the mag. The follower will now have almost a 1/4" of play front to back but this has not affected feeding at all in my case. If you feel brave tear into it, I was scared to do it but am very glad I did. It feeds like a champ! If you want to PM me your personal e-mail I'll send you pics of my mag and such. Hope this helps.

Zac M.

 

[ChuckMiller]

I owned the T3 Varmint in a 1-8 223 and my experience with the heavies (60-80gr) was the same as Strut's, the rifle basically shot like a 1-12 twist. I also just couldn't get over the fact that you had better like that stock, with the abundance of plastic parts and the way they are integrated into the total package, you ain't changing nothing! Last, I hate it when a manufacturer takes a Long Action and modifies it to take and feed short cartridges, nothing like having a 30-06 length action shooting a 223. Had to send it on down the road.