B23
Gold $$ Contributor
As long as I can use the heads I win tails you lose strategy I have a 100% win ratio with coin flipping.
Tikka T3X Varmint 22-250 vs Remington 700 Varmint Stainless ADL 22-250
- Thread starter Crumster
- Start date
I just want to add to my post (#9) to clarify something.
I had to work on load development to obtain 1/2 moa. It wasn't automatic or easy to achieve with either the Tikka's or Remington's.
With the 8" twist 223 Rem Tikkas, none of my standard 50 or 55 bullets, namely Nosler BT's, would group in that range. I had to go to a 60 grain, Vmax, flat base bullet to achieve that level of accuracy plus try several different powder charges of Varget and H4895.
My Remington 22 250 (14" twist) shot the 50 grain Nosler BT's the best. The most surprising discovery was that IMR 4350 shot the absolute smallest groups, sub 1/2 moa. I would never have believed that until I tried it based on a recommendation from a fellow varmint hunter. IMR 4064, Varget, and IMR 4895 all shot well also but not sub 1/2 moa. The point being that it took some testing and load development to get in that range.
I had to work on load development to obtain 1/2 moa. It wasn't automatic or easy to achieve with either the Tikka's or Remington's.
With the 8" twist 223 Rem Tikkas, none of my standard 50 or 55 bullets, namely Nosler BT's, would group in that range. I had to go to a 60 grain, Vmax, flat base bullet to achieve that level of accuracy plus try several different powder charges of Varget and H4895.
My Remington 22 250 (14" twist) shot the 50 grain Nosler BT's the best. The most surprising discovery was that IMR 4350 shot the absolute smallest groups, sub 1/2 moa. I would never have believed that until I tried it based on a recommendation from a fellow varmint hunter. IMR 4064, Varget, and IMR 4895 all shot well also but not sub 1/2 moa. The point being that it took some testing and load development to get in that range.
Yes. Half inch groups can be elusive, particularly as it pertains to the typical varmint rifle. The 2oz, no safety triggers I use in my BR guns are not practical on a varminter as are 3" flat forearms and tuners, that make for tiny groups. I always hesitate to say this, (so I'll whisper) but the truth is that I'm never really satisfied with .500 ctc on a rifle that I take to go after distant small targets. My goal is always smaller. When I can't get there, as it's bound to happen, the rifle will go bye bye before too long.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Mauser, actually!
The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting rifle. It has an iconic place in American sporting culture and has been held in high regard by shooters since it was introduced in 1936, earning the moniker "The Rifleman's Rifle".[1] The action has some design similarities to Mauserdesigns and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54, itself being based on a Mauser 98–type action.[2]
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I have settled on the Varmint model, not the Super Varmint, for only one reason, and that is the 2 stage trigger on the Super.
Yes indeed, I have Mr. Rule's great book. Found out some interesting things after I got my ,257 Roberts.Mauser, actually!
The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting rifle. It has an iconic place in American sporting culture and has been held in high regard by shooters since it was introduced in 1936, earning the moniker "The Rifleman's Rifle".[1] The action has some design similarities to Mauserdesigns and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54, itself being based on a Mauser 98–type action.[2]
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
Solid choice, enjoy. Give us an update when you spend some time with it…
Will do.
I admit, there is a delicate and narrow margin between pursuing an accuracy goal for a given rifle and reaching a point of not wanting to waste more time and money pursuing that goal.
In my experience, one can minimize the effort by focusing on bullet selection. In other words, if after trying a few different powder charges of a powder with a history of success for a given caliber and bullet the results are not positive; try another bullet.
More often than not, it's the bullet that has turned the corner for me when it comes to accuracy. For example, by testing the 60 Vmax in my 8" Tikka 223 Rem's, there was a significant reduction in group size over my normally very accurate 55 Nosler BTs in my other rifles (12" twist).
While the aforementioned example is not surprising given the faster twist of the Tikkas, I experienced a similar event with my 243 Win, 10" Hart barrel. Unable to obtain my long-standing favorite 243 bullet, the 85 Sierra BTHP, I tested several Hornady bullets. The 75 Vmax outperformed the others by a wide margin in this specific rifle.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Remington 700 footprint is the upgradable platform. Barrels, stocks, triggers, all abound for Rem 700 platform. I wouldn't get a Rem 700 (although you can), I would get one of the various budget actions. Any of which is mostly superior to a Tikka (although I am sure it's great).
You can get a Solus, Mack Bros, Kauger, Origin, etc etc a prefit barrel, stock or chassis with any kind of trigger you choose and assemble it in a matter of an hour or less.
And it will shoot better than either of those.
You can get a Solus, Mack Bros, Kauger, Origin, etc etc a prefit barrel, stock or chassis with any kind of trigger you choose and assemble it in a matter of an hour or less.
And it will shoot better than either of those.
Ive got a sako lightweight of some kind. Cant remember the exact model, only weighs 5 lbs. close kin to the tikka. Shoots under half in. with 60 gr. noslers. That 60 grain nosler b. t. is a short bullet. Made for 1-14. Doug
Huhh? I know my hearing is bad, but I thought I could trust my eyes lol.
Tikka has a rebate for 75 bucks till end of December. I just purchased my third tikka. I have a 223 lite that is 15 years old and not as accurate as it once was. Noticed some rust in the chamber recently. It has always shot about moa with fiocchi vmax in the 50 rd box. I have killed piles of stuff with it and carried it easily 1k miles. Im going to rebarrel this to 20 practical or 223 AI.
Then I had another lite in 243 I never shot. It always shot factory ammo about 1 moa too. I barreled it with a Bartlein in 6 creed. I dropped it into a krg bravo, and It is a real hammer. Using Hornady match ammo it has never shot a group over .7 moa at 100. Best groups being .3. Avg is probably .5.Im on a portable bench and bipod too, so it can do better. About to start load development on this one.
I just bought a 223 varmint and another krg bravo. Waiting for it to arrive.
There is a lot of aftermarket support for Tikka now. All my guns have to go hunting so I like a 2 lb trigger. Mine will actually go down to 1lb 12oz according to my lyman digital. I find it as good as any of my aftermarket triggers which are Timney, triggertech, and Kidd.
Then I had another lite in 243 I never shot. It always shot factory ammo about 1 moa too. I barreled it with a Bartlein in 6 creed. I dropped it into a krg bravo, and It is a real hammer. Using Hornady match ammo it has never shot a group over .7 moa at 100. Best groups being .3. Avg is probably .5.Im on a portable bench and bipod too, so it can do better. About to start load development on this one.
I just bought a 223 varmint and another krg bravo. Waiting for it to arrive.
There is a lot of aftermarket support for Tikka now. All my guns have to go hunting so I like a 2 lb trigger. Mine will actually go down to 1lb 12oz according to my lyman digital. I find it as good as any of my aftermarket triggers which are Timney, triggertech, and Kidd.
Attachments
20+ years ago I would have said the 700, burned up a .22-250 barrel or two on p-dogs back then. My current .22-250 is the T3X lite in stainless. It is a 3/8" rig on the rare occasion I do my part.
Mine is a 1:14, if I were to buy a new one today I would get the 1:8.
Mine is a 1:14, if I were to buy a new one today I would get the 1:8.
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Pretty darn cool. Tikka should hire you as front man.
Looks good, shoots good. What's not to like.
Infrequent Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
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