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Finally got to shoot my new Tikka Varmint 223
Well I got to shoot my new Tikka T3 Varmint.
First I did my 20 shot breakin with good cleaning between each shot. I used PMC 55 grain ammo and it didn't like it one bit. My T3 Lite loves the stuff. Then I went to some various handloads one of them being 69 gr loads which has proven very accurate in my T3 lite. It seemed to like them a little bit with a .75 group of 5. Last I tried an assortment of 75 grain Amax loads (dropped the box so they were all mixed up) Well it finally liked these with 6 shots in .5 moa, 5 shots in .330 and 3 shots in .22 inches. I can tell you I wasn't holding .22 but I have to say I was pleased with that group because I dropped the 5th & 6th shot. so the 4 shots in under .33 inches is as good or better than I can shoot.
I have a 20 MOA rail with a Vortex Viper 6 x 24 on it.
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11 Replies
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Finally got to shoot my new Tikka Varmint 223
updated 10 years, 3 months ago
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11
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Sounds good.
Just wondering if you have made any trigger adjustments and what you think of the trigger.
Hope you enjoy the Tikka. -
Good deal on your .223. I am trying to get back to the range with my varmint 22-250. For those of you who have the 22-250 I will chrono the Superformance 50gr vmax and several handloads. Yesterday I loaded some Lapua brass, Federal match primers and 35.5 gr of Varget with the 50 gr vmax. I set the bullets at .010 of the lands. It will be interesting to see how this load compares with the Superformance. I know that I will not get the velocity but I am hoping for superb accuracy. The only negative with the Tikka t3 Varmint in 22-250 is the 1 in 14 twist. It limits you to 55 gr bullets although I am going to try a couple of 60 gr bullets in vmax and berger. Shoot straight!
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Ranger if you get a chance, buy some 80.5 gr Bergers use some varget,Lapua brass neckturned, uniform the primer pockets,CCI BR or Fedreal Gold match primers start at 24gr and go up till you get what you want you will never use any other bullet again I run mine about 2950 under 5″ at 900m
I am asuming your T3 is a 1/8 twist
manitou -
Yes it is a 8″ twist. I also want to try the 80 gr amax bullet and see how that works.
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Tozguy
Yes I have adjusted the trigger as light as it will go and it is very sweet. my guage says 1 1/2 lbs but feels more like 1 lb or less. If I have to I'll get an aftermarket spring and see if that even goes better.
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On my T3 varmint rifle the trigger weight is 12 oz. with no trigger spring at all.
It seems like the geometry of the trigger parts with the pressure from the main spring requires 12 oz. to trip it.
This was just an experiment. I found a lighter spring to put in and the trigger weight stayed at 12 oz.
Sweet it is! -
Hindsight,
I have shot a load for a number of years in my 22-250 that has been accurate in 3 different rifles. Accurate being 1/2 moa in all three. It is 52 gr Speer hpbt with 36.5 gr Varget and Federal 210 match primers. This load is one I load a bunch of to use in both my Kimber and my Winchester M70. Both rifles like this load as did a previous 22-250 I had. I plan to use them on a trial basis in my Savage LRPV 22-250 9″ twist.
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Thanks Ranger. Last weekend I loaded some 50 gr vmax using varget. I loaded 5 each of 35.5 gr., 36 gr. and 36.5 gr. Now I have to get some time to get to the range. What is the twist in your rifles?
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1 in 14″ so just standard
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Well after the second trip T3 Tikka Varmint, I found a 80 gr AMAX load that seems to work. 4 shots went into a ragged hole of .176 and the 5th shot I moved which extended the group to .400. I could not believe the group but was very happy with it. I used new Win Brass and 205M primers with 24.3 grains of Varget. 24.4 grains of Varget seemed to mildly start flattening primers. They are loaded to slightly off the lans.
This is the first time I used this load, does anyone think it's smart to load a bunch of these. Should I do another test. The reason I ask is I have a load with 69 gr SMK's that consistently shoots exceptional with 26 gr Varget and it works in both of my Tikka's
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Load 21.
Record your cold bore shot on a completely separate target.
Then shoot the other 20 into 4 groups of 5.
If they are still shooting within your acceptable range of accuracy (.25, .5, .75 MOA or whatever) then roll from there.
That would be my suggestion.
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