Forums › Forums › General Discussion › T3 Varmint vs. CTR (.308)
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T3 Varmint vs. CTR (.308)
Posted by Milo on July 19, 2015 at 2:44 pmHi everyone, i'm Milo from Romania Europe, glad that i found you and hope you can advice me a bit.
Looking for a rifle, and taking very seriously in consideration a Tikka T3 … budget allows me to choose from the Varmint model or CTR … anyway probably i will stick to 308win
I intend to use the rifle on target practice and hunting
-some varmint hunting
-wild boar and red stag from high towers
-maybe some roe deer stalking
so it's not gonna be a rifle for long walks, climbing mountains or fast paced driven hunts., and since i'm just starting with rifles i'm not expecting accuracy to hit a pigeon in the eye at 1000 yardsSince the both rifles look kind of similar what would you choose?
Is there any technical difference? does any manipulate and operate different than other?Thanks! best regards
MiloDog Down replied 7 years, 6 months ago 6 Members · 18 Replies -
18 Replies
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T3 Varmint vs. CTR (.308)
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The only different between the 2 guns, is the barrel length / contour and the bottom metal / mag combo (capacity & length). Its also nice that the CTR is threaded for muzzle break or suppressor.
Everything else is the same, both are great guns and very easy to load for in 308.
I have a CTR 308 and it loves 168gr Amax over 45gr of Varget. I prefer the bottom metal and Mag of the CTR but I like the barrel weight and characteristics of the Varmint model for bench / target shooting. Both guns feel different and behave differently on a bench. I find the Varmint with its extra barrel length and forward weight makes the rifle recoil more straight back with little hop. The CTR is not as controllable with its shorter length, it tends to jump more. Its a small thing to pick at but if given the opportunity to shoot each gun you will see what I mean.Its a tough choice to really pick just one. If you are doing more bench shooting, you may like the Varmint more. If you are doing more hunting you will most likely like the CTR because of the shorter pre-threaded barrel and extra ammo capacity.
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My varmint has a threaded barrel from the factory
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My varmint has a threaded barrel from the factory
Your lucky…I'm in Canada and I have not seen them offered that way here.
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Thank you for your input.
There will not be much bench shooting with it, not very popular here, and we don't have many ranges.
Surpressor not allowed here or the other countries i go hunting, but you never know …
What about the muzzle break ?? does it worth it adding one ? 308 is a pretty pleasant caliber to shootpretty much set on the CTR, now i just have to find a dealer to deliver it in time
Thanks
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I have a Vais muzzle brake on my CTR and I love it…its not as aggressive as other brakes with larger ports but it works well with the 308. It greatly helped cure most of the muzzle jump with the short light gun.
And the percussion wave is not so bad when shooting if you are standing near the gun…makes the gun shoot like a 223-243…You can get better brakes that will almost eliminate all recoil for a 308 but they are extremely loud. The Vais is a nice balance of recoil reduction and sound.
I have a “Quatromax” brake on my 300wsm and its a totally different beast then the Vais….it is extremely loud but works amazing…my 300wsm recoils like my 223, even with 200gr bullet/load combos…Very good design! check it out…http://www.gunsmith.co.nz/muzzlebrakes.html
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I have used “clamp on brakes” but recognize that there is no substitute for a gunsmith installed- threaded brake of most any design.
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Looking for a rifle, and taking very seriously in consideration a Tikka T3
Since the both rifles look kind of similar what would you choose?
Is there any technical difference? does any manipulate and operate different than other?Thanks! best regards
MiloTikka Stainless Varmint.
All this nonsense about bottom metal and extra capacity is B.S.
One shot is all you'll use 99 percent of the time. Other 1 percent will be a follow up shot. 3rd shot, the animal is gone.
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Eh YukonAl is mostly correct. My shooting is single shot usually. I do have expensive aftermarket magazines for my .223, but I have to agree with YukonAl that there is no advantage to having 3 more rounds available for any given target set up… This is not what YukonAl said, but is my take on his statement.
Also if you are looking for good advice , then follow dogdown's replies. He has a keen insight on accurate loading.
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I totally agree with all statements on mag capacity for most hunting like Deer, Moose, Stag…etc…
A 3 shot mag should do everything you need it do on a single standing target, most times 1 good shot is all you need and the animal is down. But this is not the case when you introduce multiple targets when predator or boar / hog hunting.I've been on many coyote hunts when I've wished I had more than a 3 shot mag in the gun…If you ever have one of those days when you call in multiple dogs you will need more then 3 shots especially if they scatter and run after you drop the first dog. Still targets are easy to hit but try keeping a running dog in the scope and get the correct lead…Thats when a semi or extra mag capacity will be your friend.
I have friends that hog hunt in the US and they only use semi auto's & bolt guns with extra ammo capacity.
It really depends on the type of hunting you are doing. The CTR will work in any situation with its configuration, its very versatile for any hunting situation. -
But this is not the case when you introduce multiple targets when predator or boar / hog hunting.
I've been on many coyote hunts when I've wished I had more than a 3 shot mag in the gun…If you ever have one of those days when you call in multiple dogs you will need more then 3 shots especially if they scatter and run after you drop the first dog. Still targets are easy to hit but try keeping a running dog in the scope and get the correct lead…Thats when a semi or extra mag capacity will be your friend.
Now you went and made me jealous. I have a crazy hard time getting ONE dog in every 10-15 stands!
But, I gotta admit…3/4 of the time, my AR goes coyote hunting. And in TX…single hogs get killed with the Beast. Groups get pounded with my 6.8 AR.
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But this is not the case when you introduce multiple targets when predator or boar / hog hunting.
I've been on many coyote hunts when I've wished I had more than a 3 shot mag in the gun…If you ever have one of those days when you call in multiple dogs you will need more then 3 shots especially if they scatter and run after you drop the first dog. Still targets are easy to hit but try keeping a running dog in the scope and get the correct lead…Thats when a semi or extra mag capacity will be your friend.
Now you went and made me jealous. I have a crazy hard time getting ONE dog in every 10-15 stands!
But, I gotta admit…3/4 of the time, my AR goes coyote hunting. And in TX…single hogs get killed with the Beast. Groups get pounded with my 6.8 AR.
LOL..don't be jealous, we don't have any of that fine TX bacon running around! I'd love to have the opportunity to hunt hogs on a regular basis…
You gotta come up north and hunt in Ontario Canada, coyotes everywhere! Predator hunting as not caught on in Ontario like other parts of the country. There are so many coyotes here they are actually a problem in major cities and rural towns…munching on small dogs and cats. There was actually a guy attacked in a lay down duck blind this past fall…Dam dog actually stalked him from beyond and pounced on his head. The guy suffered some serious injures. We try to shoot as many as possible all year round to help the Deer population on a parcel of land we hunt. Its a private 2000 acre property owned by friends with a small hunting cabin. Great retreat and really good hunting, I'm very lucky to be part of their group.
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Planing to put a Leupold VX6 3-18×50 on top of it!
ANy better options for the money?
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Thats a great scope, can't say anything negative about it but make sure you get a MOA turret with it.
Vortex would be the only other brand of scopes in this price range I would suggest looking at…
I have this exact model and its the best buy I have made in a long time…Its a great long range shooting scope and I hunt with it all the time. The only problem is the 6x …not ideal for big game inside 100yrds but not an issue when you practice with it.http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/viper-hs-lr-6-24×50-ffp-with-xlr-moa-reticle
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If it was my money the Vortex is a better scope than the Leupold , for just a little more take a look a the Minox Zp 5 or the new Kahles 624i also the Meopta meotac all three worth the little extra spent , if you want to go more to the hunting side Zeiss is the way to go
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