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Tikka T3x 6.5 Creedmoor
Picked up a new Tikka T3x Lite stainless in 6.5 Creedmoor after Christmas. Did not really “need” another hunting rifle but I have always been intrigued with the 6.5's and I wanted a lightweight rifle. I mounted a Leupold VX3(3.5-10×40) in Warne vertical split rings.
Local mom and pop gun store actually had a reasonable selection of 6.5 CM ammo and some of it was on clearance or had rebates available. Since the rifle will primarily be a hunting rifle my first focus was to see how it would shoot the cheaper hunting ammo. Bought the only box of Hornady 129 grain American Hunter ammo they had, 2 boxes of Winchester 125 Deer Season XP and 1 box of 140 grain American Eagle Match ammo.
Finally got the chance to go to my friends farm yesterday to get the rifle sighted in and get in a little trigger time with the new Tikka. The temperature was about 45 with a gusty crosswind. I don't think it was enough to affect my bullets but it did move my cardboard target holders around some. I could hunt with the Winchester ammo as it produced reasonable groups of about 1.25″. However, the little Tikka simply loved the 129 grain Hornady Interlocks by shooting several 3 shot sub MOA groups. I had high hopes for the 140 grain American Eagle Match but it was the least accurate of the 3. I will shoot it up and reuse the brass.
I plan to try some handloads and some “premium” factory ammo but realistically, I'd be perfectly happy with the results of the Hornady American Hunter. I have some Nosler BT's and some Hornady SST's that I will eventually handload.
Thus far I am very pleased with the rifle and feel it will work well as an accurate, light weight hunting rifle.
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3 Replies
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Been thinking about getting this rifle, just with a blued barrel.
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Great evaluation, if you get into reloading I will be interested in your results!
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I bought one in April and I tried Hornady whitetail hunter, sst, and the eld ammo. Mine love the Whietail hunter also but the other two preformed well also.
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