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Would like some help on new Tikka
Hi guys, new here, and new to Tikkas. I currently shoot a Winchester 70 HV barrel 223 Rem, it's a track driver! But I'm looking into a .308, and not looking to break the bank. A few years ago I looked at Tikkas, and find myself here again!
I can't dispute the price or accuracy, so Tikka it is. I had a few questions for the owners though. I'm looking to get a 308, would like a threaded barrel, which leaves me with the Tac or the sporter. Although I think the stainless would serve me better in hunting….. plus save a few bucks. But love the idea of a bullish barrel, like my HV on my Winny.
I shoot fairly fast, about a round a minute at the range. Has any one notice the thinner stainless barrels get off target with heat? Is it worth the extra $$$ for the tac or sporter to get the thicker barrel? Or should I just thread a SS lite and try to not be so abusive?
Thanks in advance!
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10 Replies
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Hi gehlsurf and welcome!
The Tac is a fine rifle, the Sporter is nice but costly – you might want to look at the CTR – threaded & 10 shot mags.Good luck!
-Eric -
I second what Eric suggest…you can fill all your wants if you buy the “Stainless CTR”….
All 308 & 260 CTR's seem to be great shooters. I've shot several 5 shot groups with my 308 CTR under .5″ @ 200yrds – measured from outside bullet holes…so its a 1/4 or less MOA gun when everything comes together easily…Here's a post of a group I shot awhile back to verify the claims…
https://tikkashooters.com/public_html/general-discussion/ctr-308-reload/msg7368/#msg7368 -
Wow, that is impressive shooting!
But I guess I'm having a hard time noticing the differences here. Does the TCR (which was my first pick, cause I'm a smaller guy) have a thicker barrel than the Varmint? And how much thicker than the regular T3's? It's about $500 more than the Varmint, the Varmint being $300 or so more, but from what I can see has a thicker barrel than regular T3s, that I can cut down and thread. 10 shot doesn't mean much to me, as I can only hunt with 5 rounds. For more, I'll grab my Sig MCX with the Binary Trigger 😉
Does anybody happen to have barrel specs for the different models?
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I'd go with the varmint if don't mind doing some work in the gun later.
I have 2 stainless Varmints, 223 & 300wsm and both are 1/4 Moa guns. -
That's what I was thinking, save a cool few hundred bucks, haha, better glass? But still wondering the specs of these barrels. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find alot of Tikkas around to hold them side by side
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I'll measure mine tonight and take a picture with the 2 barrels side by side for you.
I'm doing pretty much exactly what you might want to do… Building a long range system around a T3 varmint action & barrel, in my case its a 300wsm …changing all plastic to metal, then do the the stock.Have everything put together except a stock to complete the build so far, the guns shoots extremely well with handholds.
https://tikkashooters.com/public_html/general-discussion/my-new-long-range-hunting-rifle-done-right!/ -
Here's a side by comparison between the Varmint and CTR barrels….
The Varmint profile has a lot more material / thickness than the CTR but both shoot equally well…If you are looking to buy a rifle with the intention to using the action / barrel to build a rifle, I can't see how you can go wrong with the factory Varmint barrel.
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I like long barrels so the varmint gets my vote as well, $100-150 to get it threaded and your still ahead of the game. I also like the standard bottom “metal” format- meaning the soon to come aftermarket mags will make the CTR mag the less flexible option (perhaps). I would recommend the MT aluminum bottom “metal” as it really “crisps” up the action bolt seating.
– Eric -
Sounds like a plan!! Thanks for the pics! I would've never thought that the Varmint was actually that much thicker than the CTR, glad I asked. Funny, most of the time the thick barrels is what drives the price of a rifle up, but I guess “Tactical” is all the rage now.
I like a thicker barrel for bench shooting, and in the woods I really don't notice the weight that bad (I usually carry my rifle along my back, diagonal from shoulder to hip if that makes since), but at the range, I run into being impatient, and hate having to weight for a barrel to cool down. So I gladly take thicker!!!
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Hehe, wait till your at 9,000 feet trying to put the sneak on an elk or Mule deer and then if you don't notice the extra weight I will be very impressed! All kidding aside, heavy barrels have lots of advantages if weight is not your primary concern. One thing I think about is that buying a heavy barrel lets you use the stock for many barrels in your collection where a light version limits the value of your stock since it won't fit between rifles not in a slender profile.
-Eric
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