[Dog Down]

I've had the same issue with my CTR 308 mag…

If you guys are leaving rounds stacked in the mag during travel or storage it will render the spring useless The spring does not like to be compressed with max rounds and it will loose it compression over time.
Especially if left fully compressed for long period of time…load to 9 rounds and empty completely after use and it will prolong the spring…i'm on my 3rd mag and this is helping. Stupid I know, but I'm tired of buying CTR mags…

Another issue with a very expensive Tikka gun mag…at some point they are going to have to address it or it will hurt rifles sales.  It is a weak point on this rifle…and they rust soooooo easy…make sure you oil and wipe them down if they get wet.

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I know what you mean by the content being posted lately…sort of scary that some questions being asked are actually by people that own a gun…the Forum needs new life for sure, by more experienced individuals.

I've been on and off Snipers Hide recently because I've found some good feedback for my new 6.5 Creedmoor I'm waiting on, and the knowledge base there seems to be on average from more advanced shooters, etc…

Congrats on early retirement and I hope the health issues are just scares and nothing you can't deal with and overcome.  I've recently (6 months ago) discovered I have a very rare form of heart disease…not something I went to get into on the forum, but its pretty serious so I can relate to your situation.
I wish you all the best and hope everything works out.  If you ever want to chat off forum just email me.

Cheers.

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Its been Great talking to you over the last couple of years Larkin.
You moving to another Forum or just packing it in…?

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You won't be disappointed…its really is a great rifle.
I'll leave this with you for entertainment…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCZbUuHJb6U

The funny thing…the rifle Frank tested shot just as good stock as it did with the full chassis & upgrades.
I've tried to find the old links and the complete written review but it seems to have vanished.

I think the stock Tikka T3x CTR was a complete surprise with accuracy when SnipersHide did the review and once they saw it shoot the same with upgrades the review sort of died…how do you justify expensive upgrades it it didn't not make the rifle shoot better…

Congrats on the purchase!

[Dog Down]

Both my guns really like the 165 TTSX  and would shoot MOA or better consistently with it but you have to manage that Lite barrel when group shooting.  Complete cool down between shoots to repeat performance or fire 3 as fast as you can comfortably…if you are firing 3 shot strings with varying timing and cool down to does not do well with this cartridge…the barrel heats up extremely fast which I'm sure you have noticed.

Thats why I have T3 Varmint for range shooting and a T3 Lite for hunting…
Good Luck!

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We are still talking about the 300wsm correct?  Sorta getting confused with your last post…

if yes…you can't go wrong with the load information I've given you…especially the thread on the 208gr ELDx…try it and report back.

I've shot each of these loads out to 800-1000yrds with no issues with accuracy.
The ELDx load is very very promising for long range!!!

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a good read for you…work up on the new ELDx 200gr…
https://tikkashooters.com/public_html/general-discussion/anyone-playing-with-hornady's-new-eld-eldx-bullets-yet/msg9640/#msg9640

[Dog Down]

Best shooting off the shelf factory ammo for my 2 – 300wsm's was Barnes.
Barne Vor-Tx 165gr TTSX

I tried the HSM ammo (185gr) and it was junk in mine as well…best it did was a 1.5-2″ grouping at 100 yrds.

My best reloads for hunting and target shooting:

Hunting
Winchester or Nosler Brass
180gr Accubond
H4831sc – 65.5gr to 66.5gr (accuracy node in that area for both rifles)
2800fps

Target
Winchester or Nosler Brass
178gr Amax
H4831sc – 65.5gr to 66.5gr (accuracy node in that area for both rifles)
2850fps

Both my rifles like to shoot these 2 projectiles .030-.050 off the lands.
Hope this helps you, I have not reloaded with H380 in my 300wsm rifles.

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I can give you some advice on the CTR,…I have one in 308 (wish i waited for the 260!!!)

– The barrel is great and it really does shoot well, no complaints but the finish is different from a regular blued barrel.
– The factory mag is great but fit may have to be adjusted to get it to stop rattling…easy fix.

– The 10 rd capacity is awesome and it functions very well, but oil it…it likes to rust!

– The pic rail is not the greatest…it's 0 moa and I've replaced mine with a 20 moa…again an easy fix.

– The cheek riser is useless and you will need some sort of additional material here.  I removed mine and went with a thicker neoprene butt stick riser / ammo pouch combo from Browning.

– The Tikka factory stock is always a debate but this is one T3 rifle that I wish had a better stock offering from the factory…that being said my gun shoots very well but i just think its missing a great stock to transform it form a good gun to a great gun.  My gun shoots 1/4 moa with handholds and 1/2 moa with most factory loads, I can't complain with the way it shoots but will be upgrading the stock at some point in the future.

The CTR is a better option then the regular T3x Lite due to the barrel, bottom metal, mag and mag capacity.  You will notice a huge improvement in accuracy over multiple shots with the CTR barrel versus the Lite barrel.  If you compare 2 rifles same caliber, same shooter side by side with 10 shots the target will tell the story…The lite after 3-5 rds will open right up…The CTR will string 10 shots together most often with a group half the size of the lite rifle.

Most of us that have previously bought the regular T3 or T3x rifles have upgraded the bottom metal and mag after some use… so if you can afford to buy the CTR I would do it, especially if you are looking at a 6.5 or 260…

If you choose to go forward with the regular T3x I would immediately order a bottom metal and 20moa rail for the gun.  I've supported the guys at Mountain Tactical for these items for my rifles, the product is excellent.

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All great information Eric.
The ammo prices are certainly a decision maker for most shooters.

FYI…you will laugh…

I just pulled the trigger on a custom gun from Gunwerks…and guess what…its a 6.5 Creedmoor.
They did not have a 260 choice so i went with the 6.5 and losing no sleep over it…
Custom RevX in 6.5 should be delivered to me in 6 weeks.  I'll eventually reload for it but will exploring some of the best factory ammo offerings when i get it. 

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Lol…Thanks for the post Larkin.
Thats a pretty sweet rifle you have in mind.

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All good points by Eric but heres my personal take on it…

The only reason to choose a 6.5 creedmoor over a 260 is price and availability of factory ammo….thats the only thing the 6.5 Creed will have over the 260…for 99.9 percent of the general public.

If you are an experienced shooter and reloader, the 260 still seems to be the preferred choice…its edges out the 6.5 in every category. 

Projectile advantage, over one or the other is all hype between the 2…most guys will never take advantage over the slight extra OAL the creed will allow with 140gr bullets, and the ogive design on most new projectiles effect this setting depth so much that its put both pretty much on par again.

You can't go wrong with either if price is not an option for ammo…Its only when someone shoots a new record using the newer 6.5 that everyone jumps back on the band wagon and the 6.5 is the best thing ever again…the 6.5 might not have been born if the 260 had the newer generation of shooters backing it the same way.

Anyone and everyone will be happy with whatever they choose in this 260 versus 6.5 debate.

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FYI…I had my 300wsm lite barrel threaded and the gunsmith would not thread 1/2-28…he would only complete the job if I  agreed to 9/16-24…it all to do with shoulder profile and the specific break i was going to use.

If you know what you are doing great, if not I would consult a smith in your area just to be sure before you start cutting.

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Here's what worked for me…

Single loading…to long for factory mag
24-25grns Varget
.030 off the lands (what I settled on but they do like some jump)
2700-2800fps.

Here's the thread on load data…
https://tikkashooters.com/public_html/general-discussion/promising-results-with-berger-80-5gr-fullbore-bullets-100yrds/msg6083/#msg6083

[Dog Down]

Sounds like a rock solid plan…all good components.