Member msgtmike
MemberForum Replies Created
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Justa,
As far as the mag for your set-up, you should be able to just go with a factory mag for the 30-06/270/6.5×55. Don't know if you will need to screw around with the bolt stop or not.
Mike
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280,
Sorry, I was out of touch for the weekend. I will attempt to get some pics and post them later this week.
Mike
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280,
I don't know what weight bullets you are looking to shoot.
Bought my first T3 stainless lite used. It is the 223 with the 1 in 8 twist. Belonged to the owner of the gun shop who was changing up to the 22-250. Told him I was looking for a tack driving 223… my mind was set on a bull barreled rifle. He went in the back and brought out a stack of targets with dime sized and smaller groups. He said, “use the documented load and if it doesn't shoot like this, I will give you back your money.”
I will need to check my data book, but I recall it was 25.0 of Varget under a 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip or CT Ballistic Tip. Win Brass and Fed SR primers. Seated them .015 to .020 off the lands. Loaded them up and by golly if they didn't shoot into a dime at 100. This wasn't just a fluke… the rifle will do it on a very constistant basis when the nut behind the bolt does his part.
I bought a couple of extra mags and had a gunsmith friend of mine modify them so I can load the heavies.
I did a half hearted attempt with some 69 SMKs last fall… shot into an inch… like I said it was half hearted. Got some 70 Berger VLDs to try.
That 223 sold me and now there are 5 T3 Stainless Lites sitting at the house.
I did try some factory Federals with 50 grain bullets… shot gun patterns at 100. Tried some really cheap Win factory (white and black box) with the 45 grain bullets… shot very well.
Hope this helps a little.
Mike
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YoteHunter,
PM Sent
Mike
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YoteHunter,
I have a condition (mental) that makes it nearly impossible to sell off a rifle. I did manage to sell one to my best friend who fell in love with it.
To make things worse, I am always coming across things (or people) who spark my interest in something else.
Perfect example, I was talking to my smith about the AI project and he mentioned that he is getting excellent deals right now on Rem 700 short actions with Mag bolt faces. The wheels in my head start spinning about a 7WSM lightweight hunter that I want him to build for me. So in addition to the AI project, an action is on its way and I am researching barrel contours and fiberglass stocks. (I need another 7WSM like I need a hole in my head)
Don't know what 30 cal Tikka that you are thinking about, I have a T3 stainless lite in 300WSM and it is a THUMPER. Even with the DeAccellerator pad and break. But it is exactly what I wanted, lightweight rifle for walking, puts plenty of energy exactly where the crosshairs are every time.
Did you consider the 6.5-284? Those 6.5 bullets have some killer BC's and the 284 case pushes them along very smartly.
Keep me posted on your progress.
Mike
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YoteHunter,
Got thinking about this a little more… I don't think that you will need to do any work to your bolt-stop. The 284 was designed as a short action round. Unless you are really looking to shoot the VLDs or long and heavies, you should be more than fine in a short action configuration.
Mike
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YoteHunter,
Did some chatting with my gunsmith late last week and the 6mmAI reamer should be in his shop by the end of this week. I also ordered a Redding Body Die for the AI… figured I could use my Redding Neck Sizing die that I already have.
Currently I have (3) 6mm Rems. I am thinking of having him AI the Rem 700SA which has a 1in12 twist barrel. If this chambering does what I think it will, the Tikka T3 Stainless in 243 may be in the batter's box. That would make one hell of a rifle.
I was taking a look in the Sierra manual… they have load data for the 6mmAI. That is one smoking round.
Saw your other post on considering the 6-284. Another smoking round. That solution will save you the fireforming… just check on the round working in a Tikka magazine. I probably mentioned that I have a 284 Win. I had trouble finding winchester brass (they make it seasonally)… and went with Lapua 6.5-284 and necked it up. You pay more for it… but damn is that nice stuff… very consistant. So instead of like me going up .5mm— you will be going down the .5mm.
Before the end of the week I will try to get to my bench and see if the 284 brass will fit into the mag for my 243… or better yet, I will see if it will fit and work in the mag for my 6.5×55. That way if you decide to go that route, you just buy a replacement mag designed for the standard long action cals.
Let me know how the decision making process is going on your end. I will keep you posted from my end as things progress.
Mike
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Hey YoteHunter,
Still driving yourself nuts over this… Can't help you much with the what does it take. Someone here should be able to answer your question on the bolt stop. Hell, you might be able to do the mod yourself. Does your bolt actually stop where the casehead of the cartridge in the mag is or does it go all the way to the rear? I never really looked at any of mine that closely. I know that I had a couple of my 223 mags modified to shoot the heavies… the 223 bolt goes all the way to the rear.
Mike
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Hey Ataka,
What type of bullet are you using? Here in Pennsyltucky, I shot a whitetail doe a couple of years ago with the 6.5×55. I had chose the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip because I figured it would be pretty explosive on a whitetail. Well, punched her through the ribs, dime sized hole going in, quarter sized hole going out. She ran 75-100 yards but what a blood-trail! I was really impressed with the lack of bloodshot meat… as they say… You could eat right up to the hole. FWIW, I was loading those with a (Nosler) max charge of H4350 which by their book should be pushing it around 3000fps. They shot absolutely fabulous… one ragged hole at 100yds, and when the Gods smiled upon me, have shot them into 3/4″ at 200yds. This is from a T3 Stainless Lite. I do love that rifle and cartridge…
Mike
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Shooter,
Thanks again. First time I have heard about Density Altitude. This appears to greatly simplify things.
Like I said… I'm always learning.
Mike
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Gents,
Funny thing… I find the same thing. I very much agree with yukonal… 1 grain under book max=accurate load. Don't know if this would hold true for others, I usually use the slowest burning powder I can… I like a pretty full case.
Mike
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Shooter,
Very well written. Not only for the new shooter, but those of us who continue to try to improve our skills… it's a good thing to reveiw the basics, catch our bad habits that can sneak in there on us.
Nice Job!
Mike
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Deano,
Welcome to the forum.
I don't have any of the varmint versions, but all of my Tikkas are outstanding shooters. Others here will be able to give you more details on the varmint versions.
There is another post from a member (Yomm) who has the exact same rifle that you are looking at. You may want to chat with him about his new purchase.
Good luck and be warned… buy one and others will most likely follow…
Mike
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Yomm,
Good deal. I have two T3 Stainless Lites in 223 with the 1 in 8 twist. The first one was the first Tikka that I bought… and it sold me. Even in the lite configuration, that rifle will throw 55 Nosler ballistic Tips into 1/2 moa groups all day long. Last fall I tried some intitial load development with the 69 SMK's… still have some more work to do there… haven't gotten the accuracy as the 55's.
Picked the second one up right around Christmas time. It was used but in excellent condition. Got 4 kids, two are hunting age and two just starting to get them shooting. They all fight over shooting that 223… so I figured that it would be worth having a second one around… maybe I will get to shoot it some.
I picked up two boxes of 70 VLDs to give a try as well.
Shoot straight,
Mike
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Yotehunter,
The 6mm Rem (and the AI) are one of those cartridges much like the 7×57,6.5×55 and 284 Win. They all will fit into a short action, but depending on the throat and type of bullets that you decide on may be better off in a long action. I have one 6mm Rem in a Rem 700 short action with a Hart Barrel. It shoots very well at mag length, but some of the heavier (90-95 grain Ballistic Tips) have to be seated deep to fit in the mag.
Depends on how concerned you are about getting close to the lands (this will be determined by the reamer that your smith uses) AND if you are concerned about the bullet being seated deep into the boiler-room.
What really makes my 284 come into its own (I had it built on a Win Mod 70 LA) is the fact that I can seat the bullets with the rear of the bullet is at he neck shoulder junction… I can run them hotter (more powder-less pressure) than if it were in a short action and limited by action/mag length.
You may want to talk to your smith and let him know what bullets you want to use (so he can throat it properly), then see where that leaves you as far as the mag and bolt stop. Neither of these will be high dollar/hard fixes.
Just make sure that you take into account the twist rate of your current barrel to make sure it will stabilize the heavies (longer bullets). Although, the original downfall of the 6mm rem was that it came out with a 1 in 12 twist which “supposedly” wouldn't stabilize 100 grain pills. I can tell you from experience that my 1 in 12 will shoot 100 grain pills into nice little cloverleafs… Your 243 is probably a 1 in 10 or 1 in 9 twist… so you shouldn't have any problem stabilizing just about any 6mm bullets… plus you will be pushing them faster as well which helps.
One other thing, I don't know what kind of brass you are using, but prior to loading it up to fire-form to the AI, you may want to look into annealing… will help save split necks.
I have been trying the RL-17 powder. It is supposed to give you pretty good velocity gains over the other powders. I have found a load for my 300WSM that is coming around (need to spend some more time on it) but I didn't have any luck in the 7WSM. In case you needed some more things to think about. FWIW, I (and others) have found that the RL-17 doesn't get into the accuracy until I was at, just below or just above max charges. I haven't had the chrony out yet to see if the published data is true… but if it is look out.
Now I have to go and put an e-mail into my gunsmith and see how long it will take him to get in a 6mmAI reamer… damn it…
Hopefully I'm not muddying the waters for ya,
Mike
