Tikka T3 Varmint

[ioan]

Just ordered:

 

-Tikka Varmint stainless and synthetic in .223

-Doctor 3-12x56 with DBA reticle

-Leupold mounts

 

Now for a silencer cant decide on which one to get.

 

ASE Jet Z Compact, a T8 or Wildcat Predator 8.

 

I have not got much experience when it comes to reflex moderators so I'm wondering would the reflex type moderators leave a mark on the barrel for the length that they cover the barrel.

 

Also am I right in believing that the T3 varmint would come with a 1 in 8 twist barrel in .223 ?

[Graham M]

They come in both 1-8 and 1-12 so you will have to decide what weight bullets you want to shoot first.

If you want to stick to 55grn bullets and below, then the 1-12 will be ideal.

As for a moderator, have a look at the Wildcat P8.

G.M.

[6br]

Hi a nice little set up you got coming there,had all them mods and like the jet-z best the reflex type mods can make a mark on the barrel if the bush is fitted to tight and needs a bit of clearance 1 to 4 thou, I have a mate that has the same rifle and his is a 1 in 8 twist and it shoot the 75gr a-max very well.

[ioan]

Cheers for replies chaps. Looking at the T3 catalogue it says that the Varmint .223 only comes in the 1 in 8 twist, just i was a bit confused with some people saying that T3s are only being imported in 1 in 12.

 

cheers

Ioan

[ostrea]

I picked my new Tikka super vermint up on Friday that is a 223 1-8 twist put my second hand S&B 2.5-12X56 and bought a wildcat predator 8that fits very nicely over the barrel without it being to tight going on.

 

Took it to the range yesterday and only had a box of prvi partizan 55g with me, within 10 shots i was hitting groups of three inside a 1 inch target at 100 yds i was very happy with this as i have only been using the club guns in the past.

 

Cheap ammo and a gun new out of the box totally impressed can not wait till my local Gun shop opens on Tue to get a few more rounds through it.

 

Bought the Rifle from Northallerton shooting and country wear 380 mile round trip for me, but worth it for the profesional and friendly help from the staff there.

[Graham M]

S P E C I F I C A T I O N

 

TIKKA T3 VARMINT

 

TECHNICAL DATA

 

Action caliber rate of twist

204 Ruger 12"

222 Rem 14"

223 Rem 8"

223 Rem 12"

22-250 Rem 14"

243 Win 10"

260 Rem 8"

7mm-08 Rem 9.5"

308 Win 11"

T3 25-06 Rem 10"

6.5x55 SE 8"

270 Win 10"

30-06 Sprg 11"

9.3x62 14"

7 mm Rem Mag 9.5"

300 Win Mag 11"

338 Win Mag 10"

270 Win Short Mag 10”

300 Win Short Mag 11”

[Paddy Galore!]

That does depend on whether GMK can be ***** to import you 1n 8", if they dont have one in stock, it takes an age.

 

Dont use the Leupold mounts, get optilocks, they are far kinder to scopes and designed for the gun.

there is a 6 month waiting list for the stainless laminate version, GMK are useless sometimes.

[6br]

Does you mate get decent expansion with the 75 A-max, they are good long range varminters ballistically but they just seem too hard when I have tested them. This by the way is not a should he shouldnt he dig, it is a genuine question.

 

Hi yes he get's good expansion on foxes out to 300 yards, velocity is around 2700 2800 fps but has a good ballistic coefficient .435 so it don't lose velocity like the lighter heads do.

a mate uses the 105gr A-Max in his 6mmbr and claims it to be the most explosive bullet he has tested.

[6br]

Im getting about 3200 with them in the 22BR and I know about the BC advantage, they just seem to punch holes though. The big a-max 930 cal etc) that hornady "say" can be used on deer seem to give very inconsistent results with our american friends.

 

go onto www.6mmbr.com and click onto the varminter & hunting 13th post down A-MAX FOR VARMINTS there is a bloke on there with a .223 that has shot ground

squirrel using 75gr A-MAX at 300 yards,hit in the chest and nearly took it's head off.

[Dekers]

there is a 6 month waiting list for the stainless laminate version, GMK are useless sometimes.

 

 

If GMK told you 6 months then you will be lucky to see it inside a year!

[Dekers]

Cheers for replies chaps. Looking at the T3 catalogue it says that the Varmint .223 only comes in the 1 in 8 twist, just i was a bit confused with some people saying that T3s are only being imported in 1 in 12.

 

cheers

Ioan

 

 

About 5-6 years back all the .223 Tikkas and Sako were 1-12, then they changed them to all 1-8 for about two years or so, then they changed their mind and ran BOTH, but GMK generally only import the 1-12 now.

 

I bought my T3 Stainlees Lite .223 during the 1-8 period and it seems happy with everything from 40g-75g; for target work I tend to use 62g and field work 50-55g, it delivers them all where it gets pointed as several on this site know very well! !

[ioan]

Will have to check with my dealer which one I'm getting, because preferably I would rather the 1 in 8. The place where he gets his Tikka's from has 3 varmint S/S. @ £910. so it will be ready next week, just waiting on my certificate to come back.

[Pipmoff]

As said previously use the optilock mounts/rings they wont mark the scope tube and are rock solid. As for an over barrel moderator what about an ASE Northstar they are like the T8 but stainless so dont rot like the T8/T4 and do not have the rear bush which will rub the finish on the barrel.

The other thing is the varmints are a heavy gun when complete with mod and bipod. My .223 is a Sako varmint and it takes some lugging around great from the motor or a fixed position though.

Edited July 27, 2010 by Pipmoff

[mayfly36]

My own intentions were to get a varmint in 1:8 twist, but my reply was the same. 6 to 9 months waiting list, if i was lucky, all this from GMK. The reason i found out why the waiting list was that "APPARENTLY" GMK had come to some arrangemwnt with tikka.fi not to import anymore !;8 twist rifles into the UK. Now had GMK shed load off 1;12 that they needed sold, no one will know, but a sneaky move i think by the main importer off firearms in the uk.

In the end i went for a 1:8 t3 lite and wouldnt look back. I have the ase ultra compact on, lighter than putting a t8 or wildcat on

[Dekers]

The Optilock mounts are **** for the money, I bought them for my first Tikka because I was a little naive, best part of £100!

 

For my second Tikka I bought Sportsmatch, about £20-£22 I think, In my mind forget the price, they are better anyway!!

 

8 V Bulls and 2 Bulls with my cut T3 Lite .223 at 600 yards at Bisley in someone else hands and with a development load says they work!!

Edited July 27, 2010 by Dekers

[Graham M]

Course they work. But with the Optilocs you can take them off and put them back on again and they will be almost cock-on. Try that with those cheap aluminium Sportsmatch mounts and you will find that they will swage a little every time you tighten them up. They are OK if you don’t mind having cheap mounts.

The Optilocs have a fibre type liner inside the rings that automatically line up the scope so that it isn’t twisted or forced by a set of rings that may be slightly off.

They are expensive, yes, but they will last a lifetime, whereas the Sportsmatch will wear very quickly once you start to take them on and off.

If you like them and feel confident with the, then fine. But don’t over-tighten them or keep moving them because they will bend and warp with too much pressure.

G.M.

[Dekers]

Course they work. But with the Optilocs you can take them off and put them back on again and they will be almost cock-on. Try that with those cheap aluminium Sportsmatch mounts and you will find that they will swage a little every time you tighten them up. They are OK if you don’t mind having cheap mounts.

The Optilocs have a fibre type liner inside the rings that automatically line up the scope so that it isn’t twisted or forced by a set of rings that may be slightly off.

They are expensive, yes, but they will last a lifetime, whereas the Sportsmatch will wear very quickly once you start to take them on and off.

If you like them and feel confident with the, then fine. But don’t over-tighten them or keep moving them because they will bend and warp with too much pressure.

G.M.

 

 

How many people take their mounts/scopes on and off all the time, but frankly I have anyway, several times, trying to get my T3 Lite balanced.

 

The Optilock have an inherent fault in that it is IMPOSSIBLE to align the base and rings accurately, hence they need the plastic insert??

 

£90-£100 or £20-£22... it's very simple, I have both, on each of my Tikkas...The Sportsmatch work as well if not better than the Optilock!

 

If anyone feels inclined to buy Optilock then fine, strikes me for that money they should have thought of a way to align the rings and base accurately, so, if they are that good and that well made why haven't they machined an accurate fitting for the two??

 

ATB!!

[ioan]

On the topic of the silencer for my T3 varmint. Has anyone got much expeirence of the ASE North star I am right in assuming that this is a reflex type? Price / specs etc? is it suitable for .223?

Edited July 28, 2010 by ioan

[Pipmoff]

I have a Northstar on my 6.5x55 and my mate uses one on his .243 yes they are a reflex overbarrel.

I have a T8 on my .223 and sound wise they are similar, but the Northstar has to be considered as the new improved version of the T8 it does not rust as its stainless but it cannot be stripped like a Predator 8 or some of the other mods available.

[ioan]

Cheers for that Pipmoff. if you dont mind, how much did the ASE set you back, and is it a bit too big for a .223 ie more suitable for bigger calibres. Because this was the opinion of my RFD.

[Pipmoff]

I think I paid £230 for mine new they come in 2 sizes that I know of up to .25 Cal and then.30 Cal which does up to .308 this is what I have for the 6.5x55.

My mate tried his .243 one on his .22 Hornet and it was fine.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Pipmoff