maverick123 Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 I am looking for a 223 and it is my first centrefire rifle, I am leaning towards a Tikka T3X as I have the 17HMR. I have seen a few second hand come up and they seem good value packages with mod etc already, described in "like new" condition. Most seem to say low shot count - is it reasonable to assume I will get long term use out of one that's fired about 250 rounds already? Seems to save 40% on a new rifle. I am looking at the heavier barrelled versions like the Varmint which i guess would mean the barrel is likely to be longer lasting anyway? I don't expect to shoot more than 50 or so rounds a year foxing and the odd muntjac for the freezer. Advice welcomed as ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangey Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 250 rounds as just about broke the barrel in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 250 rds is virtually nothing provided they were not all fired rapid fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maverick123 Posted January 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 Thank you both- certainly sounds like a good route then as I can spend my budget on better glass and bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 250 bullets the barrels should be like new if your only going to be firing average 50 bullets a year You should get years of service out of the rifle Side note if your buying 2nd hand rifle use the extra cash to buy the best scope you can afford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powler Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 25 minutes ago, Gerry78 said: 250 bullets the barrels should be like new if your only going to be firing average 50 bullets a year You should get years of service out of the rifle Side note if your buying 2nd hand rifle use the extra cash to buy the best scope you can afford Also with a scope, you may want to take in mind that in the future you may want to add a NV or thermal addon to it so you would need to take account of side parallax and low mag. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 2 hours ago, London Best said: 250 rds is virtually nothing provided they were not all fired rapid fire. As above....what does barrels is constant firing and overheating the barrel and throat. If in doubt ask for a group. I had one of the first 17 Remingtons seen over here but was told by my American friends the barrel would probably last 500 rounds. Knowing their attiude to blatting round after round down range at any inanimate object they could find I knew that in their way probably true. That rifle (Douglas Premium barrel) lasted me over ten years before the group grew to 1 inch at 100yrds and killed literally 100s of foxes, coyote, javelina, raccoons, crows, rabbits etc etc., but I only ever fired two rounds to check zero. The most I fired in relatively quick succession on one occasion was 40rds in about 45 mins at prairie dogs. Look after your barrel and it will look after you. My 308 official sniper rifle was still sub 1 inch after 14yrs of monthly practise sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 How many rounds do you estimate the .17 Rem fired accurately with careful, steady use Nev? They are a bit of a hot round, to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 I have put literally over a 1000 rounds through my 223 and I reckon it is still as accurate as ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.C Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 I have a T3X super varmint 20" heavy barrel. It's so accurate with factory ammo it's hardly worth loading for it. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 I’ve easily fired 1500 rounds through my howa 223 over 8 years and I had it secondhand . It’s still shooting 1” at 160 yards . Lads at the range are firing 10,000 through the 243’s . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 How often are you cleaning the barrel though? Most lads I know have given up cleaning the barrels for normal hunting use, say any cack in there just gets pushed out by the next round anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 15 minutes ago, Lloyd90 said: How often are you cleaning the barrel though? Most lads I know have given up cleaning the barrels for normal hunting use, say any cack in there just gets pushed out by the next round anyway. My mate had that theory and totally ruined a lovely Manlicher 7x57. Theory only works with .22 rimfire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 25 minutes ago, London Best said: My mate had that theory and totally ruined a lovely Manlicher 7x57. Theory only works with .22 rimfire. what happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 Just now, Lloyd90 said: what happened? Rust and pitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 1 hour ago, London Best said: My mate had that theory and totally ruined a lovely Manlicher 7x57. Theory only works with .22 rimfire. Agree I clean my 222 barrels after each foxing outing Maybe don’t need to do it all the time but I’m just fussy better safe than sorry 😐 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 1 hour ago, Gerry78 said: Agree I clean my 222 barrels after each foxing outing Maybe don’t need to do it all the time but I’m just fussy better safe than sorry 😐 I bought my .308 in 1989 and always clean the barrel after every stalking outing, even if only one shot has been fired. Barrel is still perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 3 hours ago, Lloyd90 said: How often are you cleaning the barrel though? Most lads I know have given up cleaning the barrels for normal hunting use, say any cack in there just gets pushed out by the next round anyway. That is so not true it almost ought to be nominated for quote of the year. You clean the barrel because steel rusts if it is not protected by oiling it. I have seen so many good rifles ruined by not cleaning and oiling. Similarly I have seen rifles ruined and ring bulged by not wiping the oil out of the barrel before firing. When I helped out in the gun shop years ago a man brought a rifle in to sell it. It was a Parker Hale Safari in .270. It had only had one outing from new, and then sat in a cabinet for about seven years. When the shop put the bore scope on it the barrel was full of rust, externally it was perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 7 hours ago, Lloyd90 said: How often are you cleaning the barrel though? Most lads I know have given up cleaning the barrels for normal hunting use, say any cack in there just gets pushed out by the next round anyway. I always dry patch mine every time . Deep clean after 10 shots I guess and push through with acetone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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