The Tikka Practical Rifle - A new favorite.
Posted Oct 10, 2017, 12:54 PM UTC
52379
For an upcoming Gunsite class called "Practical Rifle", I decided to build up something that satisfied the requirements. These were for a lightweight, compact, common full caliber rifle with single and magazine load capability, and an optic made for deer and man sized targets from 25 yards to 500 yards.
Specifications:
- Tikka T3X Compact 308 Winchester
- Barrel cut to 16.25" with a Silencerco ASR brake for an Omega 300 (in jail)
- Tikka Performance 20 MOA base
- Andy Langlois leather Rhodesian sling
- 5rnd Tikka mags
- Steiner P4Xi scope. Reticle calibrated for a 200 yard zero with correct holds for 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards. Also a throw lever. Red dot for closer shots. https://i.imgur.com/pYY8XzRh.jpg
- Ammo saddle for the buttstock
I've been putting this rifle through its paces by doing some of the drills Jeff Cooper created for practical rifle shooting, and I must say this rifle is near perfect for it. Offhand I can muster 300 yards on IPSC torso plates, and once supported such as sitting and slinged, 500 yard shots are quite manageable.
Ask whatever you'd like. To me this is the best you can do in most of the US for a medium game rifle. And that brake cuts recoil down to near 223 levels.
37
I really want to do a build similar to this in terms of barrel length to be a host for my omega. What are the major draw backs of cutting a 308 barrel to that length? How much velocity/energy are you sacrificing? Nice looking setup by the way! Thanks
5
From a MagnetoSpeed, 7.62 NATO M80 ball (ZQI turkshit) is hitting right about 2730 FPS at 80F ambient. I'll post again after this weekend when I do a load test for the barrel length with a bunch of different loads, preferably ones not from ISIS supporters.
11
From what I've read about it, shorter barrels cause the bullet to drop much more sharply at distance. But for hunting purposes, I can't imagine someone trying to take game at 500 yards so you should still be effective with a shorter barrel.
I'd definitely bring ear pro with me though. That thing has got to be loud as hell.
2
It's just a function of not having the same velocity as a longer barrel. Since it doesn't have as much speed it will go transonic at shorter ranges and drop more. At that distance it won't go transonic but trying to double the distance without the can on will prove to be problematic.
12
308 handles short barrels just fine
2
I love the practical rifle concept. I’ve always had a thing for low powered optics on bolt action rifles. I’ve always wanted a slinged up lightweight 16” rifle like yours but with a Leupold fixed power scope. Maybe the 2.5x that weighs only 6oz. If only it had BDC it would be perfect
https://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-fx-ii-2-5x20mm-ultralight-rifle-scope.html
3
https://i.imgur.com/Qzldgr3.jpg Heres some inspiration bro.
And if you wondered, the bipod weighs 3oz with mounting spigot.
1
ALSO: The Tikka is a great choice and I commend you for it for this use. It is IMO far superior to say a savage, ruger or remingturd simply because the action is buttery smooth. Also it has a 1 MOA guarantee, and often does half that with good ammo. All around great deal.
https://i.imgur.com/Qzldgr3.jpg
Your rig is very similar to mine in setup. I would love to take that class.
You pretty much built an awesome hunting rig btw, so you should def. go on some.
If you got mad dough you should hook it up with a NeoPod Bipod, it weighs in at 3oz with the mount. Fun little thing, but insane price.
3
Care to share more details about the drills you're running?
2
With a timer I'm doing a low ready snap shot, slung snap shot, a modified Cooper Rifle Ten drill but from 75 yards with reduced targets, and general from timer get into slinged standing shot, sitting, and prone. Also something like a failure drill where you do two to the torso and one to head.
Really, it's about weapons craft. I can shoot an AR and my Shadow 2 like they're squirt guns, but it's nowhere near as valuable in skill as being able to pick up any given rifle and handgun and do well in a given scenario.
2
What’s the total weight?
1
How is the reticle? Are the lines useful for ranging/drop compensating?
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It's fantastic. https://i.imgur.com/pYY8XzRh.jpg
1
I recently bought a Tikka T3x compact tactical "used" (though if I had to bet I'd say it's had less than 20 rounds down the barrel) and wanted to put together something almost exactly like what you have here. Thanks for the inspiration.
1
A little late but how do you like the sling on your rifle? I've been looking at getting one for my Tikka T3x CTR for quite some time.
1
It's a fast sling for shooting, a decent sling for stability, and a mediocre one for carrying. Slings are always a compromise.
1
Very attractive. How do you like the Steiner? I have a T5Xi 15x on an AR but haven't really put it through the paces yet
6
What would you peg cost at?
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$510 rifle, $475 scope with lever, $100 rings, $70 base, $60 sling, $80 brake, $80 gunsmith, $30 buttstock pack, $35 magazines.
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Thanks! I'm a long time lurker who doesn't own a gun. Practically would drive the purchase. Hard to not go the AR / Glock route though.
5
depends on what you want to do with it. this rifle is just about perfect for hunting deer sized game, and due to being 308 is better suited for ranges passed 400 yards if youre target shooting. ar's are better for home defense and 3-gun style shooing where speed matters more than accuracy.
thats not to say that a bolt gun cant have a 20 round mag shoved in it and be pressed into an HD role, or that an ar-15 cant reach 1000 yards. but those are the exceptions, not the rule
3
That all makes sense. I lurk r/longrange too which is why this rifle is especially interesting. I'd love to check out a 3 gun comp some day. So many options!
1
Where'd you find the rifle so cheap? I'm seeing ~$800 but maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing
2
the plain jane tikkas arent anywhere close to $800. either your local gun shops are thieves, or youre looking at the wrong models online
3
Whittaker Guns online. It's the T3X Compact.
1
Is that the same mag as the t3x 308 ctr? Ten round mags for that were always out of stock and costly. Hmm. Just googled and looks like after a year they are back in stock, but still $80 each, with $150 msrp.
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CTR uses the ridiculous TRG magazines. T3 and T3X use standard long action mags and are $35 at budsgunshop.
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I'm not that familiar, but that sounds about right. Any idea why they are so expensive?
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It looks a lot like the Gunsite Scout rifle made by Ruger. I have one in .308 and it is quickly becoming my favorite rifle.
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It's pretty far from that. The extended eye relief is almost pointless, as are backup iron sights and big detachable magazines.
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i dont totally agree with the big magazine statement. yeah, backup irons are mostly pointless and extended eye relief only has a place if you are loading with stripper clips; and of course youre no using stripper clips because you have a detachable magazine.
for durr hunting, you dont need 20 rounds. but i go varmint hunting at night, and its nice to have more than 5 rounds before i have to reload when i may shoot 40 rounds in a night
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Holy shit do they come in herds these varmints?
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Large field with rabbits? Flocks and flocks of them. Or gophers in my uncle's yard... I think he has a breeding program.
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[deleted]
-3
unless, of course, i dont want to
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So have you changed your tune about the pointless backup iron sights after your optic broke?
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Yeah all that is optional setup with the scout. But your rifle looks fantastic and it’s clear you have a winner with the Tikka platform.
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I've got the Savage one, love it.
2
Can that Tikka be top loaded with the magazine still in the rifle? The lack of being able to top off a bolt gun is one of my biggest pet peeves with so many modern versions.
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Can't. Only good one I know is a Winchester Model 70 but you cannot use a scope base.
2
Savages can as well as the Ruger Scout with the new polymer mags and the CZ 550
2
Sounds like you want a Blaser R8 or Mauser M03. Those are some modern guns that might suit you. Or perhaps SAKO offerings.
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it cannot, you have to buy magazines for it.
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That’s cool. I’ll have to look into them.
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1 inch longer barrel and it would be perfection.
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Where did you buy that ammo saddle? I love how this rifle is set up.
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I’ve never even heard of Tikka. Are they any good?
-1†
Yes, they are quite good rifles. They are made by SAKO. I picked up a stainless T3 in 7mm-08 last year and have been very impressed. The cheap plastic stocks they come with are shit, but they're easy enough to replace.
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The new T3X stock is quite adequate.
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Haven't put my hands on one of the new ones yet. They may be much better.
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I've had both. Night and day quality difference.
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its a big step up.
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T3X stocks are better than T3. Built better and more modular. It's one of the selling points, I believe
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This sub has only good things to say about them usually
I've never seen gunnit complain about them in any way at least
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mine sucks. and no, im not joking. its a 243 t3 lite, and i havent been able to get it to shoot any better than 1.5 moa. im one of the few people not happy with them
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That might just be the caliber that they didnt get right or something. Id urge you to try a different caliber if you can. I'd suggest 6,5x55 but its hard to get in US.
Also, didnt you know they guarantee 1 MOA on all guns?
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I highly doubt it's the caliber according to this thread.
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The guns themselves are probably the best value out there, but one big negative that no one mentions is the lack of support (in the US). Tikka/SAKO has no business presence in the US. They are technically owned by Beretta, but they operate more or less independently. Unless something has changed recently, if you need parts or warranty repair, you are pretty much SOL.
Fortunately, the guns are well made and these are primarily hunting guns, so it's not like you're shooting tons of lead down range like an AR. They very rarely have any issues, but I think it's worth mentioning.
2
They're either low end high quality guns or mid range guns depending on who you ask. If you check online, they're commonly compared against X Bolts.
I have no reservations taking them into the bush and beating them up a little due to cost, and they're well made and very accurate, but it wouldn't be my first choice for 1km shooting.
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Finnish rifle made by Tikka/sako. High quality and finish, lots of options. Good choice for a bolt action.
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Yup. Had a T3 Lite in 308 that I kick myself every other day for selling. It loved the cheap Federal 150gr loads. Easily shot sub-MOA at 300 yards. Man, I miss that gun... but nooooo I needed that AR...
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best sub 600-ish bolt rifles out there imo.
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Guaranteed moa performance out of the box with Tikka.
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It's basically a more affordable Sako. Great rifle for the price
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Tikka = SAKO but without the SAKO name. Very good guns, stock isn't anything to write home about but it does it's job. Everything else about the gun is amazing.
2
Very good. I have a T3x in 22-250 and I absolutely love it. I can plink 10" steel targets at 600 yards all day with that rifle.
2
Have you heard of Beretta? They own Tikka and Sako which means they make good shit.
1
Don't go hunting with that brake on there until you get the suppressor.
You can ask me how I know this BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK UP.
#MAWP
Meep meep meep
I have sordins to wear when doing woods stuff. But a blast diffuser is on the way since the ATF said "fuck you" to all NFA trust form 4 applications.
I thought they were going faster because of some electronic barcode tracking system?
lol
The bar code system wasn't in operation until May of this year and, even then, is/was only used by Silencer Shop. The ATF is still processing Trust Form 4's from September 2016.
People need to stop spreading that nonsense. The barcode system will not speed up wait times in any significant way.
WHY ARE YOU MUMBLING? SOUND OFF DAMN IT!
I laid out prone in the South GA sand to get a shot on a hog one day. I didn't think anything about the break on the end of my 16" Rem 700 because it normally wore a 762 SDN suppressor. Not today though. Hog went to heaven and my face got a free microderm abrasion. My tinnitus got a little worse that day too. Good times