Fun with a used Tikka

Rifles And More

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
283
Location
Wyoming
The local shop had a used T3 lite in .308 so I snagged it up for about 430.00 out the door. Try as he might the attendant could not sell me the 6.5 creedmoor , even after comparing it to a 'laser beam'.

Getting the rifle home, I gave it the once over and ordered a Mountain Tactical Company long action bolt stop and a couple of 5 round LA magazines. Also, i found some Berger 180 Elite bullets and ordered as many as I could - I had a plan.

I mounted a SWFA 10x HD scope in Burris XTR low rings with a 25 moa rail and started load development.

Finding the lands, backing off and getting to work with RL17 I found a promising load:
20180607_130839.jpg

#1 is the clean bore sighter.
#2 is a three shot group after an adjustment - of course the third shot is the flier, making a great group a MOA group. Probably me, I'm not too worried.
#3 is the adjustment after the group.

Velocity of all fired rounds averaged 2756 with no signs of pressure.

Start playing around with the Berger ballistic calculator and this puts me out to the 1K mark at sea level (home) and adds an extra 200yards in Elk country. Either of which is too far for my ability at the moment.

Going to load some more up, verify my drops and take a poke out to 1k and see if it can be done.

20180607_131037.jpg

20180607_131106.jpg

20180607_131209.jpg
Normal .308 Magazine
20180607_131239.jpg
Long Action Mag

Some thoughts:
I am very pleased with the velocity out a a 22" barrel. Based on my coal, i feel I am in a safe zone (re:http://www.bergerbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/COAL.pdf) with no signs of pressure.
I also took my compact rifle out to shoot a little. The SWFA 3x9 on it had a noticeably brighter and clearer sight picture to me.
This is my first time shooting with a bubble level on the gun. It is an eye opener on how canted I am sometimes.
I read where the Tikka prices went up today, about 750.00 for a T3x. I plan on scouring the used T3s and setting a few more rifles up - I have some more Ideas!
 

ID_Matt

WKR
Joined
May 16, 2017
Messages
1,345
Location
Southern ID
that is outstanding for velocity. My 178's out of my tikka are usually around 2550 with varget. Might need to give this combo a run. The mountain tactical bolt stops are a game changer for the Tikka's if you handload!
 
Joined
Dec 17, 2017
Messages
941
Location
N Idaho
"Try as he might the attendant could not sell me the 6.5 creedmoor"

Hahahaha!!!

Thats a great start- and i agree on that awesome velocity with the 180s. Love me some tikkas, so i always like hearing about peoples experience with them.
 

bhylton

WKR
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Messages
570
Location
-MT-
doing the same thing with a 7mm-08 would be sweet i bet. great build on that 308!
 
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