Basic and Light: 16.5” Tikka T3x

[General RE LEE]

Just got my 16.5” Tikka T3x 6.5 Creedmoor barreled action back. I’m going to run the factory stock with the vertical grip mod and cheek riser. Scope is 13.5 oz Leupold VX3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL. Banish Backcountry suppressor.

8.5 lbs rigged out. Will make a fine Tennessee deer rifle. 123 grain SST handload ladder ready to test.

 

[General RE LEE]

I prefer flush fit mags so I’m going to roll with the good ole factory 3 rounder.

 

[Tiny]

Nice looking rig. I'm looking to light weight a tikka as well, have LRI flute the barrel and get a Brown precision pounder stock. hopefully it will be under 5 pounds before accessories.

 

[General RE LEE]

First day at range and it’s a shooter. 143 ELD-X handload 2550 FPS. I’m not even going to shoot the 123 grain SST ladder cause the ELD-X shot so well.

 

[Juan_ID]

Very nice. I keep trying to talk myself out of wanting a 16.5” creed.

 

[feanor]

I have a compact 6.5 coming in and will be essentially doing the same as you did with barrel length and thread. Should be fun!

 

[feanor]

How much slower do you think a factory box of 143 eldx would shoot?

 

[sierracharlie338]

Heck yeah that will work. Were 143s factory or hand loads?

 

[General RE LEE]

Heck yeah that will work. Were 143s factory or hand loads?

Handloads. 41.5 grains H4350 seated twenty thousandths off the lands. Hornady brass CCI BR-2 primers. 2700 FPS with 24” barrel so 150 FPS loss 24 to 16.5” barrel.

 

[General RE LEE]

How much slower do you think a factory box of 143 eldx would shoot?

Similar speed. I make my 143 ELD-X handloads to match Precision Hunter ammo.

 

[Tiny]

not sure if you have noticed, but my groups open up when I take my suppressor off, or if I work up a load without a suppressor the group gets tighter when the suppressor goes on. I now only work up loads without the suppressor, then throw it on and see how much better it gets. I've also used magnum primers in my Creedmoor just to see how much FPS I gain over the standard LR, I do not suggest this if your near max charge. but if your looking for an extra 50FPS try it our.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Handloads. 41.5 grains H4350 seated twenty thousandths off the lands. Hornady brass CCI BR-2 primers. 2700 FPS with 24” barrel so 150 FPS loss 24 to 16.5” barrel.

Hell yeah that will work!

 

[General RE LEE]

I am contemplating something similar: 16” Tikka but in 338 Federal.

How is the balance on your build?

Balance is great!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

That’s a cool setup. I have a t3x superlite 6.5 that I want to get rebarreld with something shorter than the 24” factory barrel for a setup kind of like yours.

 

[mt100gr.]

That’s a cool setup. I have a t3x superlite 6.5 that I want to get rebarreld with something shorter than the 24” factory barrel for a setup kind of like yours.

Same here. I love the velocity of my superlite w/ RL26, but I haven't even touched that rifle since I started buying suppressors. I'll likely just get mine chopped tho, vs rebarrel.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Same here. I love the velocity of my superlite w/ RL26, but I haven't even touched that rifle since I started buying suppressors. I'll likely just get mine chopped tho, vs rebarrel.

I’m right there with you. I just got a Seekins havak element 6.5 that has a 21” barrel which I can live with and a tikka 30-06 with an 18” barrel but a nice compact 6.5 would be great.

 

[General RE LEE]

What kind of cheek riser did you use? Do you think the finger knobs will get in the way or snag when hunting? I have been thinking something with flush hardware requiring an alien key might be preferable, set it and forget it. I might be overthinking, and imagining a problem

It’s a Matthew’s Fabrication cheek riser. $40 on Amazon. Install instruction video on You Tube and paper instructions included with packaging.

I don’t foresee the knobs getting snagged although I don’t stalk. I walk to my tree stand or blind on trails or a field.

 

[JohnJohnson]

How much slower do you think a factory box of 143 eldx would shoot?

I have a 16.5" 6.5CM and my 143 ELD-X are coming out at about 2600. The barrel has always been kind of fast even before it was cut though.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Here’s my new creedmoor.

 

[General RE LEE]

Here’s my new creedmoor.

21” barrel?