Tikka T3 CTR 6.5 Creedmoor + Swarovski Z8i = One Fine Hunting Rig
I sighted the rifle in with Hornady 140 Amax rounds. The end result was one ragged hole with one slight flyer. This test and evaluation was turning out to be very interesting. I cleaned the barrel well to prepare for more shooting.
View attachment 77804
The stack of ammunition used in this test.
The next day I pulled together all my 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition as seen in the photo. Each brand and type was given a chance to shoot the best five shot group. Each group was allowed one flyer which would not be measured in overall size of the group, after all I can occasionally pull one. If I felt I was not shooting my best, I re-shot a couple of groups. This Tikka rifle was a real shooter. There were no groups over one inch and most groups were around three fourths of an inch. The best group was using the Nosler 140grain match ammunition, .338 of an inch. The best hunting round was the 143 grain ELDX by Hornady. So it only made sense to order the custom turret from Swarovski for this round.
Changing out the turret was easy as pushing a button on top to the turret, lifting the cap off and removing the MOA ring. I just slipped the new ring onto the turret and set it at 100, put the cap back in place and I was ready to go. I checked the 100 yard zero and it was right on the mark. It was time to bang some steel at distance.
View attachment 77806
Set up to shoot at 400 yards
The way I do this is by pulling a custom made trailer which has a shooting bench attached and is able to be leveled. The steel plates are set at the bottom of the back of a pond dam. My first stop was at 300 yards.
My first three shots with the Hornady 143 ELDX were dead center and a little less the ½ MOA. Next I moved the rig out to just less than 400 yards. The group remained about ½ MOA with one flyer which I called.
I have found that the Hornady ELD bullets quite often are more accurate at the longer distances. Hornady claims that they are more stable at the longer distances. The accuracy difference is not much and may not be even noticed by the average shooter.
View attachment 77804
The stack of ammunition used in this test.
The next day I pulled together all my 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition as seen in the photo. Each brand and type was given a chance to shoot the best five shot group. Each group was allowed one flyer which would not be measured in overall size of the group, after all I can occasionally pull one. If I felt I was not shooting my best, I re-shot a couple of groups. This Tikka rifle was a real shooter. There were no groups over one inch and most groups were around three fourths of an inch. The best group was using the Nosler 140grain match ammunition, .338 of an inch. The best hunting round was the 143 grain ELDX by Hornady. So it only made sense to order the custom turret from Swarovski for this round.
Changing out the turret was easy as pushing a button on top to the turret, lifting the cap off and removing the MOA ring. I just slipped the new ring onto the turret and set it at 100, put the cap back in place and I was ready to go. I checked the 100 yard zero and it was right on the mark. It was time to bang some steel at distance.
View attachment 77806
Set up to shoot at 400 yards
The way I do this is by pulling a custom made trailer which has a shooting bench attached and is able to be leveled. The steel plates are set at the bottom of the back of a pond dam. My first stop was at 300 yards.
My first three shots with the Hornady 143 ELDX were dead center and a little less the ½ MOA. Next I moved the rig out to just less than 400 yards. The group remained about ½ MOA with one flyer which I called.
I have found that the Hornady ELD bullets quite often are more accurate at the longer distances. Hornady claims that they are more stable at the longer distances. The accuracy difference is not much and may not be even noticed by the average shooter.
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