Tikka t3 in 260, 6.5x55 or hawkeye in 6.5cm

[busse fan]

Being In Canada I can get the t3 lite in 260 rem or 6.5x55. Hey are both 1-8 twist. I would use lapua brass for both and want to shoot 140 vlds. It is my understanding that the actions are the same length but different size mags are used and that the 6.5 is throated very long. I also realize that the tikkas are generally smoother and more accurate than rugers. I want to shoot 140 vld at 2700+ for northern deer. Which of the 3 rifles will do this in the best manner (accuracy, ease of load dev, brass longevity etc.).

Thanks

 

[TikkaShooters]

There are several guys who have both at tikkashooters.com

They would be a great source of direct experience with the Tikka platform.

 

[backwoods83]

If your dead set on one of those three my vote goes to the T3 in 260, because the 6.5x55 has an odd ball bolt face .480" and if you ever wanted to go back to a standard cal .473" bolt face it may not hold or eject the round, as for the ruger, everyone I've dealt with the action is sloppy and feels gritty and the 6.5 CM is harder to get reloading supplies. If 2700 is all you want they are fine but you may want to look at the savages or coopers in 6.5x284 and get 3000+, since its a hunting rifle barrel life should not be an issue and some may disagree but 2000 rounds is doable with a 6.comdx284 when used just for hunting, I like about all 26 cals but the 6.5x284 and 6.5-06ai are my favorites.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Well I dont own a Tikka but it would seam to me you will have a few more thou to play with if you choose the 260 rem if both rifle are built on the same action. So my choice would be for the 260 rem for the seating depth advantage. The rounds are very close performace wise and you can get lapua brass for both.

 

[fj40mojo]

Being In Canada I can get the t3 lite in 260 rem or 6.5x55. Hey are both 1-8 twist. I would use lapua brass for both and want to shoot 140 vlds. It is my understanding that the actions are the same length but different size mags are used and that the 6.5 is throated very long. I also realize that the tikkas are generally smoother and more accurate than rugers. I want to shoot 140 vld at 2700+ for northern deer. Which of the 3 rifles will do this in the best manner (accuracy, ease of load dev, brass longevity etc.).

Thanks

I'll be the odd man out and vote for the Swede. Your abservation about the long throat is due to the original SAAMI reamer being set up for 160grn RN bullets. If you are using factory ammo the .260 and 6.5x55 are ballistic twins, but if you are going to reload which i assume is the case then the Swede has more capacity and can easily beat 2700fps with 140grn pills in a modern strong action like the Tikka. If both are on the same action (long to accomodate the Swede) then you may as well get something out of the extra weight you're carrying in the form of horse power. As for the long throat, that can be over come by loading out to mag length and neck sizing assuming that you don't have enough mag length to reach the lands, which you may. Either way, .260 or Swede, 2700fps is an attainable goal and you can't go wrong with the .264/6.5 bore.

 

[M_freeman]

I have the same question as the OP because I can't seat the VLD bullets near the lands in my 7-08 tikka T3 lite without losing case capacity. I will say the Tikka has a sweet trigger and smooth as butter action, nice an light as well. I would assume the 6.5 x55 would have the room for the VLDs because of the common use of the heavier bullets that the .260 does not use. Seating these VLD bullets is a pain in the .308 case because of mag length. I bet the same for the .308 case of the .260, I have read this numerous times on the forums that to seat the 140 VLD in the .260 it needs extra work. My 7-08 mag prohibits this as well.