Tikka T3x CTR or Varmint
- Thread starter jwhunter
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hunter67wa
Well-Known Member
My CTR in 308 shoots so good im not changing anything. It came with bottom metal change to aics mags that is the only change
duckhunter175
Well-Known Member
What are you going to use this rifle for? Plinking, truck gun, suppressed, unsuppressed?
Mostly plinking also be a lr deer/sheep gun for the wife. Probably won't throw a can on it just a brake.
duckhunter175
Well-Known Member
24" would be my vote- the weight won't hurt and neither will a little bit of added velocity, especially if you're setting it up to be a LR gun. I don't even know if I'd replace the stock TBH.
I went with the new Rem 783 Heavy Barrel-- 6.5cm, 24". I can get a Boyds stock and DBM and still be a few hundred under where you are at with a CTR before adding an McM. But the 783s I've had before any additions have all shot incredibly well.
All that said-- the Tikkas are a helluva gun. I think my decision would be driven by my aftermarket stock options. I know there are differences between the CTR bottom metal and normal Tikka bottom metal. You'll need to decide what BM and mags you will run and in what stock before you pick either model.
I went with the new Rem 783 Heavy Barrel-- 6.5cm, 24". I can get a Boyds stock and DBM and still be a few hundred under where you are at with a CTR before adding an McM. But the 783s I've had before any additions have all shot incredibly well.
All that said-- the Tikkas are a helluva gun. I think my decision would be driven by my aftermarket stock options. I know there are differences between the CTR bottom metal and normal Tikka bottom metal. You'll need to decide what BM and mags you will run and in what stock before you pick either model.
Thanks for all the info. I guess it boils down to price differences between the ctr and varmint. I personally like the ergonomics and quality of the Mcm stocks compared to the ctr/t3x stocks. Granted on the varmint model trade out to dbm aics mags.
hunter67wa
Well-Known Member
I would go with the 20" but thats just me. I run cans and they are handier to carry.
ericbc7
Well-Known Member
I have several T3's and if you are planning to swap out the stock anyway, I would go T3x. The barrels have a thinner profile than the CTR. If you want higher capacity mags for the standard bottom metal, David Waters out of Australia has the best quality mags I have encountered.
http://www.watersrifleman.com/
http://www.watersrifleman.com/
Snowboy
Well-Known Member
Question I have a Tikka T3X in 308 with a brake I find too load. Which is better cut and crown the 20" barrel or use a thread protector? Just a deer rifle for the bush.
ericbc7
Well-Known Member
A thread protector would do nicely. You may need to check your zero or fine tune your load after changing things. The difference can be surprising. I'm not familiar with the thread pitch you have but you can measure it and purchase accordingly. I had my T3 30-06 Hunter muzzle threaded to 9/16x24 for a custom brake and suppressor since there was not enough barrel to go 5/8x24.
Snowboy
Well-Known Member
Thanks
I have the varmint in 223 and the CTR in 308. The varmint is not very carry-able if that's important. It shoots under .5 Mia at 300m but I haven't tried it further yet. I just got the ctr last fall but haven't got it much below 1moa at 100! I'm just starting to look for a load, hunter67wa can you post or pm yours? All caveats for handloading apply of course.
Randy Strom
Well-Known Member
I have the CTR in 260, shooting 1/3 moa at better than 2800 fps. I'm using Berger 130 OTM. I didn't think it would be possible to get that MV from a 20 inch barrel.
