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Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 7:30 am
by dhv
Yeah mate I got a cupboard full of Sakos, I'm really just looking for an excuse to buy more Tikkas!
Of the ones I have now that would work for starters;
Sako 75 Sporter (Walnut / Stainless) 223 8" twist, 4-12 X 40 Leupold
Sako 75 Varmint (Walnut / Stainless) 308 6.5-20 X 50 LR Target Leupold
Sako 75 Varmint (Laminated / Blue) 243 Win 6-18 X 40 Target Leupold
Probably even the Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in 30/06 Leupold 3-9 X40 would do at a pinch.
I should do some pics.
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9800/sakoswapd.jpg
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 3:24 pm
by timothi3197
Dave P wrote:Mate a factory 223 barrel will not stabilise 80 grn pills. Use the 308 you have with 155's as a starter.
My advice dont buy a rifle until you have some experience at matches and have a had a chance to have a good look at everyone elses gear. Buying upfront usually ends badly IMHO as you usually end up wanting something else not to far down the road.
Remember its about FUN first and winning second at the start.
Factual intervention here:
A T3 .223 (I use one for spotlighting)has a 1 in 8 twist and stabilises the 80 grainers quite okay. They are just too expensive comnpared to 50 grain nosler shots at 10 vcents each).
Many of the Savages can be ordered in 1:7 twist too.
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 9:58 pm
by BATattack
haha you have a sako 75 varmint with a 8-25 and looking for something beta?!
i also love sako's and you cant go past their out of the box accuracy. at the moment ive got a 75 varmint in .222 that cuts raggard holes and have just purchased a tikka LSA M55 in 6mm rem as a project. . . so i know the itch you need to scratch! haha
why dont you have a serious look at a T3 in 6.5x55? if they have a fast twist barrel (1-8 to 1-10) to stabalise VLD type bullets it could be a good option?
Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 6:17 pm
by Dave P
timothi3197 wrote:Dave P wrote:Mate a factory 223 barrel will not stabilise 80 grn pills. Use the 308 you have with 155's as a starter.
My advice dont buy a rifle until you have some experience at matches and have a had a chance to have a good look at everyone elses gear. Buying upfront usually ends badly IMHO as you usually end up wanting something else not to far down the road.
Remember its about FUN first and winning second at the start.
Factual intervention here:
A T3 .223 (I use one for spotlighting)has a 1 in 8 twist and stabilises the 80 grainers quite okay. They are just too expensive comnpared to 50 grain nosler shots at 10 vcents each).
Many of the Savages can be ordered in 1:7 twist too.
Excellent pick up mate ... I have a fast twist 223 as well but the general run of 223 factory rifles dont have fast twist barrels .... DO THEY.
The author at no time expressed that he owned either a Tikka or a Savage 223 with a fast twist barrel either DID HE.
Either way the 223 is not the best choice beyond 500 ...
6mm - winchester 243
Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 9:26 pm
by bartman007
My experience using the Tikka T3 Varmint with the above calibre, is that it is quite accurate......however it is very light......and the trigger seems too heavy to allow for quick accurate releases.
Compared to other target rifle actions, the feed into the chamber is problematic, making it time consuming and frustrating when in the middle of a competition.
When in the middle of a shoot, you want to be able to reload easily, wait for the conditions, then quickly get the shot away. If there is a quiet patch, you want to get a few shots away quickly. Unfortunately this action, in my opion lacks what it takes to be competitive.
However, if you want to compete at club level, and aren't chasing prize meetings, then I'm sure the T3 will be great to have fun with. And it will shoot a tight group too, so you can develop your wind reading skills.
Cheers,
Bartman007
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:46 pm
by dhv
That's all I want it for. Thanks.
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:07 pm
by timothi3197
Dave P wrote:
Excellent pick up mate ... I have a fast twist 223 as well but the general run of 223 factory rifles dont have fast twist barrels .... DO THEY.
The author at no time expressed that he owned either a Tikka or a Savage 223 with a fast twist barrel either DID HE.
Either way the 223 is not the best choice beyond 500 ...
Quote dhv:
Guys I'm looking for a cheap entry level club gun to have some fun in F Open, and I love Tikkas., I think he did,,,,,,,,,,
A tikka or savage would be one of the best allround hunting rifles and if not as consistant as a single purpose built target rifle(read: useless at anything other than a range) still a solid performer at the shorter ranges.
I use a tikka .223 hunting(and have had it on the range) and there are no issues with it, my Omark .223 is totally unsuitable for all but the absolute minimum of hunting uses(the occaisonal crow session at 500m over baits from the back of the ute).
If I had to try and do it all with one rifle the Tikka would be it.
I have had no problems single feeding my Tikka either and the factory trigger is better than my Omark, perhaps I just got a good one?
Horses for courses anyway, I still think anyone is better to try a sport first then buy gear not the other way around.
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 6:34 pm
by Woody_rod
Dave P wrote:timothi3197 wrote:Dave P wrote:Either way the 223 is not the best choice beyond 500 ...
What makes you say that? Winner last 4 PM's I have been to were 223's - all FS of course. All except one were shot to 900m / 1000 yards, so not sure why they would not be "the best choice beyond 500..."????
Saw at least two tikkas on the line over that time, both performed well enough. No, they are not ideal FO, or even FS actions, but they DO THE JOB, if you only had one rifle. Their triggers seemed pretty good to me.
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:56 pm
by Dave P
timothi3197 wrote:Dave P wrote:
Excellent pick up mate ... I have a fast twist 223 as well but the general run of 223 factory rifles dont have fast twist barrels .... DO THEY.
The author at no time expressed that he owned either a Tikka or a Savage 223 with a fast twist barrel either DID HE.
Either way the 223 is not the best choice beyond 500 ...
Quote dhv:
Guys I'm looking for a cheap entry level club gun to have some fun in F Open, and I love Tikkas., I think he did,,,,,,,,,,
A tikka or savage would be one of the best allround hunting rifles and if not as consistant as a single purpose built target rifle(read: useless at anything other than a range) still a solid performer at the shorter ranges.
I use a tikka .223 hunting(and have had it on the range) and there are no issues with it, my Omark .223 is totally unsuitable for all but the absolute minimum of hunting uses(the occaisonal crow session at 500m over baits from the back of the ute).
If I had to try and do it all with one rifle the Tikka would be it.
I have had no problems single feeding my Tikka either and the factory trigger is better than my Omark, perhaps I just got a good one?
Horses for courses anyway, I still think anyone is better to try a sport first then buy gear not the other way around.
Mate read the whole thread not just what you think suits your argument ie my first post this thread.
dhv,
Based on your location you will shoot mostly at McIntosh range Canberra. They shoot F Open & F Standard each Saturday afternoon as I recall. Go down introduce yourself and look at what others are doing using.
You can shoot a Tikka or any other rifle for that matter and I would not be over concerned about using a rifle that you will really use more for hunting as a starter, calibre doesnt much matter either. The fact is you will loose a lot of shots to learning technique and wind reading regardless of the rifle. As for a scope you can shoot Ok with about 15x and the tapered rail is easy to fit to gain adjustment for the longs. You shouldnt need it to shoot 300 & possibly 500 depending on scope.
Probably best to run what you have, have some fun and see how much you like the shoot. Then you can make some decisions ie
F Standard or F Open prefferred.
After that you will have gained some good background info on what YOU like and what YOU want to buy/build for competition.
Best idea is just get out to the range and start shooting, the rest will follow of its own accord.
There is a 1000yd BR match on Sunday 30th May at McIntosh a few of the F Open guys will be there starts around 8am come down and have a look/shot/play.
Read on and you will see that he states he has SAKO's "a cupboard full" in fact .. he LIKES TIKKA's he doesnt OWN any ... SAKO do not make a fast twist 223 to my knowledge .. but you probably know better than me ....... Tikka are great out of the box rifles .. so what ... Try getting a Davies trigger for your Omark, might improve your scores.
Have a nice day now
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 8:01 pm
by Dave P
Woody_rod wrote:Dave P wrote:timothi3197 wrote:Dave P wrote:Either way the 223 is not the best choice beyond 500 ...
What makes you say that? Winner last 4 PM's I have been to were 223's - all FS of course. All except one were shot to 900m / 1000 yards, so not sure why they would not be "the best choice beyond 500..."????
Saw at least two tikkas on the line over that time, both performed well enough. No, they are not ideal FO, or even FS actions, but they DO THE JOB, if you only had one rifle. Their triggers seemed pretty good to me.
Woody,
Do you shoot a 308 or a 223 in FS?????? If the answer is 308 then you have answered your own question.
Yes the 223 can shoot to 1000yds but they dont always make it I have seen plenty go sideways at the longs unless loaded up.
Add to that when was the last time a Queens was one by a 223 .. and yes I know some blokes who shoot them at 300 & even 500 before switching to 308 .. but who last shot a Queens with a 223 for the full match and walked away a winner, you may include TR in this as well as we are talking calibre not class.
The great majority shoot 308 for a reason methinks .. I own a 223 and shoot it but I would not use it at the longs over a 308 unless the range was indoors.
Thats my opinion anyway ....
Feeding issues on the Tikka
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 12:41 pm
by bartman007
The issue with feeding the round into the chamber comes about due to the requirement to feed each round separately. i.e you are not allowed to use the magazine.
My Tikka feeds very well when using the magazine, however at the range when you are feeding through the extraction port, you will find the round drops down to the top of the magazine, and then when you try to push it foward into the chamber, it is not easy to guide in. It may vary with different calibres/cases.
Give it a go, you'll see what I mean. Then consider how much of a pain it will be, when you are trying to keep up with the wind changes.
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:56 am
by Woody_rod
Dave P wrote:Woody_rod wrote:[quote="Dave
The great majority shoot 308 for a reason methinks .. I own a 223 and shoot it but I would not use it at the longs over a 308 unless the range was indoors.
Thats my opinion anyway ....
Dave P, no offfence, but you are not armed with the latest knowledge. 223's and 308's can shoot side by side - the idea that the 223 is way behind in windage or anything, is just not true - and just another wives tail. People use 308's because they use 308's.
Tallking about wins in the Queens is fine, but tell me about the statistics of numbers entering vs. 308's. This is more the reason for wins than anything else.
Come shoot against my wife using her 223 in FS, I think you will change your mind.
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:21 am
by AlanF
Rod,
I was under the impression that some of the top WA F-Std shooters including Bill Hallam use .223 exclusively? I guess I'll find out in September.
Alan
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:48 am
by Woody_rod
AlanF wrote:Rod,
I was under the impression that some of the top WA F-Std shooters including Bill Hallam use .223 exclusively? I guess I'll find out in September.
Alan
Yes, although Bill has a number of rifles he uses, not sure what he is up to these days. As far as I have seen, the 223 is more popular than the 308 by some margin.
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 8:37 pm
by Dave P
Woody_rod wrote:Dave P wrote:Woody_rod wrote:[quote="Dave
The great majority shoot 308 for a reason methinks .. I own a 223 and shoot it but I would not use it at the longs over a 308 unless the range was indoors.
Thats my opinion anyway ....
Dave P, no offfence, but you are not armed with the latest knowledge. 223's and 308's can shoot side by side - the idea that the 223 is way behind in windage or anything, is just not true - and just another wives tail. People use 308's because they use 308's.
Tallking about wins in the Queens is fine, but tell me about the statistics of numbers entering vs. 308's. This is more the reason for wins than anything else.
Come shoot against my wife using her 223 in FS, I think you will change your mind.
Woody,
First this is an opinion issue .. I have stated mine. You keep reffering to your wifes 223 but have not stated as asked what you shoot? That would be because you shoot a 308 methinks.
As for the statistics why do the shooters enter more 308's than 223's ???? more interesting why do the shooters using 308's win????
According to ballistics tables there is no difference between the two yet the 223 recoils less, is cheaper to run but is less popular????? Something doesnt add up here. I know maybe the 223 is a new thing .. no not really is it.
Bottom line mate is I am no more right than anyone else as I said its an opinion but for the thread ie
A new shooter wanting a varmit rifle to start with and use for hunting later I would think a 308 is a better option both ways. Unless he wants a 223 with a factory fast twist barrel which then may limit its use as a hunting rifle later.
I would back a 308 over a 223 in most instances ... yes they can win but then again a Mini won Bathurst ONCE.
