Tikka T3X .223 Varmit or Super Varmit

[Kevinfish13]

Good evening, I am about to purchase a .223 rifle and have been advised to go for the Tikka T3X in Super Varmit 1:12 twist due to its accuracy etc. However on speaking to a staff member in a gun shop a couple of days ago, he stated that due to the extra weight of the Super Varmit, the vast majority of people who purchased one, have returned 6/8 months later and traded it in for the much lighter Varmit rifle. He stated that there is virtually no difference in terms of accuracy over the same distances you could shoot the Super Varmit but it is far more comfortable to use all day due to the lighter weight.
Has anyone had any experience with using both of these rifles in terms of accuracy and weight ?
Thanks.

 

[ColinBr]

What ground do you stalk?
Unless its up in them there hills and your build like the side of a £5 note you'll be fine.

Also why go for the 1:12 twist? I much prefer the 1:8 twist to shoot the heavier bullets. Mine shoots amazingly and by far the most accurate rifle I own.

 

[johnmcface]

I would have said the difference between the two in weight is negligible and if weight was that much of a concern then might be better not going with the Varmint and maybe the ctr or alike. Pretty sure there is about 200 grams in it between the varmint and super varmint. Super varmint comes with a rail included as well and adjustable cheek piece.

 

[Sandyb]

As per the above... I've super varmints in both my .204 & .223. It's a great stock, slightly bigger forend, a much better stock all around I'd say, plus you get the integral picatinny rail. My advice, get the super varmint, you'd only regret it otherwise... get a decent sling Mine have decent Tab Gear slings, very sturdy, not bouncy or stretchy.

 

[Sandyb]

As for the twists, my 1:8 20" barrel shots Nosler 40 grain bullets in a ragged hole at 100 yards and maintains exceptional accuracy at 200 yards plus... I've shot heavier bullets, but the 40's are destructive on impact

 

[404Shooter]

Kevin,

I imagine you’re set on the Tikka but if weight is your main concern the S&L Legacy might be worth a look. Also, it is a switch-barrel design so you could have both 1:10 and 1:8 twists.

 

[bryn]

he stated that due to the extra weight of the Super Varmit, the vast majority of people who purchased one, have returned 6/8 months later and traded it in for the much lighter Varmit rifle.

Absolute tosh.
bryn

 

[Farmer_J]

There’s hardly any difference in weight between them. Maybe he’s mixing up varmint and light which I could believe or he has a standard varmint on the shelf ready to go that he wants you to buy. If it was me I’d be going for the super varmint or CTR in a 1:8.

 

[pendle]

The forend palm swell comes off the super varmint . Making it lighter and you still have your adjustable cheek piece.
I have a t3 lite in a SV stock

 

[enigma]

The question you might want to ask here is "who has, due to the extra weight of the Super Varmint, purchased one, only to returned 6/8 months later and traded it in for the much lighter Varmint rifle."

I wont hold your breath for many replies.....btw i have not returned mine....

 

[Leupsak]

Varmint setups are designed to be heavy, stable, accurate and a pleasure to shoot.
I also went for 1:8

 

[MCL1129]

I’ve got two Tikka t3s . One super Varmint in .243 and just bout a t3 lite in .223 . Both as accurate as each other . Both are set up for fox shooting. You definitely notice the difference in weight . And the t3 lite is a pleasure when walking about and shooting off sticks . That said . If your just shooting from a truck or hide the Supper Varmint is very stable .

 

[Crow Man]

Good evening, I am about to purchase a .223 rifle and have been advised to go for the Tikka T3X in Super Varmit 1:12 twist due to its accuracy etc. However on speaking to a staff member in a gun shop a couple of days ago, he stated that due to the extra weight of the Super Varmit, the vast majority of people who purchased one, have returned 6/8 months later and traded it in for the much lighter Varmit rifle. He stated that there is virtually no difference in terms of accuracy over the same distances you could shoot the Super Varmit but it is far more comfortable to use all day due to the lighter weight.
Has anyone had any experience with using both of these rifles in terms of accuracy and weight ?
Thanks.

He should have a rack full of hardly used Super Varmints at a good price then.

 

[norcan]

Or the new 2021 one...

 

[Andy RV]

Get the lite.

 

[Nick703]

I’ve got a super varmint 223 with drone pro,mod an bipod,weighs a ton but it’s lovely to shoot

 

[Sandyb]

The question you might want to ask here is "who has, due to the extra weight of the Super Varmint, purchased one, only to returned 6/8 months later and traded it in for the much lighter Varmint rifle."

I wont hold your breath for many replies.....btw i have not returned mine....

Yep, I liked my first one so much in .223, it was a no brainier to buy my second in .204... No regrets whatsoever.

 

[nick.308]

got the super varmint 20" barrel 1:8 twist.
I prefer a heavy barrel and its not that heavy compared to may other rifles. It shoots better than I can. I put 60gr vmax through it.

 

[venator cervus]

Having used a T3 extensively in .223 there’s an issue or two I would raise: in .223 there is a feeding issue which can jam the rounds - this is because it’s a scaled action rather than a dedicated action (eg CZ produce a mini Mauser action for .223 which solves the problem) and also with anything above 1-9 twist you will struggle with heavier ammunition especially at longer ranges (or if you do any range work). I have used both Scout and Tikka with similar feeding issues over the years and hope a CZ will resolve this in future.

 

[JTO]

Having used a T3 extensively in .223 there’s an issue or two I would raise: in .223 there is a feeding issue which can jam the rounds - this is because it’s a scaled action rather than a dedicated action (eg CZ produce a mini Mauser action for .223 which solves the problem) and also with anything above 1-9 twist you will struggle with heavier ammunition especially at longer ranges (or if you do any range work). I have used both Scout and Tikka with similar feeding issues over the years and hope a CZ will resolve this in future.

I thought it was a Tikka magazine problem. Get one with the steel lip modification and the problem seems to have been sorted.