1st rifle 243 tikka?

[Dickie]

Selling my tikka T3 Hunter in .243 if of any interest. Comes with T8 mod and choice of scope (or bare rifle if preferred). See sales section. Thanks.

He might be interested if you deliver.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Ditch the super lite idea, esp if you w at to have a go at gongs with multiple succession shots; think barrels heat up too fast and become inconsistent unless full lefty bedded. Don’t go varmint either. Bog standard profile is perfect.

I personally hate t3’s, more personality in a piece of grey concrete paving

What rifle(s) do you have?

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

They would be stupid to give up the T3... for what? nothing else they made sold in those numbers. Would be like walking away from a gold mine.

My choice for that job would be a standard stainless T3 Lite in 6.5CM and you have all covered. Even in 20" it would get you easily to 1000yd. I think so much better than the overengineered rusty Blaser/Mauser/Sauer.
edi

Yeah buts thats because they were budget rifles. I bought mine new for a grand 7 years ago, Bog standard are pushing €1600 now, their widelands are pushing €1800 (for the same gun I might add, just a fancy paint job on the stock)

 

[Tulloch]

Going back in time I would have said yes to a .243 but now I would lead to more asking for a 6.5 or 6mm as the options are better. Yes a .243 is 6mm but it is limiting and I am lucky with mine as it shoots good 3065fps with 100gr for deer and 3765fps with 55gr for fox and Roe but neither is good for long range plinking. For a good All rounder now would 6mm dasher or 6mm creed or even 6mm br the options like the 6.5 is far greater.

I have just been approved for another 6.5, I have the 6.5 Creedmoor already and I love it so maybe looking at a PRC as it's performance tops the .270 but also giving me better long range ability when needed .

 

[HonestJohn]

What rifle(s) do you have?

Brno
Win 70
Tikka m65 (properly made tikka’s)
Rem
Mauser
Etc

Have had Sako 75, many PH’s, many Mauser 98 variants, and **** many T3’s with family - smooth, accurate, but deadly boring IMHO

 

[BenBhoy]

@Castledeer94 I wouldn't get too hung up on tikka. I'll get pelters for this from some corner but I think they're overrated. When I was waiting for my section 1 grant, I'd already decided (I'd been advised) tikka was way to go. I duly bought a t3x. There is nothing wrong with it, but considering the army of fans, I've been disappointed. Ive since fired few different brands & models. Some better, some worse but plenty just the same as tikka. If a 243 came available to you local & in good condition, I wouldn't disregard just because it wasn't a tikka. (They're not that special).

 

[bullet chucker]

My Swarovski x6i & T3 Lite 6.5X55 for all deer. PULSAR Thermal & T3 Varmint 223 for all fox's.

BC.

 

[JTO]

My first feeling, when I saw the thread title, was that .243 was too small.

 

[JMH123]

He might be interested if you deliver.

Can send to RFD no problem.

 

[Terrydeer]

As the title goes I'm looking at getting my 1st rifle soon and I'm leaning towards a tikka t3x superlite in 243 calibre.

Now I'm unsure as I've see there's varmint etc and I'm not sure what t3x to buy for what I want to do with it.

Basicly we are sheep farming on my partners land we have fox issues and deer passing through every other minute so I want a happy medium to manage both. Also I live on the side of a valley with an easy 1000yd range right out my front door I'd like to set up a few plates down there for when the urge arises

Apoligies if this is a bit drawn out I'm around rifles and shotguns all my life I'm just lost as to what to actually buy.

Cheers

6.5 creedmoor tikka ember a lovely rifle that will do all that you want, you can put a kalix on it if needed

 

[Dickie]

Can send to RFD no problem.

Oh I thought that didn’t apply when exporting one.

 

[Tulloch]

So I am a Tikka fan BUT my .243 is a Browning Abolt 2 that I purchased brand new for £450 over 10 years ago . All I have changed is the trigger spring and added a picatinny rail . It's got a very long 26" shorter barrel and is funny with ammo won't shoot anything boat tail.

I have 3 Tikkas though
6.5creed CTR
.270 T3
223 T3x semi varmint barrel

All very accurate

 

[big ears]

Your original choice is fine for all you need. If you want a step up the 6.5mm makes sense. There is no reason to go the 308 or 270. There are many options in 6.5 and you don’t need just to buy a creedmoor!

I have a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55, which has served me well for 13 years, taken fox and five of the British species (sika missing) and also shot out to 600m on a range and is still going well now with copper bullets.

Plenty if these about quite cheaply on guntrader.

That said get what you want not what us on SD tell you to get

 

[JMH123]

Oh I thought that didn’t apply when exporting one.

You may well be correct- hadn’t actually checked that (or clocked it!)

 

[Siggy]

I was out stalking with a guy using a .243 the other day and I've reappraised my opinion a bit - quite, accurate, low recoil and effective even with non-toxic.
However, I do think that the 6.5 creedmore gives you a little more and is a great first rifle calibre.

Tikka T3 are a great rifles - loads of after market stocks etc, do yourself a favour, get one and it will last you your entire shooting career.

 

[Bowland blades]

As the title goes I'm looking at getting my 1st rifle soon and I'm leaning towards a tikka t3x superlite in 243 calibre.

Now I'm unsure as I've see there's varmint etc and I'm not sure what t3x to buy for what I want to do with it.

Basicly we are sheep farming on my partners land we have fox issues and deer passing through every other minute so I want a happy medium to manage both. Also I live on the side of a valley with an easy 1000yd range right out my front door I'd like to set up a few plates down there for when the urge arises

Apoligies if this is a bit drawn out I'm around rifles and shotguns all my life I'm just lost as to what to actually buy.

Cheers

Tikka are a very good choice as regards quality and price ! The only thing i dont like is the one action all cartridges via packing up the mag . Varmint or sporter barrels have the same accuracy potential ( both are limited by the human shooter and the ammo ) , however the varmint barrel is more accurate after a longer string of fire ! This means we tend to measure sporters accuracy as 3 shot groups and cool , yet a varmint as 5 shots . Shooting deer inside 300-400 yards you wont notice any benefit that is tangible to use shooting deer ( as the hart lung area on most uk deer is 4" and upwards ! It's very doubtful you will need to shoot 5 foxes in a short window in time. The Varmint might make you less accurate in fact if you are lumping about the extra weight , especially with a big scope and moderator adding to the heft taking off hand shots ( ie standing unsupported).
243 win is a very , very good shooting cartridge generally and despite what some say i can attest after shooting one for many years it will do a fine job on all uk deer . I have folks tell me otherwise and one guy once told me it was no good for sika , however when i pressed him on how many sika he had shot with one ? He admitted he had never shot one with any rifle calibre ! While i get them in my Garden and have taken the very largest of them.
Recoil reduction makes most shooter shoot better , PRS guys like the 6 mm and 6.5 mm very much and the 243 win and 243 improved do very well in PRS .
Correct bullet for the purpose is important with this round , shooting 58 grain varmint bullets you can Kill Red stags but placement really matters and you are unlikely to get an exit / blood trail that's much good. Oh , watch out for twist rates if your shooting copper a slightly faster twist as are now coming out now are the ones to get !
Early days of the none toxic thing my 243 win needed a new barrel and i had the .243 rebuilt with a 260 rem (6.5mm) barrel . Did not fancy the 6.5 creed and note the 6 mm creed is now favoured by the PRS guys ( an event that shows the stalker a lot ) in the way its shot with various stances and positions .

 

[Acm]

Correct bullet for the purpose is important with this round , shooting 58 grain varmint bullets you can Kill Red stags

and this is why we don’t tend to take advice from Bowland.
Sure you “can” you can shoot them with a .223. But like the above it’s neither advisable or legal.

 

[Bowland blades]

and this is why we don’t tend to take advice from Bowland.
Sure you “can” you can shoot them with a .223. But like the above it’s neither advisable or legal.

I am not advising this at all , just making a point . A lot of material on line today and that means we must speak globally . Its perfectly legal for Roe in Scotland and CWD and Muntjac in England / Wales . No i am not advising i am pointing out the mechanics of things.
Before the deer Act folks shot stags with .22 swift as a favourite !
Not Legal at present in the UK for stags and i do not mean to say use it ( fairly obvious from my words on no exit ) .
oh yeah there are more Nations and States of Nations that allow said .223 rem for all their deer species than don't! Apparently on-line the Inuit like 243 win for polar bear and walrus .
Never look for fault or claim in others without clarifying first !

 

[CBH Australia]

I would agree on a 6.5CM instead of the .243 as someone said you can't get deader than dead and it would probably be better for your playing with some gongs. To go with that though check what ammo your local suppliers have unless you reload.
As for which particular brand or model you go for, go to your local gun shops see what they have on the shelf and which one feels the most comfortable (if they have a range and you can try before you buy all the better) and which one is in your budget.
I had a T3 super varmint great rifle, accurate but it was a lump if you are doing lots of walking, once you put scope, mod and bipod

Here I was thinking all those previous suggestions of a 6.5 were meaning 6.5x55.

I'm not a fan boy but, it did cross my mind that a Creedmoor might suit the op requirements.

Now, I have a sporter, CTR, and varmint.

I don't think their Varmint are too heavy but the op needs to consider the weight preferences. But a CTR is a good compromise.

I used my CTR mostly from a vehicle and it's a 7mm-08 so no need to a 6.5Creedmoor.

If you are set on a .243 they have been produced in Varmint and CTR options and their are numerous aftermarket options to configure something to your liking.

 

[big ears]

Here I was thinking all those previous suggestions of a 6.5 were meaning 6.5x55.

I'm not a fan boy but, it did cross my mind that a Creedmoor might suit the op requirements.

Now, I have a sporter, CTR, and varmint.

I don't think their Varmint are too heavy but the op needs to consider the weight preferences. But a CTR is a good compromise.

I used my CTR mostly from a vehicle and it's a 7mm-08 so no need to a 6.5Creedmoor.

If you are set on a .243 they have been produced in Varmint and CTR options and their are numerous aftermarket options to configure something to your liking.

No benefit in the creedmoor over the Swedish mauser in practical, real life, on the ground hunting It’s just hype, American hard sell and trends.
The 6.5 is a very capable bullet in all its chamberings.
Tikka are bomb proof rifles