.308 Tikka T3X Super Varmint for F-Class & Single Round Feed

[tjm160]

Gents

I'm getting conflicting info from my shooting club and would really appreciate any guidance from here.

Will a Tikka T3X Super Varmint in .308 be competitive for club level F-Class out to 1,000m?

It has been suggested that over 800m, .308 is simply not accurate enough in a sporter length barrel and one should be considering the Savage 12 FT/R with 30" barrel.

Further, will the T3X Super Varmint single feed a round over the top of an empty magazine which I understand is a mandatory requirement for F-Class?

Without going in to war and peace on all my reasoning why the T3XSV, I'm very aware it's not specifically a 'target' rifle.

Thanks in advance for any shared knowledge/experience

 

[SikaSeeker]

With my t3x, it’s hit and miss with single feeding as it can get jammed up if you don’t flick the bullet in towards the chamber.

 

[tjm160]

Thanks SikaSeeker, I guess I might kind of expect something like that, but so long as it can be loaded over the top of an empty mag I could live with.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Thanks SikaSeeker, I guess I might kind of expect something like that, but so long as it can be loaded over the top of an empty mag I could live with.

Have a Google, I'm pretty sure I've seen a single feed adapter listed for sale somewhere - presumably designed to overcome that potential problem

Edit: here you go WR Tikka T3 T3x LA102 single round loading block

 

[tjm160]

Oh that’s brilliant, thanks everso much Simon!

 

[A Guy Out West]

I have no problems single feeding my SV in .300 WM. I would say the .308 is not the best 1000 meter caliber. If you don’t care about winning, it’s an ok way to get in the game

 

[tjm160]

Completely agree A Guy Out West. I had wanted to go with 6.5 PRC to give a little more ump over my 6.5 CM. However, the club only shoots F/TR which is either .223 or .308 only.

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Davidson make loading ramps and I have one for Remington 700 and Ruger.I think Sinclair or Brownells.
As per your question, you will get the 1000yd with a 26 inch barrel.
But why make life difficult for yourself.
A 28 inch barrel is minimum length but 30 preferred.
The Savage TR is an entry level before you go custom.
The Full Bore shooters use 28 inch barrel up to 600m normally and 30 up to 1k.
Longer for Match Rifle.
Hope this helps.

 

[bk]

You can get a second hand f class rifle so cheap, if you want to try it then go down that road
If not you’ll find it frustrating. It’s 2moa to be off target at 1000 yards. Easily done

 

[tjm160]

Thanks gents, we can use a Savage loan rifle but the trouble is I've done enough with 'borrowed' rifles and now simply wish to 'like' the rifle I shoot. The Savage just doesn't do it for me. Combine that with being borrowed and it's unfortunately really not appealing.

If I could make the Tikka T3x Super Varmint work, I can live with it in .308 and most importantly, give a rifle I love to shoot. However, if it can't be competitive at club level against a Savage, either I then just need to shoot for fun (in which case I might just as well use my 6.5CM and not bother with another more target orientated rifle) or reconsider accordingly.

Where should I look for other rifle options?

Guntrader only has these listed with 28" or longer barrels:

 

[bk]

Put a wanted on UKV or look on the GBFCA page. They come up frequently

 

[bk]

Feel free to message me if you want any advice. I do okay at f class

 

[palo]

The tikka ace target is available with a 26in barrel. I don't know if that's long enough but its longer than the supervarmint.

 

[JTO]

Further, will the T3X Super Varmint single feed a round over the top of an empty magazine which I understand is a mandatory requirement for F-Class?

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Who says it wont be competitive?

If you can develop a 0.5moa load its a 0.5moa load regardless
Tikkas do that out the box with some factory ammo!
The issues with reading wind at range are the primary challenge not the accuracy potential of the rifle

Sure if you want to run 180-200gr bergers at 2950 you ain't getting that from a 20-24" tikka
but if standard 155s at 1000 shoot what you have and tweak your reloading and learn to read wind

Single feeding a tikka is only an issue if you have an extremely long VLD in a cartridge that dips off the mag lifter before it hits the centre of the tenon
Usually short stubby cartridges with long OAL(6mm BR for example)
Standard 308 length of any description will single feed no problem

I wouldnt trade a Tikka for a Savage for any reason.....

 

[tjm160]

Thanks @JTO

Thanks @Edinburgh Rifles very much appreciated, having watched a few PRS videos, shot out to 1,000+ I was scratching my head why shorter barrels are ok for that but not for FTR. However, my 6.5CM proving all I need for stalking, I've just bitten the bullet and ordered a dedicated .308 FTR rifle.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Looks like you’re sorted now but for the benefit of others, here’s a tip for single loading Tikka T3s - no need to buy an insert for the magazine, all you need is a pencil.

If you push the back of the magazine follower down into the magazine using the pencil the front end will rise up, as it would if you want to remove it. All you need to do is lift the front up & over the front of the magazine & let it drop back down, that will produce a ramp for the round to follow

As for the 308 being no good for 1000 yards, this is all down to the velocity of the bullet. To get sufficient muzzle velocity from a typical 155gn bullet to keep it supersonic, and hence stable in flight, at 1000 yards needs a suitably long barrel, typically 30” not the 20” on the T3XSV, & a pretty ‘stout’ load!

 

[bk]

Who says it wont be competitive?

If you can develop a 0.5moa load its a 0.5moa load regardless
Tikkas do that out the box with some factory ammo!
The issues with reading wind at range are the primary challenge not the accuracy potential of the rifle

Sure if you want to run 180-200gr bergers at 2950 you ain't getting that from a 20-24" tikka
but if standard 155s at 1000 shoot what you have and tweak your reloading and learn to read wind

Single feeding a tikka is only an issue if you have an extremely long VLD in a cartridge that dips off the mag lifter before it hits the centre of the tenon
Usually short stubby cartridges with long OAL(6mm BR for example)
Standard 308 length of any description will single feed no problem

I wouldnt trade a Tikka for a Savage for any reason.....

Ed, I don’t agree

If you can get a shorter barrelled Tikka to the speeds needed to be competitive at 1k then it will struggle to maintain any sort of accuracy for 22 shots in fairly quick succession

Plus they just aren’t as stable so you would be rebuilding position between shots.

Still very good rifles, and would be fine as an introduction at club level out to 600. This is exactly what got me into f class

 

[Ronin]

You could use the Tikka

But will be restricted in success, not only by barrel length but others at club level will have dedicated single shot rifles set up for the task

You don’t need a 30” tube but it does help a give the VO to keep the .30 cal bullet stable as it will be approaching transonic with the shorter barrels affecting stability

Not sure what rifle you’ve settled on but there was a Nimrod for sale at sporting services recently and there are at least 6 Barnard P actions for sale on gubtrader that would certainly make a fine base for club or national level competition

 

[tjm160]

Thanks Ronin that's the conclusion I reached and so bit the bullet and purchased the dedicated single shot action rifle shared a few posts above.