Tikka t3 vs t3x
- Thread starter huntsman
- Start date
The bigger ejection port is great. Not sure the metal bolt shroud makes much difference. I already had a T3 Varmint with 24" 1:8 223 barrel. I ordered T3 Super Varmints is .223 and .308 just before the T3X was announced, and T3Xs turned up 6 months later at no extra charge. Special order because I wanted the longer barrels and stretch triggers, and 1:8 twist in the .223.
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
I heard that the 20" idea came from most people having suppressors. I had to special order my T3x as I wanted a "long" 24 inch version.
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
Big ejection port is a help, brass ejects better and it's easy to single feed. Stock ok but not massively different to the T3 (I've a T3 and a T3x Varmint) and at least the aluminium shroud is less likely to crack like the plastic one did on my T3.
Nothing else really... Well built...
Nothing else really... Well built...
Dave, just carry a moderated rifle muzzle down in your hand, a 24" barrel is around 31" with moderator at the end. The mod is mostly in the mud or the carry is very awkward. All those in small high seats with mods on also tell a story. Never mind in a car, rifle is longer than a car wide etc. That is why the industry is changing. Stalkers all shoot at under 100yds...right? so why the huge energy?
Even a 308 still increases speed at 34" vs 32" barrel length, how long would you like your hunting rifle to be and why? Handling vs speed.
Come down to us and look at the CTR T3x I have. Great rifle.
Opening of the load eject port size increase is mainly so that block mounts can go on the T3 rail without a pica rail. Very strong mounting with less weight. Many have milled out their actions to fit the block mounts on normal t3's and Tikka/Sako reacted.
I think every change on the T3X is a good change that the customers had asked for.
Happy New Year
edi
Even a 308 still increases speed at 34" vs 32" barrel length, how long would you like your hunting rifle to be and why? Handling vs speed.
Come down to us and look at the CTR T3x I have. Great rifle.
Opening of the load eject port size increase is mainly so that block mounts can go on the T3 rail without a pica rail. Very strong mounting with less weight. Many have milled out their actions to fit the block mounts on normal t3's and Tikka/Sako reacted.
I think every change on the T3X is a good change that the customers had asked for.
Happy New Year
edi
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
My rebarrelled T3 with its 26" barrel and T8 is effectively 30" with the suppressor on.
Not a woodland stalker...
Not a woodland stalker...
Dickturpin
Well-Known Member
bought a t3x lite in 204 on Thursday...took it out to zero yesterday..it shot a group 0.35 inch at 100 yards with 32 gr v max...I very only 26 rounds through it but I'm chuffed to bits with it..
My point is they used to come in 22.5 inch tubes . Which was a compromise for 25-06 and 270win. I always understood that calibers had optimum lengths. None of the german manufacturers have adopted this shorter barrel idea.
The 6.5x55 I read somewhere would struggle to be uk deer legal with a certain weight factory ammo ( think it was a blaser review in shooting times) if the barrel was shorter. Please edi don't jump on your 6.5 horse!!
I completely agree about pointability just think shortening the barrel should be left to the owner . It can't be stuck back once its cut.
The 6.5x55 I read somewhere would struggle to be uk deer legal with a certain weight factory ammo ( think it was a blaser review in shooting times) if the barrel was shorter. Please edi don't jump on your 6.5 horse!!
I completely agree about pointability just think shortening the barrel should be left to the owner . It can't be stuck back once its cut.
In a shop I know of there are three T3X rifles unfired but 2nd Hand (US Law. Once sold it's 2nd hand no matter whether it left the shop or not) The cause: Returned because the owner couldn't get rings. Unlike the T3's, the T3X don't come with rings and the proprietary rings are slow to arrive. I hadn't seen a set as of the last time I looked three weeks ago.~Muir
I love my T3. There's nothing about the new T3X that would make me feel the need to upgrade. Mine has the 22.5" barrel (1/2" UNF). I think they cut the barrels down to 20" for the UK market because the M14x1 thread wont work on the longer barrel as its diameter is too small for to leave enough of a shoulder for moderator to tighten against.
Tikka was wise to make the T3 and T3X parts interchangeable.
Tikka was wise to make the T3 and T3X parts interchangeable.
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
Not sure they ever came with rings and bases in the UK. First thing I did was chuck 20MOA Picatinny rails on mine just like every other rifle I own.
I put one on my Creedmoor CTR to reach out to the far targets but a Pic rail looks so out of place on a light hunting rifle.~Muir
Sako seems to be trying to bump up the price $100 in the USA. Big dealers have to buy the new models, so are forced to dump older ones.
I just picked up a T3 Lite in .223 with 1:10 twist for $440.00.
I have not yet handled a T3X, but if the prices settle down close to what the T3 was ($549 blue, $629 stainless ) I may go for a .308 Win in SS at some point.
S&W is adding to stippling to the grips of the M&P handguns, so the current ones will soon be selling for $100 off current prices.
I just picked up a T3 Lite in .223 with 1:10 twist for $440.00.
I have not yet handled a T3X, but if the prices settle down close to what the T3 was ($549 blue, $629 stainless ) I may go for a .308 Win in SS at some point.
S&W is adding to stippling to the grips of the M&P handguns, so the current ones will soon be selling for $100 off current prices.
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
My Stainless Left Hand T3x Varmint was £1100 in July 2016. I guess about $1800....
My Super Varmints, with longer barrels and stretch triggers, were £1230 each after threading.
The thing is, if a rifle cartridge combination does not or barely reach legal requirements...why choose it?
All t3 rifles I checked had fairly low speeds with factory ammo, low for their barrel length that is. Meaning T3 barrels could possibly be on the large size in the bore. Blaser barrels even seem slower according to measurements of our customers in Germany. I measured one 155gr factory ammo only doing 2480fps out of my CTR but the 168gr Factory Hornady ammo does over 2600, meaning it is worth it to speed measure the ammo one wants to use on game. At least to know what is going on. One can measure more speed difference in different barrel brands and in different ammo brands than 2-3" barrel length would achieve.
You are right in saying it would be good to be able to choose barrel length but if the sales figures tell the manufacturer it is not worth it then one must understand that they drop the product.
If you say none of the German rifle manufacturers have adapted the shorter, as in 20" barrels, you are wrong. They have been making 20" rifles since more than hundred years....what length is your Sauer? Think every rifle manufacturer offers a 20" version.
Germany is only starting with allowing the use of moderators in some areas and rifles will change once customers find out how long and clumsy moderated rifles are compared to non moderated. Some of our German customers are going down to 41cm barrel length...and dropping heavy boar.
Even in New Zealand 16" seem fairly standard for moderated bush rifles. They all seem to be happy why should we not be able to cope with 20"?
A bit shocking is that since moderators are allowed in certain areas in Germany many are getting their barrels shortened and threaded only to find there sometimes almost new German made rifle is failing the proofing...???
edi
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