Looking for the best combination of available and cheap match ammo, low recoil, and plenty of power to get out to 500-600 yards. This will be used entirely for target shooting at the range, so there are no concerns about hunting.

I had a Savage 308 that was pretty good and had a heavy barrel, but I would prefer less recoil than that if I'm moving to a Tikka Lite.

Considering 223, 243, 22-250, etc. I don't want to be paying $1.50 a round for match ammo like I was for the federal 168 smk. If there isn't a centerfire round that's cheaper to shoot than that, then I might just forget about it entirely. I was hoping 17HMR would fill my needs for target shooting, but I'm just not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.

Based on that info, id go 243

In the Tikka Lite, the 243 is likely going to meet your needs the best. The 7mm-08 is also a good choice and has more range, heavier bullet availability, and still less recoil than the 308. The 6.5 Creedmoor would be awesome, but unfortunately Tikka isn't importing it in the Lite yet.

What match ammo is available for those and how much does it cost?

If you want the caliber that will let you shoot match loads and plinking loads, get the 223. That should be the cheapest caliber to feed. A 1in 8 twist would be good, though a 1 in 9 would do. If you decide to hunt, get the 243.

What type of good/cheap match ammo is there for 223? What could I reasonably expect a Tikka 223 to shoot at 100 yards? MOA, sub-MOA,...?

I don't think there is such a thing as cheap/match ammo
Especially for anything not .223

Get the fat barrel version of the Tikka T3 and you should have sub MOA results with good ammo. Probably get the good results with the std barrel, but I'm a fan of heavier short barrels (20"). My 20 inch barrel Tikka shoots well below MOA, but it's an aftermarket barrel. Others will likely comment on their Tikkas.

Tikka .243 lacks the twist to stabilize 6mm bullets with much BC. Economical to shoot, er available mass produced match ammo, you'll have to go .308 Win.

You considered getting into hand loading? A mediocre rifle can become a great rifle with hand loads tuned to that particular rifle. 600 yards is less frustrating with very consistent ammo. And $0.45 per round is much easier to swallow than $1.50. Course you'll have equipment to buy, but in no time it'll pay for itself.

I have a Tikka .243 and I love it!

What Fireman said is true about hand loading. I load for my Tikka and itt shoots sub MOA. I just use it for hunting but if I were you I would strongly consider hand loading ammo.

A nice guy on here showed me his set up and took me through the loading process.

You don't need the heavy barrel to shoot well unless you just want it. We have a T3 Lite in 7mm-08 that was under MOA out of the box with factory ammunition. Handloaded my son shoots cloverleafs at the 100 yard line.

I sold my Savage 308 because I was tired of feeding it ammo at $1.50 a shot and it was terrible on the cold bore shot plus the next 2 or 3 and was insane trying to find a decent stock for it. Federal 168 SMK is $30 a box at Academy. It can be had for $23-ish a box on gunbroker if you buy a case at a time, but I'm still looking for something cheaper to shoot. I figured 223 might qualify for that, but I have no idea what kind of match ammo to get.

As for handloading, I don't have the time, money, expertise, or motivation for that. I've got a wife and two kids, a full time job that I sometimes work overtime for, I'm in graduate school, and I play golf & go fishing some as well.

I'm just looking for a rifle/ammo combo that is relatively affordable up front and will allow me to shoot MOA or better consistently at 100 yards without spending $1+ a shot. Found a place to get Tikkas for $450-ish for the synthetic/blued version, which seems like a fantastic value.

I'll probably stick an SWFA 16x42 on it. I loved that scope when I had it on my Savage. Best bang for the buck for a target shooting scope IMHO.

In that case, you're going to have to get a 1:9 or 1:8 .223, and deal with Chad for ammo. That is, inexpensive to shoot, and capable of long range consistency.

Before you go looking for .22-250, it's probably going to have a 1:14 twist, so 55 gr is as heavy a bullet it will run. It'll give you fits 500+. I've done it.

As all Tikka's have long actions anyway, why not consider the 6.5X55 Swede? Light on recoil, great long range bullet selection and even the "practice" ammo from Norma is pretty dang good stuff.

Word.

I have T3s in 7mm-08 and .30-06. The real accuracy potential for both came through after I started hand loading for them, I can grab either one and be just as confident from zero to way out there. Also had one in .308 that was a great shooter with my hand loads as well, but I got bored with it and traded it off. Only reason I don't have one in .243 is they come from the factory with a 10" twist, which would mean a rebarrel. Love my Tikkas.

Sounds like www.grabagun.com

If so, I can attest to their good reputation. I have bought from them several times and they are top notch in my book. If not, then by all means check them out also.

He wants accuracy and the most affordable ammo and no reloading. To me, that means he wants a 223. I see that steel cased match ammo is 47 cents a round. The good stuff is just over $1, and plinking ammo is 28 cents, plus or minus. Hard to beat that. I'd still recommend the fat barrel version, but that's just my preference talking. And I think it's easier to shoot a heavier barreled rifle well - at least it is for me.

Put a medium cost 6-24 scope on it and blast away.

223

I've never been a fan of Tikka's and it's not because they don't make great rifles, they do. I do not like the small ejection ports which of course have been remedied somewhat with the latest model. That being said, two Friday's ago I mounted a scope on JD4030's stainless Tikka in 7mm-08. We sighted it in two days ago and I shot the best 100 yard group of my life with it. I've come close with my 6.5x55 but this was almost one hole. He has a can on it and we were using factory ammo, one of the managed recoil offerings. I've changed my mind and would like to have now.

A couple questions about the 223 option:

- Can it be rebarreled to a 6.5 CM down the road?
- Are there any downsides to the steel match Ammo? Is it just as accurate as brass?
- How does 223 do in wind compared to 308? I'm sure it's worse, but how much?
- What weight bullet is the Tikka factory twist set up for?

To switch .223 to 6.5 Creedmoor, you'll have to replace barrel as well as bolt.

Never shot that ammo, can't comment.

.223 with a high BC bullet, compared to a .308 with a high BC bullet will be .1 Mil difference, 5 mph, 3 or 9 o'clock, 200-600 yards. .2 Mil difference for 10 mph. Longer distance and/ or more wind than 12-14 mph, the little bullet gets blown around pretty bad.

What about a high quality 22LR such as Kidd, Anschutz, or Volquartsen?

A case of 5,000 rounds of Lapua's base level SK Plus match ammo is about $650 delivered to your door.

Lots to learn from shooting a 22LR and fun shooting it too. Want practice at long range judging wind? Try a 22LR at 100 yards and beyond. The wind will be in play.

A good 22LR is fun, relatively inexpensive, and no recoil, and lots of rounds without much hassle.

I have an Anschutz 164 right now that I'm looking to sell. It shoots great groups at 100, but hitting the bullseye is difficult due to tons of wind and tons of drop. Having $500 plus a scope in what basically amounts to a 50-yard rifle just doesn't make sense if I can spend the same on a 500-yard rifle.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I had the same thought as you but I'm not happy with 22LR.

Your first post sounded like target shooting on a budget was the primary goal. Perhaps I am misunderstanding.

What is it that you want to do with the rifle?

Besides the cost of the rifle, consider the cost of the ammo too.

The 223 at 500 is going to be like shooting the 22 at 100, only with more expensive ammo. Even low end bulk 223 ammo is $0.20 - $0.25/round. Match ammo is around $1/round. In comparison, a case of Lapua's base match 22LR ammo, SK+, is about $650 for a case of 5,000 rounds delivered to your door.

Drop should not be a factor.

The scope will handle that correction with a quick adjustment.

fwiw - a 22lr at 100 is very similar to 223 at 500.

With a 25 meter zero (the 22 range I shoot at is in meters), the elevation correction for 100 meters is about 9 MOA for 22LR match ammo, which is about the same as what will be needed for a 223 at 500 yards.

Dial the elevation correction and your done with that.

Then learning wind is the battle for all rounds at any distance.

There is only one way to learn how to correct for wind and that is to get out and shoot in the wind, more the better.

A 223 will not be magic. Federal Gold Medal Match with a 77 SMK will take 5 MOA of correction for a full value 10 mph wind at 500 yards.

If the goal is to master long range shooting on a budget, sounds like you have the answer in your hands already. Long range shooting (even short range for that matter) is not easy despite the marketing magic of scope and rifle manufacturers. Somehow, I spend thousands on rifles, scopes, ammo, and practice and must be the only guy on this forum that thinks consistently hitting a bullseye takes work. Still looking for the 0.5 MOA or 1/4 MOA "all day long" rifles that everyone else seems to own. The driver nut keeps coming loose on all of mine.

Anyway, if you don't like the setup you have, consider what you really want out of the next one, and then buy one of the best you can afford. Sometimes it does take going through some to find out what you don't really want either, but one great rifle, with a great scope as well, is a real joy in life.

Good luck in your search.

Here is a recent 22LR 100m target with a 10x scope. Not a benchrest quality target, but I was happy wrestling the wind. The budget practice value of the 22LR has really grown on me and I am enjoying the heck out of the challenge. And consider, a 10x scope at 100 is comparable to 50x at 500, so even that scales down as well.