PM Sent FiremanJG

This is mine and almost identical to the one JG has. Tikka action, Bartlien Rem Varmint finishes at 20”. Manners T6A with CDI BDM. Timney two stage and a mountain tactical pic rail. Fluted bolt. Tony did all the Smith work. It shoots lights out with 143 ELD-X. My favorite rifle hands down.

That's gonna be the route I take Im pretty sure. Great looking rifle! And I assume your handloading for that rifle... can you say it's a 1/2 MOA gun? What suppressor you running with it?

Used factory Hornady to Chad’s reloads and it shoots stupid good. It’s probably a 1/4 MOA gun with the right shooter, I can shoot 1/2 MOA most any day. I’m running a ThunderBeast Ultra 7.

I went the same direction. Tikka action Bartlein barrel Rem Varmint contour at 24 inches and KRG Chassis.

I'd suggest the following:

Send the barreled action to PVA and get a very nice, premium shouldered barrel spun on:
PVA Barrel

Then hang a KRG Midas 2-stage trigger on the bottom of the action
KRG Midas 2-stage trigger

And drop that barreled action in a KRG Bravo chassis
KRG Bravo

Get a few AI mags and go to town. Bonus points for a Sterk swept back AI style bolt handle and shroud. There wouldn't be much room for disappointment in that setup.

I'm going to put a Bartlein on my CTR once my factory barrel is shot out. It's a .5 MOA gun as it sits and like Jason's, I expect something in the 1/4 MOA range once I swap barrels.

I have a Manners T4A on mine with the CTR bottom metal. Only thing I would add to Jason's is the Sterk bolt handle, which is freaking sweet. But it's for sure just a 'nice-to-have', as the factory bolt handle is good and the action is slick enough that it really doesn't matter - I just happened to find someone selling it cheap.

nice custom Tikkas!
I will say this.. given how well every Tikka I have owned shot, I am hard pressed to swap barrels unless I just couldn't get what I wanted out of a factory barrel.
same with the stock trigger, they can be set at 2 lbs with zero creep and break like a glass rod..

I have full custom rifles and have owned/tested a lot of aftermarket triggers and for a hunting rifle they are damned hard to beat out of the box.
People use to complain about the "cheap feeling" stocks but when they shoot one ragged hole groups.... it's hard to complain about them, especially given the cost. I grew up with Sakos as being top dog and when Tikka came out with the same barrel I had to get one and it did not disappoint and none of them have since then. (I just have the one semi custom now in 308 pictured above) Are aftermarket stocks nicer ? Well hell yes..

Pretty much this. I'd find a 20" CTR and slap it in a nice stock and call it good.

yeah, when a buddy was looking for 6.5 CM for long range last year I told him to just buy the Tikka tactical which he did..
The gun shoots

I'm guessing that the majority of people here would swap out their factory Tikka barrels primarily for 1) caliber change or 2) profile change.

I’m surprised to see two people mention changing the trigger. The trigger is great down to #2 and with a DIY spring change can go much lighter. After changing the spring on mine I had it set so I did not have to “pull” the trigger. I put my finger on it and when I thought “fire” it did.

And, a Bartlein barrel, as an example, perfectly chambered will shoot tighter than the factory Tikka. Sure, not everyone will be able to shoot well enough to notice it, but it is true.

I get it and know you are right.. I don't spend enough time the last few years really "shooting for groups" and it shows if I am shooting on paper..
I can shoot "one ragged hole" groups if the gun will do it if I really focus.. Most of my shooting these days, or hunting at least is 300 and under..
I was talking with a buddy of mine yesterday, the 1K range got shut down and I told him I personally get much more enjoyment at shooting a golf ball at 500 yards than a 12" plate at 1000

You know the 1/4 rifle sure helps a ton at 500+ than the 3/4 rifle.

1/4 at 500 is 1.3"

3/4 at 500 is 3.9"

The 3/4 rifle is gonna have a tougher time hitting that golf ball at 500 yards.

hell yes.. my custom 6.5 will do it if I do my part

I want "one hole guns" , flipside of that I can live with 3/4" guns for 90 % of my hunting
I also measure the outer hole of the group, not center to center..
I kind of use the "I can cover 5 shots with a dime, nickel or quarter" system

I'm with Coker and QSYB.....just get a stock CTR with 20" bbl and you'll be good to go. It's easy to find multiple loads with various bullets that will shoot .5 or better. No need to spend the extra $$$$$ on a custom barrel IMO. Tikkas are too easy.