New range record with a Tikka Varmint

I decided I needed to make my rental rifle a .223 Rem as long as it was a 1:8 or better. This was for sale a few years ago, and I didn't have the money at the time. Fortunately the guy that it was sold to is also a friend of mine. He was willing to part with it. Gave him what he had in it. It is an all factory rifle, nothing modified.




Researching B.C and bullet cost, the clear winner was Hornady 80 gr ELD-M. The 80 gr and 88 gr ELD-M beat every other bullet for this twist rate in B.C. and they cost less. The box says it need a 1:7, but I didn't believe it. Doing my load development today, I started a grain under published max, and then climbed in .2 gr increments. The hotter the better was what I was seeing. Mirage and a bit of a cross wind, I wasn't expecting excellence, and then this happened.



It is three shots.


Zeroed to thay load at 100 yards. And then ran it out to 800 yards. So much fun to shoot, I went 800 back to 500, and back to 800 again. Laser beam!

Very nice. I picked up a 1-8 twist CTR. I’m not in your league when it comes to shooting but I like to bring the Tikka to the range every time I go. It’s a joy to shoot and makes a nice break when shooting heavier recoiling rifles.

So much fun to shoot! Almost zero recoil, and not tough on the wallet in components.

Hard to beat that with a stock rifle. I bought my 1st Tikka couple years ago in a Stainless T3x Superlite in 7mm-08 and it shot factory ammo into half inch groups right out of the box.

But...but...but...the stocks are crappy and feel cheap! 😆 my stock CTR 6.5 shoots factory Hornady American gunner 140s in 1/2 moa groups at 1100 yds with an XTR II 3-15x. Handloads average .5 - .75" groups at 300

That is some excellent shooting and load development.

The stock will get changed, I am sure. But I HAD to see what this barreled action can do.

Pleasantly surprised to say the least!

Nice!

I've mentioned several times that we too have a 1:8 tikka varmint, only difference is mine is regular and not stainless. A couple years ago I put it in a krg bravo chassis. IT only helped with comfort and ergonomics, didn't improve accuracy at all. The best group I ever shot was with this rifle.

How the heck are you getting 2900fps from an 80gr bullet? I barely get a little over that with a 70gr. Maybe I'm just a wuss.

I didn't shoot enough to warrant keeping my Tikka varmint 223 and deal with either the cost of a 2nd nice scope or the hassle of moving the one I had back and forth...but, I do regret selling it sometimes. That thing was an absolute tack driver and cheap to shoot. Mine wasn't quite this good, but not far from it.

Wait...there is a range record keeping system? I cannot help but think I've been cheated

She gonna shoot!!!!

You shoot one tighter, cut it out. But they get saved on the loading shop door.

2900 is the easy part getting 80gr to fit into a Tikka magazine is tough.

Yup. Had to top load.

There will be a bottom metal and mag change.

I've got that same rifle in black with an XTRII on top. I'm shooting 75 gr Hornady BTHP match in mine. Like yours it's bone stock and an impressive shooter.

600 yard groups - 2 inch bull for reference. On the bottom pic that's not a flyer, I adjusted after the first shot.

I have a Howa 1500 mini 1 in 8 twist that I have been wanting to try the 80gr eldm's in. At the moment my go to load for 223 anything has been the Hornady 75gr bt open tip match; mostly because I have a gazillion of them and they also happened to be a very damaging bullet on critters.

patriot the tikka is still doing well and I am glad i was able to pick it up it does shoot better than I do

Congrats Jason! That is impressive even for a Tikka.

Fantastic!

Hang onto that rifle and don’t let it go!

Everything is for sale, but this one would be expensive.

Impressive.

Makes me smile seeing you get great groups like this. Are 80's able to be fed from a bolt action magazine?

you sound like me now

Great range report!! Tikkas are very great rifles.

Vortex still suk.

Nice work J.G. .223 is underrated. 2900 fps with an 80 is strong.