So, my first precision bolt rifle was a Tikka T3X TAC A1 in 6.5CM. It was a very, very capable rifle, giving 1/2" 100-yard groups with every decent factory round I fed it. I would still be shooting that rifle had I not had the opportunity to pick up a custom rifle for a very attractive price. I sold my Tikka in one day (multiple offers). The only negatives on the Tikka were (a) any upward pressure on the magazine totally, utterly stopped the bolt from closing and (b) Tikkas (at least the 6.5CM) have a long throat which tends to lower velocity a little as compared to the exact same round in most other barrels- handloading eliminates that differential. (Also, there are some here who will vehemently argue about that, but Lowlight has a video that acknowledges the fact as he replaced the ACCURATE factory Tikka barrel with a Bartlein gain-twist one.)
If you are limited to 200 yards in range, a .223 makes a lot of sense for the reasons already noted, plus a .223 barrel is going to last twice as long as a 6.5CM or other overbore caliber barrel (.223 and .308 both last 5k rounds +/-). Larger calibers certainly have their appeal, but shooting a precision 6.5CM or even a .308 at no more than 200 yards is like buying a Porsche to drive to the grocery store. I have a Tikka .223 Varmint in an MDT (Canadian company; they're great to deal with!) chassis which consistently gives me 1/2-MOA groups out to 300 yards with factory ammo.
Another approach to consider is rimfire in addition to whatever centerfire you choose. You will find a very passionate group here dedicated to the Vudoo V22 platform (kinda the ultimate tactical-format .22) as well as the much less expensive but still competent CZ 45x and Tikka T1X platforms. Rimfire is its own world with its own "rules" which arise from the fundamental limitations of the cartridge.
If you're already set up to handload .223, seems to me that's the most obvious place to start. Now you get to hear why different people are sure this or that factory rifle is "best" for the new shooter (for me, it's Tikka, period). O, and optics. Again, since you're range-limited, I personally see no reason to buy a top-tier scope at this point. I skimmed a lot of the preceding posts but I seem to recall mention of the gen-2 Vortex Viper PST 5-25x50. I have that scope on my Vudoo .22, and out to 300 yards (max range to which I regularly shoot .22), I see no practical difference between it and the gen-2 Vortex Razor 4.5-27x56 scope on my 6.5CM.
Enjoy the ride, and hang on tight to your wallet!
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Love you guys
Hello
Welcome to the rifle world. I'm a relative newcomer as well (two years now) after decades of American skeet competition. I also started off with an AR-15 and wanted more.
So, my first precision bolt rifle was a Tikka T3X TAC A1 in 6.5CM. It was a very, very capable rifle, giving 1/2" 100-yard groups with every decent factory round I fed it. I would still be shooting that rifle had I not had the opportunity to pick up a custom rifle for a very attractive price. I sold my Tikka in one day (multiple offers). The only negatives on the Tikka were (a) any upward pressure on the magazine totally, utterly stopped the bolt from closing and (b) Tikkas (at least the 6.5CM) have a long throat which tends to lower velocity a little as compared to the exact same round in most other barrels- handloading eliminates that differential. (Also, there are some here who will vehemently argue about that, but Lowlight has a video that acknowledges the fact as he replaced the ACCURATE factory Tikka barrel with a Bartlein gain-twist one.)
If you are limited to 200 yards in range, a .223 makes a lot of sense for the reasons already noted, plus a .223 barrel is going to last twice as long as a 6.5CM or other overbore caliber barrel (.223 and .308 both last 5k rounds +/-). Larger calibers certainly have their appeal, but shooting a precision 6.5CM or even a .308 at no more than 200 yards is like buying a Porsche to drive to the grocery store. I have a Tikka .223 Varmint in an MDT (Canadian company; they're great to deal with!) chassis which consistently gives me 1/2-MOA groups out to 300 yards with factory ammo.
Another approach to consider is rimfire in addition to whatever centerfire you choose. You will find a very passionate group here dedicated to the Vudoo V22 platform (kinda the ultimate tactical-format .22) as well as the much less expensive but still competent CZ 45x and Tikka T1X platforms. Rimfire is its own world with its own "rules" which arise from the fundamental limitations of the cartridge.
If you're already set up to handload .223, seems to me that's the most obvious place to start. Now you get to hear why different people are sure this or that factory rifle is "best" for the new shooter (for me, it's Tikka, period). O, and optics. Again, since you're range-limited, I personally see no reason to buy a top-tier scope at this point. I skimmed a lot of the preceding posts but I seem to recall mention of the gen-2 Vortex Viper PST 5-25x50. I have that scope on my Vudoo .22, and out to 300 yards (max range to which I regularly shoot .22), I see no practical difference between it and the gen-2 Vortex Razor 4.5-27x56 scope on my 6.5CM.
Enjoy the ride, and hang on tight to your wallet!
Hello DownhillFromHere, wow i just love all the great replies i am getting here, it exceeds my expectations although i knew i came at the right place for answers.
Funny you should mention the Tikka T3X TAC A1 and Lowlight's video since i watched it twice yesterday. i understood completely what he said except the part of the left hand twist having something to do with the northern hemisphere (lost me a little there but i'll look it up).
About the caliber choice, yeah i agree the logical choice would for me be the .223 Rem and i could go on with my load development, i hadn't considered barrel's life but you've got a good point for sure. Also very true getting an overbore caliber barrel would be quite overkill for my limited range.
I'm getting to know the MDT chassis more and more everyday and it was in fact my initial plan to put a Tikka T3X barreled action in one of them. But the looking at everything available out there i sort of got side tracked. Perhaps i should stick with my initial plan hey ?
At my range we also have a 22 lr league, it's a very select group which only shoot during their reserved time at the range. We seldom see them around, but they do seem to have a lot of fun together, competing in and out of the province in different matches. It is something i might consider along the way, but for the moment i take it one step at a time. The low cost of ammo is certainly very appealing but then again these guys all have super expensive rifles and scopes. So one day perhaps but not now for me ya know ?
As for the scope i went with the Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24 x50. I does have more chromatic aberration at the very edges of the viewfinder and lacks any kind of reticle illumination but it was the logical choice for my limited range, besides we can not shoot later that 6 pm so reticle illumination was pointless. It costs less than half the price of it's PSTs big brother but does the job just fine as far as i can tell.
Many thank's for you input
