Hey guys, I've been lusting over a tikka T3 lite, or even the T3 Superlite. I'm wondering how the hunting profile barrels hold up to getting warm and heat stringing ect. The fluted Superlite should cool faster, but probably gets hot faster too. Ive heard mixed feelings on fluting. My goal is a lightweight hunting platform that can press into a tactical role with the right (light weight) optic. I know heavy barrels generally resist heat stringing pretty well, but I'm wanting to keep the whole rig under 9lbs. scoped. I've heard the factory Tikka barrels are some of the best out there, have any of you seen heat stringing with them? Im looking at 4 calibers: 7mm-08, 308, 7mm mag, 300 win. Or how about the equivent Savage offerings as far as barrel heating/cooling qualities? Thanks
Tikka T3 factory barrels....Heat stringing questions
- Thread starter Crosshair
- Start date
Shooting 15 rounds rapid fire through my 6.5x55 Lite (barrel was VERY hot) the stringing was not bad. Group size was about an inch and a half, which was largely due to shooting rapidly. Usually the gun shoots 0.5-0.75 for 3 shots, and occasionally down to 0.25-0.3. The last time I was out it shot a 1 hole 3 shot group, my first ever with that rifle.
The POI seemed to shift up slightly as the barrel got hot, but my test was hardly scientific. Get a Lite and go shoot it til it gets hot. Every barrel will have different stress tendencies I'm sure.
The POI seemed to shift up slightly as the barrel got hot, but my test was hardly scientific. Get a Lite and go shoot it til it gets hot. Every barrel will have different stress tendencies I'm sure.
Sounds good, I know I've never read anything yet from some one reporting being unhappy with the factory barrel.
The Superlites do intrigue me though, with a purported 5.8 lbs empty for the 308 based cartridges. Couple that with a 20 oz optic and 8 oz mount and should be around 8 lbs. loaded with scope and sling, under 9lbs even with bi-pod! It looks like there is still room to thread the end of the fluted barrel, which would be nice for a brake on the magnums. My browning abolt synthetic stalker 300 win is light and thumps hard, about 9lbs scoped, but is still manageable.
The Superlites do intrigue me though, with a purported 5.8 lbs empty for the 308 based cartridges. Couple that with a 20 oz optic and 8 oz mount and should be around 8 lbs. loaded with scope and sling, under 9lbs even with bi-pod! It looks like there is still room to thread the end of the fluted barrel, which would be nice for a brake on the magnums. My browning abolt synthetic stalker 300 win is light and thumps hard, about 9lbs scoped, but is still manageable.
