I just bought a tikka t3 lite stainless .308 and was wondering what type of rounds I should buy. A little background info. This is my first rifle and will probably be shooting under 300 yards. I have also bought a leupold x1 3x9 optic. Any suggestions on grain and brand would be appreciated.
Tikka t3 lite .308 round suggestions
- Thread starter Jman415
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- tikka t3 .308 grain
Buy 2 boxes to start with.....one good quality and one cheap.... each 150 gr.....compare the 2...while siteing in and practicing....
My T3 in .308 put 3 touching yesterday with fgmm 168 at 100 yds. Stayed around 3" at 300 after allowing the barrel to cool.
YMMV but fgmm is always my starting point with a .308. If your hunting, look at pics of animals dropped with SMK and other match bullets.
BTW. Sounds like a perfect rig to get going with.
YMMV but fgmm is always my starting point with a .308. If your hunting, look at pics of animals dropped with SMK and other match bullets.
BTW. Sounds like a perfect rig to get going with.
Tikka t3 lite .308 round suggestions
Great choice in your first rifle!
First: get it beddet. And the barrel free floated. Trigger down to 1 kg.
Try Hornady steelmatch for paper. hornady Custom line SP for hunting. Never could get the vmax super performance series to group. Don't you know anyone that can build you some training: 168gr hornady hpbt and hunting: barnes 168 ttsx. ?
Sierra gamekings are very efficient, and cheap! On 300 yards they will also group nicely.
We cannot tell you exactly what round will shoot good in your rifle. You have to try different brands, weights. But try 155 grains, 168, 174-178 first. 3 shot groups. Cool between each. Break in the barrel if it is all new.
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If you snooze it - you loose it
Great choice in your first rifle!
First: get it beddet. And the barrel free floated. Trigger down to 1 kg.
Try Hornady steelmatch for paper. hornady Custom line SP for hunting. Never could get the vmax super performance series to group. Don't you know anyone that can build you some training: 168gr hornady hpbt and hunting: barnes 168 ttsx. ?
Sierra gamekings are very efficient, and cheap! On 300 yards they will also group nicely.
We cannot tell you exactly what round will shoot good in your rifle. You have to try different brands, weights. But try 155 grains, 168, 174-178 first. 3 shot groups. Cool between each. Break in the barrel if it is all new.
...
If you snooze it - you loose it
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Thanks guys I guess I'll buy a few different rounds and just see how it goes. I'm new to rifles so what is getting it bettet? The tikka has a free floating barrel and I am planning to drop the trigger pull to its lowest weight. Unfortunately I don't have anyone that I know to handload rounds for me so I will be buying factory rounds for now.
You still havent told us the use of your rifle. Hunting, target, both?
As for bedding, you dont need it, also your rifle is free floated. About 3/4 down there will be two nubs that contact the barrel, do not remove these. If the Sako engineers wanted the barrel completely free floated, those would not be there.
When you back out the trigger pull screw, it will only go so far then contact another screw. At that point is is around 2-2.5 lbs.
As for ammo, again, depends on what you are using the rifle. Both of my Tikkas like Nosler Trophy for hunting, but I also hand load. Try various ammo, you will be surprised that even Remington green box or Hornady American Whitetail shoots decently.
As for bedding, you dont need it, also your rifle is free floated. About 3/4 down there will be two nubs that contact the barrel, do not remove these. If the Sako engineers wanted the barrel completely free floated, those would not be there.
When you back out the trigger pull screw, it will only go so far then contact another screw. At that point is is around 2-2.5 lbs.
As for ammo, again, depends on what you are using the rifle. Both of my Tikkas like Nosler Trophy for hunting, but I also hand load. Try various ammo, you will be surprised that even Remington green box or Hornady American Whitetail shoots decently.
I bought this rifle for hunting but I will be using it at the range also since it is the only rifle that I have. I was told by someone who claims to have been hunting for 35 years that 150 grain is all I need for hunting in California. Is this true?
a 150 should do well with any deer sized game. For elk I would want to bump up to something with a Nosler 165 accubond or a Hornady 165 interbond. Not that an elk can not be take with a 150, just that if you are learning , research Sectional Density and terminal ballistics to understand why.
as for match type, I would give the 155 scenar a try. The Tikka is a 1:11 twist and does will with the longer 155 bullet. The 155 Scenar has almost the same bearing surface and BC as a 178 Amax.
308 155 SCENAR FC MATCH
as for match type, I would give the 155 scenar a try. The Tikka is a 1:11 twist and does will with the longer 155 bullet. The 155 Scenar has almost the same bearing surface and BC as a 178 Amax.
308 155 SCENAR FC MATCH
Does California have lead restrictions for hunting? I run the Federal Trophy Copper in my W70's and they are MOA in stock Extreme Weather's. (.308-150//30-06-180) There are other all copper loads also to try.
