Tikka T3x CTR 6.5 Creedmoor range report

[SteveB]

Thought I'd start a new thread rather than tack this onto the T3 Lite thread because this sucker ain't lite. This rifle kind of reminds me of the Remington 700 LTR (light tactical rifle); I had one of these in .308 years ago and it was an excellent shooter, but not lite, either. The CTR has a Nightforce 2.5-10 mounted.

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Anyway, I had four Hornady factory loads in 6.5 CM today: 120 gr AMAX, 120 gr GMX, 140 gr ELD match and 143 gr ELD-X. All 4 loads shot under an inch at 100. The ELD match gave me this 1.5" 4 shot group at 200; this trigger needs adjusting and I was too lazy to take it out of the stock last night to fiddle with it. Not bad for a $900 rifle.

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[Clusterfrack]

What's the whole rig weigh?

[Luke]

Wish id have never sold mine :(

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp81/hook_setter/Mobile%20Uploads/E52B3A9C-65AB-43AB-A5A8-F68F18E6972E_zpseyvapfnl.jpg (http://s400.photobucket.com/user/hook_setter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/E52B3A9C-65AB-43AB-A5A8-F68F18E6972E_zpseyvapfnl.jpg.html)

[StraitR]

What's the whole rig weigh?

I just finished reading where he said 9lbs 10oz. HERE (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?21568-Scout-rifle-circa-2016&p=478415&viewfull=1#post478415)

[SteveB]

CTR update: Not crazy about this stock; the LOP is too long and it feels like what it is: plastic. The manual says the rifle is shipped with the trigger set at 3 lbs; mine measured 4 lbs on my Lyman digital. You have to pop the stock off to adjust, but it's super easy; there's a 2.5mm allen screw on the front of the trigger housing. I dialed it down to 2.5 lbs and back to the range. All 4 loads shot between .5 and .7" at 100; the 120 grain GMX looks like a Barnes TTSX bullet and will probably be what I use for whitetail this fall.

[ldunnmobile]

I assume you took the spacers out of the stock? That helped mine.

[SteveB]

I assume you took the spacers out of the stock? That helped mine.

With the spacers out, it's 13.75"; too long.

[coldcase1984]

Are they issuing a different (less expensive) mag with T3x CTR's, SteveB?

[GJM]

CTR 6.5 C arrived today. Initial impression is favorable with one big exception. Who ever designed the cheek riser must have also specified using the hardest possible material -- that thing is hard as a rock and whacks my cheekbone when I mount and cycle it aggressively. May be looking for another stock. I really hope they import that Canadian Ranger model next year.

[SteveB]

Are they issuing a different (less expensive) mag with T3x CTR's, SteveB?

No. The CTR uses the same mag as the Sako TRG 22; they are heavy and expensive. They are available in 5 rounds as well as 10, but the 5's are the same size, weight and price as the 10's.

[ldunnmobile]

Are they issuing a different (less expensive) mag with T3x CTR's, SteveB?

Yes, there is a newer version of the CTR mags. Tikka model S54065122. The floor plate is different. The are selling from places like Eurooptics and Buds for $110, as opposed to the TRG mags that are $200. The problem is the are all out of stock. It is my understanding you can still use a TRG mag in a CTR, but the CTR mags won't fit in a TRG, at least not without mods.

[SteveB]

Yes, there is a newer version of the CTR mags. Tikka model S54065122. The floor plate is different. The are selling from places like Eurooptics and Buds for $110, as opposed to the TRG mags that are $200. The problem is the are all out of stock. It is my understanding you can still use a TRG mag in a CTR, but the CTR mags won't fit in a TRG, at least not without mods.

Thank you for this. Moral of the story is don't believe what the guy at Beretta tells you. The Beretta website lists all of these mags:

http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/compact-tactical-rifle-magazin-308-win-260-rem-10-rd/s54065122/

http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/compact-tactical-rifle-magazin-308-win-260-rem-5-rd/s57465173/

http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/sako-trg-magazine-blued/s574038/

[coldcase1984]

Awesome! Thanks, fellers.

[Crews]

I have never fooled with a Tikka too much, can a CDI bottom metal kit be dropped in without modification to the action? For those kinds of dollars you could be using AI mags.


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[ldunnmobile]

It's been done. The action doesn't need modding but of course the stock does. At that point most people ditch the factory one for a Manners or just get a chassis like KRG, XLR...

[Lost River]

Thank you for this. Moral of the story is don't believe what the guy at Beretta tells you. The Beretta website lists all of these mags:

http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/compact-tactical-rifle-magazin-308-win-260-rem-10-rd/s54065122/

http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/compact-tactical-rifle-magazin-308-win-260-rem-5-rd/s57465173/

http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/sako-trg-magazine-blued/s574038/


So guess I not picking up what you are putting down here.


Are you saying that the mags are actually interchangeable?

I have a TRG-22, and would love to be able to pick up some spare mags at a significantly cheaper price than buying factory mags.

It is absolutely insane calling the T3 CTR mag "Cheap" at $150 a piece, but compared to $250 a pop for TRG mags, it sounds like a more reasonable alternative.

[SteveB]

So guess I not picking up what you are putting down here.


Are you saying that the mags are actually interchangeable?

I have a TRG-22, and would love to be able to pick up some spare mags at a significantly cheaper price than buying factory mags.

It is absolutely insane calling the T3 CTR mag "Cheap" at $150 a piece, but compared to $250 a pop for TRG mags, it sounds like a more reasonable alternative.

According to Beretta, you can use the TRG mag in the CTR, but cannot use the CTR mag in the TRG due to a different floorplate.

[littlejerry]

Any updates on these? I'm looking at getting into some long range matches for 2018 and this looks like a great starting point. I also like that it's not a dedicated match gun and could be carried around for practical use without too much effort.

I'm seeing good deals on black 308s, but I really want in on the 6.5 game.

[fatdog]

I got one of these a couple of months ago, works fine, I cannot tell any difference from the one that came with my 6.5 CTR, but $72.43 is much less expensive than they have been in the past.

https://www.eurooptic.com/S54065122-Tikka-T3-Compact-Tactical-Rifle-CTR-Magazine-260.aspx#tab-3?utm_source=review-request&utm_medium=email

[Crews]

If a fella buys a bone stock 6.5 Creedmoor CTR and drops it into an affordable chassis system that takes AI pattern mags like the $600ish XLR Element, there’s really not much he can’t do from there. Also, the barrel nut system currently offered by Patriot Valley Arms looks pretty awesome. Won’t be giving anything up by using the factory barrel, but if you ever do wear it out it can be set up for end-user barrel swap outs without the downtime and cost associated with paying a gunsmith to set your headspace for you.


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[littlejerry]

I got one of these a couple of months ago, works fine, I cannot tell any difference from the one that came with my 6.5 CTR, but $72.43 is much less expensive than they have been in the past.

https://www.eurooptic.com/S54065122-Tikka-T3-Compact-Tactical-Rifle-CTR-Magazine-260.aspx#tab-3?utm_source=review-request&utm_medium=email

$75 is cheap enough that I'd just keep the OEM bottom metal rather than spending $300 on new BM + mags.

[45dotACP]

Shot one out to 600 with a buddy over the summer.

The gun shoots very well. First time shooting it with factory ammo gave sub MOA accuracy.

If I were in the market for a precision rig, the 6.5 CTR and a Vortex Razor would be all I needed.

I'll just be in the corner telling myself I don't need one...

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[Trigger]

The reason TRGs will not accept the Tikka CTR magazine is the TRG stock functions as a magwell, and the TRG stock does not allow the CTR magazine to fit because the baseplate will not fit into the TRG stock as designed.

Here is my solution:

22201

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I build rifle stocks as a hobby. This is the fifth laminate stock I have built. This one has a core of baltic birch, with outer panels of zebra wood. I'm not a fan of how the zebra wood took the stain, but I'm very happy with how the rifle turned out. I still used the factory aluminum chassis inside the stock. Plus I had Clay Spencer fit a Bartlein medium Palma barrel. Weighs 11.2 pounds stripped, and 14 pounds with scope and TBAC suppressor. Have not had a chance to shoot it yet.

Because the magwell from the factory stock is gone, it will accept Tikka CTR magazines just as easily as TRG magazines.

I like the way the wood stock feels and handles. I own several aluminum tube guns, and fiberglass stocked rifles. The laminate shoots just as well (maybe better) and feels much better in hand.

[Trigger]

Here are targets from today’s shooting.

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Lapua brass neck turned to .014”, H4350, CCI450, Nosler RDF 140, 2.885 OAL. 42.4gr looks very promising.