Tikka T3X: 243 Win, 6mm Creedmoor or hybrid??

[PNW_Steve]

Hello Everyone,

I have a new (to me) rifle coming. It is chambered in .243 Win, I have plenty of .243 reloading components and dies as well as another bolt gun in .243.

I also have an AR in "6mm Grendel" that I am able to shoot the newer high BC bullets.

My first thought was to rebarrel the Tikka in 6mm Creedmoor. Then I started thinking that I might look at having the throat opened up on the factory .243 barrel to accommodate the longest bullet that will function in the action.

Am I nuts??

I know that there is a definite limit to the bullets that will stabilize in the 1:10 twist. Other than that I am not seeing the downside.

What do you all think?

 

[Hickswr]

You won’t be able to shoot any high BC bullets in the factory 243. The factory throat is plenty long enough now to accommodate any bullet the 1:10 twist will stabilize.

I recently screwed a McGowen 6 Creedmoor 7.5” twist barrel on a Tikka action and have been pleased with it.

 

[PNW_Steve]

You won’t be able to shoot any high BC bullets in the factory 243. The factory throat is plenty long enough now to accommodate any bullet the 1:10 twist will stabilize.

I recently screwed a McGowen 6 Creedmoor 7.5” twist barrel on a Tikka action and have been pleased with it.

Thank you for the reply.

It sounds like I may be able to test how heavy a bullet that I can get to stabilize, see if I am happy then decide on the rebarrel. If I do rebarrel, I am eyeballing the 6mm Creedmoor Bartlien in a med bull profile.

Two things are pulling me towards .243 as opposed to 6 CM is the availability of reloading components and the loooong wait these days for having a barrel made. The last barrel I ordered was supposed to take 8-12 weeks. It arrived in 11...... Months.....

 

[PNW_Steve]

I was just looking at a "quick change" barrel setup for the Tikka called "Switchlug". It looks very kewl. Has anyone here had experience with it?

Does it have any significant effect on accuracy?

The device itself is around $200. Any idea what the smithing to get it installed would be?

That would be excellent!! I could have a .243 1:10, 6mm CM 1:7.5 and a .308 barrel for shooting cast. The questions are accuracy and cost.

Here is a link: https://westtexordnance.com/switchlug/