Tikka T3X Super Varmint 223

[Pappasniper]

I have been looking for one of these for a while and I just saw a variety of these guns on GB. It checks every box I have been looking for:
23.7 inch barrel
threaded barrel 1/8 twist
good trigger, and smooth bolt
Decent stock
built in rail to upper

I have a Rem 700 5r that I have loved for years. But wanted longer barrel in 1/8 vs its 1/9. It still shoots 77grain ammo great. It 10 years old and still running, but I wanted to play with a new toy.

If you have been looking for one of these, some are released now. Maybe old news but it was new to me.

PB

 

[mosin46]

wanted one but had to go CTR and howa 1500-they were gone for awhile

 

[long range sponge]

I'm not a Tikka expert so I may be missing something but it would have to be a big something for me to pay that kind of premium vs a CTR. Adjustable cheek riser and fluted bolt is all I see. But for the added $500 I could have a Bravo and get the bolt fluted.

I will say, I do think they are sexy AF. Just not sure what else you're getting for the added coin. If this had CTR DBM, I'd likely be way more inclined to be impressed.

 

[mosin46]

agree. i can't figure out why CTR is $100+> regular varmint

 

[Pappasniper]

I didn't see any of the CTR in 223 in stock, I am sure there out there but I looked for both of these guns for a while , then gave up. So I was on the verge of going full custom ( which never sucks ) then saw these pop up for $1,529 and said fuck it. I spent $340 on dinner two weeks ago for the whole fam damily so Pappa has gets his now.

I do get the CTR looks like a better deal, and I dont know what extra you get, probably a black eye and hard time for the extra dinero.

PB

 

[mosin46]

you get WAY more expensive mags

Tikka T3X CTR .223 Rem 20" Barrel 1:8" LH Rifle JRTXC414R8

Tikka T3X CTR .223 Rem 20" Barrel 1:8" LH Rifle JRTXC414R8 For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

 

[long range sponge]

agree. i can't figure out why CTR is $100+> regular varmint

Again, no Tikka guru but I believe the standard Varmint is not threaded. Plus the CTR has the DBM setup.

 

[346ci]

Euro had some of the CTRs several months ago, kick myself for not getting one. They are hard to find...

I'm impressed the super varmints finally made it here, they look like a nice option. Let us know how it shoots.

 

[346ci]

Again, no Tikka guru but I believe the standard Varmint is not threaded. Plus the CTR has the DBM setup.

Correct, the standard Varmints are not threaded. Figure another $100-$125 for that and shipping, you are pretty close to a CTR then.

 

[mosin46]

thanks. non threaded a + for me. they are all DBM,just usual tikka synthetic vs a different ctr mag which is metal.

 

[Pappasniper]

Yea, I had trouble finding the longer barrel and in 1/8 twist in any gun...all the boxes this gun checks for me. But I am sure any Tikka is going to shoot well. I had a Tikka 22-250 Yote gun that was a laser, so I am hoping. Range report to follow.

PB

 

[long range sponge]

I'm excited to see how it performs. The more I look at it, the more I'm kinda smitten. I do enjoy a more traditional stock on certain rifles. Sorta the way I find a Manners T3 more appealing than the PRS, T2 or T4. Why didn't Tikka just use CTR mags?? Lol.

 

[Pappasniper]

All my current guns take AICS mags and the only grip I had was, the proprietary mags. That does suck and I dont get it.

PB

 

[TheOE800]

All my current guns take AICS mags and the only grip I had was, the proprietary mags. That does suck and I dont get it.

PB

Well if you had dropped it in a Bravo…

 

[tho98027]

That super varmint looks like one hell of a platform! I’ll take one in 223 and 7 prc please… we can wish right.

 

[Pappasniper]

I just heard the Bravo was an option, so I will look into it after I play for a while. Great to know there are options for Tikka.

PB

 

[mosin46]

yea,way more post op stuff in last 2-3 yrs

 

[CaptArab]

I love my Tikka 223. Chopped at 16", fluted bolt, tbac ultra 7. Kills lotsa critters.

But if I already had a 700 and wanted a heavy rig I'd grab a 24-26“ 7 twist barrel for 88s.

 

[mark5pt56]

Keep the barrel as is length wise.

 

[Pappasniper]

I'm good with both length and twist. I shoot 80 grain SMK's out of my 20 inch 1/9 Rem 700 5R. So a 23.7 1/8 should be fine. And is one of the very few factory options with a long-ish 223 barrel. Might try some 90 grain pills if I can find some for hand loads. Have not really looked.

Anyone know if the built in rail is a 20MOA rail?

PB

 

[Frankr]

I love my Tikka 223. Chopped at 16", fluted bolt, tbac ultra 7. Kills lotsa critters.

But if I already had a 700 and wanted a heavy rig I'd grab a 24-26“ 7 twist barrel for 88s.

Any photos on the hide of it?

Almost bought one years ago during the Obama era but spent money on AR’s

Local store had a used one in perfect condition during this time for $650.00…. Should have bought it.

Went in 2-3 times to buy it and walked out with something I thought was going to be rare. Wish I would have snagged it and cut it down to 16”

 

[CaptArab]

Any photos on the hide of it?

Almost bought one years ago during the Obama era but spent money on AR’s

Local store had a used one in perfect condition during this time for $650.00…. Should have bought it.

Went in 2-3 times to buy it and walked out with something I thought was going to be rare. Wish I would have snagged it and cut it down to 16”

Just snapped a pic for ya.
If I only had this rifle and its 6.5 twin, I'd probably get by okay on bolt guns

 

[Frankr]

Just snapped a pic for ya.
If I only had this rifle and its 6.5 twin, I'd probably get by okay on bolt guns

Thanks man. That’s sexy.

One of those in the new GRS stock and a YHM turbo K would be perfect for coyotes and foxes around here.

 

[CaptArab]

Thanks man. That’s sexy.

One of those in the new GRS stock and a YHM turbo K would be perfect for coyotes and foxes around here.

I ran a direct thread turbo k last deer season while awaiting my ultra 7. Great can at any price. I might start off at 18" and work down if that was the one. It only ads like 4" to the barrel.

Velocity with lever under a 75 is still pretty great.

 

[stello1001]

Just snapped a pic for ya.
If I only had this rifle and its 6.5 twin, I'd probably get by okay on bolt guns

Did you not have a nightforce on it?

 

[CaptArab]

Did you not have a nightforce on it?

Yea I did at one point. It was just too heavy and I never really used it above 9-10 anyhow.

The SWFA 3-9 and 6x do everything I need so I sent the atacrs down the road for what I paid for them. Kinda tempted to snag another atacr for my 22GT/bravo though.

It's hard to justify having a mortgage payment wrapped up in a scope at this point in life

 

[carbonbased]

The super varmint also has a two stage trigger (same one that’s in the Tac A1, I believe).

 

[Pappasniper]

Captarab, what MOA is your built in rail? I am hoping 20 and it appears to be. But I can’t find any info on it.
PB

 

[CaptArab]

Captarab, what MOA is your built in rail? I am hoping 20 and it appears to be. But I can’t find any info on it.
PB

Tikka T3 Standard Action 20MOA Improved Scope Rail

At Area 419 we decided that there were no scope bases on the market that really met our requirements for quality, so we made our own. Its all in the little details that set this base apart from the competition. These are machined in house on our 4-axis HAAS VMC from 7075 Aluminum. Straight...

www.area419.com

 

[CaptArab]

Oh wait, haha that one doesn't have a rail.
Those rings are sportsman TO84, they're flat. The 419 rail is great though. I've got those on a couple Tikkas.

 

[Pappasniper]

Yea, the rail on my gun is built into the action, so I am stuck with whatever it is.

PB

 

[carbonbased]

Those rings are sportsman TO84

You mean Sportsmatch rings. Crappy site, good rings.

 

[LeftyJason]

Yea, the rail on my gun is built into the action, so I am stuck with whatever it is.

PB

Huh? Built into the action how? Are there no screws on top? They will be held in with the same stuff that holds the rail on.

The only part that is built in is the dovetail on top that can't be used while the pic rail is on.

All t3x actions are the same. The factory pic rails are 0 moa and are held on with a glue that works best with heat to remove. Same process as removing ctr rail. Multiple threads here have talked about it.

 

[Pappasniper]

Huh? Built into the action how? Are there no screws on top? They will be held in with the same stuff that holds the rail on.

The only part that is built in is the dovetail on top that can't be used while the pic rail is on.

All t3x actions are the same. The factory pic rails are 0 moa and are held on with a glue that works best with heat to remove. Same process as removing ctr rail. Multiple threads here have talked about it.

I thought it was a built in rail, if its 0MOA and I can remove it, I will. Any particular rail that is preferred in 20 ,30,40 MOA ?

PB

 

[346ci]

All the T3 and T3x rails should come off. What is the longest distance do you plan to shoot?

The built in cant on rails really depends on the caliber, distance and how much elevation adjustment your scope has.

 

[CaptArab]

I probably wouldn't screw with it unless you're hitting erector limits.

 

[EasySlick]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe the Super Varmints also have heavier barrels than the CTRs.

 

[LeftyJason]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe the Super Varmints also have heavier barrels than the CTRs.

I still need someone to take accurate measurements of a ctr and varmint barrel. I have the lite measurements from my own barrel. I did muzzle diameter and every ten thou diameter along with distance back from the muzzle.

 

[BiggBeans]

Picked up a CTR in 223 a couple months ago. Slapped it into an Xray chassis. This thing is amazing.

 

[TheOE800]

I still need someone to take accurate measurements of a ctr and varmint barrel. I have the lite measurements from my own barrel. I did muzzle diameter and every ten thou diameter along with distance back from the muzzle.

The regular Varmint barrel is about 0.86” (22mm I believe) at the muzzle with a very very light taper to about 7” in front of the receiver, when it tapers aggressively to the final diameter at the face of the receiver (something like 1.13”).

 

[DrDeath]

So does the varmint have the same diameter barrel as a CTR?

 

[Smooth_87]

The Varmint barrels are heavier profile than CTR’s.

CTR’s are considered semi heavy profiles in tikka factory terms.

I don’t have the measurements on me but the profile difference is quite significant. From memory at the muzzle the CTR is around just under 19mm at 20in and the varmints around 22mm at 23.8in.

 

[DrDeath]

Thanks Now if tikka would make a 30/06 in the super Varmint. They have a 300wm

 

[thedjtrooper]

So, I have been looking for the CTR in .223 for months and can’t find one, so started looking at others. The Super Varmint is one of them. Here is what I have found:

Full stainless but coated
2 stage trigger
Heavy barrel
5 shot MOA guarantee vs 3 shot on the CTR
adjustable comb stock

That is all I have found in my research.

 

[DrDeath]

On the tikka 2stage trigger. Do you set it by pushing forward then the 2nd stage is a lighter standard pull?

 

[ma smith]

On the tikka 2stage trigger. Do you set it by pushing forward then the 2nd stage is a lighter standard pull?

No, IIRC the two stage trigger is originally from the .mil rifles: arctic then tac a1...etc.

 

[carbonbased]

Do you set it by pushing forward then the 2nd stage is a lighter standard pull?

That’s the kind of trigger that’s on a CZ 527. It’s called a single set trigger. I own a few of them.

A two-stage trigger goes like this: as you pull through the first stage, you come upon a “wall”. You can pause at this wall and refine your aim. When ready, you pull through the wall and fire the gun. Typically both stages can be independently adjusted as far as pull weights.

 

[trob]

So, I have been looking for the CTR in .223 for months and can’t find one, so started looking at others. The Super Varmint is one of them. Here is what I have found:

Full stainless but coated
2 stage trigger
Heavy barrel
5 shot MOA guarantee vs 3 shot on the CTR
adjustable comb stock

That is all I have found in my research.

its worth the wait. Keep checking eurooptic. I had to check several times a week for a couple years, and they finally popped up. I always thought they didn’t actually import them, and only had them listed on eurooptic as just part of a generic list. I had been wanting a black one for about 5 years to swap out my ss 223 superlite.

 

[Pappasniper]

I have had mine out for a couple weeks and its running fine. The threads for a can are threaded for 30 cal cans not 556 which is strange but works. I ran my Nomad 30 on it and it ran great. Then I ordered an adapter so I can run my 556 can. Shot a .5MOA group with our standard load. Ran some Varget (slower powder vs H322) and picked up a nice velocity boost.

Nomad 30 cal can


My 556 can with adapter mentioned above


decent group


The two stage trigger is a bit strange to me even though I run G-SSA triggers in my precision AR15/10's.

PB

 

[Pappasniper]

We have run 88g ELD's out to 1,300 with great results and shooting very tight groups, ie .5 MOA. Installed a Mtn Tactical Bolt knob/handle that feels good. Also, I bought a Timney trigger 8oz/1.5lbs and I am very happy with it. I liked the Tikka trigger it just felt a bit cheap, and the Timney is spot on. I consider it a nice but not necessary gear.

This gun has done everything I hoped it would do, if your looking, sling that $$$$ downrange.

PB