Tikka T3X Super Varmint-223
- Thread starter DrDeath
- Start date
I have the same model. Accuracy is great.
My main dislike is that the standard magazine has feeding problems. Quite regularly the 3rd round does not feed from the magazine. Same with a brand new Tikka magazine. Apparently mine is not unique.
You can get the Waters magazine from Australia or change your stock to an aftermarket like MDT and use those magazines. Or you can get hold of a CTR stock.
Another dislike is that you cannot single feed rounds through the ejection port.
My main dislike is that the standard magazine has feeding problems. Quite regularly the 3rd round does not feed from the magazine. Same with a brand new Tikka magazine. Apparently mine is not unique.
You can get the Waters magazine from Australia or change your stock to an aftermarket like MDT and use those magazines. Or you can get hold of a CTR stock.
Another dislike is that you cannot single feed rounds through the ejection port.
Strange, never an issue with a Tikka feeding from a factory magazine, 4 calibers(3 .223) and multiple rifles. You can get a single shot follower from Mountain Tactical or make one out of kydex.
You can also feed via a stripper clip, this was an old High Power shooter trick I was shown.
You can also feed via a stripper clip, this was an old High Power shooter trick I was shown.
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Interesting . No feed issues with my SV in 6.5 CM from the mag. Single feed mine regularly with a magazine insert. Very accurate.
You dont need to buy a new stock, just buy the CTR bottom metal. All the T3x share the same components.
Mourning to all,
I have not been able to locate a Tikka Super Variant in .223 with a 1-8 twist… I must be looking at the description wrong.,,,???
I have not been able to locate a Tikka Super Variant in .223 with a 1-8 twist… I must be looking at the description wrong.,,,???
At the price of getting a CTR bottom metal imported and someone that can alter the supervarmint stock to make it fit, it is easier and cheaper to buy a CTR stock form a CTR owner that dropped his action into a chassis.
Still cannot single-feed over an empty magazine.
Don't get me wrong. I love my Tikka. It shoots well and the action is great. The factory barrel shoots accurate as well. There is a whole tread about Tikka.
Getting imported? Alter the stock? Can't single feed over an empty magazine? By God what are you talking about?
A simple google search of "Tikka CTR bottom metal" will yield multiple websites that sell aftermarket versions.
ALL T3X/T1X stocks are the same. The UPR and newer Super Varmint with adjustable comb height are the only ones that are different. Bottom metal is what is changed.
As far as single feeding with a mag installed, I do it all the time so not sure what your issue is.
There are so many options that are just a google search away.
For single feed, go on EBay and put in “ Single feed adapters for Tikka rifles “ . I have one ( medium ) for my 6.5 CM. Works great, facilitates sliding a single round into the chamber by hand.
Its true in the sense that all fast-twist 223's are 8 not 7x ot 7.5x twist. TIkka does still make 12-twist Varmit models, eg
Thats not a US imported gun. Im sorry, I didnt know I had to specify guns that Americans cant/dont get. So let me rephrase, All Tikka .223 rifles imported to the United States of America, are 16", 20", 22" & 24" long, 1:8" twist. All except one are threaded 5/8"-24, with the exception being the Roughtech Ranch that is threaded 1/2"x28.
Tikka currently manufacture and sell 60 models chambered in .223 rem, and for many years imported 12 twist varmits to the USA. I think even in the super-varmit they may have originally imported 12 twist versions, since there are actual vamit hunters that want(ed) them.
Its very possible what they do in 2025 going forward is differnt than what they did historically, but a range of rifles is out in the fiels and on the used racks/gunbroker etc. Just something to keep in mind. There's no harm in caveating broad brush statements, that are a little too broad.
Neither of us (i'm sure) really want to read all to stupid TIkka p/ns to sort out the import/local SKUs...
Well considering I’m looking at every Tikka sku as I type this I will disagree with you. Do you think I’m just pulling this info out of thin air? lolTikka currently manufacture and sell 60 models chambered in .223 rem, and for many years imported 12 twist varmits to the USA. I think even in the super-varmit they may have originally imported 12 twist versions, since there are actual vamit hunters that want(ed) them.
Its very possible what they do in 2025 going forward is differnt than what they did historically, but a range of rifles is out in the fiels and on the used racks/gunbroker etc. Just something to keep in mind. There's no harm in caveating broad brush statements, that are a little too broad.
Neither of us (i'm sure) really want to read all to stupid TIkka p/ns to sort out the import/local SKUs...
Fellows,
I was just looking at EURO optic, Tikka Super Varmint, .223 … they look to be a 1-14. When I look on gun broker, they also look to be 1-14… so. I guess my knowledge of the Tikka sku is lacking. I own a CTR 223, 1-8, shoots great…. My other tikka 22-250 , 1-8. also shoots great,,, always good to learn..Thanks for the information, Charlie,,
I was just looking at EURO optic, Tikka Super Varmint, .223 … they look to be a 1-14. When I look on gun broker, they also look to be 1-14… so. I guess my knowledge of the Tikka sku is lacking. I own a CTR 223, 1-8, shoots great…. My other tikka 22-250 , 1-8. also shoots great,,, always good to learn..Thanks for the information, Charlie,,
The 8 twist was a tactical rifle for mil/leo, with a CIP spec reamer that shoots 77gr awesome. However, teh 8 twist bbl/reamer was known to suck with light bullets. And since...Nobody is shooting varmits with mk 262 clones....with $1800 MSRP rifle...
That's they imported the 12 or 14 twist $800 VARMIT model for a long time...decades...before the CTR even existed....and there was no CTR priorto the T3x model change...and the super varmit came 10 years later ... its like only 3-4 years old...
The world today is a different place, and I can easily see them selling tons of .223s for precision rifle. But you are talking companie SAKO and TIKKA have been in this game a long time. That casual/consumer precision rifle market didn't really exist prior to 2010, at least not in large numbers, it was all .mil/leo and varmit shooters.
ETA - 60 skus x 15-20 years is 900-1200 skus, which is quite different vs just current catalog.
Like I already stated, ALL CURRENT .223 Tikkas are 1:8" twist. I didnt mention 15 year old rifles.
You make the mistake of thinking everybody lives in the USA. Things are slightly different in Africa. We just drool over Google search results.
Unless Sako changed the design in the last year, the CTR and UPR bottom metal is wider than the Supervarmint. So you have to widen the recess of supervarmint, varmint and hunter stocks to fit the CTR bottom metal.
Getting a single-feed block sort of defeats the object of a magazine fed rifle. I do have one for when I'm sitting at a bench, but I would have loved the option to just drop an extra round in when the magazine empties. And the issue is only with the .223. I have no problem single feeding on the .308 supervarmint.
I said in the US. I have no visibility of Africa or any other nation.
Well, again, the CTR and T3x and T1x use the EXACT same stock, so If you're having an issue its a one off. Tikka doesn't make a bunch of different parts for all of its guns. They use the same components over and over for different models. The CTR is literally just a different bottom metal, magazine and barrel profile than a T3x. Same triggers, same action, same bolt, same stock.
Listen, I'm not gonna continue arguing with you. People ask questions and I'm answering them with the factual information from Tikka/Sako because I KNOW as part of my job. But if you think you're right then so be it. Have a good one.
Not sure why you would say something like this ? 100% the 22mm varmits wont fit in the t1x but they shoot fine from the CTR.
So since I don’t know what I’m talking about, here is a brand new, T3x .223 Varmint profile barrel in the same T3x stock as every other T3x. But you’re right, it doesn’t work lol.
Just to clarify the single round feeding issue, it's common for 223 to have this issue as the narrow cartridge diameter means the tip of the bullet hits the back of the barrel tenon rather than entering the chamber.
You can get single round sleds that work but you can't just drop a round on top an empty magazine and feed it.
I did at one stage design a new follower that did allow for single round feeding but took a bit of work.
I thought about trying to design a new follower for the CTR magazines but the magazine design (with the internal insert) kinda makes it difficult.
I did find a technique for single loading that worked most of the time but was still a PITA at matches.
Unless the bottom metal design has changed recently, the Super Varmint vs CTR stock are different as the traditional Tikka bottom metal is a completely different shape than the CTR bottom metal.
Usually you can find someone selling a CTR stock with bottom metal on here easy enough, probably not likely to come with a 223 magazine though.
You can change over the adjustable cheek piece hardware if want, just need to drill a few holes in the butt.
Pretty sure I have a spare CTR stock with bottom metal if you want one
You can get single round sleds that work but you can't just drop a round on top an empty magazine and feed it.
I did at one stage design a new follower that did allow for single round feeding but took a bit of work.
I thought about trying to design a new follower for the CTR magazines but the magazine design (with the internal insert) kinda makes it difficult.
I did find a technique for single loading that worked most of the time but was still a PITA at matches.
Unless the bottom metal design has changed recently, the Super Varmint vs CTR stock are different as the traditional Tikka bottom metal is a completely different shape than the CTR bottom metal.
Usually you can find someone selling a CTR stock with bottom metal on here easy enough, probably not likely to come with a 223 magazine though.
You can change over the adjustable cheek piece hardware if want, just need to drill a few holes in the butt.
Pretty sure I have a spare CTR stock with bottom metal if you want one
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