Tikka T3 Lite Stainless .223

[Deker 3,491]

Can anyone please be a little more constructive and helpful here please...the following is an email conversation I have just had with GMK.

 

 

Email TO GMK

Help me out please. The Tikka T3 in .223 has a 1-8 twist.

All the formulas I can find would lead me to think it should be nearer

to 1-12. Don't get me wrong I accept it is done for a very good reason

but I don't understand, flip, I have just checked Tikka site again and

it lists the .223 with 1-8 and 1-12 twist!!! PLease, please help me to

understand if there are two options now and why. Many thanks.

 

 

GMK response

Sako/Tikka made a decision to manufacture all .223 barrels in a 1 in 8

twist some 2 years ago as they felt that this twist rate would be able

to stabilise all bullet weights. They have now decided to revert back

to making all barrels with a 1 in 12 twist - this should happen during

the first few months of 2008.

 

 

Email bact to GMK

Many thanks for the response but this leaves me a little concerned. My Tikka T3 .223 is 1-8 twist, I use 55g HP (3241ft sec) for hunting and 62g FMJ (3133ft sec) for target. What is your view on these please? Could you make any suggestions with regard other ammo that would improve on these. Many thanks.

 

 

GMK response

Unfortunately we are not in a position to advise as to what to use and what not to use in the way of ammunition. We are the wholesale importer of Federal ammunition and would advise that a range/grouping session using different bullet weights and different manufacturers would the best course fo action.

 

 

Now..... I would not have thought the questions too difficult, I was just looking for some help and advice but once again GMK show they are about as helpful as a chocolate fireguard. If anyone can help me out with ammo they get on with in the 1-8 twist I would be grateful, and particularly anything you would strongly suggest avoiding.......seems fairly apparent that this twist rate is a complete f**k up, or why else would they have gone back to 1-12 twist after just 2 years!

 

Thank you.

 

Deker

[Guest JohnGalway]

I had a T3 Varmint stainless (much happier now that it's gone I'm afraid to tell you). It too was a 1 in 8 .223. Federal 50 grain hollow point grouped best for me in mine but to be honest I think they gave you the best advice that they could. Mine should have stabilised the heavier bullets well and not the light ones but 75 grain Hornadys were like shotgun pattern, and the 50's did OK. So there you have it I'm afraid. Unless of course you reload, then you can play around, I'm stuck with factory ammo.

[Deker 3,491]

I had a T3 Varmint stainless (much happier now that it's gone I'm afraid to tell you). It too was a 1 in 8 .223. Federal 50 grain hollow point grouped best for me in mine but to be honest I think they gave you the best advice that they could. Mine should have stabilised the heavier bullets well and not the light ones but 75 grain Hornadys were like shotgun pattern, and the 50's did OK. So there you have it I'm afraid. Unless of course you reload, then you can play around, I'm stuck with factory ammo.

 

 

Appreciate the comments and that is what I have found, although I have not put any 50g through it. I actually get good results with the ammo I am using 55gHP & 62gFMJ but I do not understand why, with a 1-8 twist all the formulas would suggest you need a real heavy bullet but they don't seem to do it for me.

 

The whole thing has got me really confused which is why I asked GMK for advice...Sako/Tikka have made a decision based on information of some sort, I do not understand the big problem here, it would seem sensible and logical that they share that information with their customers so we can all get the best results from our tools rather than keeping it a secret!

 

Deker

PS Never got into reloading!!!

Edited November 26, 2007 by Deker

[Guest JohnGalway]

If I lived where you do Deker, I would never buy a box of ammo again, I would reload for everything I could. It's just so much better, the thought of perfecting a load for your own particular rifle. If accuracy is important, then it's the way to go. Try the 50g, even the 45g you never know what'll shoot well until it's tried. The whole twist rate debacle is going to hurt Tikka IMO, especially as you say they have decided to have them in 1 in 12 now... Big mess. In GMK's case since they are the dealers for a certain brand of ammo they can hardly reccomend another type lol. I would think about reloading.

[Deker 3,491]

If I lived where you do Deker, I would never buy a box of ammo again, I would reload for everything I could. It's just so much better, the thought of perfecting a load for your own particular rifle. If accuracy is important, then it's the way to go. Try the 50g, even the 45g you never know what'll shoot well until it's tried. The whole twist rate debacle is going to hurt Tikka IMO, especially as you say they have decided to have them in 1 in 12 now... Big mess. In GMK's case since they are the dealers for a certain brand of ammo they can hardly reccomend another type lol. I would think about reloading.

 

 

Cheers John...daft thing is I like the gun and it does shoot well, it shouldn't though according to all the worlds technical info and I want to know why!

 

Anyway...a question for you, I spent about 6 hours in Dublin Airport a few years ago waiting for a connecting flight, that's the closest I have ever been....looking at your list no Grey Squirrel...is this a stupid question....have you got them out there?

 

Also..is it correct you guys can have pistols but can't buy reloading stuff?

 

I should know all this really but Wales is pretty much identical to England and I know the differences in Scotland but I know next to nothing about Ireland, North or Republic!

 

Deker

[Guest JohnGalway]

There are no grey or red squirrels where I live, infact I don't believe there to be any/many grey squirrels along the western seaboard. However, the greys are in other parts of the country and some group or other is considering putting the greys on the birth control pill (quite how they're gonna do that I don't know).

 

Yeah we can have pistols for target shooting, here's a gun dealers website www.shoot.ie, you'll see a few listed there. Reloading is a very grey area from what I hear. In some districts it may be allowed with permission but I don't know 100% for sure. The problem is the powder and primers being classed as explosive (I think). It's nonsense really when you think they can do it legally in N.I.

[Deker 3,491]

There are no grey or red squirrels where I live, infact I don't believe there to be any/many grey squirrels along the western seaboard. However, the greys are in other parts of the country and some group or other is considering putting the greys on the birth control pill (quite how they're gonna do that I don't know).

 

Yeah we can have pistols for target shooting, here's a gun dealers website www.shoot.ie, you'll see a few listed there. Reloading is a very grey area from what I hear. In some districts it may be allowed with permission but I don't know 100% for sure. The problem is the powder and primers being classed as explosive (I think). It's nonsense really when you think they can do it legally in N.I.

 

 

Cheers

Deker

[gelert 1]

someones loading for my .222 ruger m77 mk11, i was happy emough with factory and he hasn't really done much testing just very consistant and out to 230rds which is what i shot last night.....its bang on..............i weighed the powder difference in the same box of bullets and between 2 different they weren't consistant about 2gn difference through the range!!

 

reloading is definately the way forward, to get the best results.........find someone doing it in your area

[pimmy 0]

Can anyone please be a little more constructive and helpful here please...the following is an email conversation I have just had with GMK.

 

 

Email TO GMK

Help me out please. The Tikka T3 in .223 has a 1-8 twist.

All the formulas I can find would lead me to think it should be nearer

to 1-12. Don't get me wrong I accept it is done for a very good reason

but I don't understand, flip, I have just checked Tikka site again and

it lists the .223 with 1-8 and 1-12 twist!!! PLease, please help me to

understand if there are two options now and why. Many thanks.

 

 

GMK response

Sako/Tikka made a decision to manufacture all .223 barrels in a 1 in 8

twist some 2 years ago as they felt that this twist rate would be able

to stabilise all bullet weights. They have now decided to revert back

to making all barrels with a 1 in 12 twist - this should happen during

the first few months of 2008.

 

 

Email bact to GMK

Many thanks for the response but this leaves me a little concerned. My Tikka T3 .223 is 1-8 twist, I use 55g HP (3241ft sec) for hunting and 62g FMJ (3133ft sec) for target. What is your view on these please? Could you make any suggestions with regard other ammo that would improve on these. Many thanks.

 

 

GMK response

Unfortunately we are not in a position to advise as to what to use and what not to use in the way of ammunition. We are the wholesale importer of Federal ammunition and would advise that a range/grouping session using different bullet weights and different manufacturers would the best course fo action.

 

 

Now..... I would not have thought the questions too difficult, I was just looking for some help and advice but once again GMK show they are about as helpful as a chocolate fireguard. If anyone can help me out with ammo they get on with in the 1-8 twist I would be grateful, and particularly anything you would strongly suggest avoiding.......seems fairly apparent that this twist rate is a complete f**k up, or why else would they have gone back to 1-12 twist after just 2 years!

 

Thank you.

 

Deker

hi pal i got a tikka 223 with 1in 8 twist i use rem cases 23grns of varget powder reminton primers and 60grn vmax heads col to 2,260 and get half in groupin @ 100 yrds try it

[Deker 3,491]

Pimmy

 

hi pal i got a tikka 223 with 1in 8 twist i use rem cases 23grns of varget powder reminton primers and 60grn vmax heads col to 2,260 and get half in groupin @ 100 yrds try it

 

 

Sounds .. er ...er....thanks....er.......I know nothing about reloading....how about sending me some samples?

 

Deker

[pimmy 0]

Can anyone please be a little more constructive and helpful here please...the following is an email conversation I have just had with GMK.

 

 

Email TO GMK

Help me out please. The Tikka T3 in .223 has a 1-8 twist.

All the formulas I can find would lead me to think it should be nearer

to 1-12. Don't get me wrong I accept it is done for a very good reason

but I don't understand, flip, I have just checked Tikka site again and

it lists the .223 with 1-8 and 1-12 twist!!! PLease, please help me to

understand if there are two options now and why. Many thanks.

 

 

GMK response

Sako/Tikka made a decision to manufacture all .223 barrels in a 1 in 8

twist some 2 years ago as they felt that this twist rate would be able

to stabilise all bullet weights. They have now decided to revert back

to making all barrels with a 1 in 12 twist - this should happen during

the first few months of 2008.

 

 

Email bact to GMK

Many thanks for the response but this leaves me a little concerned. My Tikka T3 .223 is 1-8 twist, I use 55g HP (3241ft sec) for hunting and 62g FMJ (3133ft sec) for target. What is your view on these please? Could you make any suggestions with regard other ammo that would improve on these. Many thanks.

 

 

GMK response

Unfortunately we are not in a position to advise as to what to use and what not to use in the way of ammunition. We are the wholesale importer of Federal ammunition and would advise that a range/grouping session using different bullet weights and different manufacturers would the best course fo action.

 

 

Now..... I would not have thought the questions too difficult, I was just looking for some help and advice but once again GMK show they are about as helpful as a chocolate fireguard. If anyone can help me out with ammo they get on with in the 1-8 twist I would be grateful, and particularly anything you would strongly suggest avoiding.......seems fairly apparent that this twist rate is a complete f**k up, or why else would they have gone back to 1-12 twist after just 2 years!

 

Thank you.

 

Deker

hi pal try some 60 grn heads vmax we 23 grns of varget col them so they just fit in ya mag iam shooting same rounds out of my tikka t3 223 1in8 twist and get clover group shots at 100 yrds

..

[hedgehog 0]

i am a new boy t the world of rifle shoot n i prev own 17 hmr i now have just recived my tikka t3 223 varmit mt 12 my gun dealer cant even tell me what mt stands for also its a 20 inch bar can any body help me ... have i just bought a lemon

[polski 0]

I've got the T3 Lite in .223, 1 in 8 twist, before I started reloading I used 55 grain federal v shocks, worked pretty well in mine

 

Rick.

[Tikka T3 0]

ive just got my t3 lite stainless .223 1 in 12 twist ,using norma 40 grn balistic tips grouping is superb ,i use this ammo in my t3 varmint .222 great ammo .sighted the 223 in and at 100yds was hitting drawing pins that was holding paper on board ,had 2 foxes with it both one at 130 yds and 1 at 175yds ,very pleased so far and nice and light to carry around.looks like i was lucky i dont think i would of had the 1 in 8 i did ask for the 1 in 12.great guns.

 

t3