Author Topic: T3 Tikka in 6.5-55mm (Read 1392 times)

Buckfever · « **on:** July 14, 2004, 07:34:27 AM »

Well the day finally came when I was able to take the new T3 to the range. First off I am a hunter but this gun makes me look like a pretty good shot. Used the Hornadys 140gr Custom line and after about 5 shells to get the scope fine tuned I shot 3 at 50yds and 3 at 100yds. The 3 at 50 were within a 1/2 inch of each other, and one of the bullets used 3/4 of the others hole. Well after wondering how the heck I was able to make that happen I shot at the 100yd target. The 3 bullets were slightly right of the bulls eye and under an inch. This gun is by and far the most accurate firearm I have ever shot!

But some of the other features are really just as important to me. It is a sweet load to shoot, very kind recoil. The plastic(composite) clip feed all the shells used and worked just fine. I got the wood stock, personal preference, with blued barrell. It is 6 or so oz.s heavier than the synthetic but still feels light over all. Pulled up the gun in a free shooting area and was 11/2 inch off dead center at 50 yds. Fits me real nice. This is going to get a steady diet of 140gr Nosler Partitions for my whitetails. I really liked the looks and feel of this firearm but it had to shoot to pass the test. I would highly recommend looking at a T3 if you are going to get a new firearm. I am not saying they are the best for you but i sure would tell you to take a look. They flat out shoot!!! Buckfever

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2004, 08:05:22 AM »

Well well well. Looks like another satisfied Tikka owner.

Tikkas are great, and so is the 6.5x55. If I ever get a 6.5x55, I was thinking of either a CZ or the Tikka, but I still prefer the Tikka.

Congrats on the rifle!

Zachary

crazyjjk · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2004, 10:05:38 AM »

Quote from: Zachary

Well well well. Looks like another satisfied Tikka owner.

Tikkas are great, and so is the 6.5x55. If I ever get a 6.5x55, I was thinking of either a CZ or the Tikka, but I still prefer the Tikka.

Congrats on the rifle!

Zachary

Now I am going to sound like Lawdog with Remington. (I don't mean any disrespect Lawdog). Stick with the Tikka and steer away from the CZ. CZ makes a good product, but if you do get the occasional lemon their customer service sucks. (Rising POI thread in Gunsmithing forum). If they can't fix it by sending you a simple fix such as a clip or spring they will just blow you off. As Lawdog says about Remington I say about CZ-USA. I will never buy any of your products because they do not stand behind them. :evil: >John

TNrifleman · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2004, 11:08:02 AM »

I have heard many good things about Tikka rifles, including the T3. I haven't had an opportunity to shoot one yet. They are not very common in my neck of the woods.

I have used the fine Nosler Partitions in 6.5X55 rifles. the 125 and 140 grain bullets are pure poison on whitetail deer. Great hunting cartridge!

Buckfever · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2004, 01:30:05 PM »

It has been a half a day since I shot my 6.5-55 T3 and I am still as pleased as as if I just hit the bullseye. Man I could see that this gun is going to raise my confidence and it will be here for a long time. My granddaughter would say Sweeeeet!

Today I thought of some of the other guns I struggled to get 3" groups with and that was the best they would do. I am also daydreaming of the first buck that I get in it's crosshairs. Sorry for the BS'ing I am as pleased as I could be with this gun. Buckfever

Zachary · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2004, 04:10:40 AM »

It's such a great feeling to have a gun that you just have the upmost confidence in! :grin:

Zachary

james · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2004, 08:58:19 AM »

Congrats on a fine rifle. Nothing like an accurate rifle to build confidence in a hunter. I picked up a 1915 vintage 6.5 x 55 military Swede that shoots less than 1 inch groups at 50 yds with iron sights. (and my 50 year old eyes). I got so excited I am looking for a sporter in this caliber. I have been reading and considering the Tikka, CZ, and a new TC Encore barrel. It sounds like the T3 would be a good choice. I was shooting 36 gr. of IMR 4895 and 150 gr round nose Horandy bullets in new Norma cases. I have loaded up some 140 gr. spire points and can't wait to get back to the range to try them out at longer ranges. Like you say, the light recoil makes it a pleasure to shoot.
James

tgearrey · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2004, 09:20:26 AM »

Forgive my ignorance.. but does the 6.5x55 qualify as a short round? ie .308 and etc? Or is it a long round requiring a longer action? I have never seen one in person.

Buckfever · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2004, 10:28:39 AM »

It requires a long action from what I understand but not by much. A guy that reloads tells me if you need to shoot longer bullets ie Barnes and such the 260 might be too small for the larger bullets. The 260 and 6.5-55 are quite close in ballistics when handloaded. Buckfever

Zachary · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2004, 05:04:55 AM »

Buckfever is right. It's actually kinda like a "medium" action, as opposed to short action and long action. Yes, it is a tad longer than a short action, and won't fit in a short action receiver.

I've been toying the idea of getting a 6.5x55 for quite a while now. I have a .260 in a Remington BDL SS DM and I love it, but, for whatever reason, I always wanted a 6.5x55 as well, and prefereably in a European rifle.

Well, the Tikka T3 flips the bill and yesterday I myself bought a T3 hunter in 6.5x55. I plan on mounting a Nikon Monarch 3x-9x-40mm gloss scope on it and just enjoy the heck out of it. I have a feeling that it may be one of my favorite rifles.

Zachary

Buckfever · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2004, 11:21:18 AM »

Zachary this gun really won me over! Accurate as heck, easy recoil, can shoot surplus bullets <$10 a box for plinking, can handle 160gr for large game, will shoot 100gr close to 3175fps and 120gr or 140gr for deer. Its not an everything gun but it really fits what I need in a gun. If you hand load you can raise the bar even further if you think you need to. I think the gun has great lines but the best of all is it has very mild recoil and it is a laser with factory ammo!! Imagine what an experienced reloader could do. I think you are going to have a ball working this firearm up to a load you like. I only wish I would have knowen about this caliber earlier for my tree stand hunting < 200yds. Hats off to Tikka! Zachary this gun really woke up the kid in me, it is a lot of fun. Buckfever

Zachary · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2004, 12:43:41 PM »

Unfortunately, I don't handload.....yet, but I did a search on the net and there are quite a few factory loads out there. It appears that the Sellier & Bellot load their ammo with more powder than U.S. makers do. Still, you really don't want too much powder, because then that defeats the purpose of this rifle - great penetration with mild recoil.

I am a huge fan of stainless/sythetic rifles. I have purchased a few deluxe models from Sako and Tikka, but this is the first "plain" centerfire bolt-action rifle that I have ever purchased, and I don't care. I am going to love this gun the same, if not more, than my other favorite rifles. :grin:

Zachary

leverfan · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2004, 07:36:59 PM »

Buckfever-

I'm all for Nosler Partitions, but I had some bad luck with one batch of them when I was testing several 6.5mm bullets in a 260 Remington (chambered in a T/C Encore with 24" barrel). The 140 grain Noslers were going out the muzzle at an average of 2712 fps (10' from the muzzle), and they did great in wet newsprint at close range. At longer range, over 200 yards, they didn't expand evenly, and they tumbled as a result. After tumbling, the rear cores would separate from the base, and some of them even made nice little mushrooms, but they didn't penetrate much farther. I couldn't afford to buy more bullets from a different lot, so this is a very limited sample.

It may have been this one batch, but it wouldn't hurt to check before you go hunting, at least if you expect longer range shots. My gut feeling is that the 140 grain Noslers belong in a 6.5-06, or one of the 6.5mm mags, for enough velocity to insure long range results. The 125 grain Partitions were great, as were 129 grain Hornady, and most all of the other bullets and factory loads I tested. Your T3, with handloads or some of the faster factory fodder, should be about the same velocity range as my old T/C. If your gun has a long throat that prefers long, heavy bullets, why not stick with the Hornady 140 grain SP for deer? The Hornady 160 grain RN also worked great out of my gun, displaying excellent, straight penetration, right through my chronograph. :cry:

Zachary · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2004, 01:54:50 AM »

I'm a firm believer in premium bullets for your higher velocity rounds. However, I don't really classify the 6.5x55 (at least with 140 grain bullets) to be a higher velocity round.

You need premium bullets to hold up together under high velocities. Heck, even in guns like the .30-06, people use plain jane 165s, even 150s, with no problems, and I really don't see the need for premium 140 grain bullets in the 6.5x55, especially at longer ranges, because the bullets are not traveling as fast.

I kinda like spending money on quality components, but in this case, I see no need to spend extra money on premium 140 grain bullets for a 6.5x55 for shots at thin skinned 120 pound whitetail deer within 200 yards.

Now, if it was a moose that you were after, then yes, go ahead and use the 140 Trophy Bonded bullets, or even the 156 grainers, or even 160 grainers. (The europeans kill more Moose every year with the 6.5x55 with those long heavy bullets than any other gun).

Zachary

Buckfever · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2004, 02:36:06 AM »

As well as this gun shot the new Hornady 140gr. Spire Interlock it maybe the logical choice. $18.00 a box. The only reason I may have some 140gr Nosler Partitions put together is the treestand short distance may catch a shoulder. Some times these shots can be under 50 yards. and all the shots are under 125yd< Minnesota and Canada lots of brush. Thanks for the tip on the Noslers, I guess I have to keep reminding myself that conventional works here. Still have lingering Maganumitis! Also think it would be fun to try a 100gr. bullet for coyotes. Thanks Buckfever

Zachary · « **Reply #15 on:** July 18, 2004, 06:41:05 AM »

I think that the 100 grainers, or even less actually, would be great for coyotes. As far as magnumitis is concerned, well, I think that a 6.5x55 is definately your cure.

Zachary

leverfan · « **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2004, 07:18:28 PM »

Buckfever-

If you want to take a whack at some coyotes, Speer has data on their web site for their 90 grain TNT HP. You'll have to use 260 Remington load data as a starting point, since I don't think the 6.5x55 is listed. With careful load development, 3300 fps should be possible with the right powder, and maybe a bit faster, in a modern rifle. I haven't gotten around to trying the Sierra 85 grain HP, but Edition V claims maximum speeds of 3500 fps from the Swede for this weight. If you were planning on selling the hides (or eating the coyotes, for that matter

), I would use a FMJ bullet, just to cut down on the splatter factor.

www.speer-bullets.com