I'm so impressed with this gun that I had to tell someone.
I traded in my .223 Tikka (0.75" groups at 200 yards off of bench!) for something a little bigger. Bought some 90 gr TNT's and H414 powder. I started down at 3500 fps using 64 grains, but the gun ended up liking 68 grains shooting around 3800 fps. Shooting off of the truck at 130 yards, the group was <0.5". Now, I know this aint all that, but.... I went to my brother's and we shot at the gravel pit off of 4-wheelers just leaning on the front luggage bag at 125 yards. My rest was awfull and still, I hit within a half an inch of everything. Instead of shooting the water-filled 2 liter bottles like usual, I shot the tops off of the 2 liter bottles before letting someone else shoot the whole bottle. Great trigger.
One interesting thing was an apple that was shot while sitting on top of a boot box. Fairly thick cardboard, maybe 3 layers. The explosion left a ragged hole the size of the apple in the top of the box and there was a circular pattern of "shrapnel" exiting the back of the box about 6" below the top. Some day maybe I'll get to shoot a coyote with it.... shouldn't run far.
I have 2 Tikka T3 LS 270WSM- Love them (wife took over the first one so I bought another). These rifles love the Accubonds 140gr. 1/2" groups using Retumbo. I got some 110gr. VMAX bullets coming in for coyotes and wolves, hopefuly I'll get a chance to reload a few rounds.
Posts: 431 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 02 May 2005
I finally got to shoot a coyote yesterday with those 90 gr TNT's at 3800 fps. The shot was about 65 yards. The bullet hit him in the center of the shoulder and exited a couple of ribs back. I was surprized that the exit was only about the size of a quarter. I would imagine that the inards were blown up a little. No tracking was involved.
The T3 has its detractors, I'm not one of them. Whilst I can, to some degree, understand those who don't like the use of plastic in rifles, who cares when the T3 shoots so well. It was I think Whelen who said, "Only accurate rifles are interesting." My Tikka is very interesting.
Posts: 1374 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 10 February 2005