Recently purchased subject rifle and shot at range and can say the rifle is quite accurate.
Cal. 223 w/ 8 twist barrel and Leup. 4.5x14-30mm-Varm.Ret., load is 23grs of WC846(surplus mil.pwdr) LC brass, WSR primers, Sierra 77MK's seated at mag.length of 2.260. Trigger adj. to just at 2 lbs. Overall the rifle delivered five shot groups at 100yds.(from bagged/bench) of .3moa. which is fine. Like the rifle other than the fact that for some reason Tikka used a standard length action rather than short action?? Mag. capactiy is 6 in the 223, but next to impossible to single load due to abrupt shoulder on breech end, no radius at all to ease single loading. You can single load, but damn near have to stand rifle upright and carefully drop round in chamber. Not good.
With the 8 twist 69gr and heavier bullets gives the preferred performance, but the 80gr Sierras need to be single loaded, too long for magazine box, and not going to be able to use them w/ this rifle. With the 77's seated to mag.length feeding/function is very smooth and positive. Noticed that ejection was strong and sent out of action at about 2 o'clock for quite a distance. Plunger ejector spring is apparently a strong one and may clip a coil or two off to lessen the distance a bit. As for the mag, there is a filler block in rear of box and will take a look at it to see if it can be opened up some to permit loading of the 80's. Would not take much, but not keen on buying another of the expensive mags due to my tampering. Have a Tikka T3/Tactical in 308 and oustanding rifle(overpriced I think) and based on that experienced went w/ the Varmint 223. For the dollars spent, the Tikkas are an excellent value and if I can solve the single loading problem very pleased with the rifle. Any others out there w/ experience of this rifle??

martin

I have several Tikka rifles in ass't calibers...595s & T3's....my most recent T3 is the Varmint SS 223 w/8 twist..yes the mag length is too short for the long 75-80 gr bullets....get used to single feeding them....55 NBTs work well....The Tikka is a great rifle for the $$$...excellent 30 oz trigger out of the box....best value in the USA

Hello,
I have been able to use the Sierra 77's w/ mild load/23grains of WC846 Mil. Surp.powder/ and maintain the 2.260OAL/Mag and not have a compressed load. That will not work w/ the 80's though and as you said, will have to keep figuring out easy way to single load. Thanks for the feedback.

martin