Wanting another rifle with an evil (per Colorado) threaded barrel, I recently settled on the Tikka T3x Super Varmint chambered for 223 Remington that I purchased from EuroOptic.
https://www.eurooptic.com/tikk...d-rifle-jrtxrsv312r8

Although I was generally happy with the stock configuration, I wanted to make it a little more suitable for precision shooting from rests, tripod, etc., and this is how it’s turned out (for the moment). The chassis is an MDT AAC Premier; suppressor by Thunder Beast; scope (for the moment) is a March Optics FX High Master 4.5-28×52mm.

One advantage of the MDT chassis is that it uses AICS pattern magazines. The factory mags are the one thing I don’t like about some Tikka models. The factory Super Varmint’s mags are polymer and limited to six rounds. I also found that the bullets of the IMI 77 grain HPBT-Match load were seated just long enough to contact the front of the six round mag body and not feed properly. As pictured the rifle has a five-round AICS mag, but 10-round versions are available.





But how does it shoot?

The left group here was fired with 10 rounds of the IMI 77 grain HPBT-Match load. I’ve gotten inconsistent results with the load, probably due at least in part to its large velocity variations. This time, though, everything clustered together for a group that measured 1.024 inch center to center or ~0.98 minute of angle.

The right group was fired with five rounds of the Berger 77 grain OTM Tactical load. It measured 0.465" CTC, or ~0.44 MOA. I’ve found the Berger load to be an excellent performer in my precision rifles chambered for 223 Remington.





This group was fired in a session today and consists of 10 rounds of Hornady Frontier 55 grain Hollow Point Match. I picked up a box locally on a whim in hopes of finding something that would perform at least as well as the IMI load, but less expensive. Nine rounds of the group measured 0.640" CTC or ~0.61 MOA; even with the outlier which was the first shot fired (cold, clean bore/cold shooter?) it measured 0.940" CTC or less than 1 MOA.
Based on this and another five-round group that measured 0.624" CTC, ~0.60 MOA, I would say I found a decent load to use when I don’t want to use the high-priced varieties.





All in all, I am again pleased with a Tikka purchase.

Um …; Frontier load, not Federal.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sigfreund,

Since you also recently posted about the ACE. What do you think are the plus/minus on starting with a supervarmit and going to an aftermarket chassis versus the std. Tikka ace. The mag issue I get for sure.

Based on my limited exposure to the ACE my friend has and a video or two about the gun, I would have preferred the ACE. Not only do I believe I would probably like the features of the factory chassis of the ACE more than the MDT, but I would have avoided the expense of the MDT chassis. According to the EuroOptic site, the ACE Target is only about $100 more than the Super Varmint. I also bought some accessories for the original SV setup that I have no use for now that I have the MDT chassis. I am happy with the setup I have for the SV now and I try not to obsess over “sunk” money, but ….

A couple of new groups today. Both were fired at 100 yards using a bipod and rear bag on a bench for support after firing three shots to zero a new scope. (Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56mm.)

Left was the Berger 77 grain OTM Tactical load that has performed so well in the past. This time the five shot group measured 0.447" (~0.43 MOA) center to center.

The right group was the IMI 77 grain HPBT-Match load. This one opened up a little as compared with the last one I fired, but was still respectable at 1.200" (~1.15 MOA) CTC. As I’ve mentioned before, the IMI load tends to be a little inconsistent; a large group will put most shots under a minute of angle with a good rifle, but the odd flyer is common.

I would never claim that I, the gun, and the Berger load will always achieve half MOA or smaller groups, but it was encouraging to get two in succession on different days.

Nice! I've been looking for an excuse to get a really good .223 bolt gun, and this may be it.

Some may ask, “Why a 223 bolt gun?”

On one hand it’s like asking why we have so many different guns of other types and cartridge chamberings, so part is “Just to have.” But there are a few practical reasons.

Probably the most obvious use is for hunting small animals, especially “varmints” such as prairie dogs, coyotes, etc. I haven’t hunted in years, but an accurate 223 Remington bolt action rifle would have been virtually as good, if not better for the ’dogs as the Ruger 77 in 22-250 that I did use.

For me now, though, I like the cartridge as an alternative to the far more powerful—and recoil-producing—similar rifles I have in 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Winchester. I shoot a lot of marksmanship drills and although neither of those cartridges is particularly punishing to shoot in the rifles I own, nicer is still nicer. The 223 Remington cartridge is of course not as good for long distance shooting as the 6.5 or many other cartridges, but the vast majority of my shooting is limited to 200+ yards or less. At such ranges its poorer ballistic effectiveness simply doesn’t matter.

Cheap loads are available for 6.5 and 308, but I also have probably a lifetime supply of bulk 223/5.56 loads that can be used in my Tikkas. Although both the T3 Tactical and T3x Super Varmint are marked on the barrels as chambered for 223 Remington, after a bit of cautious experimenting I found that I can shoot the 5.56mm NATO ammunition I have in both with no excessive pressure signs or other problems. I’ll hasten to add, though, that I make no recommendations about anything pertaining to firearms, and especially not to ever use improper ammunition in any gun.

I also like to have backups for certain guns. Although at my age and circumstances, ever having to use any of my precision rifles for “serious” purposes is essentially nil, I still like the idea of being prepared for that possibility. Having rifles that’re virtually identical in operation to the ones chambered for 6.5 and 308 means I can shoot as much as I want without fretting over things like barrel life.

Does everyone need an accurate bolt action rifle chambered for 223 Remington? Maybe not, but give it some thought and perhaps you’ll discover that you do.

what can are you using?

The can is a Thunder Beast 30P-1 that’s been modified at the factory a couple of times. The first was to change from a direct to muzzle thread to TBAC’s CB adapters, and later to upgrade the suppression level to be closer to their newer Ultra models, although not equal. It’s the only suppressor I own and I use it with 308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 300 Blackout, and 223 Remington. With all the cartridges I still use earplugs, but they are sufficient with the level of noise suppression it provides.