Here's the two suspects. Only thing left that is CZ is the receiver, bolt, and magwell. LOL!

Well, I finally put my big boy pants on and shot that Tikka challenge target from page 2. Not too bad but they certainly will not win any trophies. Not around here anyway. Might be fun to add a time score on these. Maybe disqualification after 250 seconds, or maybe half that. Maybe worst edge instead of best edge scoring. I'll work on that. It’s funny, these circles are the exact same size as the center of an ARA Unlimited target, but they sure are much more intimidating squeezed into a 5” x 5” square.

Hey sigfreund...I forgot to thank you for the Sterk Ball rec. It certainly does make a difference.

Good to see more nice shooting results here.

And I’m glad the Sterk bolt handle is working for you. As I mentioned, I have them on all of my Tikka rifles except for the 308 CTR. The swept down and back design of the Sterk places the ball too close to the CTR stock for comfortable use. That was also true of the original 223 “Super Varmint” stock, although now that action is in an MDT chassis so it also has a Sterk handle.

Another aftermarket mod I’ve done to the T1x is to replace the grip with an MDT Premier vertical grip. I don’t know that it is really any better for me than the factory grip, but it’s what I have on most of my other Tikkas, so how could I not?

If thinking about a change in grips, though, something to be aware of: The factory and MDT grips both have an internal support piece that’s screwed to the rifle chassis. The MDT panels wouldn’t fit properly onto the factory support piece. But the MDT has its own support piece and comes with two different mounting screws, so no problem, right? Nope.

The factory support piece uses a screw that’s too short to use with the MDT’s support piece, and the screw has a metric thread so the MDT screws won’t fit the hole in the chassis. I was able to find a proper metric screw that was (just barely) long enough to use with the MDT grip, so everything worked out, but I wasn’t sure if it would when I first discovered the mismatch.

I'm fine with the factory grip. I think the only other change I might make is to a flat thumb rest instead of the knob.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
flat thumb rest

Another plastic part, but although I didn't find it to be a huge improvement, I do like it better.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Another plastic part

I did not realize that. If nobody's making one in steel or aluminum, then it will stay as is.

Coming soon, my best Eley Match lot vs Lapua Center X (as soon as it arrives) followed by some real ARA Unlimited Class targets shot with the winner. (All shot benchrest; Atlas bipod; no rear bag. ARA 2025 rules will be followed, without the sanctioned match of course. Does he suck or can he shoot. That is the question. )

I was a little annoyed to discover that the more-or-less flat thumb rest was plastic, but then I found that the stud type current rest is also plastic, so ..., and of course I wasn't about to try to return a $19 (for plastic!) part.

If the T1x Ace Target becomes popular enough perhaps we will see some good aftermarket parts.
Tikkas are definitely gaining a following as are precision 22LR rifles in general.

Keep us posted with the ARA efforts.

As promised above...



Shot the target with Center X. Not terrible but it's 100 short of getting me in a final around here.

Finally got some SK Standard Plus in so I could properly season the Tikka. I was really hoping she would like it, so I didn't have to keep feeding her Eley Match & Center X. Wow did she like it! Circles are 0.75". Groups did open slightly as the barrel got warmer but, I'm going to save a ton of money. I have vowed to never run low on SKSP again.

More impressive all the time, especially with less expensive ammunition.
Any more of that and I’ll have to try for some best groups again with my T1x.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Any more of that and I’ll have to try for some best groups again with my T1x.

Please do. It's boring looking at my own targets.
I think next time I take the Tikka out, I'll try an ARA Unlimited target with this lot of SK SP.

Okay, not a set of groups, but to show that I don’t always just post the good targets, here is one from today with the T1x using SK Standard Plus ammunition. The shots were fired from the standing position with the rifle clamped to the top of a Two Vets “Recon” tripod.

The targets are 1/4 the size of a series available from Targets Online*. Because of the reduction, at the 50 yard distance today they were equivalent to shooting the full sized targets at 200 yards.





I find the series to be a challenging drill because of the presence of a hostage or “innocent” bystander, and less of the BG’s face being visible in each target. I’ve had other people shoot the drill at full range, usually 100 yards, and most remark that it adds an unusual level of stress.

In the vast majority of shooting drills, a miss is just a miss: loss of points if that. In this one, though, we must not miss in the wrong direction—as I did with my last shot, and something I haven’t done in a long time. I like to tell myself that the shot might not have been fatal (immediately?), but certainly would have been a very serious injury. On the other hand, the BG would have been neutralized with almost any centerfire round, so there was that at least.

* https://targetsonline.com/

Aw heck...I hit way more hostages than that shooting IDPA.

Thought I would try something different. The target spots on the below targets are the exact same size as those on a PSL competition target and scored the same as well. They’re just crammed in to fit in 81/2 x 11 space. I wanted something consistent, with real world reference, on letter sized card stock, that I could just bring home and throw in a scanner so I could easily save and track without having to mess with a camera. This PSL setup fit the bill. Added benefit is that I can just print a few as needed instead of buying by the 100’s. Tried to do the same with ARA Factory Class but the size won’t fit. I’m working on an ARA unlimited class version because it will fit (I think).

Anyway, top target shot with the lot of SK Standard Plus that the Tikka liked. Bottom target shot with Eley Match. Not surprising, scores are a little low due to wind, but a pleasant surprise is SK kept up with Eley. Too bad I can’t order SK by lot #.

Inspiring as usual.

I was thinking of trying targets like those, but was put off by having to buy more than I’d use in a lifetime, and although I downloaded the ARA factory class target, it’s too large for my printers.

I have mostly been practicing shooting with a tripod for support. I'm doing well enough when the rifle is clamped to the Arca head that I'm now spending more effort on using just a bag on a platform on the tripod for support.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
I was thinking of trying targets like those

Is that a good email in your profile? I'll send you the file. You can print your own.

Yes, it is. And thank you.

Got it, thanks.
Eager to try it; perhaps tomorrow after morning activities.
(I assume it's a 50 yard target.)

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Got it, thanks.
Eager to try it; perhaps tomorrow after morning activities.
(I assume it's a 50 yard target.)

Yep, 50 yds. 20 minute maximum time per PSL rules.