Thread: New Tikka T3X Aspire - enjoying it

I bought a Tikka T3x Superlite Aspite about 8 weeks ago. I just couldn't resist the rifle when I saw it in Whakatane Hunting & fishing. Alan did a package deal with a basic Burris 3-9X scope.

I managed to score some AR2219 (same as H322) which was my favourite powder in my old Tikka 222 Rem. I also got some AR2206H.

I got some projectiles -
* Hornady 55 gr SP with canelure
* Sierra 60 gr HP Varmint
* Hornady 60gr VMax
* Sierra 63 gr SMP

A mate also gave me 3 packets of old stuff he had - Hornady 50 gr, Sierra 60gr SP & Nosler Solid base 55 gr.

I have been playing with these 3
* Hornady 55 gr SP with canelure - Shoots well with AR2206H
* Sierra 60 gr HP Varmint - Shoots well with AR2206H & AR2219
* Hornady 60gr VMax - Shoots well with AR2219

I am an older person and my fitness is not good. I have issues with my legs, hip, back etc. I cannot shoot prone. Even at the bench I am stiff and not always in a comfortable position.

I have slowly got into a routine now. I made up some small sandbags as the old ones are long gone. I can now hold the crosshair on the 1 inch dot with a bit of waver. 5 shot Groups are often 1.3" as I invariably get a flier or pull one.

Yesterday I was at a club shoot and did well. Then I tested a couple of loads from a very uncomfortable bench with no sandbags! The 60gr Amax went into 0.83 inch - 3 bullets into one hole. The vertical spread was about 10mm or less. I am thrilled with this. I haven't shot such a group for 20 years!


BTW, I also got a Yo-Dave replacement trigger spring and it makes a huge difference. I do not have a gauge but I have got it set for a safe and light crisp release. A BIG improvement.

Did you buy 2? That's a 7mm08

That's what I thought but lost interest

I only zoomed into see what .22 calibre he'd got. Don't know my tikkas but assume they do 22-250, 222 and 223. Am interested in trying 2219 in my 222

Greetings @Nakihunter,
Like you health issues limit me to a bench for shooting. I started getting into F Class shooting this year using a Tikka T3 Lite for 300 yard shooting. So far I have been using the 69 grain Sierra. Last shoot was 600 yards and the rifle a 7mm-08. My walking range in the bush is rather limited so I have found the F Class shooting gives me something that I can do most of the time,
Regards Grandpamac.

Congratulations on the new rifle, 223 rem is a pretty easy caliber to get shooting accurate.
Have you thought about shooting off a tripod, it could be easier on the body sitting and standing.

You did pretty well shooting sitting and standing those .223 are awesome.


Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

No, just the 223 Rem. That is just a photo of a similar package in the shop as my rifle was already packed up.

Originally Posted by charliehorse

Did you buy 2? That's a 7mm08

I found the H322 incredible in my 222 Rem. I could put 5 shots into 0.5 inches any time with a couple of bullets. Usually the Sierra 52 gr HP & the Hornady 53 gr HP. I read up on this 25 years ago and found that most Bench rest shooters used the powder for this caliber.

Originally Posted by charliehorse

I only zoomed into see what .22 calibre he'd got. Don't know my tikkas but assume they do 22-250, 222 and 223. Am interested in trying 2219 in my 222

I am really enjoying the rifle, 17 months on.

The main reason I am posting is to share my process of preparing for a Wallaby shoot in Fairley in 3.5 weeks.

I've put a Piccatinny rail and a Sytong LM02 Thermal scope that I can take off.
I have also bought a 4-12X Leupold that I need to put in place of the Burris 3-9X. I find the Burris cross hairs are a bit too thick for my eyes. It seems to completely cover a 1 inch dot at 100 meters.

My most accurate load seems to be with the 63 gr Sierra SMP and Varget / AR2208. I am getting 3020 fps and very low Standard Deviation of 5.5 & velocity spread of 14 fps. Very good groups too - often 5 shots into 1 ragged hole about 0.5 inch. I still wobble left and right on the bench. It should be a good Fallow deer load up to 200 meters. Not sure about Wallabies at 300+ meters as the trajectory drops quickly.

The 60 gr VMax is not bad at 3100 fps but velocity spread is high with high SD. I am using AR2219. I need to try AR2206H and AR2208 I think.

The Hornady 55 gr SP is very fast (3360 fps) with AR2219 with 0.5 gr less than max from one source. No pressure signs such as bolt lift, shaved shiny brass etc. I need to measure case head and length expansion. I am very cautious by nature and keep very meticulous records of each batch of loads. I will drop 0.5 grains, if not more.