Thread: Tikka’s .243 Win change…. 1:8” twist!

Well after however many years of Forum members banging on about fast twist .243s, Tikka has actually gone and done it. I read elsewhere that they have changed their .243 Win twist from 1:10” to 1:8”.

I checked on the website and this is indeed the case for both standard and varmint contour barrels.

It’s about bloody time really. I don’t think there’s ever been a mainstream manufacturer that has gone with the 8 inch twist. Remington was always 1:9⅛, Savage 1:9¼ and Kimber 1:9, but the Europeans doggedly stuck to 1:10”.

Pretty sure a lot of this decision will have been based on the switch to copper bullets in Europe, which to meet various jurisdictions’ regulations need to achieve either a certain muzzle energy or be a certain minimum weight (or both). So with copper bullets being longer for a certain weight class then a faster twist is required.

There is also the relatively recent release of longer and heavier for calibre copper jacketed lead bullets, which have become very popular in competition shooting as well as hunting. What puzzles me a bit is why Tikka didn’t go slightly faster because if you look at the 6mm Creedmoor for example, the barrel twist is 1.7½ to handle the really long and pointy Bergers and so on.

But no complaints. It’s overdue and a welcome change up. A Tikka T3x SuperVarmint in .243 Win with a 1:8” barrel shooting 103gr ELD-X or 108gr ELD-M would make a wicked long-range varminting rifle that will comfortably take red deer out to 400 odd, easy peasy.

Will be interesting to see if any of the other manufacturers do the same. The 6mm Creedmoor didn’t really take off and I think Howa dropped it after only a year or two? Last time I checked it wasn’t in the catalogue anymore. But the .243 Winchester will always sell.

This is awesome news. Any 243 with a 8t from the factory is going to be a winner.

Hope the factory magazine will actually be long enough to fit the 108gr projectiles.

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Hope the factory magazine will actually be long enough to fit the 108gr projectiles.

its a tikka just get the 30-06 mag if its a problem

Originally Posted by Bill999

its a tikka just get the 30-06 mag if its a problem

Or the M+ length magazine for 6.5 Creedmore would probably work fine too

Oooerr…

87gr VMAX for goats, wallabies, and anything smaller.
108 ELDM for deer, chamois, tahr, pigs.

No excuse to buy another rifle.

Originally Posted by Synthetic

87gr VMAX for goats, wallabies, and anything smaller.
108 ELDM for deer, chamois, tahr, pigs.

No excuse to buy another rifle.

Carrying it about scoped and loaded could require broad shoulders.

Originally Posted by jakewire

Carrying it about scoped and loaded could require broad shoulders.

The solution is called the quad bike…



I’ve got a couple of these rifles. Up the hill… bike, then moderate exercise involving rifle carrying, nothing too strenuous. Down the hill… bike.

They’re unerringly accurate these SuperVarmints.

For those with a more adventurous disposition, get the SuperLite! Also now available with 1:8” apparently.

Sako to follow soon hopefully

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Sako to follow soon hopefully

They are too busy churning out over-priced crap... like the new '100'

On a serious note, the cold hammer forged barrels will be shared between Sako and Tikka, so it would be surprising if twist rates were not improved on the Sako as well.

Anyone else seen the quality of new Tikka's go down the pan whilst the price has gone through the roof?

I have a work T3 and a T3x myself. The minor improvements in the T3x were nice but the T3 has a smoother feel to the action and nicer trigger.

Meanwhile a mate bought a brand new T3x CTR in 6.5 Needmore last year and the trigger was terrible, proper 'American' weight even at the lightest setting.

Suspect Beretta is turning the screws on Tikka since Beretta have come out with their own rifles. Crazy to think the Yanks were getting T3's for $800 new at one point. No wonder Remington went bankrupt...

Originally Posted by caberslash

They are too busy churning out over-priced crap... like the new '100'

On a serious note, the cold hammer forged barrels will be shared between Sako and Tikka, so it would be surprising if twist rates were not improved on the Sako as well.

Anyone else seen the quality of new Tikka's go down the pan whilst the price has gone through the roof?

I have a work T3 and a T3x myself. The minor improvements in the T3x were nice but the T3 has a smoother feel to the action and nicer trigger.

Meanwhile a mate bought a brand new T3x CTR in 6.5 Needmore last year and the trigger was terrible, proper 'American' weight even at the lightest setting.

Suspect Beretta is turning the screws on Tikka since Beretta have come out with their own rifles. Crazy to think the Yanks were getting T3's for $800 new at one point. No wonder Remington went bankrupt...

Can you explain the trigger issue. My mate has just bought a 223 T3X . I reload for him and he is head shooting in my presence. He is not complaining about the trigger. I swore off Sako though this is after my 75 which is a real ripper in 243 but the new stuff leaves me cold. Cheers.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Can you explain the trigger issue. My mate has just bought a 223 T3X . I reload for him and he is head shooting in my presence. He is not complaining about the trigger. I swore off Sako though this is after my 75 which is a real ripper in 243 but the new stuff leaves me cold. Cheers.

Extremely heavy with what felt like creep to me (it's not a two stage).

Saying that, I have been spoilt by TriggerTech Specials (both single and two stage).

Can't recommend buying a new Tikka T3x anymore as the prices have gone insane over here in the UK (over £1k+ for the very base model!).

Better to buy an old Remington 700 or M7 if you know what to look for and do it up. The detachable magazines on the Tikka's are also a rip (£50 for a new one!)

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Well after however many years of Forum members banging on about fast twist .243s, Tikka has actually gone and done it. I read elsewhere that they have changed their .243 Win twist from 1:10” to 1:8”.

I checked on the website and this is indeed the case for both standard and varmint contour barrels.

It’s about bloody time really. I don’t think there’s ever been a mainstream manufacturer that has gone with the 8 inch twist. Remington was always 1:9⅛, Savage 1:9¼ and Kimber 1:9, but the Europeans doggedly stuck to 1:10”.

Pretty sure a lot of this decision will have been based on the switch to copper bullets in Europe, which to meet various jurisdictions’ regulations need to achieve either a certain muzzle energy or be a certain minimum weight (or both). So with copper bullets being longer for a certain weight class then a faster twist is required.

There is also the relatively recent release of longer and heavier for calibre copper jacketed lead bullets, which have become very popular in competition shooting as well as hunting. What puzzles me a bit is why Tikka didn’t go slightly faster because if you look at the 6mm Creedmoor for example, the barrel twist is 1.7½ to handle the really long and pointy Bergers and so on.

But no complaints. It’s overdue and a welcome change up. A Tikka T3x SuperVarmint in .243 Win with a 1:8” barrel shooting 103gr ELD-X or 108gr ELD-M would make a wicked long-range varminting rifle that will comfortably take red deer out to 400 odd, easy peasy.

Will be interesting to see if any of the other manufacturers do the same. The 6mm Creedmoor didn’t really take off and I think Howa dropped it after only a year or two? Last time I checked it wasn’t in the catalogue anymore. But the .243 Winchester will always sell.

But not in the standard spec? A runabout 8T would be exciting.

Originally Posted by TeRei

But not in the standard spec? A runabout 8T would be exciting.

Read the second paragraph of post #1 again!