Thread: Short Barrel Tikka T3 Help/Advice

Hello and welcome. I use a 20" barrel and get about 2600 with a 180gr ELD and a moderate load of AR2213SC (H4831SC to you). Other powders such as Re17 and Re26 will get you up to 2700. I'd expect about the same velocity with a slightly lighter bullet and slightly shorter barrel. Recommend you punch the numbers into a ballistic calculator and see whether that delivers the kind of energy you're looking for. Bear in mind that energy is only one aspect - you also want to ensure that your bullet is above the velocity threshold on target so that it expands/fragments - it's all well and good having lots of Ke, but unless the bullet can deform and dump it into the target properly, it's wasted.

Another one to consider for a full length action like the Tikka is 280AI. That should gain a little more speed over 284 Winchester, nipping right on the heels of 7mm Rem Mag. Or drop down to 6.5-284 which provides nearly identical performance to 6.5 PRC.