Thread: Tikka 223 1-8 or 1-12

1:12 for the .223, or better still, 1:14.

For a time, the Remington custom shop built 1:14 .223's, and for good reason.

With a 50-55 grain boat tail/flat base or maybe even a 60 grain flat base for up close, you have the ultimate 'walking varminter' rifle if built on a Sako L461 or A1 with their original sporter contour barrel.



The .223 is not 5.56X45 NATO, so stop trying to make it into one. Latter is meant for M16/M4 rifles with a different throat to .223 AR's (RIP) and the former was always meant to be a sporting cartridge which bridged the very small gap between the .222 and .222 Mag. IMHO the US Military's 'pie in the sky' requirements crippled the M16/M4 platform, penetrating a steel helmet at 500 yards... the Soviets were happy with 300 meters.

Yet they took notice of the .223 chambered Vietnam era AR15's and looked to make their own small calibre assault rifle cartridge, hence the 5.45x39 which the Afghans hated... wonder how they felt about the 5.56 NATO firing a heavier yet slower bullet?

Personally would not take a .22 centerfire much past 300 meters, as much after that distance and beyond a 6mm will stomp it into the ground.

That being said, with the average deer being taken at well under 300m, I think the .223 is a fine deer rifle in the right hands.

Shame that Howa can't make the Mini into a proper sporter with a floorplate , would be the closest thing to an old Sako Vixen...

Would not look at a new Tikka T3 unless I was shooting 30-06/.270 or a WSM due to the action length and stupid magazine size.



If you really want to do the fast twist .223 thing, do it on a Rem Model 7.