Thread: Tikka T3x Tac A1

Originally Posted by Beetroot

The only reason to choose 308 wound be cheaper/more factory ammo options, or you want to shoot a particular discipline 5hat requires it.

Nope the main reason to go 308 is barrel life it's nearly twice the creed in accuracy life

Originally Posted by deye223

Nope the main reason to go 308 is barrel life it's nearly twice the creed in accuracy life

True.

But for the average hunter/casual target shooter barrel life isn't a concern unless you are talking real barrel burners (600-1000 rounds etc).
The amount of rifles you see listed here and TM with burnt out barrels (very very few) is proof enough.

Another beginner dead set on burning money.

Classifieds incoming in 6-8 months

Originally Posted by caberslash

Another beginner dead set on burning money.

Classifieds incoming in 6-8 months

If you buy shite, you buy twice.

Why is the Tikka T3x Tac A1 something that a beginner would want to sell... and why?

yes. 100% get a 6.5 cm.
Im fan on the 260rem but would never tell anyone to buy one. Just get the creed.

Originally Posted by blair993

yes. 100% get a 6.5 cm.
Im fan on the 260rem but would never tell anyone to buy one. Just get the creed.

Thank you for this, as I then went and found a video on the Hornby podcast talking of this fact, saying the 6.5 Creedmoor is great in the longer distances. Given my Tikka Tac 3 will mostly be a long range shooter that sounds perfect. The low recoil, flat travel, etc...

Also I heard them talk of the "6.5 PRC"... which was quite interesting, from the long range side of things.

I can always get a super light weight .308 for hunting, once I've learnt the trade.

Hi Eamon,

I'm just wondering a few things here. I'm not having a go at you, just wondering about how it was you came around to wanting a tactical rifle, and how you came to that decision. Have you ever handled or used one of these ??

They are a cool rifle, incredibly accurate in the right hands. Deadly out in the field with the right optics and operator.

BUT!!, they are very heavy once you get said optics on them. It's not the sort of rifle you cart through the bush. The skills that you may learn from shooting this rifle at longer range are cool, but because the rifle is so technical and sensitive, you may struggle to transfer those skills to a hunting rifle unless you are going to shoot a LOT of ammunition down the range.

I don't think they are a 'beginners' rifle. Yes, you have to start somewhere, I know that.

Having said that I think you're being a bit hard on the guy 'Caberslash'.

Originally Posted by tac a1

Hi Eamon,

I'm just wondering a few things here. I'm not having a go at you, just wondering about how it was you came around to wanting a tactical rifle, and how you came to that decision. Have you ever handled or used one of these ??

They are a cool rifle, incredibly accurate in the right hands. Deadly out in the field with the right optics and operator.

BUT!!, they are very heavy once you get said optics on them. It's not the sort of rifle you cart through the bush. The skills that you may learn from shooting this rifle at longer range are cool, but because the rifle is so technical and sensitive, you may struggle to transfer those skills to a hunting rifle unless you are going to shoot a LOT of ammunition down the range.

I don't think they are a 'beginners' rifle. Yes, you have to start somewhere, I know that.

Having said that I think you're being a bit hard on the guy 'Caberslash'.

I totally disagree.
The OP just needs to finds the right mentor(s).
First time shooters zap an egg @415m at our club shoots with little tuition from the owner of a well dialled in Tac A1 at. The fundamentals learnt range shooting can only make someone a better field marksman. The op will learn soon enough shooting is the lesser skill set to stalking and animal behaviour along with the caveats of application specific gear etcetera.

There's been no mention of any 'mentor' involved in any of these posts.

Originally Posted by tac a1

There's been no mention of any 'mentor' involved in any of these posts.

I guess my post was referencing your statement about it not being a beginners rifle.

Do you have a gun license @Eamonn?

Oh don't get me wrong, if you can learn from someone who is experienced, so much the better. There's just been no mention of assistance with it, that's all.

And with this rifle and its capabilities, that would be so much better.

Not sure how to tag, but where are you based Eamonn?
In Taranaki we have a few field shoots and long range shoots, you should come along to one and see what people are using and you'll be able to soak up some knowledge and experiance as well

Originally Posted by lau lau

Not sure how to tag, but where are you based Eamonn?
In Taranaki we have a few field shoots and long range shoots, you should come along to one and see what people are using and you'll be able to soak up some knowledge and experiance as well

Thats great advice. If you cant join a club try and do a course with Sparrowhawk or somewhere similar. The more experience you have the better decisions you will make when it comes time to buy. Its not hard to find a decent rifle, its going to be the scope and ammo that makes or breaks you.

@Eamonn

I am not having a go either, I will humbly admit there was a time once when I saw a Winchester 94 and thought it was an over/under. We all start somewhere. But I am curious to find out the reasons for your interest in long distance target shooting.

The main reasons I am curious is firstly it is generally something that people learn after they learn the basics, not something that people learn as a starting point. To say learning the trade with long range target shooting is sort of like saying you plan to learn to fly in an F16 jet and then use a Cessna once you have the flying mastered.

The second reason is that you present as quite committed to the concept despite (and I say this with respect, see start of post) having less than arm chair knowledge on many of the basic principles of ballistics or even shooting. Essentially (and again with respect) without the background, your reasoning comes across as misinformed.

The reason I point this out is that the long distance rabbit hole is much deeper than it looks to a lay person or even an arm chair expert. You would do well to understand the depth of the rabbit hole before you start throwing money into it.

Whilst I get and agree with the concept of buying good gear at the outset, there is a difference between good quality and fit for purpose. The Mk5 7-35 scope you are looking at, is good quality, but it has a limited application. It would cost >4.5k landed in NZ assuming you could source it. It only has one reticle available which is the Leupold CCH reticle ( https://www.leupold.com/reticle/cch/ ) this reticle is probably way more than what someone wants to deal with when they are learning. It is quite a specialised piece of equipment, it is the sort of gear that despite being good quality, will hold you back more than it will advance you. If I had a rifle with this scope on it,
I don't think there would ever be a time where I would use it in preference to a 3-9 or 4-12. You will likely end up buying twice if you buy a 7-35.

Long distance shooting isn't something where buying the most expensive gear with the biggest numbers automatically means you have the right kit and your good to go. There are plenty of cross compatibilities with rifles, mounts, scopes etc that aren't always compatible where you could snooker yourself before you even leave the house. Then there is the fundamental skills too.
These skills aren't achieved by default of having expensive gear, more often than not, what I see at the range, is skilled shooters with entry level rifles hitting targets much more consistently than those that have tried to buy their way to good ability buy spending big on gear.

Ultimately if you are keen on the idea, you don't have to have a good or valid reason, anyone who has done it will agree that there is a certain satisfaction in being able to reach right out and make first shot hits on far away targets.
I mentioned on one of your other threads, if you are really keen on long range shooting, buy and read one or all of Nathan Fosters books. Nathan can be described both figuratively and literally as 'The guy who wrote the book' on long range hunting and shooting.

You would also do well to find a club or mentor or both, I can't imagine anyone starting from scratch and becoming good at long distance shooting without any outside help that was not the internet. There are just too many subtleties to be aware of that only experience can bring awareness of.

Hopefully I have not taken any wind out of your sails with this post, that has not been the intent, it is more to help with some of the relevant realities you will eventually have to reckon with.