223 Trainer & Matching Fast 6mm

[Q_Sertorius]

This was the big thing that prompted me to get my 6CM and kind of leaves my 6.5 in this odd man out kind of place. My 18 inch 6 is 200 fps faster than my 24 inch 6.5.

Once I shoot up my ammo supply my 6.5 may very well turn into something else. I may keep it as a trainer due to cheap and readily available ammo but cant see any hunting scenario where I would ever grab it over my 6. More and more I am thinking I would be better off with a short 6 in a rokstock lite and a little longer 6 in a heavy. Otherwise the real role of my 6.5 is just being there in case there is another ammo shortage and its all I can get.

I recently sold the Tikka 6.5 CM and replaced it with a 20” 1:8” twist .243. That’s my new primary hunting rifle.

I still have a 6.5 CM Sauer 100 with a 22” threaded barrel.

 

[Robobiss]

I would not hesitate to get the blued version, if it becomes an issue, get it Nitrited. The 1-8 twist 243 is a great option that doesn't get the attention it deserves.

My blued 16” 223 has been rained on, snowed on, dropped in snow, and has spent enough time used hunting out of a canoe with zero signs of rust that I truly feel like it’s a non-issue. The bolts on my UM rings on the other hand have rusted like a MF.

I do wipe it down with oil afterwards if it really gets wets and crappy which is probably a step that wouldn’t have to be taken with the stainless model. In my experience and use, the extra money for the stainless model hasn’t been necessary. I beat on but take decent care of my blued rifle and it seems to be taking the abuse fine.

 

[Robobiss]

Why 16" over 20"?

I kinda like the 20" barrel option to be on par with my desired hunting rifle.

For me who runs a 16” with a 6” suppressor it really takes a larger powder column than a 223 rem to get a 22 cal into the “next” bracket with velocity and maximum distance you can/should shoot stuff with fur as far as impact velocity is concerned. Or a stupid long barrel.

To the point that 4” of barrel and 100-150 FPS is almost meaningless to me. At the distance where that matters, and the little bit of distance gained I would just rather have more powder capacity and shoot something that is more optimized for the task, anyways.

Making my ~440 yard tikka a ~510 yard gun with 150 FPS and a 4” longer barrel and giving up the packability and handling is not worth it to me.

But my A/O is a lot of thick nasty stuff, and as mentioned prior I do a lot of getting in and out of boats and sometimes hunting directly out of them. For others the extra 4” may be no big deal.

 

[Lawnboi]

Have you owned a tikka? I would just buy a 223 right now, see if you like the platform with a new stock and go from there.

Bix makes a tikka trigger too, I use them on my comp rifles.

 

[fwafwow]

Or if you like wood:

https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3x-hunter-223-rem-16-1-8-bbl-wood-blued-rifle-jrtxa313

Is that threaded?

 

[Sled]

Is that threaded?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[Huggies05]

I would suggest some caution with moving forward with the strategy you are proposing. In theory, it’s a good plan. The concept of a 223 bolt gun trainer (particularly a short suppressed tikka) really has no significant downsides. The issue is that you’ll get it as a trainer or as a hunting gun for your kids and you’ll like it a lot. Then you’ll want to try killing something yourself with it and it’ll work well. Then you’ll start realizing that all your other guns like the fast 6 you are planning for end up being 1-2% guns that just end up sitting in your gun safe taking up space. You’ll stop building and buying guns and start spending your money buying ammo in bulk.

That said, the one downside of a tikka 223 is the magazines. There are multiple threads on here about that. If you replace the magazine with a reliable aftermarket version, a short, suppressed 223 tikka is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Can you point me in the direction of these discussions. Trying to research replacement bottom metal and mags for a tikka 223.

 

[MeatMissile]

One thing about Tikka, they are all the same. My 223 feels the same as my 243 and 6.5 CM. All three are 8 twist with similar ballistics.

 

[Speaks]

Can you point me in the direction of these discussions. Trying to research replacement bottom metal and mags for a tikka 223.

I have not swapped the bottom metal in any of mine. I also have had zero issue with factory 223 mags (the Mountain Tactical ones I did though). I have some Waters Rifleman Mags, they are good though expensive and only have higher round count ones so dont sit flush. I use the for training and then back up mags when hunting but hunt with a factory one in the gun.

 

[fwafwow]

Can you point me in the direction of these discussions. Trying to research replacement bottom metal and mags for a tikka 223.

I’m not being sarcastic - have you tried the search function?

 

[mtnbound]

Can you point me in the direction of these discussions. Trying to research replacement bottom metal and mags for a tikka 223.

Using Tikka BM, there are a few magazine choices. NDR, Mamba, Waters Rifleman and some 3D print versions. I prefer the NDR’s, the Mamba are bulky.
I would look at Waters Rifleman for their different BM including the AICS version. Doing a search on RS will get you a lot more information.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Can you point me in the direction of these discussions. Trying to research replacement bottom metal and mags for a tikka 223.

My favorite bottom metal is the PR Precision stainless steel with the winter trigger. I think it looks top notch with a stainless steel rifle and is very solid. It dropped in easily without any issues. I am sure the aluminum version is also good quality.

I haven’t tried the Waters bottom metal, but I would be shocked if it wasn’t good quality. I personally like their magazines the best. The NDR and Mamba magazines have been just as reliable, but they look like they should hold 15 or 20 rounds, not just 10.

The only aftermarket magazine I really don’t like is an MDT SA-3. It might just need a few minutes of spring stretching or something, but out of the box it has never fed reliably.

Edit - there’s a post around here somewhere where I put pictures of the different aftermarket options side-by-side for comparison.

 

[nm.otter]

A new UM bottom metal that fits factory pattern mags is in the works. ISTR a $99 price point mentioned in a recent S2H podcast.

I would not be surprised if compatible mags eventually followed. I would be thrilled to see those from UM.