Building an “optimal” vs a cool rifle

[BilboBaggins]

I’m in need of an ultralight mountain gun. I’ve settled on a shorty 6.5 creedmoor but there’s two distinct routes I can take.

Option one: The Rokslide Classic
You already know this one, Tikka t3x 6.5cm, chopped barrel to 17”, Rokstok, Trijicon 3-18, suppressor

Option two: The Super Cool Hawkeye
Ruger Hawkeye Ultralight 6.5 cm, barrel chopped to 17”, Ruger compact walnut stock bedded, action and trigger job, Trijicon 3-18, suppressor

My body is telling me option two but my brain is telling me option one. In the end the ruger will probably be lighter but will probably group worse. My dad had Hawkeyes growing up so I have a sentimental attachment to them. And before you say “get both” I am a one gun per purpose type of guy. My plan is to have one ultralight and one thumper rifle, that’s it.

Obvious pros of the Tikka are easy barrel swaps if I ever wanted to get a carbon fiber barrel, a more inherently accurate action, a better stock barrel (I think?), ergonomics with the Rokstok, and no gunsmithing work required to achieve sub MOA.

Any thoughts?

 

[BilboBaggins]

I should’ve also added I believe the ruger will actually come out cheaper

 

[BishBeCool]

ruger currently has 6.5 CM in 16.6" barrels, already threaded in the hunter models.

I do believe dependent on specific model that price for a Tikka within you build list could/would be less expensive as well as a lighter configuration.

 

[BilboBaggins]

ruger currently has 6.5 CM in 16.6" barrels, already threaded in the hunter models.

I do believe dependent on specific model that price for a Tikka within you build list could/would be less expensive as well as a lighter configuration.

The Tikka would be lighter than the Hunter model you’re talking about. I’m looking at the Hawkeye ultralight model that has a pencil barrel. The barrel contour is pretty heavy on the Hunter, plus it has a full size stock. The base weight of the Ruger build, no scope, would be around 5.75 lbs once the barrel is chopped. You are right on the cost but they are close. I’ll put a breakdown below.

Build 1

• Tikka 6.5 CM — $800

• Barrel chop & thread — $200

• Rokstok — $700

• Rings — $150

• Suppressor — $900

• Total: $2,750


Build 2

• Ruger Ultralight 6.5 CM — $1,030

• Barrel chop, action, stock work — $650

• Compact stock — $150

• Rings — $90

• Suppressor — $900

• Total: $2,820

 

[BishBeCool]

my mistake, didn't know they were making an ultralight model. Both build out lists sound pretty cool man. personally I lean tikka and have for a long time. sounds like you've heard/read all the pros to the tikka so ill spare you lol. both rifles will kill and both you should be stoked to bring along on a hunt. let us know what you choose and maybe a little review after you've had it for a while.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I spent awhile trying to not jump on the tikka train. Eventually I got a 6.5 creedmoor, now I have a few more and they are what shoot 95% of the time.

 

[mustelid_master]

Could spend an arm and a leg and get a walnut rokstok, might add some sentimentality... Rugers are cool. Tikkas are capable of becoming a sentimental weapon as well, they are an attractive rifle. Both will work.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Tikkas are the easy button and damn hard to beat. Ease of swapping barrels is also pretty damn nice.

That said I really like my rugers!

 

[BilboBaggins]

Tikkas are the easy button and damn hard to beat. Ease of swapping barrels is also pretty damn nice.

That said I really like my rugers!

You have Hawkeyes? Have you bedded any?

 

[BilboBaggins]

Could spend an arm and a leg and get a walnut rokstok, might add some sentimentality... Rugers are cool. Tikkas are capable of becoming a sentimental weapon as well, they are an attractive rifle. Both will work.

Yeah wood rokstoks are sick I just don’t want to drop $2k on a stock

 

[BilboBaggins]

I spent awhile trying to not jump on the tikka train. Eventually I got a 6.5 creedmoor, now I have a few more and they are what shoot 95% of the time.

What about them keeps you going back? Accuracy or something else?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

What about them keeps you going back? Accuracy or something else?

It’s been years, I got that 6.5 creedmoor back in ~ 2018 right before the price jumped from 600 to 950 (if I remember right).

I actually had a t3 30-06 back in maybe 2009 that I used for elk hunting for a few years. At the time I didn’t really know much (I still know less than lots of folks here) but it didn’t seem any more accurate than my Remington 270 so it was just a hunting rifle. That gun was a stainless model and was 329.00 out the door at sportsman’s watehouse at the time.

When I got on rokslide people were starting to play up the accuracy of tikkas and to me it didn’t make sense since the one I had was just as accurate as my other guns.

Anyways I got the 6.5 right before one of the early price increases and didn’t shoot it much for a few years. Eventually I pulled it out for a hunt and really liked it, I just sort of liked the solid build, accuracy etc. as it happens there just isn’t much available for quality stainless rifles with a decent magazine system. Savages are trash, Winchester extremes are getting close to 2k, kimbers can be hard to find, all the Brownings are ceracoated, there just isn’t many options for quality stainless rifles. I think I have 4 tikkas now, maybe 3 2 are still in the boxes, I got them and have just been busy with other things but the 2 I have for regular use have not been babied at all, they both have 18” threaded barrels. There just isn’t anything as good for the money and some people might argue even for more money.

I still have a few kimbers and some big boomers but the tikkas just get grabbed 95% of the time, they are durable, low maintenance, easy to work up loads for and easy to get good accuracy from.

Edit to add: lately I just don’t care much about guns, I still like to read about them on rokslide but for myself, I just want to grab something that works, I do t have a lot of interest in tweaking them, I just want to shoot them and put them away dirty. Tikkas seem to be pretty good for that.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Have you bedded any?

Yes. Been a long time since I did though

 

[BilboBaggins]

Yes. Been a long time since I did though

Did bedding achieve sub 1 moa consistently? My dad’s stock 7 rem mag Hawkeye shoots 0.5 moa 5 shot groups all day, but a lot of people say their rifle shoots 1.5 moa out of the box. Thats fine if bedding fixes it but I’m not 100% confident it will. Really that’s the main thing pushing me towards the tikka.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Did bedding achieve sub 1 moa consistently? My dad’s stock 7 rem mag Hawkeye shoots 0.5 moa 5 shot groups all day, but a lot of people say their rifle shoots 1.5 moa out of the box. Thats fine if bedding fixes it but I’m not 100% confident it will. Really that’s the main thing pushing me towards the tikka.

Rugers need some tweaking. Bedding, float the barrel, front action bolt torqued down, trigger work. They are great rifles but a factory tikka will outshoot most of em

 

[BilboBaggins]

Rugers need some tweaking. Bedding, float the barrel, front action bolt torqued down, trigger work. They are great rifles but a factory tikka will outshoot most of em

Yeah I have a guy that works on them. $525 for everything you just said and more plus $100 to chop and thread it. Do you have experience with a Ruger that’s been done up in that fashion?

 

[Snowhunter11]

I have a similar version of the tikka you mentioned. I also built one for a friend last year. Lights out shooting and smooth as silk for both. Ran 30 rds through today. 10qty 153tmk UM, 10qty 147eldm UM custom, and 10 qty Hornady factory 147 eldm. All under 1.25 moa shooting off a backpack prone. You know my vote..

 

[Steve300xcw]

Yeah I have a guy that works on them. $525 for everything you just said and more plus $100 to chop and thread it. Do you have experience with a Ruger that’s been done up in that fashion?

I wouldnt pay somebody $525 for that sorta work. Thats insane. They are not that complicated.

Have not cut any of my ruger barrels yet.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I wouldnt pay somebody $525 for that sorta work. Thats insane. They are not that complicated.

Have not cut any of my ruger barrels yet.

Really? This is everything he does. Seems reasonable for $525 on a difficult to bed action.

Lock work
• Clean up and tune trigger and components

• Polish and tune fire control inside bolt for a crisper trigger pull and faster lock time

• Adjust handoff timing for easier bolt close (if needed)

• Lap bolt lugs as much as possible while keeping headspace in spec

Barrel work

• Deep clean bore and chamber

• Lap bore for smoothness

• Apply synthetic bore conditioner to reduce fouling

• Re-crown (single-point cut if possible)

• Add muzzle threads or brake (optional)

Stock work

• For stocks with bedding blocks: mill down and stress-free bed

• For carbon, fiberglass, and wood/wood-laminate stocks: pillar bed, then full epoxy bed with free-floated barrel

• Seal barrel channel for durability

 

[BLJ]

Did bedding achieve sub 1 moa consistently? My dad’s stock 7 rem mag Hawkeye shoots 0.5 moa 5 shot groups all day, but a lot of people say their rifle shoots 1.5 moa out of the box. Thats fine if bedding fixes it but I’m not 100% confident it will. Really that’s the main thing pushing me towards the tikka.

What are you hunting that 1.5 MOA wouldn’t kill?