“Custom” Tikka or Seekins Havak PH2

[wind gypsy]

Where do you see a prefit barrel for $385? Is that directly through ace or somewhere else? And that’s for a tikka?

Thats about what a blank with shipping/tax costs..

 

[wind gypsy]

it for a suppressor. It will likely be more accurate and will 100% last longer than whatever prefit you buy for it.

For a hunting gun the Stockys VG2 is a better shooting

You really aren't shedding a significant amount of weight going to a different carbon fiber stock or to a pre-fit barrel. The stainless lite Tikka profile is already pretty thin and the Stockys will be easier to shoot than the ultralight stocks from Peak44.

Stick with your Tikka. Post your entire build here and let's see if there's elsewhere you can shed weight.

If you truly want to go to something lighter, build one of these... UL AR.

How do you guys figure the stockys vg is a better shooting than an EH1 or Peak44? Frankly i'd take both over a VG2. Peak 44 would be nice to carry, EH1 would be nicer to shoot. I bet I'd be just as or more happy with a blacktooth shooting than a vg2 as well.

I definitely wouldn't go pulling the factory barrel if it shoots acceptably. Chop/thread. Maybe if it doesn't shoot great but otherwise I'd leave well enough alone.

I like the PH2s. They aren't light or great for a suppressor at that length though.

 

[gtriple]

How do you guys figure the stockys vg is a better shooting than an EH1 or Peak44? Frankly i'd take both over a VG2. Peak 44 would be nice to carry, EH1 would be nicer to shoot. I bet I'd be just as or more happy with a blacktooth shooting than a vg2 as well.

I definitely wouldn't go pulling the factory barrel if it shoots acceptably. Chop/thread. Maybe if it doesn't shoot great but otherwise I'd leave well enough alone.

I like the PH2s. They aren't light or great for a suppressor at that length though.

I didn't say the VG is better shooting than an EH1. But for his goal of shaving weight, the EH1 is not going to be a weight savings over the VG.

The Peak44 would definitely shave weight, but I just don't like the ergos on it. Crazy swept grip, upwards sloped bottom of butt. It's more like a traditional rifle stock than the modern ergonomic stocks.

All 3 are fine stocks... I just don't think he is gaining that much by spending more money on a carbon fiber stock when he already has one that is really good.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

How do you guys figure the stockys vg is a better shooting than an EH1 or Peak44? Frankly i'd take both over a VG2. Peak 44 would be nice to carry, EH1 would be nicer to shoot. I bet I'd be just as or more happy with a blacktooth shooting than a vg2 as well.

I definitely wouldn't go pulling the factory barrel if it shoots acceptably. Chop/thread. Maybe if it doesn't shoot great but otherwise I'd leave well enough alone.

I like the PH2s. They aren't light or great for a suppressor at that length though.

The amount of Tikka factory barrels that “don’t shoot great” are very low. Most easily outshoot their owner.

No experience with Peak 44. Manners grip is one of the worst I’ve used. Fat and comes down at a steep angle to a heavy sharp point and is the low point of the stock. Shootable for sure but not ideal. Wouldn’t trade the VG2 for something else unless OP has very small hands as trigger reach on VG2 is long for some.

 

[bwp]

Cut your factory tikka stainless barrel to 18” and thread it for a suppressor. It will likely be more accurate and will 100% last longer than whatever prefit you buy for it.

For a hunting gun the Stockys VG2 is a better shooting stock than the manners.

You already have an excellent hunting rifle. Go kill with it.

Always good to get confirmation!

 

[gtriple]

Always good to get confirmation!

What scope, rings, and suppressor are you using?

 

[bwp]

What scope, rings, and suppressor are you using?

Current scope is a vx5hd. I’m probably going to go to nightforce for durability on this though. Rings are UM. Suppressor is OCL Hydrogen S 6.5

 

[wind gypsy]

The amount of Tikka factory barrels that “don’t shoot great” are very low. Most easily outshoot their owner.

No experience with Peak 44. Manners grip is one of the worst I’ve used. Fat and comes down at a steep angle to a heavy sharp point and is the low point of the stock. Shootable for sure but not ideal. Wouldn’t trade the VG2 for something else unless OP has very small hands as trigger reach on VG2 is long for some.

Been years since I've shot an EH1 but i dont recall any of those issues. Off memory, i'd take that grip before a VG stockys grip in a heartbeat. I wear M or L gloves depending on fit. Agree that most tikka tubes do well, i replaced a 223 one recently because it didn't shoot the bullets i wanted to shoot very well but I'm not sure i'd do it again if I had a redo.

In general, i agree with not chasing all the upgrades over what he already has. If I wanted a 6.5 PRC hunting rifle i'd absolutely start with a factory t3x lite and chop/thread and throw in rokstok or echo.

 

[gtriple]

Current scope is a vx5hd. I’m probably going to go to nightforce for durability on this though. Rings are UM. Suppressor is OCL Hydrogen S 6.5

Your setup is pretty skinny already. I'd chop and thread the barrel and call it a day. Spend the extra money burning a hole in your pocket on ammo.

Tikkas don't make a great, true ultralight rifle.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Been years since I've shot an EH1 but i dont recall any of those issues. Off memory, i'd take that grip before a VG stockys grip in a heartbeat. I wear M or L gloves depending on fit. Agree that most tikka tubes do well, i replaced a 223 one recently because it didn't shoot the bullets i wanted to shoot very well but I'm not sure i'd do it again if I had a redo.

Which bullets and what twist rate on the barrel?

 

[wind gypsy]

Which bullets and what twist rate on the barrel?

8 twist 223 lite. Didn't shoot 75 ELDs or the cheap ADI 69 smk well. Both of which the new 7.5 twist ACE shoot well. It did shoot the ADI 55smk and 73 ELDs very well though which is why i said i'm not sure I'd do it again.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Current scope is a vx5hd. I’m probably going to go to nightforce for durability on this though. Rings are UM. Suppressor is OCL Hydrogen S 6.5

Man if you go with a nightforce in UM rings properly torqued and loctite or paint penned in you’ll have a really well set up killing gun!

Right now your weak link in the system is that VX5 unfortunately.

 

[bwp]

Your setup is pretty skinny already. I'd chop and thread the barrel and call it a day. Spend the extra money burning a hole in your pocket on ammo.

Tikkas don't make a great, true ultralight rifle.

I’m not too concerned about getting crazy light with it. I think this is the right answer

 

[bwp]

Man if you go with a nightforce in UM rings properly torqued and loctite or paint penned in you’ll have a really well set up killing gun!

Right now your weak link in the system is that VX5 unfortunately.

Any suggestion for which nightforce? Hunting preference within 500yards. I’ve gone back and forth on a lot of different models

 

[gtriple]

Any suggestion for which nightforce? Hunting preference within 500yards. I’ve gone back and forth on a lot of different models

The NXS 2.5-10x42 is the only light option. I've got 2 and they are fantastic.

 

[wind gypsy]

The NXS 2.5-10x42 is the only light option. I've got 2 and they are fantastic.

*SHV 3-10. Not exposed elevation turret and only in MOA, both of which are deal breakers for me but not all people.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Any suggestion for which nightforce? Hunting preference within 500yards. I’ve gone back and forth on a lot of different models

My only hesitation with Nightforce, for hunting, is that I’m not a huge fan of any of their reticles. A well designed FFP MIL reticle has been a game changer for me lately.

I’d recommend the Maven RS1.2 2.5-15 SHR MIL model when it comes back into stock. I have 6 that have been through a bit of hell and multiple samples have gone through the full field evaluation here on Rokslide and passed with flying colors. It’s just a damn good scope.

For Nightforce any of them work fine in what I’ve seen and used. Like @wind gypsy said, I’d go SHV personally.

 

[gtriple]

My only hesitation with Nightforce, for hunting, is that I’m not a huge fan of any of their reticles. A well designed FFP MIL reticle has been a game changer for me lately.

I’d recommend the Maven RS1.2 2.5-15 SHR MIL model when it comes back into stock. I have 6 that have been through a bit of hell and multiple samples have gone through the full field evaluation here on Rokslide and passed with flying colors. It’s just a damn good scope.

For Nightforce any of them work fine in what I’ve seen and used. Like @wind gypsy said, I’d go SHV personally.

Agree on the Maven. I'm putting 2 through my own torture tests. They are a bit heavier than the NXS 2.5 though.

 

[bwp]

My only hesitation with Nightforce, for hunting, is that I’m not a huge fan of any of their reticles. A well designed FFP MIL reticle has been a game changer for me lately.

I’d recommend the Maven RS1.2 2.5-15 SHR MIL model when it comes back into stock. I have 6 that have been through a bit of hell and multiple samples have gone through the full field evaluation here on Rokslide and passed with flying colors. It’s just a damn good scope.

For Nightforce any of them work fine in what I’ve seen and used. Like @wind gypsy said, I’d go SHV personally.

I’ve always had moa scopes from when I was a kid. Is the switch to mil that difficult?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’ve always had moa scopes from when I was a kid. Is the switch to mil that difficult?

It’s not. I was the same way. I shot pro comps and instructed MOA for years and years. Won several long range varmint comps etc. I switched to MIL in 2021 and haven’t looked back. I believe there is a @Formidilosus youtube video someone linked explaining the benefits much more easily than I could type it out here. Let me try to find it.