FORMADILIOUS.........I'm calling you OUT!!

[BryanL]

Ok now that I've been educated by previous threads. A possible replacement, though not exactly the same traits, that I've been looking at for a while is something like the Ruger American Ranch 5.56. 16" barrel, threaded, takes AR style mags, about 6.2 lbs. Can be set up as a scout rifle (with Skinner rail and a gunsmith drill and tap) or standard mounts. They can be had for $450 or so new off the rack and have good accuracy reports. The drawback is the bolt handle does not lock down when safety is in place. I always thought this would be a great deer and training rifle.

As a possible replacement for the 77gr TMK, maybe the 73 or 75gr Hornady ELD-M as mentioned. Not sure how they work on game (yet), but based on my advanced internet research (lol), the construction seems similar? I would also consider a Nosler BT if they had one in the 70gr plus zone.

Scope-wise, a usable option may be something like a Leupold VX-Freedom or VX-3 with the CDS system and something like the Tri-MOA reticle?

I have been interested in such a system for a long time, and I had heard off and on about people putting deer and bear down with .223 with the proper load, range, and placement for a long time, but always was off put by the traditional statements of needed .243 or bigger for medium game. These threads have renewed my interested especially as I look at getting my 5 year old more into shooting and a step up from .22lr. I also would love to work on my snap shot shooting without spending $2 a shot....

 

[Formidilosus]

Ok now that I've been educated by previous threads. A possible replacement, though not exactly the same traits, that I've been looking at for a while is something like the Ruger American Ranch 5.56. 16" barrel, threaded, takes AR style mags, about 6.2 lbs. Can be set up as a scout rifle (with Skinner rail and a gunsmith drill and tap) or standard mounts. They can be had for $450 or so new off the rack and have good accuracy reports. The drawback is the bolt handle does not lock down when safety is in place. I always thought this would be a great deer and training rifle.

The Ruger is a cheap rifle that generally shoots ok. But they are a cheap (not inexpensive) rifle. The stock is complete garbage in stability. The trigger and action are finicky and more susceptible to ice/snow/dust/debris malfunctions than Tikka by a long shot. When used heavily, small part breakages are relatively common.

As a possible replacement for the 77gr TMK, maybe the 73 or 75gr Hornady ELD-M as mentioned. Not sure how they work on game (yet), but based on my advanced internet research (lol), the construction seems similar? I would also consider a Nosler BT if they had one in the 70gr plus zone.

The 223 thread linked talks about each of those bullets quite a bit- they are not replacements for the TMK.

Scope-wise, a usable option may be something like a Leupold VX-Freedom or VX-3 with the CDS system and something like the Tri-MOA reticle?

The 223 “system” that the OP spoke about has reliability as a hallmark- Leupolds are not reliable and in no way a substitute for SWFA.

I have been interested in such a system for a long time, and I had heard off and on about people putting deer and bear down with .223 with the proper load, range, and placement for a long time, but always was off put by the traditional statements of needed .243 or bigger for medium game. These threads have renewed my interested especially as I look at getting my 5 year old more into shooting and a step up from .22lr. I also would love to work on my snap shot shooting without spending $2 a shot....

A Tikka T1x .22LR is a great rifle for everyone, especially for kids. Setup exactly like the 223 they’re very solid.


But, what it comes down to is that no matter how hard people try to find one, there is not a single rifle/scope/bullet on the market that does what the T3x 223/SWFA 6x/77gr TMK does. I’ve shot them all- heavily.

 

[chicoredneck]

Interesting. My experience has been that my ARs never get that consistent on MV and thought I read something about the gas system having something to do with that. Maybe just a limited sample size at play.

I do a lot of hunting with an AR and haven’t noticed any more FPS variance than with a bolt rifle.

 

[Kimber7man]

@Formidilosus sorry to hijack but have you tested a NXS 2.5-10x42 yet?

 

[CBB1]

For clarification, which exact SWFA scope is the preferred model for this “Rockslide Special”


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[nobody]

For clarification, which exact SWFA scope is the preferred model for this “Rockslide Special”


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Fixed Power 6X or the 3-9 HD. The other fixed powers are the same construction as the 6x and all will provide the same reliability in tracking and overall durability, but the 6x is the highly touted "sweet spot" for FOV and usability at all hunting distances. The 3-9 HD is a great scope and is better as an "all around" hunting optic, but it's been very hard to come by since the 'vid reared it's ugly head. Hopefully that is starting to improve though, and there's even reports that SWFA should have a shipment of the 3-9's coming by the end of the year.

But hey, I'm just some random guy on the internet...

 

[Formidilosus]

@Formidilosus sorry to hijack but have you tested a NXS 2.5-10x42 yet?

One of the most reliable scopes ever made. The issue is SFP- no one I’m around wants them.

 

[BLJ]

@BryanL. I’ve got the RAR your referring to. I’ve had good accuracy and reliability for (about) 500 rounds (I think). Hard to beat in my opinion for $450. If you have any questions, let me know.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

There's a number of reasons ARs are at a disadvantage apples to apples vs bolt 223:
- Longer lock time = less forgiving
- Less consistent velocities
- Usually dont want to run pressures as high
- Mag length COAL limitations

That said, I have a factory rock river 20" predator pursuit AR that will shoot 77 TMKs at least as tight as my T3x lite 8 twist 223. I'm really not that impressed with how my tikka shoots 77 TMKs to be honest. If you put the #'s in a hit calculator it's probably more than sufficient accuracy for any realistic purpose but most of my bolt guns will shoot tighter than it @ 100.

The thought of ARs for deer drives makes me cringe hard. Not going to argue that they offer faster follow up shots but If we're talking deer i really wish people would concentrate on only taking shots that don't require a follow up. They aren't hard to kill. I've seen so many rubes with semi's for "brush" or running deer that cant ******* shoot to save their life and they think that tossing lead is the answer which only perpetuates their shitty shooting because they don't focus on just shooting better.

You should see/hear guys in the pumpkin parades slinging .350 and .450 rounds around in IA during shotgun season….

 

[BRTreedogs]

If Tikka would quit fing around and chamber 6 creed in a twist that shoots the 108 factory ammo im down.

But I just can't commit myself to buying a 243 and having a barrel swap done on such a blah rifle.

 

[Lawnboi]

If Tikka would quit fing around and chamber 6 creed in a twist that shoots the 108 factory ammo im down.

But I just can't commit myself to buying a 243 and having a barrel swap done on such a blah rifle.

Buy an action off ja outdoors, screw on a proof prefit, slap it in a bravo. While my tikkas has all shot okay with the factory barrels, there is better out there.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Buy an action off ja outdoors, screw on a proof prefit, slap it in a bravo. While my tikkas has all shot okay with the factory barrels, there is better out there.

Don't they want about as much for an action as a new rifle?

 

[Lawnboi]

Don't they want about as much for an action as a new rifle?

Nearly. Tikka take offs are not worth crap anymore though. And yeti g a factory tikka barrel off is a roll of the dice. But it’s an option for a home install.

Like I said I have had some great shooting tikka factory barrels. But I have owned and loaded for some hammers from proof, bartlein, benchmark… with the price of components, having a gun that is no fuss sure makes things easy.

 

[PantherCity]

I called Stockys today to ask what the deal is on their Carbon seconds. One thing lead to another and she got me to order a carbon VG for the howa Mini. Tirns out the seconds are that same stocks before they “send them out to get finished” so you can call and pretty much get a second on any of their carbon stocks if you ask.

Going to order up the 223 mini barrel action feom brownells then shoot it and evaluate and decide on a bottom metal. Probably the hinged floorplate from Oregunsmithing then chop the barrel down to 16-18” and run a can.

For scope it will either wear a NXS 2.5-10 or get a credo 2-10 FFP.

I’d prefer rail and rings but could settle for Talley lightweights is the rail options are too high.


They didn’t have any seconds available in the Carbon VG for tikka or I may have gone that direction. This little howa will be a svelte little rifle.


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[ETtikka]

Hey Form, what are you thoughts on a Larue with a stealth barrel?

 

[Formidilosus]

Hey Form, what are you thoughts on a Larue with a stealth barrel?

Generally a good AR15. Not a Tikka replacement though.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Hey Form, what are you thoughts on a Larue with a stealth barrel?

I've had one of their $750 match uppers for about 6 months now that has the stealth barrel and I'm amazed by it. I knew Larue barrels were accurate but this thing is beyond that, it has a perfectly tuned gas system. It's super soft shooting and I'm running modified AAC Ranger 2 which isn't a low backpressure can and usually has a good bit of blow back and the blow back with this upper is pretty much non existent with a standard charging handle. The build quality is excellent and the forend is very rigid which is nice if you run clip ons or IR lasers. I'm a huge KAC and LMT fan and have had dozens of them as well as other high end AR's and the Larue gives up nothing to them.

Federal LE 55gr SGK and Norma 77gr match are both sub 3/4moa for 10 shots. I also shot a few 5 round groups with my 77gr Berger OTM loads that were .1mil little knots so well under 1/2moa with that.

For $850 you can have one of their uppers and their trigger which is also excellent so for a little over a grand you have a hell of an accurate and reliable SPR. I'm really not sure how they're selling a thick walled billet upper with a great barrel for the price that they are, but I'm not complaining.

 

[ElPollo]

I’d prefer rail and rings but could settle for Talley lightweights is the rail options are too high.

It looks like the minis still use R-700 pattern mounts. If so, consider the Burris extreme tactical two-piece mount. It’s about the lowest pic-compatible mount there is. I have a set on a short action H1500 and they work well.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Dang it. Y’all may have finally talked me into a Tikka. Lol. Thinking about a 22-250 and having it rechambered to a 22 Creedmoor. Good idea or no? What say the experts?

 

[id_jon]

Dang it. Y’all may have finally talked me into a Tikka. Lol. Thinking about a 22-250 and having it rechambered to a 22 Creedmoor. Good idea or no? What say the experts?

Or a prefit, that's my next gun for sure is a 22CM on a tikka action.