Tikka 223: 16” or 22”

[Bratch]

I’m ready to get my first Tikka, a .223. I can get a new 16” blue or a used stainless 22” for the same price. Plan would be to shoot the factory barrel. Both are threaded and would be shot suppressed. Primary use would be range and <100 yard whitetail from a tree stand.

Which would you recommend?

 

[Taudisio]

I’m ready to get my first Tikka, a .223. I can get a new 16” blue or a used stainless 22” for the same price. Plan would be to shoot the factory barrel. Both are threaded and would be shot suppressed. Primary use would be range and <100 yard whitetail from a tree stand.

Which would you recommend?

Maximum hunting range?

 

[Bratch]

Maximum hunting range?

Where I hunt currently, 200 yards but would like to expand with new property.

 

[Aussie Dan]

I would always buy new if I could.
16in barrel wont hinder your stated use case.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’d get the 16” one. You are good to well past your maximum range with a decent bullet (it’s an easy 400 yard rifle).

 

[sargent]

16

 

[TradLife406]

If 224 is legal in your state I could make a decent argument to get a 18" 223 Ackley barrel. Or have the oem barrel improved.
You could run your cheaper factory in training which would fire form your brass. Then you can load 88's or even 77's at a decent clip.

Looking forward to hunting with my "trainer" this fall after shooting it so much.

 

[Bratch]

223 is legal. Killed a couple two seasons ago with AAC 77TMK and a RAP.

 

[TxxAgg]

16” all the way for your purposes. That’s what we do.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

In your situation, I got the used 22” 1:8” twist stainless steel one. I probably should have bought the 16” blued one. Once you add a suppressor, even a nice short one like a Nano or OG 22, it starts to feel a bit longer than I prefer for a woods rifle. Don’t get me wrong, I have used 24-28” rifles in the woods for years, but if I am going with a .223, I want a relatively light, compact rifle.

I am holding out hope for a 16” stainless steel one, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen in the near future.

 

[43.6N]

I’m ready to get my first Tikka, a .223. I can get a new 16” blue or a used stainless 22” for the same price. Plan would be to shoot the factory barrel. Both are threaded and would be shot suppressed. Primary use would be range and <100 yard whitetail from a tree stand.

Which would you recommend?

I agree with the recommendation for the sweet-sixteen.
…BUT, For the sake of discussion: What kind of suppressor? And what’s your shortest rifle currently?

 

[Bratch]

I agree with the recommendation for the sweet-sixteen.
…BUT, For the sake of discussion: What kind of suppressor? And what’s your shortest rifle currently?

Current 223 is a Polonium K, may get something else in the future.

Have a 22” 6 arc and a 20” x39 Howa Mini. Everything else is traditional 22-26” barrels, excluding ARs.

 

[43.6N]

Current 223 is a Polonium K, may get something else in the future.

Have a 22” 6 arc and a 20” x39 Howa Mini. Everything else is traditional 22-26” barrels, excluding ARs.

Great can btw
I think you are going to love the 16”.
But fair warning: Prepare yourself. You’re suddenly going to think all your other barrels are flintlocks and stupid long. Resist that thought. Your other barrels are still good I promise.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Love my 16 in factory threaded tikka in a rokstok.
Probably my favorite.

 

[Kaleb]

I’m ready to get my first Tikka, a .223. I can get a new 16” blue or a used stainless 22” for the same price. Plan would be to shoot the factory barrel. Both are threaded and would be shot suppressed. Primary use would be range and <100 yard whitetail from a tree stand.

Which would you recommend?

What is the twist in these barrels? If both 1-8" I'd get the stainless. If not I'd get the 1-8" and cut/thread at 16"-18". If neither are 1-8" I'd pass. I would never want a 22" suppressed rifle but that's easily fixed.

edit I mean 22" plus a suppressor.

 

[mtnbound]

I’m ready to get my first Tikka, a .223. I can get a new 16” blue or a used stainless 22” for the same price. Plan would be to shoot the factory barrel. Both are threaded and would be shot suppressed. Primary use would be range and <100 yard whitetail from a tree stand.

Which would you recommend?

Go with the 16" is very usable in a tree stand. Hell, it's more maneuverable everywhere.

 

[wpeach1912]

16” for suppressed. Handy in a stand/in and out of the truck

 

[The Harbor Master]

I recently had a 22" Tikka .223 cut/threaded at 18" and I am wishing I had gone with 16".

Similar use case as you (trainer and <200yds deer with 77TMK). I also have the Polonium K.

 

[waspocrew]

For what you’re doing, 16” should be plenty.