Tikka .22lr setup for long range

[WyldGoose]

Decided I’m going to order a 16” T1X this week. My first thought was to set it up the same as my 223 & 6cm with SWFA 3-9’s since that’s just what I’m used to…

But then I noticed that my local range does these monthly matches. Here’s the parameters…



They also do this one, which is 8”, 6” and 4” targets at 300 yards…



If I want to start competing in these monthly events, what would be a good, simple, dependable way to setup a T1X for 40 to 300 yards?

I’m used to the SWFA MQ reticle, for this purpose is there a benefit in sticking with that? Or would I be better served with a different scope & reticle?

Ammo: I typically shoot my suppressed 10/22 with red dot with cheap Remington subsonics or 40gr Wolf Match Extra which I think is just rebranded Ely, but that’s just inside maybe 70 yards max. Am I going to be good with something like that or should I be looking into different/faster ammo(assuming the rifle likes it)?

My normal center fire practice involves using ballistic RF binos and shooting at random distances out to 700 yards/positional stuff. But this match style rimfire shooting will all be at known distances on the same range. Does that mean I can just get a 40 yard zero, note my MV, enter data in Shooter, true things up at 300 yds and confirm POI at each known target distance and drive on? I’m just trying to wrap my head around it since it’s all new to me. I appreciate any help.

 

[Axlrod]

I started out shooting RF sillouette with a Tikka and a 12x SWFA. I tried a few different brands of available ammo, and CCI standard velocity (SV) worked pretty good. I used the B.C. from Applied Balistics, and just did a chart. That will get you close. I dial elevation & wind for all yardages. We have spotters, and are allowed practice time (zeroing) before each bank of targets.

Try some different ammo. I have included a link to a large 22 rimfire test done at 50/75/100 yards, to show the difference in ammo at different ranges. In the lower priced stuff I like CCI SV, and Norma TAC. On the high end Lapua Long range and SK Long range. Ammo won't be your limiting factor in sillouette, we shoot the 50 yard chickens off hand, and the rest prone supported (no bipods). So the lowest hit % is always the chickens.

https://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/22lr-rimfire-ammo-comparison-test/

Of coarse me and my buddies have has an escalation in equipment wars. So now I have a CZ 457 with a Lilja heavy barrel and a factory Manners stock, topped with a NF NX8, and an Anschutz w/ NF SHV as a backup gun.

 

[BLJ]

If you’re comfortable with the SWFA reticle use some flavor of that.
Probably a Bravo for the rifle. Or just use it as is until you get some with it to see which direction you want to go.
I’d get as many different boxes of SK, Eley, Wolf Match Extra or Target and Lapua and see what’s best.
The ammo IS a 22LR.

IMO.

 

[BLJ]

Forgot about the Norma ammo as mentioned above. I’ve had good success with it too.

After I’ve found the ammo I’ll use I zero at 50 and verify as far as I can. 300 is a good distance for that.
Build a profile in your ballistic app off of that.

And when you get all this sorted out, just hope it isn’t windy.

 

[Macintosh]

Go with what you have and see what folks are running. You could do worse than a t1x or a cz 457 in a krg bravo. But you’ll want a lot of elevation for 300 yards, depending on your setup you will need to dial close to 15 mils to hit at 300ish. Your scope will likely need an elevated rail, and even then not all scopes have enough travel. Ime most folks shooting those matches are going to be using full-on prs scopes (ffp with upper end magnification at 25-35x).

 

[BLJ]

Your scope will likely need an elevated rail

Agree completely with this.

 

[Remington92]

With my 20" B14r I need between 11-13mil of elevation at 300yds for long gong depending on temp, so you'll need to have at least travel for that. I agree on run what you have and see what others are using and go from there. Ammo is the biggest differentiator at that range and not the place to scrimp. I run SK because its what I can find and what my rifle seems to like well enough but I'd try to find the upper tier sk, eley, rws, or the reining king here locally is Lapua.

 

[Aussie Dan]

Id buy a rem700 platform .22 if you have other rem700 platform stocks/chassis.
I know bergara isnt exactly popular here but my B14r was flawless, functioned every bit as reliably as my vudoo, never had any issues.
I also really like the AICS pattern mags- i have large hands and dinky little cz/tikka t1x mags feel clumsy to me

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I vastly prefer the T1X magazines over the CZ magazines. I know some people report they are unreliable, but they are easier to remove and reinsert. They are all easier to rest my hand against and nicer to carry in my pocket.

 

[Aussie Dan]

As for ammo, I always had good results from SK rifle match and SK long range.

 

[Lawnboi]

Cz 457 mtr. Check it out before ordering the tikka. Really not happy with the tikka 22lr. The mags just don’t function long term.

You don’t want the 3-9 for a 22. You need something with an adjustable parralax. Something like a swfa fixed 10 works well for a cheap scope. That along with a 30moa rail will comfortably get you to 300 yards.

 

[BLJ]

I’ve had great experiences with the 457.

 

[seand]

I shot a tikka with a swfa10x in nrl22 matches for a year before upgrading to a Vudoo. Often we have a bonus stage out to 250-300yards. ~15 mils at 300 yards, you might get there with a SWFA without a sloped pic rail, I used a 30moa base.

Sk match/ Lapua ammo using RA BC of 0.117 I just enter velocity and don’t true a thing for 300 yards.

I really like the SWFA 10x actually. Three revs on the dial for 300 yds was easy to get lost in the dial though. 10mil dials are better for the nrl/prs game.

Tikka is a great shooter but Could never get reliable ejection so using a Vudoo and a cz457 now for nrl/prs.

 

[WyldGoose]

I really appreciate everyone’s tips! Thanks for the help!

Part of me really likes the idea of starting with a SWFA fixed 10 just to see what I can get away with. I’ll probably show up to the next event just to watch and check out everyone else’s setup, I imagine it’ll be mostly nice stuff, chassis, high end scopes, etc…

Maybe I’m being naive, but I’m so used to shooting my rifles off my pack with a 3-9 scope set at 7x, I’m kinda tempted to see how I can do with a similar/minimalist setup to keep it fun.
Let’s just say for shits’n gigs…a Tikka with vertical grip, bipod, rear bag, quality ammo that groups tight, and a fixed 10 or a higher mag scope with 30 moa rail…how much will I be held back by my gear?

 

[Remington92]

I really appreciate everyone’s tips! Thanks for the help!

Part of me really likes the idea of starting with a SWFA fixed 10 just to see what I can get away with. I’ll probably show up to the next event just to watch and check out everyone else’s setup, I imagine it’ll be mostly nice stuff, chassis, high end scopes, etc…

Maybe I’m being naive, but I’m so used to shooting my rifles off my pack with a 3-9 scope set at 7x, I’m kinda tempted to see how I can do with a similar/minimalist setup to keep it fun.
Let’s just say for shits’n gigs…a Tikka with vertical grip, bipod, rear bag, quality ammo that groups tight, and a fixed 10 or a higher mag scope with 30 moa rail…how much will I be held back by my gear?

If its all prone and the rifle groups well with consistent sd/es you'll be just fine to get rolling and dip your toe in the pond. Positional shooting the bigger heavier/ more balanced rifles start to show their advantage. One of my good buddies shot a pencil barreled ruger american 22 with a vortex crossfire for years and held his own fairly well all things considered. His deal was proving to himself he had the skills to run what he had before throwing gear at the game similar to yourself it sounds like. That all being said he just upgraded to a heavy barreled b14r and mpa chassis and says he wishes he'd have done it years ago now. So be warned this game is addicting!

edit; I'll also add if your local guys are anything like our group spectating isnt an option, they're some of the most friendly welcoming people you can meet and will invite you to take most anything they have for a spin. Everyone wants to see folks having fun and joining the games.

 

[Castle Rock]

I vastly prefer the T1X magazines over the CZ magazines. I know some people report they are unreliable, but they are easier to remove and reinsert. They are all easier to rest my hand against and nicer to carry in my pocket.

The tikka magazines are junk, CZ are much better

Cz 457 mtr. Check it out before ordering the tikka. Really not happy with the tikka 22lr. The mags just don’t function long term.

This, the CZ is a better option
That said I have a Tikka 22 with 50 moa bedded into the rings that gets me to 400 with a 3-9 super sniper

 

[BLJ]

I really appreciate everyone’s tips! Thanks for the help!

Part of me really likes the idea of starting with a SWFA fixed 10 just to see what I can get away with. I’ll probably show up to the next event just to watch and check out everyone else’s setup, I imagine it’ll be mostly nice stuff, chassis, high end scopes, etc…

Not trying to talk you into anything but, just go shoot.
I was extremely nervous at my first match.
But, after the first stage it all went away.

My wife had a 6-24 Vortex Diamondback FFP and got a 4/10 on her first stage.
She was so nervous she shot the entire stage on 6x.

Be safe first and foremost.
You’re going to make mistakes.
No one will care except you.

Let’s just say for shits’n gigs…a Tikka with vertical grip, bipod, rear bag, quality ammo that groups tight, and a fixed 10 or a higher mag scope with 30 moa rail…how much will I be held back by my gear?

Building solid positions will hold you back more than your setup. IMO.

 

[Lionheart]

I really appreciate everyone’s tips! Thanks for the help!

Part of me really likes the idea of starting with a SWFA fixed 10 just to see what I can get away with. I’ll probably show up to the next event just to watch and check out everyone else’s setup, I imagine it’ll be mostly nice stuff, chassis, high end scopes, etc…

Maybe I’m being naive, but I’m so used to shooting my rifles off my pack with a 3-9 scope set at 7x, I’m kinda tempted to see how I can do with a similar/minimalist setup to keep it fun.
Let’s just say for shits’n gigs…a Tikka with vertical grip, bipod, rear bag, quality ammo that groups tight, and a fixed 10 or a higher mag scope with 30 moa rail…how much will I be held back by my gear?

You will be fine. Then you will get addicted, fall down the rabbit hole and end up with a Voodoo and 7-35x FFP.
I started with the TIKKA 1x in a KRG BRAVO chassis. Probably would have stayed there except for ejection issues. I’m now shooting a CZ 457.
Ammo, ammo, ammo.

 

[Nine Banger]

I really appreciate everyone’s tips! Thanks for the help!

Part of me really likes the idea of starting with a SWFA fixed 10 just to see what I can get away with. I’ll probably show up to the next event just to watch and check out everyone else’s setup, I imagine it’ll be mostly nice stuff, chassis, high end scopes, etc…

Maybe I’m being naive, but I’m so used to shooting my rifles off my pack with a 3-9 scope set at 7x, I’m kinda tempted to see how I can do with a similar/minimalist setup to keep it fun.
Let’s just say for shits’n gigs…a Tikka with vertical grip, bipod, rear bag, quality ammo that groups tight, and a fixed 10 or a higher mag scope with 30 moa rail…how much will I be held back by my gear?

The SWFA 10x will be great. Underrated scope.

I shoot 300 yards with CCI standard velocity in my boys b14r and it has a SWFA fixed 6 on it. I dial 14.8 mil elevation without a rail but there ain't much travel left on the turret.

 

[satchamo]

You will be fine. Then you will get addicted, fall down the rabbit hole and end up with a Voodoo and 7-35x FFP.
I started with the TIKKA 1x in a KRG BRAVO chassis. Probably would have stayed there except for ejection issues. I’m now shooting a CZ 457.
Ammo, ammo, ammo.

Same here. I want to offload my t1x for a 457. I just haven’t gotten around to it.