Tikka t3x lite compact .243 and Trijicon credo 3-9x40 scope

Icfree

FNG
Joined
Aug 12, 2019
Messages
27
Location
New Mexico
Alright guys. Long time lurker, only posted a few times here.

My son is nearly 7, daughter is five. Wife is 5’2 110 lbs.

Gonna introduce my son to a .22 plinker this year.

Looking for a general hunting setup that can fit my kids as they grow, and one that works for my wife (who is actually a good shot but a novice shooter and hasn’t hunted before, but drew a elk tag this year).

This will be for deer, antelope, and (I know you will try to talk me out of it) even elk. I’m in the southern Rocky Mountain area.

Looking for something set and forget, forgiving eye relief, lightweight, and easy eye box.

I picked up a tikka t3x compact .243 20 in barrel, 1:8 twist at a local gun shop. (I usually hunt with a tikka t3x superlite 7mm mag and it is amazing). Comes threaded. Gonna suppress it.

I keep coming back to a Trijicon credo 3-9x40. Seems like it meets all my needs…lightweight, smallish, forgiving eye relief, not to big of an objective lens, reliable, and set and forget for 0-300 (I will not be allowing my kids/wife to take more than 150 yard shots - want to teach them to spot, stalk, and get closer…but this will easily punch to 300 without adjustment).

Before you talk me out of .243 on elk: the 95 grain nosler ballistic tips are gnarly. Gail root led me down the path, and my buddy’s kid smashing elk with it solidified it. Shot placement all day.

Compact rifle, low recoil, smaller pull length, suppressed, and a reliable simple scope. I think this would be great for hunting and practicing basic skills.

Wanted your guys input. Does the fixed magnification lever get in the way of the tikkas bolt handle? I want low rings so cheek weld/sight picture isn’t as much of an issue, especially with the kids.

Anyone has this setup for their kiddos/small
In stature person?

Also, what rings would you recommend? Lightweight but reliable. I’ll pay good money for rings.


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Nobody here will say a 243 won’t kill elk. This is the home of .224-.243 for big game. The mag lever is easily reduced in stature if it does interfere. Couple minutes with a dremel and some carefully applied black paint.
 
Haha thank you sir. I know talking to other people locally I get a look like I have a dick on my forehead.

On the bolt lever notion, I guess I’m just wondering if the credo 3-9x40 magnification lever would get in the way of the bolt lever at 9x magnification with a low mount. I believe it’s a 70 degree bolt Throw, not a 90 degree.


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I don’t have that setup, but my daughter (10 at the time) used a youth Remington 700 .243, suppressed for her cow elk. And yes i would do it again, no hesitation. Shameless dad plug but here’s a photo. I’m no help on the gun/scope combo but I’ve heard nothing but good stuff on the trijicon scopes.IMG_0639_Original.jpeg
 
Huntinfool84 - that is a BADASS picture. I can’t wait to have that experience with my kids.

Lxhunting - that’s great to know man. How do you like the DNZ lows?


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Haha thank you sir. I know talking to other people locally I get a look like I have a dick on my forehead.

On the bolt lever notion, I guess I’m just wondering if the credo 3-9x40 magnification lever would get in the way of the bolt lever at 9x magnification with a low mount. I believe it’s a 70 degree bolt Throw, not a 90 degree.


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It doesn’t interfere. 60 degree bolt throw, I have several 3-9’s one mounted on a tikka right now in low rings, no issues
 
Great to hear thank you!!! I have DNZ mounts on my 7 mag with my zeiss and I love em. Any other recommendation for a mount/rings with the credo on the tikka compact?


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Before you talk me out of .243 on elk: the 95 grain nosler ballistic tips are gnarly. Gail root led me down the path, and my buddy’s kid smashing elk with it solidified it. Shot placement all day.

Wanted your guys input. Does the fixed magnification lever get in the way of the tikkas bolt handle? I want low rings so cheek weld/sight picture isn’t as much of an issue, especially with the kids.


Also, what rings would you recommend? Lightweight but reliable. I’ll pay good money for rings.


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You're good to go on 243. I haven't used 95 BT, but 108 eldms are great.

Sportsmatch T084 rings are the best option for reliable and lightweight. They're also very affordable.

I recommend maybe for the little people not worrying too much about cheek weld. It can yield inconsistent results when not done consistently. I'm a "floater". Minimal cheek pressure. I set my eye on the scope axis by sliding into position and ensuring that shadow is even around the circumference as it disappears when I get into position. It works and is second nature and fast when training it in.
 
Alright guys. Long time lurker, only posted a few times here.

My son is nearly 7, daughter is five. Wife is 5’2 110 lbs.

Gonna introduce my son to a .22 plinker this year.

Looking for a general hunting setup that can fit my kids as they grow, and one that works for my wife (who is actually a good shot but a novice shooter and hasn’t hunted before, but drew a elk tag this year).

This will be for deer, antelope, and (I know you will try to talk me out of it) even elk. I’m in the southern Rocky Mountain area.

Looking for something set and forget, forgiving eye relief, lightweight, and easy eye box.

I picked up a tikka t3x compact .243 20 in barrel, 1:8 twist at a local gun shop. (I usually hunt with a tikka t3x superlite 7mm mag and it is amazing). Comes threaded. Gonna suppress it.

I keep coming back to a Trijicon credo 3-9x40. Seems like it meets all my needs…lightweight, smallish, forgiving eye relief, not to big of an objective lens, reliable, and set and forget for 0-300 (I will not be allowing my kids/wife to take more than 150 yard shots - want to teach them to spot, stalk, and get closer…but this will easily punch to 300 without adjustment).

Before you talk me out of .243 on elk: the 95 grain nosler ballistic tips are gnarly. Gail root led me down the path, and my buddy’s kid smashing elk with it solidified it. Shot placement all day.

Compact rifle, low recoil, smaller pull length, suppressed, and a reliable simple scope. I think this would be great for hunting and practicing basic skills.

Wanted your guys input. Does the fixed magnification lever get in the way of the tikkas bolt handle? I want low rings so cheek weld/sight picture isn’t as much of an issue, especially with the kids.

Anyone has this setup for their kiddos/small
In stature person?

Also, what rings would you recommend? Lightweight but reliable. I’ll pay good money for rings.


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I cut most of mine off with a dremel. Definitely ready to tear some hide off a thumb as it comes if you have the mag cranked up.


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I think you picked an excellent combo on the rifle, caliber, bullet, and scope. As for rings, I would probably go with the Sportsmatch mentioned above. I can’t comment on the magnification lever getting in the way, but as called out previously, you can always take a dremel to it if needed.
 
You'll like that Credo a lot, it's perfect for what you're setting up. Accupoint would also work well and is 4 oz lighter with automatic illumination.

Haha that is a very good point about the account! I see on trijicons website the eye relief is closer and appears to be less forgiving than the credo. I love the automatic illumination though AND saving 4 oz.

Wonder if anyone has compared the two as far as how easy it is for a new shooter to get behind the optic and get a good sight picture.


Also - sportsmatch over DNZ?


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.243 20 in barrel, 1:8 twist at a local gun shop.
Do you reload? That 8 twist should have a lot more potential than factory offerings and will serve you well.
Also, what rings would you recommend? Lightweight but reliable. I’ll pay good money for rings.
Area 419 rail glued on with the recoil pin set and Warne Mountain Tech rings, or Unknown Munitions Tikka integral rings.
 
NM resident here too. My boys love shooting my Tikka 223's, but I also have a 243, 6.5 Creed, 22 Creed, and more magnums. I've had them swapped around in Tikka compact stocks, regular stocks, XLR Element chassis with adjustable buttstock, RokStok, Stockys VG. Scoped with everything from cheap Vortex, Leupold VX6HD, Nightforces, Mavens...

I've hemmorrhaged way more money figuring out what works than I'll ever admit to my wife. Here's what I would do:

Scope: Maven RS 1.2 in MILs. It's a little more money, but a "buy-it-for-life" purchase. You won't regret it. Not too heavy. Just leave it on half mag if you want your kids to focus more on the shot.

Rings: Sportsmatch or UM mediums

Stock: Tikka factory compact stock with Limbsaver recoil pad. Get the vertical grip and if needed install a kydex cheek riser. You can set up the factory stock the same way if an adult is shooting or use the spacers on the compact stock.

Probably most importantly - get a silencer on it. If budget is a concern I really like the Otter Creek Polonium 556 for my 223's and 243. Great bang for the buck if you can't swing titanium.

My boys have outgrown the compact stock so I'd be open to selling it if you're ever up in ABQ.

FYI - your next build should be a 223. My boys have taken mule deer, elk and oryx with it and the barrel life is nearly infinite...
 
Same idea here

We have a 16” threaded T3x compact 223 with Sportsmatch rings and a Trijicon Huron 3-9x40 w/German #4 reticle.

It is a great set it and forget it 300 yd package.
 
Man, if it were me (and it is, I have a couple more kids' rifles to buy in the next 2-3 years), I' would probably try to steer you away from the .243, but not in the direction you were expecting.

A Tikka .223 lets everyone practice a lot, very effectively, for little money, and the 77 TMK wrecks animals. There are scores (probably hundreds by now) of photos and accounts of elk, moose, grizz, in the thread https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-mountain-goat-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/

It's huge and daunting, but I think there's no better education on how and why different bullets kill/damage tissue in different ways anywhere. There's also cheat sheets if you want to skip to photos of dead things.

Also, there's a lot of good info in the thread https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/kids-rifle-manifesto.348812/ about all things related to kids shooting, equipment, hunting, etc.

Whatever you get, suppress it. Scope choice is a good one, and I'd for sure agree with the Sports match ring recommendations.

You are absolutely on the right track, good on you Dad for getting your kids off to a good start!
 
Man, if it were me (and it is, I have a couple more kids' rifles to buy in the next 2-3 years), I' would probably try to steer you away from the .243, but not in the direction you were expecting.

A Tikka .223 lets everyone practice a lot, very effectively, for little money, and the 77 TMK wrecks animals. There are scores (probably hundreds by now) of photos and accounts of elk, moose, grizz, in the thread https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-mountain-goat-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/

It's huge and daunting, but I think there's no better education on how and why different bullets kill/damage tissue in different ways anywhere. There's also cheat sheets if you want to skip to photos of dead things.

Also, there's a lot of good info in the thread https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/kids-rifle-manifesto.348812/ about all things related to kids shooting, equipment, hunting, etc.

Whatever you get, suppress it. Scope choice is a good one, and I'd for sure agree with the Sports match ring recommendations.

You are absolutely on the right track, good on you Dad for getting your kids off to a good start!
Don’t disagree with the .223, I have a RSS, they aren’t legal to hunt big game with in my home state of Co, so .243 minimum for my kiddos when the time comes
 
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