.243 T3 Lite is ready to go!

[lik2hunt]

DNZ mount in medium black, Leupold VX-II 4-12x40 scope w/LR reticle. I like this one. A little more plastic than I'm used to, but once I print a 1/2" group, I'm sure it won't matter much anymore. Gonna attempt to take a holiday season antlerless (= Big Doe) on the last two weekends of the year here in OKla.

[Big Blue]

Congrats!! Very nice set up. I have the same rifle, but with a Nikon 3-9x40. I've been switching over from Savage/Stevens rifles to these Tikka T-3 Lite rifles over the last year. So far I have that .243 in blue, with a .270 and .30/06 in S.S. My most recent is the .270 just last Friday. Both the .243 and .30/06 shoot great groups, I haven't gotten the .270 to the range yet.
What loads are you using in your .243?
Don

[lik2hunt]

Hey Don. Howdy, long time since the Handi days, huh? 

What loads are you using in your .243?

I'm gonna pick up a couple boxes of some PMC 100 grain factory to use until it gets broke in a little. I can actually get these old/new stock for $12.95 a box, so just as well I figure. I was hoping to pick up one box of the Winny Super X 100 grain here at my local Wal-Mart, but they're all gone with none coming to replace them. The Winnys do a number on anything I've ever seen hit with them, it's amazing the terminal performance of those Super X's. Whether it's .243, .270, .308. or  '06, I've seen and I've heard stories of big exit holes and maximum expansion.

[Old English]

The Federal blue box 100gr are good value for money also. They are cheap and pretty accurate in my T3 and my wife's Rem. They have killed hogs and deer stone dead. I reload for mine but those Federals work very well.
My 243 has the same scope mounts as both of you but mine wears a Bushnell 6500, 2.5/16. You really are going to love that rifle.

[lik2hunt]

The Federal blue box 100gr

Old English
Would that be the "Power Shocks" ?

[Old English]

Yes, they are the power shocks. I use them in my 30/30 as well, not much more than $10 a box. They also kill deer in 30/30.
When I first got the 243 prior to reloading, I used the power shocks to zero the scope. I then took them on a hog hunt, they worked on 2 little piggies that never went wee, wee, wee all the way home. I now reload the Sierra 85gr BTHP as my deer/hog load for this rifle. Wicked accurate.

[Big Blue]

Hey Don. Howdy, long time since the Handi days, huh? 

As much as I love the handling and accuracy of these Tikka rifles, I sometime miss messin' with the Handi rifles. I've often thought of getting another. Once you buy a Tikka and set it up with a scope and some good loads, your done. There was always some playing to do with the Handis! LOL
Don

[lik2hunt]

Well the PMC ammo was CRAP! Fired the whole box of 20 and best group was 1 1/4" with most being way above that. I'm wondering if the 100 grain bullets might be the problem. I put in 2 of the eight rounds of Fusion I had left from a previous buy, and it settled down immediately. They're 95 grainers. Two to adjust the scope and then two shots stacked 1/2" apart. Since I only had eight and I really want to hunt with his one next weekend I left off there. I have 4 rounds left and that's all I ever carry in the field anyway.

[Brithunter]

Hi There,

      I do not trust PMC ammo after a round of 6.5x55 was so overpressure it blew the primer pocket and in doing so broke the firing pin of my Swedish Mauser in two sending the rear of the bolt into my glasses. I found the shell of the primer in the bottom of the magazine. I have not brought PMC since.

[HogFan]

LIK2HUNT,

  Glad you are liking the new rifle. I use the 95 gr. Fusions from my .243 (Rem 742), and they shoot great in it. The Winny Super X's don't shoot too well in my rifle. I'm thinking about getting a Tikka T3 in .308 like your .243.