Sakotrg Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Hi, Have already seen lots of good advice on here and I am contemplating a new outfit for rabbits and crows at around 3 to 400 yards. I would like an off the shelf rifle and have been contemplating a Tikka T3 Sporter in 0.223" with a Sightron scope or the S&B 5-50x scope. Have gone for the 0.223" as it fills a gap between my 0.243" stalking set up and 0.17HMR which I normally use for rabbits etc. And as I live in Scotland the 0.223" is OK for roe deer. I would also like to use factory ammunition. Any pointers would be most welcome. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967spud Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 "long range" "roe" ".223" in my opinions these words should never be used in the same sentance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakotrg Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Spud, I was not referring to long range roe, merely stating that the calibre is suitable for roe deer. The long range was for rabbits and crows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967spud Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Should be ok then, the scope may be ott for what you want but at least itll do every thing you want and more. have you got an avversion to reloading your own bullets?. Its a great hobby in its own right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakotrg Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Spud, No real aversion to homeloading just the initial outlay seems a bit intimidating, unless I am wrong but it it looks around £600 plus? I realise the scope is a bit OTT but you can always back off the magnification when required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danpd Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 If you aren't home loading, then you are wasting your time a bit with the long range bug. Factory ammo is not consistent enough to meet your needs. You are considering an £1800 Schmidt scope for a big standard T3 and you are worried about £600 for reloading kit?? If I were you I would assign your budget slightly differently, I would go for the T3 varmint/super varmint with a fast twist barrel in .223 or 22-250 to shoot the higher BC bullets. By all means get the Sightron 8-32 or 6-24 as they are awesome for the money, the spend the rest on quality reloading gear preferably Redding or Forster with some accessories from Sinclair and Wilson. Get some Lapua brass, quality bullets and get stuck in!! You won't look back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achosenman Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 If you aren't home loading, then you are wasting your time a bit with the long range bug. Factory ammo is not consistent enough to meet your needs. You are considering an £1800 Schmidt scope for a big standard T3 and you are worried about £600 for reloading kit?? If I were you I would assign your budget slightly differently, I would go for the T3 varmint/super varmint with a fast twist barrel in .223 or 22-250 to shoot the higher BC bullets. By all means get the Sightron 8-32 or 6-24 as they are awesome for the money, the spend the rest on quality reloading gear preferably Redding or Forster with some accessories from Sinclair and Wilson. Get some Lapua brass, quality bullets and get stuck in!! You won't look back! Whole heartedly agree with that advice. ATB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967spud Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Whole heartedly agree with that advice. ATB +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varmartin Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 "long range" "roe" ".223" in my opinions these words should never be used in the same sentance. He got flammed....by Spudzilla lol.....mmmmm....sort your grammer out mark ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967spud Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 He got flammed....by Spudzilla lol.....mmmmm....sort your grammer out mark ... At least your adding to a decent forum again Martin . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varmartin Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Oooow....snappy come back !...lets not hijack the thread.... I deffo agree with Danpd.....reloading is the way to go if spending obscene amounts of $$$, disappointment will be the result if not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967spud Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 i recon i could get you set up for less than 400 not including conponents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhunter Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 +1 on the hand loading if your not doing it I wouldn't bother long-range shooting, tikka t3 super varmint in .223 1/8 twist (6 mnt wait in uk unless you go 2nd hand) should do all you want with 75grn v-max out to the ranges you mention. A certain large gun shop does great combo deals (rifle/scope/mounts/mod) Just look on YouTube to see what can be done with this caliber and hand loaded rounds. ATB Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch_egg Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 My first C/F rifle was a tikka T3 in .223. I shot factory ammo and found it expensive and inconsitant. You will not go wrong with the T3 but the source of my frustration was the ammo. Not only inconsistant but expensive. I bought a reloading kit for £150 and got improvements. However you sound like a chap that likes quality kit and the saying spend once cry once would sit well. I have now replaced all my reloading equipment. I learnt the hard way. Spud will point you in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakotrg Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 People, Thank you so much for the comments so far. I bow to your greater knowledge regarding home loading. As a design engineer by trade I am suprised how negative your comments are regarding factory ammo, I would have thought with modern day machinery the tolerances would be quite fine (I am not doubting your experience in any way). So homeloading seems the way to go, at least it will give me something to do on the rainy nights in Shetland. Is there a decent book that I should get hold of? Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveW Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 People, Thank you so much for the comments so far. I bow to your greater knowledge regarding home loading. As a design engineer by trade I am suprised how negative your comments are regarding factory ammo, I would have thought with modern day machinery the tolerances would be quite fine (I am not doubting your experience in any way). So homeloading seems the way to go, at least it will give me something to do on the rainy nights in Shetland. Is there a decent book that I should get hold of? Thanks again. There's no doubting the quality of some manufacturers ammunition, it's just that every chamber/barrel combination is very slightly different, so hand loading will/should find a match to your set up, which mass producing cannot in the main achieve, you may get lucky, but as pointed out already then there's the cost of factory ammo. Regarding books etc, start off with a reloading manual of either a powder or bullet manufacturer you have a preference for. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybrock Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 While reloading your own is the way forward for accuracy and consistency there are firms out there that will load you custom ammo for your rifle, not sure of the cost but something else for you to consider. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 My first C/F rifle was a tikka T3 in .223. I shot factory ammo and found it expensive and inconsitant. You will not go wrong with the T3 but the source of my frustration was the ammo. Not only inconsistant but expensive. I bought a reloading kit for £150 and got improvements. However you sound like a chap that likes quality kit and the saying spend once cry once would sit well. I have now replaced all my reloading equipment. I learnt the hard way. Spud will point you in the right direction. Agree 100%, talk to spud he will get you sorted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967spud Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Agree 100%, talk to spud he will get you sorted ty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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