My Tikka Superlight Experience

Last summer I decided to buy a lighter weight rifle for my sorry old ass to carry in the rugged Cascades where I hunt for Blacktail deer. I have been a long time user of .30-06 but I decided to dial down the load and get a nice handling lightweight. The Tikka won out my wallet over the Bergara B14 but just barely. So what cartridge did I get? .243 Win? 6.5 Creed? 7mm - 08? watch and find out :) I also do a brief mini-review of the affordable Vortex Crossfire II scope.
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#Tikka #deercartridge #creedmoor #243Winchester

[@davidreed6779]

I have the exact rifle. The reason I bought it was the weight. If you go changing trigger guard,stock.recoil pad,this and that you're defeating the purpose of the light weight rifle. You will ad weight. Mine shoots great would not change a thing. I'm seventy two years old can carry this gun all day. Have killed several deer with this 243 no problems.

[@vanguns9664]

Changing out the recoil pad would almost certain be weight neutral, I wouldn't do it at all on my .243 but if it were chambered in a heavier cartridge like .30-06 or higher maybe it would be a good idea. The forehand grip definitely adds a few ounces to the weight but the other grip is a swap so you remove weight and then add in new weight, like the recoil pad, weight neutral.

[@milo555100]

Great video. You are instantly likable and your enthusiasm is evident. I enjoyed hearing you talk about your new rifle. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@scottstruif3939]

Greetings from Eugene, OR. My main rig is a Model 70 in 30-06. But I’ve been Blacktail hunting with a 20”, pencil-barreled Howa in 243 for several years now. Makes a difference when bushwhacking!

[@vanguns9664]

Lever actions are nice in thick brush as well, I have a Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 for that. I don't do it much though.

[@adamreid6931]

You are right about the Vortex. I now own two of them. Very impressive for the price.

[@vanguns9664]

Yeah that Crossfire II is way better than its sub $200 price tag.

[@sahmadi1000]

Finally we are making sense. We need a rifle that we can carry as we hunt. This is the best priced sub MOA rifle. Springfield Waypoint is 2 lb heavier and costs 2.5 time more. You make a ton of sens. You can also shoot it off hand.

[@davidreed6779]

Exactly I have a beautiful wood stock 243 I have hunted with for years but scope and metal everywhere it ways over 10 lbs. It shoots great but not any better than my super light Tika. It is for sale now. I'll keep my Tika.

[@kevinbreese5739]

You can definitely ramble on brother, but I enjoyed the video and your enthusiasm.

[@aussieshootandhuntadventur4973]

I’ve the tikka t3x light in 7mag shoulder bruiser at the range on a bench but ok standing . wish I brought the 7mm08 mostly under300 Meters where I hunt

[@vanguns9664]

7mm mag is a great cartridge but yeah in a Tikka T3x it is a bruiser :)

[@5axmachine167]

Great review, thanks!

[@RealtorRod64]

Tikka rifles are awesome!

[@Rucksack57]

I also am shifting away from the heavy M77 with there proprietary scope mounts. Great rifles but heavy. Great rifle for the long action calibers. The M77 is a heavy action.

[@pawcrawlowens8730]

Because you are smart! Making the 243 your choice

[@vanguns9664]

I think I did ok on that :)

[@REDNECKROOTS]

I have a weatherby vanguard weatherguard bronze. In .308 Its an awsome rifle. You def shouldnt hesitate to buy 1 in the future. Its Shooting half moa with federal terminal accent 175grain ammo

[@58harwood]

Have that exact gun, among many other Tikkas. Limbsaver recoil pads make it a ridiculously soft shooter. Replacing the factory plastic bottom “metal” with the Mountain Tactical aluminum bottom metal allows you use a higher torque on the action screws without fear of cracking the factory plastic! Someone sells a lighter weight replacement trigger spring too. Takes it down under 1 pound, if you want. 2.5 is about perfect for me in hunting rifle.

[@vanguns9664]

Yes Limbsaver is excellent, I am only sticking with the Tikka pad because .243 is still not a hard hitting cartridge so its fine. But if I had that gun in a larger caliber like .30-06 or bigger I'd definitely upgrade that stock Tikka pad!

[@johnwood1010]

I have the Tikka T3x , I went with 7mm-08. Most of my shots are around 100 yards , some 200 and the longest I might encounter 300. I also had l shot a 30-06 for Many years. My model 70 super grade 30-06 is Crazy heavy , so wanted something lighter for the longer distance days. I painted my stock , other than the textured forestock and pistol grip and the trigger guard areas. I used an olive drab and love the way it looks. I agree the black plastic just looked cheap and ugly. I am a Leopold guys however do own a few Vortex and like their products very much.

[@vanguns9664]

Leupold is one of the best in the business.

[@ultrahighgain412]

Very nice. I also have a T3x in 7mm-08 and and a Bergara B-14 in 30-06. Tract Toric optics on both.

[@jP-nw7nm]

Great video! Would love to hear your thoughts on the 308

[@muddog2159]

You should’ve chosen the 7mm-08 you have more selection in bullets you can hunt coyote too bear don’t kick much and I’m 66 yrs old 5-2 “ weigh 148 lb I just retired my 30-06

[@jonathonh517]

Western washington! Blacktail! Ruger m77! 30/06! Leupold! Oh man if it's 50mm.... my exact life as a hunter.

[@vanguns9664]

The Leupold scope on my M77 is actually a Vari X II 3-9x 40mm but we are close :)

[@ultrahighgain412]

I like the way you think. I have a T3x in 7mm-08 and a Bergara B-14 in 30-06...just for when i feel like I might want a little extra. I live east of the Mississippi where 200 yards is a long shot. If i were out west i probably would go with a 270 and one of the PRC or magnum cartridges. Ammo availability steered me towards the 30-06 over my first choice, which was the 300 WSM. I went with Tract Toric optics on both.

[@vanguns9664]

I do like that B14 rifle!

[@rey6206]

Super light and super recoil

[@glenk2254]

Almost $50 for a spare "polymer" magazine. That's my only gripe.

[@vanguns9664]

Yeah the factory extras are sometimes pretty steep, but watch for sales. Beretta USA is the distributer and I have seen some steep discounts every now and then on parts and accessories for Tikka.

[@ryanlopez4550]

I got mine in 6.5 just because it seems to be everywhere now but 243 is a super cool round. My wife has an xbolt in 243 and i love shooting it. The recoil on my t3x superlite is suprisingly heavy, i agree with that.

[@RealtorRod64]

Yeah it is heavier than it should be, but a great rifle none-the-less

[@vanguns9664]

I know right?

[@waderussell6583]

@@RealtorRod64 It's just that gawd awful butt pad. Might as well make it out of maple or oak.

[@vanguns9664]

@@waderussell6583 With .243 Winchester it works OK but I'd imagine its awful with anything stronger

[@douglash.8862]

IMO,. the Tikka, T-3, Lite, SS is,. BEST ( More Accurate ! ) the NON- Fluted Version !

[@user-Alaskan7676]

I’ll always do like European made rifles

[@photofair37]

The offer the pistol grip and forehand grip in colors as well. Just no soft touch on the colors.

[@vanguns9664]

I though about getting the Orange just the brighten it up, I still might :)

[@karlthistle1501]

6mm creedmoor would handle the longer high b.c. bullets better than .243

[@vanguns9664]

That is true, the 6mm Creedmoor will take longer bullets with weights up to 115 grains versus about 100 grains for .243 Winchester. Those larger 115 grain bullets have a higher BC which means they will retain more energy downrange at long distance. The 6mm Creedmoor will push a 100 grain bullet about 100 feet per second faster than a .243 Winchester so it has a bit more "power to weight" ratio. The only real advantage to the .243 Winchester is varmint loads. Finding ammo under 90 grains for 6mm Creed is difficult if not impossible. Even reloading houses don't offer much in the varmint range. The venerable .243 Winchester has a wide range of bullet options from 55 grains to 100 grains.

[@karlthistle1501]

Very true, 243 ammo is just easier to find.

[@AlienMetals]

What model B14 were you comparing it to? BTW the .243 is still and will continue to be an awesome cartridge.

[@vanguns9664]

The one I mention in the video was the B-14 Hunter it was about $150 less expensive but they had some B14 models that were priced higher as well. I was really on the fence between the two. It came down to the extra lightweight of the Tikka and I have always had a soft spot for stainless steel. The soft touch Bergara stock was a much more premium feel than the rather cheapish feeling Tikka. But the Tikka stock is as lightweight as at least a few carbon fiber stocks I've seen, so it delivers on the promise of lightweight. Honestly if I was buying the rifle in .30-06, .308, or 7mm Magnum I'd a bought the Bergara Wilderness as the little extra weight would be welcome to offset the recoil. Like I said in the video, if I was buying a big magnum I'd get the Weatherby Vanguard. All three rifles had multiple variants under $1000 and I went in with a $1000 budget in mind.

[@vanguns9664]

I agree about .243, just because a cartridge has soft recoil and is suitable for beginners and recoil sensitive people does not mean it is ineffective. You don't need a ten pound sledge hammer for every job, just some jobs. West Coast Blacktail are a more finesse job. One of these days I'll splurge and get a magnum rifle to go elk hunting with.

[@lonewolf286]

I'm in the state of Virginia. I've done a lot of whitetail hunting. I have never seen a black tail. Is the blacktail smaller than the white tail?

[@vanguns9664]

Generally Black Tail deer are a bit smaller than White Tail and Mule Deer. Black Tail can be challenging due to their habitat in heavy forest and steep terrain. The only White Tail deer found in Western Washington State are Columbia White Tail which are endangered and not legal to take. There are plenty of legal White Tail and Mule Deer in Eastern Washington State which is less forested and more rolling hills and open country.

[@lonewolf286]

That's so many whitetail in tazewell county state of Virginia on the average in the morning or late in the evening. I've got about 17 to 24 in my backyard. Every day begins to be such a problem on the highways they was talking about declaring them vomits where you can shoot them year around

[@vanguns9664]

@@lonewolf286 Yes locally here deer are such a nuisance and overpopulated that one of the game areas has "any deer" and the other local game area is "any buck". Other parts of the state where deer are not a nuisance they have 2 point or even 3 point requirements.

[@ottokittel709]

243 win recoil wimpy, grow a pair !

[@vanguns9664]

I have a .300 Weatherby Magnum, my pair is plenty large ;)

[@JessicaBrantley]

What’s that bubble level that you have?

[@vanguns9664]

It is an extra item available on Amazon that attaches to the scope so you can make sure you are not tilting the rifle when you aim. Tilting the rifle can effect accuracy.

[@JessicaBrantley]

@@vanguns9664Yes. Sorry. I know what it’s for. Just wondering which brand it was as I’ve been looking to get one and haven’t found one I like yet. Yours seems pretty nice as it isn’t built into the rings themselves and seems pretty small and out of the way.

[@vanguns9664]

@@JessicaBrantley Well the one I got wasn't;t expensive at all and it is pretty small, sticks out just enough so you can peek at it without moving your head much but the company has another one out now that seven smaller. The one I have is here www.amazon.com/Monstrum-Rifle-Scope-Bubble-Diameter/dp/B0BGQN9G94/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1PF0Z4PU7QQFJ&keywords=scope%2Blevel&qid=1699289025&sprefix=scope%2Blevel%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-3&th=1 and the even smaller one is here www.amazon.com/Monstrum-Rifle-Scope-Bubble-Diameter/dp/B0BPFDX3YJ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1PF0Z4PU7QQFJ&keywords=scope%2Blevel&qid=1699289025&sprefix=scope%2Blevel%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-8&th=1 Amazon has several others that might interest you as well.

[@Milan-wu6wz]

"PromoSM"

[@dougchandler1248]

Your 243 will be fine for coyotes, not so much for deer. Hope your a great tracker and can except the agony of defete.

[@brentbusick2245]

Learn shot placement and it’ll fix your 243 problem 😂

[@davidreed6779]

Yeh sounds to me like you just talk to hear you're head roar. I've hunted with 243 for years never lost a deer. Most drop where they were hit