Tikka Build

[Brian in Montana]

I was looking around through all my random stuff in the shop/office and realized I actually have almost everything I need for another Tikka Build - minus the barrel.

I'll use a pre-fit (occasionally called a "Tikka-Age") barrel. I've had good experiences with X-Caliber Barrels, so I'll probably go with them, or maybe Criterion. My last 3 builds were .284 Winchester, 30-06, and .280 AI, so for this one I'm leaning toward something short action and smaller than 7mm. I'm kinda thinking of .260 Remington, 6.5-284 Norma, or possibly .277 Sig Fury.

Application - light weight deer/antelope gun. Secondary - something fun to handload and shoot at the range.

Thought I'd put it to a vote. And I'm always interested to hear what others think who have experience with the 3 chamberings I'm considering, especially if you built it yourself.

 

[brymoore]

I’d go 6.5-284 from your list

 

[Little Canyon Creek]

I just put in an order for a 6mm 1-7.5" twist barrel in a Tikka sporter contour. I am thinking of going with a 6mm Dasher since it seems so easy to load for, but I could go a different direction. From what I have read, you just feed it Varget with a decent bullet and the it will shoot really well. It should definitely be good for antelope and deer, and I could use it for elk. It almost seems like the spirit of the 250 Savage reincarnated into the modern era with high BC bullets that punch above their weight. The Dalai Dasher.

 

[HSi-ESi]

6.5 X 284 has my vote.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Ask @brockel about barrel choice.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

6.5x284 I dont see as ideal as an actual short action but depending on your bottom metal choice with a tikka build that doesn't much matter as it's easy to use the long action tikka mags. Honestly the 260 would probably be more optimized out of a long action mag too but would be less constrained by a short action mag.

Depending on barrel length, i might find a 260 more appealing. Just less powder, standard diameter cartidge with no possible hiccups from rebated rim on the 284 case. If going shorter barrel to use a suppressor i could understand wanting a little more powder from the 284 to keep velocity up.

Sig 277 is a hard sell. It doesn't take much for the steel/brass junction to start wearing a ridge in a barrel's chamber from the looks of it.