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Target/trainer part deux

EastTNHunter

EastTNHunter

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I tried to do this on the cheap several years back and ended up with a Ruger American Rimfire that I didn't care for. So here is my sequel for a better rimfire trainer/target rifle. Tell me if my reasoning is crazy, as it's really hard for me to find these rifles in stock locally to compare.

Rifles currently being considered:
Tikka T1x with 20" barrel
CZ 457 Varmint AT One with 16" or 24" barrel
CZ 457 Pro Varmint with 16" barrel

I am heavily leaning towards the Tikka for the following reasons:

1) My main purpose for this rimfire is to have a very accurate, full sized rifle that I can shoot in my backyard up to 70ish yards on a regular basis. The Tikka seems to fit my mould best for this because:
-It's 20" barrel seems to be closest to the sporter weight Tikka T3/T3xs that I hunt with
-It's configuration and controls should be nearly identical to my hunting rifles
-I can get a vertical grip for it that is close enough to a target configuration for comfort at the bench without going full blown benchrest feel like the CZs
-PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF MY ASSUMPTIONS ON CLOSE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN T1X AND T3x IS OFF BASE


2) I plan to use CCI SV for most of this. Several YouTube reviews have shown this ammo to be used with the Tikka with acceptable-to-great accuracy. I will try to find what it is most accurate with in case I want to go shoot it from the bench or get crazy and shoot a match on my nonexistent spare time some day, but CCI SV seems to be the best intersection of availability/accuracy/value that can be used for this application

3) I can't find much negative on either the Tikka T3x or CZ 457 online in boards or YouTube reviews, so it sounds like much of it is going to boil down to personal preference, not quality or value

Like I had said beforehand, I ultimately shoot to prepare for hunting season. I would love to find the time in the future to shoot a match, but I don't see that being a thing for me until the kids get a bit older. I do want to be able to get away to the range and trust the rimfire to shoot nice groups at 100yd when I get the chance or while letting my hunting rifles cool, but it will predominantly be practical field position shooting a few shots at a time as time allows.

If I decide to get serious about shooting matches in the future then I will look into getting one of the CZs, or maybe get a Lux for a pretty wood stocked gun to shoot with open sights (if I can get a peep for it)
 
The one thing you'll want to add to a T1x is a factory recoil pad if you want the LOP to match a T3x.


Remove the grub screw, clip 2 coils off the spring snd reinstall the grub screw and your trigger should be in the 10-12oz range snd if you want heavier just tighten the screw.


Mine do fine with sv but I practice with Norma Tac because the lube on sv is thicker and it gets gummy.


I would recommend getting any model you're considering in your hands for comparison.


If you get a T1x and decide you want to shoot a match you'll fair just fine.
 
First off, what is your definition of "great accuracy" when referencing the CCI ammo? What are your accuracy goals? @Remi has placed in the matches he shoots with his Tikka T1X many times, and I've placed several times with my CZ 457 VPT. Those two are capable of shooting .3-.4" groups at 50 yards consistently, with the right match ammo. I don't think anything CCI will perform to the level of the match grade ammo out there from Lapua, SK, or Eley. But to answer in short, either of those choices should be more than adequate. 👍🏼

ETA - I would however recommend a minimum 20" bbl.
 
MUP said:
First off, what is your definition of "great accuracy" when referencing the CCI ammo? What are your accuracy goals? @Remi has placed in the matches he shoots with his Tikka T1X many times, and I've placed several times with my CZ 457 VPT. Those two are capable of shooting .3-.4" groups at 50 yards consistently, with the right match ammo. I don't think anything CCI will perform to the level of the match grade ammo out there from Lapua, SK, or Eley. But to answer in short, either of those choices should be more than adequate. 👍🏼

ETA - I would however recommend a minimum 20" bbl.
Click to expand...
Oh I realize that the CCI SVs will not shoot as well as Eley, Lapua, or other really good target ammo, but it will be fine for my everyday trainer uses based upon what I'm seeing online (1/2" or so at 50yd)
 
Remi said:
The one thing you'll want to add to a T1x is a factory recoil pad if you want the LOP to match a T3x.


Remove the grub screw, clip 2 coils off the spring snd reinstall the grub screw and your trigger should be in the 10-12oz range snd if you want heavier just tighten the screw.


Mine do fine with sv but I practice with Norma Tac because the lube on sv is thicker and it gets gummy.


I would recommend getting any model you're considering in your hands for comparison.


If you get a T1x and decide you want to shoot a match you'll fair just fine.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the feedback on the trigger hack, but I'm going to want to keep it close to the 2# pull on my hunting rifles for my main uses. If I do shoot matches then I'll probably have to turn it down more

And I'll have an extra T3/T3x recoil pad laying around to add to it, but this was an element that I had not considered
 
EastTNHunter said:
Appreciate the feedback on the trigger hack, but I'm going to want to keep it close to the 2# pull on my hunting rifles for my main uses. If I do shoot matches then I'll probably have to turn it down more

And I'll have an extra T3/T3x recoil pad laying around to add to it, but this was an element that I had not considered
Click to expand...

The T1x comes with a 1/4" plastic butt plate and the lop is quite a bit shorter than the t3x but it's the same stock so if you throw a standard recoil pad on it's the same lop.

The T1x/T3x is easy to make pretty light. My T3x's ate at 2lbs but my 20" T1x is 3oz.
 
EastTNHunter said:
Oh I realize that the CCI SVs will not shoot as well as Eley, Lapua, or other really good target ammo, but it will be fine for my everyday trainer uses based upon what I'm seeing online (1/2" or so at 50yd)
Click to expand...
I've not seen any CCI ammo, so far, that would hold .5" groups consistently at 50 yards myself. That's a tall order for most match ammo even. ;)
 
Alright, one guy did 3-10 shot groups and got groups from in the .6's to just over an inch. Average was under 1"

Another guy who was kinda gooberish shot several five shot groups and all of them were sub-1", with most shots touching. Several groups didn't have any flyers at all.

Those both could be the exceptions rather than the rule
 
EastTNHunter said:
Alright, one guy did 3-10 shot groups and got groups from in the .6's to just over an inch. Average was under 1"

Another guy who was kinda gooberish shot several five shot groups and all of them were sub-1", with most shots touching. Several groups didn't have any flyers at all.

Those both could be the exceptions rather than the rule
Click to expand...


For just shooting, plinking, practice, etc sv or tac will be fine. I'm not an Eley fan because it's as dirty as Biden's Whitehouse but Team and Club do ok.


The problem with trying for consistent good groups with lower grade ammo is they include 5-10 free flyers in every box.


Good match ammo in a rifle that likes that lot of ammo is a different animal and impossible to compare the two.
 
EastTNHunter said:
Alright, one guy did 3-10 shot groups and got groups from in the .6's to just over an inch. Average was under 1"

Another guy who was kinda gooberish shot several five shot groups and all of them were sub-1", with most shots touching. Several groups didn't have any flyers at all.

Those both could be the exceptions rather than the rule
Click to expand...
It's a little expensive, but... It's a 452

classicfirearmsstore.com

CZ 452 Grand Finale 22LR Engraved Limited Edition - Classic Fire Arms Store

The CZ 452 actions are manufactured from steel billets not tubing or plastic, the barrels are hammer forged for accuracy and long life. The trigger is adjustable for weight, the safety is located above the rear of the bolt and provides a positive firing pin block. Limited Edition, only 1,000...
classicfirearmsstore.com classicfirearmsstore.com
 
EastTNHunter said:
Alright, one guy did 3-10 shot groups and got groups from in the .6's to just over an inch. Average was under 1"

Another guy who was kinda gooberish shot several five shot groups and all of them were sub-1", with most shots touching. Several groups didn't have any flyers at all.

Those both could be the exceptions rather than the rule
Click to expand...
At 50 or 100 yards? That's pretty good at 50 and would be match grade shooting at 100. 👍🏼
 
Plot twist… I have discovered that Tikka is introducing a "Roughtech" version of the T1x. It is available at two different online retailers that I have seen: one for $50 more, the other for the same price.

BUT… Tikka does not list them on their website yet. Does anyone know what difference there is between the two models? I know the differences between the T3x standard and Roughtech models, but it doesn't appear to be the same for the T1x. Cerakote finish would be nice for the same price or just a little bit more
 
EastTNHunter said:
Plot twist… I have discovered that Tikka is introducing a "Roughtech" version of the T1x. It is available at two different online retailers that I have seen: one for $50 more, the other for the same price.

BUT… Tikka does not list them on their website yet. Does anyone know what difference there is between the two models? I know the differences between the T3x standard and Roughtech models, but it doesn't appear to be the same for the T1x. Cerakote finish would be nice for the same price or just a little bit more
Click to expand...


I wish they would release a baby ctr, 22-24" barrel with a little heavier profile and a stock a little better designed for the bench.

I'll have to keep an eye out for the roughtech, thanks for the info.
 
EastTNHunter said:
And that baby CTR would be a nice bridge between the MTR and the UPR
Click to expand...

A guy I shoot against bought a UPR and he was pretty ho hum about it. He has a standard T1x mtr that is a hammer.

He said for $600 more I got the same action and barrel and a different stock. His UPR shot fine but I think he was thinking it would blow the standard MTR away and it didn't.
 

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