SmallCaliberCentral

Went to an estate sale today with a hunting buddy, hoping to score some hunting and possibly reloading supplies, as the estate owner was an avid hunter. So long story short, i scored an older tikka t3 varmint with less than 200 rds down the tube and an older savage 12 fv with a 24" barrel as apposed to the normal 26" that was unfired. I heard great things about both of these rifles, i'm hoping some members have some insight into these rifles and possibly a good starting point for reloads. Scored some new and 1x fired brass, bullets, and redding dies as well. Thanks in advance

1. What caliber is the T3? 2. you got a picture?

Both guns are chambered in .204 ruger and i will get a pic here shortly. And after doing a little research, neither i nor the gentleman selling the tikka knew anything. The rifle i purchased is just the regular stainless varmint model not the super varmint

My Tikka T3 is chambered in .223 It was new/old stock and I got a deal on it. It seems as though Tikka barrels need a little longer to break in than other guns. Its very well made and designed for a production rifle. After doing research I found that my twist rate favored medium and heavy .223 which is not what I had hoped. SO I have a decent group with a .55 gr bullet but more testing is needed....

I also have another t3 lite also chambered in .223 with the 1:8 twist barrel. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it will shoot 50gr up to 75gr accurately and you are correct with the tikka barrels taking a little longer to break in.

COhntr wrote: ↑Sun Sep 11, 2022 6:41 am I also have another t3 lite also chambered in .223 with the 1:8 twist barrel. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it will shoot 50gr up to 75gr accurately and you are correct with the tikka barrels taking a little longer to break in.

I am glad to see you write that because my T2lite has been a big challenging to get that TIKKA group I know it has in it. Maybe I need to keep shooting and scrubbing

COhntr, look in the Reloading the .204 Ruger Forum. You could start with Favorite Powders thread. Loads of good information about getting up and running reloading the .204 Ruger.

My FV12 204R has the 26" barrel, and shoots the 32g vmax and 39g Sierra very well. The 12T barrel doesn't shoot the 40's nearly as well. YMMV.

Don't know why, but most 20 caliber's, especially the 204R seem too not favor the 40 grn, but will shoot the 39 grn very well, if the twist is 1/12 or 1/14, but put them now a 1/11 twist and both work.

Both rifles are the 1:12 twist, so the 40's are probably a no go but i have plenty of 32's and a few 39's. Skipper, that section was going to be my next visit and see what everyone else is using. Thanks for the info

If you were going to reccomend a coyote hunting rifle in .204 for less than $1,000 which one would it be? Poor men have poor ways LOL

If you could find a CZ 527 in 204, good one. Otherwish I would get one in a Howa. I have the CZ and it just great for a coyote, walk about, calling one.

So! I have the 527...it shoots good...but I dont really care for it much. I know, I know...I dont like the grip and trigger, and I am afraid of scratching the beautiful stock. I was thinking maybe a Ruger or a Savage with an aftermarket stock.

cheap, but they do shot. Look at the savage Axis II . Boyd stock and a trigger job, will make it nicer.

Bill K wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 4:27 pm cheap, but they do shot. Look at the savage Axis II . Boyd stock and a trigger job, will make it nicer.

Thanks Bill. I thought about Boyds or maybe a Magpull Hunter stock