New Tikka Varmint .204

HighPlainsDrifter

HighPlainsDrifter

New member
I saw okoyotes range report on his new Tikka Varmint in .204 and it gives me high hopes.

Just got my Tikka Varmint .204 last week. Its just what I expected from a Tikka. Smooth action and very nice factory trigger. I have a gunsmith that is going to help me improve the trigger even more since he has some experience making the already good Tikka trigger even better. This same gunsmith has promised me that he would also assist me with a break in process that he has developed for his custom rifles. I am all for it since I want this rifle to start its life on the right foot. Those groups that okoyote shot with factory ammo has me simply salivating to shoot this one.

As much as I would like to get going right away, I am going to wait. I ordered a Burris Extreme Tactical XTR 6-24x50mm scope with the 14X Ballistic plex Mil-dot reticle, some Burris Tactical 30mm rings and some steel bases. Burris told me I probably wont see my order until about mid August. As much as I want to shoot this thing, I am willing to wait until I get it set up the way I want. I figured that scope is alot of scope for that gun and its low end magnification is a little higher than I would like for a calling rifle but what the heck. If I dont like it on there it will be just another reason to buy another rifle to match that XTR scope. Besides, I bought a Winchester SX3 for the close in work on Coyotes so anything inside of 6 power range should be covered. It should do well on the prairie dog bench with that scope though.

Maybe while I am waiting for the scope, I might get up enough courage to paint this rifle before I mount the scope.
It is tough painting a brand new gun that has never been shot before, especially when I dont have the confidence to do the kind of job I have seen some do on their guns.
 
Richie
Are you going to reload for it? Save your brass, After you get 200 rounds of brass your reloading equipment will pay for itself after about 2 reloadings at the current prices of factory ammo. If you do start with the 39 Blitz Kings and H4895.

Heres some more .204 groups for you, with the above load.
P7210085.jpg
 
Absolutely Darby. I plan on getting set up and loading for it. The Blitz Kings is where I will start and I will probably play with the Bergers as well.

What do you think of the scope selection? I know its not a Swaro /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif but still high end.
 
The 39gr BK's seem to really work in the 204's. Here's a group from my 20 Practical that you shot.

Deleted pic

My 204's shoot the same as this.

Richie, I have box of 35gr Bergers you can have if you want them. I won't be using them on anything.
 
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You bet Lyle. I will take them if you have no use for them. Its one of the bullets I want to play around with. That is some excellant shooting. Any rifle or load that shoots that good is surely a keeper.
 
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Absolutely Darby. I plan on getting set up and loading for it. The Blitz Kings is where I will start and I will probably play with the Bergers as well.

What do you think of the scope selection? I know its not a Swaro /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif but still high end.



I have one in 3x12 on my Rock River Varminter, its a good scope, pretty nice glass.....my only single complaint is that its alittle big and bulky. Should work fine though!!

Did ya get a smokin good deal on it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Heres that web site that I made the chart for the savage from.
http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/ballistics/traj_basic/traj_basic.html

I got some of the 32v-max to shoot pretty good too, but going to stick with the 39BK. the BC is better on the BK and down range thats what makes the big difference. I might try the 32BT as I think those are a boat tail design also, I do like the idea of them because you can manage to push them another 200 to 300fps faster, but thats it.

Lyle
Have you ever tried the 32BT
 
Darby , no havn't try the BT's but a lot that do like them better than V-Max's. Don't know whats up with Photo Bucket my pic was fine last nite. I tried to make it smaller today but that didn't work. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I use both the 40 gr and 32 gr nosler bt's. They are both accurate in both of my 204's
The 40 gr bt is not quite as accurate as the sierra bk's but much better than the 40 gr V-max.
The 32 gr bt is a bit more accurate than the 32 v-max.
I don't use the 32 gr sierra bk's because they key hole quite badly unless I use minimum loads.
 
"I don't use the 32 gr sierra bk's because they key hole quite badly unless I use minimum loads."

That is very unusual. Lower velocity usually increases keyholing.

Jack
 
Thanks for that link Darby. You better believe I got a smoking hot deal on that scope. Its the only reason I work there part time. Otherwise working 28 or 29 days a month would be for the birds if it wasnt for all the smoking hot deals and all the toys I have been able to buy. Working on a new 4 wheeler now. If the dealer can gave me a delivery date before September 1st, I am going to buy the 2009 Can Am 800 EFI Outlander XT. I will have to sell my 650 Traxter which will make me sad but oh well. Like Tim the Tool Man Taylor says, "More Power". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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