Thinking about a new calling rifle

[Sagedawg]

All American arms has or had a sweet Tikka in 243, older model but man was that a slick action. Nice palm swell looked decent . Just an idea.


Sage

[Tundra]

Thanks for the tips Gutpile.  What I liked about the Rem M7 was the weight...  Just curious if anyon has used one and what they thought of it...   

I will do some research on the 22-250... 

Thanks again.

[KillBilly]

Thanks for the tips Gutpile.  What I liked about the Rem M7 was the weight...  Just curious if anyon has used one and what they thought of it...   

I will do some research on the 22-250... 

Thanks again.

If weight is the primary consideration the Tikka T3 Lite is 2.8kg or 6.17 lbs. Now that is light and I don't think they make a smoother action

[Antlershed]

I see that the VTR comes in a ported and unported, I'll have to look at the unported. Not worried about the port spooking game, I'm worried about losing my hearing faster than I already am and just being plain obnoxious to my hunting buddies. I mean I'm already obnoxious enough so I don't want to make it worse. Right MHWASH?

I shot mine a few weeks ago for the first time without earplugs (only shot once), and it was loud, but not any louder than shooting a big game rifle. If you were closer, I would let you shoot mine.

[ivarhusa]

I bought the Savage Model 10 Predator, which seems to fit your specs.  I chose the 204 Ruger chambering.  The barrel taper is half-way between a regular rifle and a bull barrel, so it is lighter (as you wish).  It has a sweet trigger that lots of people have raved about, and it comes camo'd already.

Choice of caliber is a whole 'nother thread, but 204 burns a lot less powder than the 22-250, and still gets excellent exterior ballistics.

[atomicjoe23]

I was considering the VTR as well. . .but I have talked to quite a few people who did buy it and don't care for it. . .it didn't get rave magazine reviews either and more than one have criticized the accuracy of it as well. . .just my $.02. . .

I'm with Ivar. . .considering the Savage Model 10 Predator or the Howa/Knoxx Axiom. . .

[Antlershed]

I was considering the VTR as well. . .but I have talked to quite a few people who did buy it and don't care for it. . .it didn't get rave magazine reviews either and more than one have criticized the accuracy of it as well.

Do you know what bullets they were shooting?

[atomicjoe23]

know what bullets they were shooting?

I'll look and see and post it up. . .I think it was a couple different brands. . .including Lapua and Black Hills. . .

[Antlershed]

Hmm....mine shoots the 50 grain V-Max Moly from Black Hills pretty darn good.

[atomicjoe23]

OK. . .I found the article. . .here are the "cons" against the VTR from this particular author's opinion. . .the triangular barrel profile actually reduces surface area which would reduce heat dissipation allowing the barrel to heat up faster and retain heat longer (accurcay will degrade over a period of extended shooting). . .this barrel profile also reduces rigidity (reduces accuracy from the get go), but it does save weight. . .

. . .the stock is made of a fairly weak plastic and the barrel is NOT free-floated (once again reduces accuracy)

. . .the muzzle brake is said to actually not be all that effective at reducing felt recoil, but did reduce muzzle flip

. . .things that were liked about the VTR was the light weight and the smooth action. . .

Here are the shooting results with a Swift 6-18x50mm scope with a mil-dot reticle mounted in a Burris XTR base and Leupold rings. . .shooting Federal Gold Match 168 gr Sierra BTHP's and HSM 168 gr. Match ammo they were able to manage to get on sub- .5" group (0.448") at 100 yds. but said they had to work extremely hard to get it. . .average group size was 0.858". . .still sub-minute of angle but not as accurate as the 700P, the 700 SPS-Varmint, 700 SPS-Tactical or the 700 LTR. . .the reduced accuracy was primarily blamed on the rectangular barrel profile. . .0.858" in my book isn't bad at all, but I guess they liked other Rem's much better than this one. .. I would personally buy the 700 SPS-Tactical for the same price before I got the VTR. . .but that's just my $0.02. . .the guy doing the testing is also used to several thousand dollar rifle set-ups by McMillan, Dakota Arms, and Tactical Operations though to put things into perspective. . .this rifle would probably be just fine as a coyote gun. . .

[Antlershed]

168gr bullets....so he only tested the .308 then?

[littlebuf]

im surprised you dont like your AR, i just got (for Christmas) the remington R-15 VTR ( basically a bushmaster already tricked out for hunting) and i love this rifle, granted its not as light as the tikka which i also have but it sure is a sweet riffle, and i believe the .223 is one of the best rounds ( this should start a fight  ) ever produced. its track record speaks for its self, but i also think you should buy another rifle,mainly because thats what id want to hear from you if i were askin