Questions about my Tikka

[u/No-Pickle9533]

So I bought a tikka ctr and put it into a fancy chassis that feeds AICS mags bc from my research tikkas are the absolute best at the price point, in terms of action smoothness and accuracy.

I was purchasing something at my local gun store (that for some reason doesnt carry tikkas) and I started asking one of the guys about replacing my tikka barrel eventually, because 6.5PRC has a short barrel life.

He asked me with great disappointment why I got a tikka if i knew I was going to replace the barrel. I told him bc the action is smooth and its very accurate, best gun for the price.

He said, 1. Tikka actions are loose and have loose tolerances compared to custom actions that he had on display, which gives the illusion of smoothness. 2. Any modern bolt gun is going to be accurate especially if you reload. (Which I do)

So now im wondering, is he onto something or on something? Doesnt a loose action tolerate dirt and snow better? Was there actually a (much) better option I could have chosen with 1500CAD?

[u/Previous_Search3122]

Why would you want to? You bought the PRC for the better performance so what's the plan? Spend a bunch of money to go to a Creed then run the Peak+ ammo? You will run into the same problem with barrel life.

I built a 6.5 creed for my boy to shoot long range and hunt with. Now I am starting a PRC build for myself, either 6.5 or 7mm for the same purpose, a long range shooting and hunting gun. I am torn between the Tikka action and the Vergara (M700) action because I cannot afford $4500 for a custom action and barrel. Then add chassis, mags, triggers, etc, etc.

[u/No-Pickle9533 → u/Previous_Search3122]

I will only think about changing calibers when this barrel is shot out. 6.5creedmoor is cheap for plinking at my 300m local range, and has the capabilities to reach prc numbers if I need it to with the peak alloy.

[u/Previous_Search3122 → u/No-Pickle9533]

The Peak has nearly the same numbers as your PRC and the rounds are $1 more per cartridge in the PRC.

How many times do you have to pull the trigger to pay for the conversion. It just doesn't make sense. Especially when performance is going to be the same as your PRC, you already own, and barrel life is going to be the same. Yes, you don't get to increase pressure and speed without added stress and wear to the components. A person could probably argue a good case about the Creed with Peak will wear faster.

If you want to shoot faster, I bet it won't be long before the Peak line is available for the 6.5 PRC as well.

[u/No-Pickle9533 → u/Previous_Search3122]

I do hope the prc peak comes out. A 100gr bullet going 3900fps or 153gr bullet going 3300 would be nasty.