Which rings can I use for Tikka T3 Varmint

[mitchemus]

Hi guys.

I've just bought a tikka t3 varmint .223

I have also bought a leupold vx3 lr scope. It is a 6.5-20x50mm with a 30mm tube, I was wondering weather ill be able to use medium rings instead of going to high rings?

Can anyone help me out?

[Apollo]

It depends on the brand of Rings, all Medium are not the same height.

If you have spent that sort of money on a reasonable Scope don't put it in cheap Rings.

The easiest way of getting the correct height if you Gun Shop is not that far away is to take the whole lot down there and see what they have that will fit your needs.

I've got a couple of the same scopes but the one that was on my Tikka T3 Super Varmint was on a Picatinny Rail and the other is on a Sako 85 in Optilocks. The Tikka now wears a March-X Tactical in Ken Farrell Rings.

If you have the money Optilocks for a Tikka T3 are very good, expensive but you will not damage your scope. Warne, Leupold, SportsMatch are reasonable.

[mitchemus]

Thanks Apollo,

I was looking at the leupold rings and bases. Acording to leupold it recomends using high rings but it doesnt take into account the 30mm tube. Also are the optilocks "that" much better??

[Apollo]

The Leupold suggestions can be confusing as they measure to a different position from memory than others that measure from the top of the Action to the bottom of the Scope Tube. However, using their online calculator for your scope they only suggest high rings so perhaps they are correct with the 30mm tube.

My view only, but I believe the Optilocks are better quality. They have an insert that protects the Scope Tube and also allows a slight misalignment if the rings or whatever is not perfect. There is also another brand that has the inserts but I can't remember who makes them.

Nothing wrong with the Leupold and the one's I use are QRW's for a Picatinny Rail as I swap my Scopes between Varminting and Target use. They always come back to alignment without sighting in again.

[gherx]

The Leupold suggestions can be confusing as they measure to a different position from memory than others that measure from the top of the Action to the bottom of the Scope Tube.

I've always thought it was useless how most brands label their rings.

Dunno why they don't all measure from top of the action to bottom of the scope tube and label the ring heights accordingly.

Rings for a 1" tube scope 30mm off the action could be "1/30" rings.
Rings for a 30mm tube 40mm off could be 30/40 rings.
etc.

Saying "high" or "low" doesn't tell you anything

[Shotfox]

The Leupold suggestions can be confusing as they measure to a different position from memory than others that measure from the top of the Action to the bottom of the Scope Tube. However, using their online calculator for your scope they only suggest high rings so perhaps they are correct with the 30mm tube.

My view only, but I believe the Optilocks are better quality. They have an insert that protects the Scope Tube and also allows a slight misalignment if the rings or whatever is not perfect. There is also another brand that has the inserts but I can't remember who makes them.

Nothing wrong with the Leupold and the one's I use are QRW's for a Picatinny Rail as I swap my Scopes between Varminting and Target use. They always come back to alignment without sighting in again.

I have the QRW's and must admitt there is slight variation once you have taken the scope off and then put it back on. I am going back to Optilocks on the Tikka as I found this frustrating on the last shoot.

[Apollo]

I always set my QRW's or any other removable Rings by always making sure they are pushed forwards against the rail stop and have never found any variation really. Perhaps very worse case was a one 1/8th click adjustment. Even those quick release that don't mount on a rail but have a recoil lug to sit against. Maybe I'm just lucky but my settings are consistant.

[Shotfox]

I always set my QRW's or any other removable Rings by always making sure they are pushed forwards against the rail stop and have never found any variation really. Perhaps very worse case was a one 1/8th click adjustment. Even those quick release that don't mount on a rail but have a recoil lug to sit against. Maybe I'm just lucky but my settings are consistant.

Yea I have tried all that thinking it was something I had done but I am still not happy with thier performance. I will be spending a day at the range on Monday to measure their performance against the optilocks again so see how we go. Due to the frustration with these rings I unfortunatly do not reccomend the QRW's. The Optilocks have been great and consistant on the Tikka with no problems at all and I have dismounted the scope and rings several times and I always use the fat wrench to tension all the screws and no dramas. Switch back to the QRW's the frustration begins again. Using a Leaupold VX 11 CDS 4-12 x 50.

[Apollo]

Sounds like I have been lucky then. I only use the lever on the quick release rings to tension them by hand, check now and again to make sure they are still tight and check after I have fired a few rounds if I have recently re-mounted them and/or swapped scopes.

[Shotfox]

Sounds like I have been lucky then. I only use the lever on the quick release rings to tension them by hand, check now and again to make sure they are still tight and check after I have fired a few rounds if I have recently re-mounted them and/or swapped scopes.

Seems they are working for you just fine. I have had no such luck with them and for the $$ spent on the set up, I am disappointed, anyway live and learn. I still want to get to the bottom of what is going on with them and will spend all Monday sorting it out.

[Apollo]

Sorry, this isn't a Tikka T3 but a Sako S491 with two piece Weaver Type Bases and Leupold QRW's, 30mm Leupold VX-3 8.5-25x50mm LR Target VH that I use for varminting at longer ranges.

This is probably the cheapest mounting base I have ever used, can't even remember the brand but the only way I could get cross slot mounting on this without having a special tapered rail made. Just off the shelf from the LGS.

I use to swap this scope often when I had a Nightforce 12-42x56mm BR and take it target shooting as the Nightforce had QRW's as well. Bit harder now as these bases are Weaver Style with a narrower cross slot than a Picatinny so my other scope rings don't fit in the slot. Going to get my Gunsmith to mill these slots to Picatinny width.

Never had any problems with these being exactly as set when I swapped scopes, clip the scope on, push forward and tighten the locking levers by hand.

[Shotfox]

Nice set up Apollo. My next thing is to swap Picatinny rails to see if that makes a diffrence with these QRW's. Currently using the Sako rail.

[Apollo]

BTW, I use a Ken Farrell 20 MOA Steel Rail on my Tikka T3 BUT, I had to Epoxy Bed it as the top of the Tikka Action was not true and the rail pulled the Action out of shape and partly seized the bolt. The KF Rail was perfectly flat which was a change from the EGW Rail I had previously that wasn't all that flash.

[Shotfox]

That's interesting.I Was'nt going for a 20 MOA Rail as I only use this Tikka T3 Hunter for Foxes but I will try another rail - see how it performs then. I will measure the 200 get some base lines and go from there with a new rail. Hope this fixes the problem as I do like the QRW's but I just cant get the performance out of them yet.

[Westy]

I have the same rifle and scope sitting in my safe with Warne mid rings on it,Warne are great rings at a reasonable price never ever had issues with this rifle and scope in the last few years

[squirrelhunter]

I've always thought it was useless how most brands label their rings.

Dunno why they don't all measure from top of the action to bottom of the scope tube and label the ring heights accordingly.

I know what you mean.

I had to get some new Ruger rings and their model numbers are stuff like 5KHM and 4BHM and stuff like that