Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

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Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by jamie_blue » 30 Jan 2022, 4:40 pm

Hi Everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster. I'm new to the firearm world, currently waiting for my licence to clear. I've been doing a fair bit of research on my first firearm, and think I've settled on a Tikka T1x MTR. I plan on using it at the range and hunting bunnies on my old man's rural property. There were a few in our price range that I was considering (CZ457 and Lithgow LA101), but went for the Tikka as it's a bit lighter than the others and my wife will also be using it. I also quite like the T3x as a future centrefire, and like the exchangeability of accessories.

I also think I've settled on a Leupold vx-freedom rimfire 3-9x40. I was hoping I could get some suggestions on other gear like the mounting rail, bipod, rests, cleaning gear etc.

Happy for anyone to mount an argument for a different 22lr or scope. I'm open to suggestions. We live in Melbourne.

Ps: also thinking about an air rifle, but haven't really started my research on that.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by Biscuits » 07 Feb 2022, 9:58 am

I have a T1x and a T3x, among others. Very good rifles. However I do not think being able to swap the stocks is a particular benefit. It’s a nice to have, but don’t feel you must get a T1x for this reason.

That scope is not suitable for range/target work. You need to be able to dial your elevation and have a marked (MoA or milliradian) reticle, otherwise it is just lazy and wasteful walking bullets onto the target. That scope seems to have elevation subtensions in the reticle, but not enough of them, no windage subtensions and you need to take the turret caps off and mess with it with a screwdriver to adjust anything.

The scope you mention would be suitable on a 22LR which you only shoot bunnies under 60 metres. Not suitable for target. Not suitable for bunnies over 60 metres. Buy a different scope.
Last edited by Biscuits on 07 Feb 2022, 10:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by Biscuits » 07 Feb 2022, 10:22 am

Rail - 20 or 30 MoA rail, not a flat rail, if you ever plan to shoot over 200 metres. As an alternative to a canted rail, the Burris Signature scope rings which allow you to add elevation.

Bipod - Harris, pick the length depending on where you are shooting, eg if it is tall grass, you need a higher bipod. Don’t buy cheap knock offs of Harris. I made that mistake when starting out and ended up throwing it in the bin and buying a Harris anyway, after wasting $$$ on ammo for performance I didn’t get, with the cheap knock off bipod. Make sure it can swivel the rifle, not one of the fixed Harris bipod models.

Think about if you want the 16 or 20 inch model T1x. No advice, it’s just personal preference. A lot of people find the comb too low and add a riser, but you can figure out if you want that when you get it. A lot of people also find the length of pull too short and add the thicker butt recoil pad off the T3x to increase it. Again, figure that out once you get it.

Happy shooting.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by bladeracer » 07 Feb 2022, 11:10 am

I would skip that scope, fixed focus at 60yd, capped turrets, very limited elevation (not even enough to be able to zero at 50m on a 30-minute rail). And 9-power, for me, is just barely enough to see 22-calibre holes in paper at 100m, no further, and not enough magnification for precision shooting. For shooting small groups, you need to be able to see, and aim at, a dot of about 1mm, or junction of two lines at whatever distance you're shooting.

For hunting it'll be fine.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by Don_Stevenson » 07 Feb 2022, 12:40 pm

Hey Mate, welcome to the forum. I'm another newish shooter and I've just been through the process of deciding on which 22lr and accessories to buy.

My main goals were range shooting with a possibility of some longer range shooting out past 200m for giggles.

I had the Tikka in the mix and may get one in another calibre but ended up with the Lithgow and have it topped with (or will have when the shop can get it in) a Vector optics Taurus 3-18x in MRAD.

This scope (and others like it from Vortex etc) has the ability to be dialled easily with external turrets and should have enough magnification range for short to 200m+ work.

The reticle has vertical and horizontal subtensions but without the full "christmas tree" that can get a bit busy and which I figured might be too confusing for my wife and kids as they start to learn.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by Biscuits » 07 Feb 2022, 9:48 pm

That Taurus 3-18 scope mentioned above looks suitable. The only negative I can see about it is that it seems to be a $800 scope in Australia, but you can get it for under 300 Euro in Europe (sorry Don in the post above ;) ) so I wonder if there is an Australia factor on it which wouldn't apply another brand.

Anyway, it has the features I'd be looking for such as:
- First focal plane (FFP) illuminated reticle; the reticle will scale with the zoom, so it is always correct. The downside to FFP is that the reticle can look too small at low zoom power, however illumination gets around that problem.
- Milrad subtensions (you can also get MoA; personal preference) rather than some kind of bullet drop reticle.
- Exposed turrets that you can dial easily, that Taurus scope has low profile turrets. Low profile or high turrets don't really matter for target but low profile can be important for game shooting where tall turrets can get caught on bushes, scrub etc. That Taurus doesn't have a zero stop, but you will be paying extra if you want that in a scope.
- Reasonable elevation range; look for at least 17 milirad in a budget scope, or at least 25 millirad if you are throwing some bigger $$$ at it.
- Parallax down to 13m..... This will vary by scope but 20 metres is the lowest you should accept on a rimfire scope.

Personally, I run a Primary Arms GLx 4-16x50 on my T1x. Simple cross reticle with milrad subtensions. 100 metres is the furthest I can see a .22LR bullet hole on a standard paper target. 200 metres on a splatter paper target. I have shot it out to 450 metres on painted steel targets; you will see the paint splash with a 16x scope at that range though. If I had my time over again I'd have put a flat rail on that rifle and used the Burris rings to add elevation. As it is I have flat rails and Burris rings on my other rifles and a 20 MoA rail with standard rings on the rimfire. This means I cannot put my other scopes on this rifle without a lot of flaffing around. I'm thinking of changing the rail to a flat one and the rings to Burris rings so I can easily swap scopes when I want to do extended long range (400++ metres) with it.

IMHO the scope is the single biggest thing which will affect your satisfaction with your shooting - more even than the rifle itself.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by Don_Stevenson » 08 Feb 2022, 7:17 am

Its the "Random Australia Tax" where inexplicably you can get something for half the price overseas.

I got a decent deal on the Taurus and the local shop is the importer so if I ever have warranty issue I know who to pester. I also haven't see much about the vector scopes online but holding them and looking through the glass they seem like good value so I thought I'd risk it for my 22 and report back.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by jamie_blue » 07 Mar 2022, 2:25 pm

Hi Everyone.

Thanks heaps for all of the feedback and suggestions. I clearly needed to improve my understanding of scopes. So with my ~$500 budget, and with preferences for MOA hashmarks on the reticle and at least 12x magnification, I'm thinking thinking about:
Bushnell Engage 4-16x44 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 644DG.html
Bushnell Engage 6-24x50 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 450DG.html
Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... .5-14x42mm
Burris Fullfield IV 3-12x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... -3-12x42mm
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by in2anity » 07 Mar 2022, 7:44 pm

The vortex venom FFP 56mm is a lot of bang for buck. But they are a big scope - probs be bulky on the little t1x. I like what you are thinking with the objective in the low 40s.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by Biscuits » 08 Mar 2022, 8:53 pm

jamie_blue wrote:Hi Everyone.

Thanks heaps for all of the feedback and suggestions. I clearly needed to improve my understanding of scopes. So with my ~$500 budget, and with preferences for MOA hashmarks on the reticle and at least 12x magnification, I'm thinking thinking about:
Bushnell Engage 4-16x44 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 644DG.html
Bushnell Engage 6-24x50 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 450DG.html
Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... .5-14x42mm
Burris Fullfield IV 3-12x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... -3-12x42mm


The Bushnell has exposed turrets. Suitable.

The Burris has capped turrets which will be harder to adjust. Less suitable.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by jamie_blue » 13 Mar 2022, 3:12 pm

jamie_blue wrote:Hi Everyone.

Thanks heaps for all of the feedback and suggestions. I clearly needed to improve my understanding of scopes. So with my ~$500 budget, and with preferences for MOA hashmarks on the reticle and at least 12x magnification, I'm thinking thinking about:
Bushnell Engage 4-16x44 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 644DG.html
Bushnell Engage 6-24x50 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 450DG.html
Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... .5-14x42mm
Burris Fullfield IV 3-12x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... -3-12x42mm


So went to the gun shop on the weekend to have a look at some scopes and ask for advice. I mentioned some of the specs on the above-mentioned scopes. The guy looked at me like I was crazy. Said I shouldn't be using a centrefire scope on a rimfire rifle, that it would be too heavy and overkill because a 22LR can't shoot over 100 yards. Could I get some more advice on scopes? I plan on using it at the range, hunting bunnies on my old man's rural property (probably within 50 yards), and then having some fun at up to 200 yards. Thanks!
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by bladeracer » 13 Mar 2022, 3:20 pm

jamie_blue wrote:
jamie_blue wrote:Hi Everyone.

Thanks heaps for all of the feedback and suggestions. I clearly needed to improve my understanding of scopes. So with my ~$500 budget, and with preferences for MOA hashmarks on the reticle and at least 12x magnification, I'm thinking thinking about:
Bushnell Engage 4-16x44 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 644DG.html
Bushnell Engage 6-24x50 https://www.bushnell.com/riflescopes/en ... 450DG.html
Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... .5-14x42mm
Burris Fullfield IV 3-12x42 https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/ful ... -3-12x42mm


So went to the gun shop on the weekend to have a look at some scopes and ask for advice. I mentioned some of the specs on the above-mentioned scopes. The guy looked at me like I was crazy. Said I shouldn't be using a centrefire scope on a rimfire rifle, that it would be too heavy and overkill because a 22LR can't shoot over 100 yards. Could I get some more advice on scopes? I plan on using it at the range, hunting bunnies on my old man's rural property (probably within 50 yards), and then having some fun at up to 200 yards. Thanks!


The guy is a moron. He should've just answered your questions instead of assuming you don't know what you're asking about. .22LR can shoot over 1000yds.

I have never owned a rimfire scope. The AR Optics focusses back to 10m, I can read a page of typed text through it. Absolutely no reason not to use a centrefire scope on a rimfire if that's your preference, and if you want to shoot it out to 180m that's what I'd be using.
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by Don_Stevenson » 14 Mar 2022, 12:46 pm

I second what BR said, the guy sounds like he wants to do himself out of your business!

To break it down a little.

If you were only ever going to do shorter range stuff like plinking, hunting to 100m etc then you can get away with lighter options with lower magnification (3-9 ish say). If you want to shoot a lot off hand (standing, kneeling etc) and are going to carry your gear for hours then light may be better.

If you want to stretch the 22lr out then with a decent scope it will easily get to 200m, 300m or further for target work but you will want the higher magnification range (16 - 24 at the top end). Once you start doing that sort of stuff then you probably also want exposed turrets that allow you to dial adjustments easily and a first focal plane scope makes it easier to use the reticle to measure misses and correct at range.

Someone has already mentioned the Vortex Venom 5-25 FFP in this thread and it would suit your needs or at least give you an idea of the sort of features you may want.

Earlier I said I was waiting on a Vector optics Taurus 3-18, well that got held up and I swapped it for the same model in 4-24 and even though it's a big scope I love using it. Tons of zoom, good glass, easy to dial turrets, centre illumination. Yet to take it out to longer ranges but based on what I've seen so far I think it will be fine.

https://www.scopedout.com.au/Vortex-Venom-5-25x56-FFP
https://www.badlands.com.au/vo-scope-taurus-4-24x50ffp
https://www.badlands.com.au/vector-optics-veyron-4-16x44-ffp
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Re: Help me build my first 22lr rimfire - Tikka T1x

Post by bladeracer » 14 Mar 2022, 1:04 pm

Don_Stevenson wrote:...and a first focal plane scope makes it easier to use the reticle to measure misses and correct at range.


You don't need to pay more for FFP for this. If you're shooting at longer ranges you probably have the scope at max, which is where most SFP scopes graduate the reticle anyway. Regardless, you will very quickly learn to apply your reticle graduations to your target. Stick with the finer reticle of the SFP scope for shooting at longer distances.
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