Best long-distance 7mm or 30 cal rebarrel for Tikka T3x with .473" boltface?

[BringBackThe80s]

I thought tikka used the same receiver for short and long action just change bolt stop and mag ?

I already swapped the bolt stop and got 30-06 mags so I can load .308 and 6.5CM as long as I want to. But I think 3.35" is the longest COL that will fit in those 30-06-length Tikka mags.

 

[One300wsm]

Nothing would be easier than running a .284 mandrel through a 6.5rpm case. Get bushing dies for 6.5rpm and put an appropriate 7mm bushing in it. People have already done that and there's a reamer.... like this one.

7mm-6.5 Weatherby RPM - 4D Reamer Rentals

7mm x 6.5 WBY RPM Sretched out 284 Winchester case made by Weatherby. Chamber Reamer rental

4drentals.com

Looking around online it comes in at 78.9gr case capacity. About 5gr more than 280ai, 3ish less than 7rm. So In between those, closer to 7RM. If you ran it in a chassis with the mdt magazine, you can seat those bullets a bit longer.

I like this idea.

 

[Tanner]

I thought tikka used the same receiver for short and long action just change bolt stop and mag ?

They do, but even their long action doesn’t have the COAL latitude for an /06 based round with a high BC bullet in it.

 

[mitchellmountain]

284 win, and with the medium action on a tikka you can run the long heavy bullets if you want. I built mine on a true short action and am still pushing 140’s over 3000 fps.

 

[One300wsm]

284 win, and with the medium action on a tikka you can run the long heavy bullets if you want. I built mine on a true short action and am still pushing 140’s over 3000 fps.

What length barrel you running ?

 

[Bluefish]

I have a Tikka T3x originally chambered in .308 Winchester, but that barrel has been very finicky in comparison to all my other rifles. I've already spun on a 6.5CM barrel that has shot almost everything lights-out without any load tuning whatsoever, so I trust the action, barrel, and optics.

So now I want to get a barrel I can spin on and off chambered for a cartridge better suited than the Creedmoor for large game at long ranges. Un-finicky accuracy is paramount, followed by max distance with velocity above 1800-2000 fps and energy above 1000/1500 fpe while minimizing wind drift. That is highly dependent on bullet choice, of course, which will need to stay within 3.34 C.O.A.L.

The choice would be easy if Weatherby's RPM line included a 7mm or 30 cal option. In their absence, the highest performing options I have identified for this action length and .473" boltface are:
- 280 Ackley Improved;
- 280 Sherman;
- 300 Sherman; and
- 30-06 Springfield.

Any other options I overlooked? Any recommendations about the options listed?

Fast twist 25-06 or 25-06ai? Same case capacity as a 6.5 prc. The new 134 eldm or 13? TMK offer good ballistics at around 3000 fps. If you have to have a bigger diameter, then 6.5-06.

 

[One300wsm]

Fast twist 25-06 or 25-06ai? Same case capacity as a 6.5 prc. The new 134 eldm or 13? TMK offer good ballistics at around 3000 fps. If you have to have a bigger diameter, then 6.5-06.

Before I’d do ether 25-06 I would do 25 RPM or 6.5 RPM

 

[mitchellmountain]

What length barrel you running ?

22”, using h4350 when loading . If I had it to do over again probably would have built it on a tikka action. Realistically 98% of my hunting is whitetail, black bear or mule deer. I don’t need to run heavy bullets for those and the 140’s kill beautifully. I am taking it elk hunting next year( probably) and will bump up to 150’s for that. My ethical limit is 500 yards and that combination leaves me wanting nothing within that range.

 

[BCsteve]

7 PRCW?

.473 bolt face.

 

[nm.otter]

Oh, right.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I had not really comsidered either of those. I don't really need a short action cartridge, though, and those run about 200 fps slower than even the 280 A.I. Are there other advantages I am missing for long range hunting?

As has been mentioned the 280AI with a high BC bullet in a factory tikka mag is gonna have the bullet stuffed into the case more. A 284win on a tikka action you can seat it out.

180vld and 162eldm, next to 280ai and 284

 

[BringBackThe80s]

As has been mentioned the 280AI with a high BC bullet in a factory tikka mag is gonna have the bullet stuffed into the case more. A 284win on a tikka action you can seat it out.

180vld and 162eldm, next to 280ai and 284
View attachment 1030417

I really appreciate the visual, and I think you make a fair point. I can't tell where the VLD's shank/boat tail transition starts, but from your statement I'm guessing that the boat tail transition is below the neck/shoulder junction? (I often have boattail hanging below and down into the shoulder area, but I don't want full-diameter shank pushed down pas the neck.) Nice pic!

 

[SouthernCharm]

Getting another 280ai made up while the 7RM has been regulated further in the closet. I already have the cases and dies. My second choice was the 7SAUM.

 

[ezwy]

I would do something 284 or RPM based. With the heavies i wouldn't hesitate to do the 25 or 6.5.

The 143, 147 or 156 gr. 6.5 bullets will do all the things a 284 or 30 would for you.

 

[One300wsm]

As has been mentioned the 280AI with a high BC bullet in a factory tikka mag is gonna have the bullet stuffed into the case more. A 284win on a tikka action you can seat it out.

180vld and 162eldm, next to 280ai and 284
View attachment 1030417

Your not comparing

I really appreciate the visual, and I think you make a fair point. I can't tell where the VLD's shank/boat tail transition starts, but from your statement I'm guessing that the boat tail transition is below the neck/shoulder junction? (I often have boattail hanging below and down into the shoulder area, but I don't want full-diameter shank pushed down pas the neck.) Nice pic!

You Will only be able to seat the bullet until it touches the lands that doesn’t mean the 284 coal will be 3.34 which I have my doubts it will be any where near that.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I'd vote for a 284 Win with a long throat and a fast twist (1:8 or so). With high BC bullets like the ELD-X or similar, seated out around the 3.22+ mark, it gives up nothing to a standard 280, and only maybe 100 FPS to a 280AI. A 284 Shehane or other improved variant should pretty much hang with the 280AI, from what I undersatnd.

Basically all the ELD-X's in 7mm launched from a 284 seated long with full house loads will be trucking north of 1800 FPS out to the 800 yard neighborhood, and still super-sonic out to nearly a mile.

Also, nothing in 30 cal at .473 case head will even come close to the range you can get out of a 7mm until you get into some really heavy bullets and a lot of recoil.

All that said, my personal choice, I have a Tikka T3 (no x) in 7x57 with a long throat (3.22-ish OAL for 162 or 175 ELD-X's). It has notably less recoil than a 308, shoots 3/4 MOA all day, and at my elevation it hucks any of the ELD-X's fast enough to be over 1800 FPS to approx 800 yards, and super-sonic out to 1550 or so (both numbers WAY past any shot I've ever taken either hunting or at a rifle range).

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

You Will only be able to seat the bullet until it touches the lands that doesn’t mean the 284 coal will be 3.34 which I have my doubts it will be any where near that.

284 Win with a 175 ELD-X seated so the end of the bearing surface is right at the case neck juncture, is around 3.23-something, if memory serves. A 280AI with the same 175 ELD-X seated to 3.34 is pretty stubby, LOL. The 280AI would still get a bit more velocity even at that, but, it would cost it enough velocity that I would not consider the difference to be worth the extra powder burned.

 

[rickyw]

You could get an unknown munitions tikka bottom metal and mags and load the 280ai longer

 

[One300wsm]

First off I never seen a barrel length, or did I miss that ? Short barrel 22” and below I’d say 284. 22” and above I’d say 280AI.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Your not comparing

You Will only be able to seat the bullet until it touches the lands that doesn’t mean the 284 coal will be 3.34 which I have my doubts it will be any where near that.

I was just showing what they could look like for visual purposes but it depends on how its throated, the sammi 284 has a long taper with no freebore which does end up seating things out decently. I have the 162 eldm loaded at 3.13" (about 0.55" jump). I don't load the 180vld so can't say. I have the 160gr cutting edge lazer at 3.29 but that one doesn't ever tough the lands (bore rider) so not really relevant other than length.