Deciding direction with a new Tikka 300 wm

BigRed99

FNG
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May 10, 2025
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Hello all, long time lurker, now FNG.

Picked up a T3X lite .300 wm, 1:10 24" stainless threaded 5/8x24 on clearance the other week. Not sure why it was on clearance but set me back less than any of the Bergara options.

My goal is a lightweight mountain rifle capable of knocking elk down out to 600 yards. On a tighter budget, hoping for advice what will end up the best route in hopes of avoiding a setup that gets trialed then resold for a loss. (I know, that's part of the game)

Optic: Maven RS 1.2, UM rings. Not purchased yet, but this seems like the consensus scope and rings for a tikka action with the intent of affordable western hunting.

Caliber - bought in 300 wm, knowing I will probably turn it into a 7prc at some point, but until 7prc takeoffs hit the market the conversion isn't in budget. Unless I'm missing something and a 7prc barrel can be found for under $300 right now. It's a t3x lite in a magnum caliber, I know it's gonna kick. Looking at selling the 24" and picking up a 22" threaded takeoff in 300wm to keep overall length down and see how tolerable it is braked or eventually canned. Cost of a takeoff is on parity with getting the 24" cut and threaded locally. If I can make the 300wm work I like the availability vs 7prc at this point.

Stock/chassis - worth trying a limbsaver, red snake AICS conversion, vertical grip and add ARCA rail to the t3x lite stock, or save the trouble and spring for an MDT field? AICS pattern would be nice for the magazine and round options it opens up. Ease of adding an ARCA rail is also a factor. I haven't fired the t3x yet, but I have an old mossberg patriot in 300wm that sucks to shoot (albeit a $200 rifle with blown out stock recoil pad, no limbsaver) and I would be happy trading an extra pound or two around to reduce felt recoil.

Bipod - MDT mountain bipod

I've done some digging on here to see what has been addressed already and got this far, but if anyone here has been down this road and could pitch in where they ended up it would be appreciated.
 
Save your money and skip the AICS bottom metal and definitely avoid the Field Stock.
The factory barrel is not really throated to take advantage of a longer COAL, and almost all Tikkas shoot just fine with ammo loaded to Tikka mag length. Plus their mags don’t rattle around like AICS mags do. Rattle is fine when you are shooting PRS, but it sucks in the woods. The MDT field stock is just about everything wrong with stock ergos. Just get a vertical grip for your factory stock and shoot it in that configuration until you can afford a Stockys, a Rokstock, or a McMillan LR.

All that being said, if your goal is elk at 600 and in, then I would skip even the 7 PRC and drop down to a 6.5PRC. Even better would be a 6 or 6.5 Creed, but that would mean trading out your bolt.
 
Save your money and skip the AICS bottom metal and definitely avoid the Field Stock.
The factory barrel is not really throated to take advantage of a longer COAL, and almost all Tikkas shoot just fine with ammo loaded to Tikka mag length. Plus their mags don’t rattle around like AICS mags do. Rattle is fine when you are shooting PRS, but it sucks in the woods. The MDT field stock is just about everything wrong with stock ergos. Just get a vertical grip for your factory stock and shoot it in that configuration until you can afford a Stockys, a Rokstock, or a McMillan LR.

All that being said, if your goal is elk at 600 and in, then I would skip even the 7 PRC and drop down to a 6.5PRC. Even better would be a 6 or 6.5 Creed, but that would mean trading out your bolt.
Thanks for your insight. What would give a 6.5CM the edge over a 6.5PRC for elk at, say, 500 yards? Wouldn't the added energy result in a higher percentage shot and less tracking/follow up? Or factoring reduced recoil of a CM = better odds of spotting a shot for follow up
 
Thanks for your insight. What would give a 6.5CM the edge over a 6.5PRC for elk at, say, 500 yards? Wouldn't the added energy result in a higher percentage shot and less tracking/follow up? Or factoring reduced recoil of a CM = better odds of spotting a shot for follow up

Take a look at the 223, 6mm/243, and 6.5 calibers for killing stuff threads. There is a lot to read in them, but there is a lot of evidence in them that proves that the energy differences between modern centerfire cartridges means a lot less then using the right bullet and putting that bullet in the right place, which is much easier to do with a round that recoils less and is practiced with more.
 
I’ve never seen a 300 bounce off of anything so as long as you can shoot it accurately it will be a fine hunting rifle. The 300 is still one of the most popular elk rifles because it works just fine.

One of these shoulder pads will do more than any recoil pad while practicing. The best thing you can do before upgrading anything is shoot a box through it every weekend to decide if it’s a path you want to keep going down.
 

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If it’s threaded, get a TI Pro 4 or 5 brake. It will recoil less than a .243. Yes it’s loud, but practice with good ear protection. Also, look at putting a cheek riser on the back of the stock. Tikka makes a cheek riser as well as many others, depending on your setup! A .300 win mag is an awesome choice for elk! There is just a bunch of sensitive recoil shooters that will tell you different!
Practice, Practice, Practice and make cold bore shots at different shooting sessions. You will find wind doesn’t care on a cold bore first shot rather it be a 223 or 300. Practice doping the wind at each session. This will be your biggest margin of error in my opinion at long range!
 
Also, there's nothing wrong with 300 win mag, it's a great round that will take pretty much anything in NA. Just make sure you understand the recoil profile of the rifle you are getting. I made the mistake of getting a 300 win mag Tikka Superlite (which is not threaded), and paid for it dearly on my first range day.

7PRC is a good round and I just bought a rifle myself. But I also acknowledge there's an unusual amount of hype around that round coming from youtubers that likely have some sort of financial interest in Hornady.
 
Take a look at the 223, 6mm/243, and 6.5 calibers for killing stuff threads. There is a lot to read in them, but there is a lot of evidence in them that proves that the energy differences between modern centerfire cartridges means a lot less then using the right bullet and putting that bullet in the right place, which is much easier to do with a round that recoils less and is practiced with more.
My dad used to say “Indians killed deer with 22s” whenever we wanted to to get all the magnum cartridges.

That being said, I showed him the video of black bear hunting with a 22 creedmoor and he seemed very unenthused at the idea of actually using a 22 caliber bullet on big game.

The point still stands. Placement > everything.
 
The factory barrel is not really throated to take advantage of a longer COAL, and almost all Tikkas shoot just fine with ammo loaded to Tikka mag length.

Even a 180 berger elite hunter is going to have the Ogive inside the case neck to fit in a tikka mag so I'd respectfully disagree about the throating part. Maybe its not a long throat but you're still a long ass ways from the lands with any remotely slick bullet at mag length which in itself isn't a problem but the fact that you're that limited on bullet choice that'll actually fit in the mag sucks.
 
Even a 180 berger elite hunter is going to have the Ogive inside the case neck to fit in a tikka mag so I'd respectfully disagree about the throating part. Maybe its not a long throat but you're still a long ass ways from the lands with any remotely slick bullet at mag length which in itself isn't a problem but the fact that you're that limited on bullet choice that'll actually fit in the mag sucks.
200gr ELDX or Accubond works great at just over Gactory COAL using a mountain tactical magazine. 190LRX should also fit as there are facotry Barnes loads available. I load 200 ABs for my friends tikka WM. Good out to 600 yds, at least on paper.
 
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