Elk Hunting Rifle Combos - Tikkas Go or No Go?

[NVVAHunt]

I picked up a T3 this year in 270 for my wife and have not had any issue, gripe, or complaint about it. Shot great with factory load and shot even better with the reloads I worked up for it. I plan on picking one up in 30-06 for me in the near future.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I picked up a T3 this year in 270 for my wife and have not had any issue, gripe, or complaint about it. Shot great with factory load and shot even better with the reloads I worked up for it. I plan on picking one up in 30-06 for me in the near future.

I "could" afford to build,.. a "Custom Rifle" and HAVE before, but after, seeing my sons T3X in 7mm08, "shoot", I BOUGHT a Tikka T3, Stainless Lite, 24" bbl., in .270 WSM. I changed, the Recoil Lug to, a Steel one and the Pad to a Limb Saver then, adjusted, the Trigger to, a CRISP 2 Pounds ( about a 1/2 Hour's total, "work" ! ) Keep in mind that, the Tikka's ARE, light weight ! So buy, the "Caliber" to "match" the Rifle's WEIGHT with, the RECOIL that, YOU are "comfortable" with, UNLESS you, "like", Brakes ! Personally, I DON'T ! Up to, a 7mm Rem Mag with 160's, is "shootable" in a 7 - 7.5 pound Rifle ! My 140 AccuBonds at, 3,150 FPS is about, ALL the recoil that, I personally, "want" ! Too much recoil produces "fatigue" and "flinching" when, working up loads and practicing extensively. Our Tikka's, are both shooting, sub MOA (with 3X9 scopes). By loading the AccuBonds, you CAN seat them to, Magazine length and they still, shoot GREAT ! So WHY spend, the $2,000 - $3,000.00 for a "Custom" ??? "Real World" Hunting accuracy, doesn't care if, the Rifle shoots 1/2 MOA or, 1 MOA, when shooting over "sticks" sitting or, over a Back Pack, prone ! You MUST be able to "Dope" the WIND and hit a 10-12 inch, Gong/ Target ( Kill Zone ) at, your Rifles, MAX Distance,.. for ME that, ENDS at about, 600-700 Yards ! Good luck, with "your",.. "choice" !

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Unless that changed something in their barrels or chambering processes that seems odd. Other than the ejection port being a little different the action is otherwise the same. First I heard that feedback by the way.

I DOUBT if, anything has "changed" I have NOT heard of, ANY "complaints" about the New, T3X's ! My Son's, New T3X in, 7mm-08 Rem. is, a "shooter" (getting, sub MOA !) He's using a .30-06 /.270 Win., Magazine with, a New "Bolt stop" and trying 162 Hornady, ELD-X 's at .020 "off" the Lands. Personally, I'm not trying to, "reinvent the Wheel" and using, the now, "Famous",.. 140 AccuBonds in the .270 WSM ! My only WISH,.. I wish, they were,.. Made in America ! The Fin's have, a Real Winner,.. HERE !

 

[Ross]

Won’t bore you with grin photos of my Tikka just the country that it travels and performs flawlessly. Two guys in my Montana group also have them with zero issuesThe nice thing is when climbing 2000 ft your carrying a liteweight rifle that performs and does not break the bank.

 

[Foldem]

I love my t3 lefty 300 win mag for elk, just picked up a lefty t3x in 270 wsm for deer and antelope. Not quite as punishing on the recoil.

 

[CastleRocker]

A wise man, (my Dad), once told me, "when it comes to hunting rifles...you pack 'em a lot more than you shoot 'em." I bought him a Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm, and it shot a one hole, .3" group right out of the box with my hand loads! I was so impressed, that I bought one for myself in 300WM, and one for my wife in 270. Dad's still shoot the best, but all group sub moa.

 

[Gumbo]

I have two Tikkas, 7mm Rem Mag and 25-06. Both are absolute killers with Federal Premium Barnes TSX ammo at the distances I shoot (300 and less). I have more than a decade with them and will not buy another rifle unless something tragic happens...

 

[Mulyhuntr]

The new T3 x rifles seem not to shoot as well as the older T3 lites. I have not seen a new x model that is not extremely fussy on ammo or won't shoot MOA no matter what. But have only seen 6-7 of them....

I have a T3 from about 2007-2008 and a my dad has T3x that is less than a year old. Both are in .243 and both shoot a 95gr Berger Classic Hunter over 41gr H4350 to sub .5 moa. My dad was worried that the new model wouldn't live up to my rifle, but it has in every way.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

I "could" afford to build,.. a "Custom Rifle" and HAVE before, but after, seeing my sons T3X in 7mm08, "shoot", I BOUGHT a Tikka T3, Stainless Lite, 24" bbl., in .270 WSM. I changed, the Recoil Lug to, a Steel one and the Pad to a Limb Saver then, adjusted, the Trigger to, a CRISP 2 Pounds ( about a 1/2 Hour's total, "work" ! ) Keep in mind that, the Tikka's ARE, light weight ! So buy, the "Caliber" to "match" the Rifle's WEIGHT with, the RECOIL that, YOU are "comfortable" with, UNLESS you, "like", Brakes ! Personally, I DON'T ! Up to, a 7mm Rem Mag with 160's, is "shootable" in a 7 - 7.5 pound Rifle ! My 140 AccuBonds at, 3,150 FPS is about, ALL the recoil that, I personally, "want" ! Too much recoil produces "fatigue" and "flinching" when, working up loads and practicing extensively. Our Tikka's, are both shooting, sub MOA (with 3X9 scopes). By loading the AccuBonds, you CAN seat them to, Magazine length and they still, shoot GREAT ! So WHY spend, the $2,000 - $3,000.00 for a "Custom" ??? "Real World" Hunting accuracy, doesn't care if, the Rifle shoots 1/2 MOA or, 1 MOA, when shooting over "sticks" sitting or, over a Back Pack, prone ! You MUST be able to "Dope" the WIND and hit a 10-12 inch, Gong/ Target ( Kill Zone ) at, your Rifles, MAX Distance,.. for ME that, ENDS at about, 600-700 Yards ! Good luck, with "your",.. "choice" !

Hardest, to, "read", post, EVER!

 

[fightthenoise]

Hardest, to, "read", post, EVER!

Man, glad somebody said it. Had to have taken an eternity to type that mess.


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[willidru]

Killed 2 elk this year with my 10 year old stock T3 in 300 Win Mag at 285 and 550 yards. I shoot factory Barnes TTSX in 180 gr. Very light, shoots well, heavy recoil at the range but none in the field.

 

[blackpowderhunter]

if im packing or hiking a lot.
my t3 superlite in 30-06 is in tow. great rifle for the money

 

[lcpaul22]

I pack hunt and I carry a .300 win mag t3 ss. It’s my do all rifle and it’s a pleasure to shoot since I installed a limb saver recoil pad. I had moved to the tikka from a sako 85. Although the finish of the tikka is nowhere near as polished, the function was on par.

The magazine on the t3 is short, so I take that into account when reloading. I have shot 168 grn and 180 grn tsx and have had no issues.


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[TonySkyline]

I killed my last two elk with a Tikka T3x .308 and 155 scenars. I would not be sizing up from that personally, but to each their own.

How hard did that .308 hit those elk? Did they go far? Penetrate well?

 

[ndbuck09]

I have a 300 win mag T3 Lite Stainless stock. I archery elk hunt but took a Bighorn this year with this gun. 168 Barnes ttsx at 3.54 coal with 74.5 grains of imr4831 sub moa. I just ordered a stainless steel recoil lug and better action screws which should increase accuracy further. Only downside is that i single loaded the rounds. They make a conversion kit to fit in a AICS magazine which would accommodate longer coal.
Tikka T3 Long Action AICS Bottom Metal

 

[Pn8hall]

If you are in the market for a Tikka check out Whittaker Guns. They have the .308 T3x lite in stainless for $569. Should put you right about $600 with shipping and transfer. That's pretty good deal on one. I personally have the 30-06 version and can't say enough good things about it.

 

[Bacwest]

I absolutely love my Tikka t3 lite in 30-06 stainless with a limbsaver bolt on recoil pad. I have shoot a 4 pt elk and a couple bucks, I have considered a sako finnlight for my next rifle in 7mm 08 but man do I love that Tikka... Maybe I'll just get another.