Help - tikka decision

[FuddRucker]

I'm in the market for a new tikka in 300 win mag and I'm struggling to make a decision between a few variants. I know the differences are relatively minor in the scheme of things and they will all be good shooting rifles, but I'd like to hear some firsthand thoughts, experiences, or opinions.

Primary use will be backpack and truck hunting for elk and deer. I don't own a suppressor but would like to get one down the line, so I'm trying to keep barrel length in mind. I'm not very keen on the idea of cutting and rethreading a barrel and I'm mindful that longer barrel lengths help get the most out of the 300wm performance wise.

All are options I'm considering are 1:10 twist, threaded muzzles, and similarly priced. Pros and cons listed below. Any thoughts y'all have are appreciated.

New tikka t3x lite 22" barrel, stainless steel

Pros: stainless, barrel length can better accommodate suppressor in the future, metal bolt shroud, 5/8 thread without an adapter

Cons: velocity loss with shorter barrel, no cerakote, stainless steel still prone to rust, basic stock

Tikka t3x superlite roughtech (ember or coyote tan) 24" barrel

Pros: roughtech stock, cerakote over stainless steel seems ideal for corrosion resistance, a bit more velocity with 24" barrel, lightest option, better carrying

Cons: potentially more felt recoil with lighter barrel, adding a suppressor would make it very long, uses adapter for 5/8 threads

Tikka t3x roughtech cerca, 24" cerakoted barrel

Pros: heavier barrel than lite and super lite, potentially less felt recoil, cerakote (unsure if it's SS), better velocity than 22", roughtech stock, no adapter for 5/8 thread

Cons: heavier, would be really long with suppressor, aesthetically I don't love the camo option, but I could hit it with a rattle can.

 

[Samson7x]

For suppressor use in mind, I'd opt for the threaded 22". I had the non threaded version and ended up selling it due to recoil. I'm sure it would have been better with a suppressor on the end but that gun was very unpleasant to shoot for range sessions.

 

[Castle Rock]

Have you shot a tikka in 300, if you haven’t try and get a go of one before you invest, they are a handful.

 

[JMundy84]

Id go with the threaded 22" as far as I know the only difference in the plain stock and the rough tech is paint. The ceracoated barrels will give you better corrosion resistance but Ive abused the hell out of my stainless tikkas and never gotten a spot of rust on them.

 

[270-300]

When i bought my 300 win mag, I bought a 24" barrel with a very thin profile. This is a mountain rifle. I do not care to shoot 10 shot groups at the range with it.

I really like 22" for non magnum calibers. But the extra weight up front on a magnum is nice, and getting the extra fps is the whole point of buying a magnum.

If you want a more compact rifle lots of people tell me 300 Winchester SHORT Magnum works well.

 

[FuddRucker]

Have you shot a tikka in 300, if you haven’t try and get a go of one before you invest, they are a handful.

No I have not, but this is not really intended to be a bench gun. I think I handle recoil okay too. Do you have any other recs for a 300 wm that isn't as much of a handful?

 

[FuddRucker]

When i bought my 300 win mag, I bought a 24" barrel with a very thin profile. This is a mountain rifle. I do not care to shoot 10 shot groups at the range with it.

I really like 22" for non magnum calibers. But the extra weight up front on a magnum is nice, and getting the extra fps is the whole point of buying a magnum.

If you want a more compact rifle lots of people tell me 300 Winchester SHORT Magnum works well.

This is sort of my thought right now. I've briefly considered the wsm, but would prefer the standard b/c of ammo availability.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Easy enough to measure performance and know how well you handle recoil. Try this drill with your smallest and largest cartridges, then pick your new rifle.

Thread 'Equipment versus practice posts and Rifle practice/shooting'

Mar 31, 2020

This isn’t in response to anyone I particular, but there is an up tick in the amount of “I want a XXXX distance hunting rifle” traffic the last few months. I am getting a lot of questions relating to this, which I do not mind helping, but thought a public post might help answer some questions. It’s an attempt to get to actually using your rifles.


People online tend to act like 600/800/whatever yards is a rifle, cartridge and BDC scope purchase away. When someone asks for advice, or says I’m building an -insert whatever rifle/cartridge you want-, people are discussing hardware not...

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• Forum: Firearms

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[270-300]

This is sort of my thought right now. I've briefly considered the wsm, but would prefer the standard b/c of ammo availability.

Its a great cartridge. I enjoy it in a vintage ruger m77 that has killed a lot of animals in wyoming.