Help - tikka decision

[BustedRagHorn]

Are you sure about 300 win mag? I have a tikka t3x in 300 win mag, killed several animals with it. I also have two friends and a father in law, all with the same gun in the same caliber. There is nothing wrong with it, I have seen that gun kill more animals than anything else. As others have said though, it kicks like a mule. I have one friend who threw a suppressor on his and has convinced me I need one as well. I would highly recommend you view the suppressor as a must, not a maybe. A good brake is an option so long as you are sure you will put on hearing protection before every shot, personally I know I will not take the time to throw in ear plugs when I am so amped up to take a shot at an animal. The decibel level of a 300 win mag with a brake is no joke. The gun is a tack driver and slinging 200 grains almost 3000 fps is a blast, but it is way more fun when the recoil is manageable.

 

[Smokinyotes]

My old Tikka 300wm has shot probably at least 10 moose, few elk and a ton of deer. It was in the Tupperware stock and shooting it off the bench, my eyes would start to cross after about 9 shots. I put it in a Boyd’s laminate with a good re oil pad and it’s like a different gun.

 

[270-300]

This is not correct.

It absoloutely is. Put a slow burn powder in a short barrel, you will have a fireball and low velocity.

People much smarter than you or I were paid big money figure out how long of barrels certain powders need in various calibers. I have noticed on here some people confusing the 300 short action magnum with belted 300 win mag.

 

[270-300]

Well, that's +/- why I said "cartridge aside", becasue I wouldnt buy a 300magnum of any flavor at all, let alone in a light hunting rifle, because for my uses I can do functionally the same thing with way less recoil--but that wasnt the point, and the OP didnt specify enough to say one way or another. Just saying that even at moderately long range the real-world difference between a couple inches of barrel length is in your head more than it's reality--it's like 50 yards of terminal range difference, which doesnt even become relevant until you're at distances 99% of people shouldnt even be shooting at critters. That, and 22" and 24" are both too long IMO when you add a suppressor. Beyond that, it's all aesthetics--if you want a 300winmag, then get it, and if you want it "optimised" then do that--the point is simply that doing that doesnt functionally change the outcome unless you're shooting at stuff WAAAAY out there. And at that point I'm looking for a different gun altogether, not a 6.25lb sporter rifle.

Having more weight further out makes a noticable difference for recoil. The chronograph will notice as well.

 

[270-300]

Gross, give me a sawed off, suppressed rifle any day. I went from a 24” 300wsm to a 20” wsm with a can to a 18” 6.5prc also suppressed and no longer or heavier than the original 24” wsm barrel.
No way I was spotting shots with the wsm in any barrel length, but I can with the prc, and the rifle is sub 9lbs all in, ready to hunt.

The key here is your are talking about Winchester Short Magnum. Big difference in barrel and action application for that vs the cartridge op is talking about.

 

[Mike D Texas]

It absoloutely is. Put a slow burn powder in a short barrel, you will have a fireball and low velocity.

People much smarter than you or I were paid big money figure out how long of barrels certain powders need in various calibers. I have noticed on here some people confusing the 300 short action magnum with belted 300 win mag.

You mean like H1000in a 21” barrel running 153.5 LR Hybrids at 3100fps?

Sure, ok.

Or how about RL26 in a 21” barrel pushing 195 TMK at 2950?

Gotcha.

 

[270-300]

You mean like H1000in a 21” barrel running 153.5 LR Hybrids at 3100fps?

Sure, ok.

Or how about RL26 in a 21” barrel pushing 195 TMK at 2950?

Gotcha.

Those are slow loads for 300 win mag.

You mean like H1000in a 21” barrel running 153.5 LR Hybrids at 3100fps?

Sure, ok.

Or how about RL26 in a 21” barrel pushing 195 TMK at 2950?

Gotcha.

Id be glad to read the source material you have from commerical ammunition developers demonstrating how 21" barrels are the go to for 300 win mag now.