LH Tikka Rifle Build next step

[KWheeler]

Last year I bought a left-handed Tikka T3X in 7mm Rem Mag, intending to upgrade it into my 1-gun solution for western big game. My thought was to first replace the factory stock with Carbon Fiber, and then replace the factory barrel with a pre-fit carbon wrapper barrel in 7PRC.

To that end I have several questions, first is upgrading the Tikka a worthwhile project or would I be better off buying a rifle already built that will meet my goals.

Assuming I went forward with the Tikka build, dose anyone have any experience with the Stocky’s Next Gen Ultra Carbon Hunter VG, AG Composites Alpine Hunter, and or the Oregon Mountain Rifles Bridger Stock?

It seams that my options are limited, as usual, because I am Left-Handed.

Any insight would be helpful.

 

[Snowwolfe]

To that end I have several questions, first is upgrading the Tikka a worthwhile project or would I be better off buying a rifle already built that will meet my goals.

What goals are you trying to accomplish?

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Don't take this schitty...I can see you are new here. But I also own a lefty Tikka in 7mm Rem Mag. Topped with a reliable tracking Bushnell Elite.....it's been capable of very ethical one shot kills past 500 yards and is a pretty light weigh killer right from the factory.

I have purchased the LH Stocky's VG stock. Tried it a bit. But my rifle is back in the factory stock. Simply shoots better and more consistent in the factory stock. I dont have time to futz w it currently as the rut is on.

Overall if you want to dump a ton of cash into tinkering and tweaking...you're gonna come around full circle to where you started.

I am not really even a Tikka fan per se. But I bought 5 LH Tikkas last year. And one of them goes with me everywhere. Great stuff for a lefty. But improving one seems a Fool's Errand.

 

[LeftyWilbury]

start with the tikka vertical grip upgrade for under $50
shoot the rifle a bunch
my tikka 7 RMs are a) left handed and b) factory except for the vertical grip and one is threaded now
but i've since "downgraded" to a LH 243 that i stuck in a stocky's VG stock just because i could.
i no longer feel the need to burn all that powder in the 7RMs

 

[Encore4me]

Left hand Tikka T3x 300 WM
McMillen fiberglass stock
Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 scope
Dead air Nomad Ti XC suppressor.
This is my “do all” gun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KWheeler]

What goals are you trying to accomplish?

I'm hoping for a hunting rifle capable of consistent 5 shot 1moa accuracy under field conditions & having 1800 to 2000 ft/lbs of energy at 600 yards, which is enough to kill a bull elk.
I think that means atleast 1/2 moa at the range. Weight is also important because I often hunt in wilderness areas.

What goals are you trying to accomplish?

 

[KWheeler]

Don't take this schitty...I can see you are new here. But I also own a lefty Tikka in 7mm Rem Mag. Topped with a reliable tracking Bushnell Elite.....it's been capable of very ethical one shot kills past 500 yards and is a pretty light weigh killer right from the factory.

I have purchased the LH Stocky's VG stock. Tried it a bit. But my rifle is back in the factory stock. Simply shoots better and more consistent in the factory stock. I dont have time to futz w it currently as the rut is on.

Overall if you want to dump a ton of cash into tinkering and tweaking...you're gonna come around full circle to where you started.

I am not really even a Tikka fan per se. But I bought 5 LH Tikkas last year. And one of them goes with me everywhere. Great stuff for a lefty. But improving one seems a Fool's Errand.

You may be right about it being a fools errand, as you said i am new to posting on this forum. However, I am not new to shooting & my Tikka stock is not stiff enough for consistent accuracy, too much flex in the forend especially when shooting prone or from a tripod.
I understand that according to some longrange & extreme longrange rifle builders a properly designed stock is esential to recoil mitigation which helps with sporting your impacts & more precise follow up shots.

 

[Snowwolfe]

I'm hoping for a hunting rifle capable of consistent 5 shot 1moa accuracy under field conditions & having 1800 to 2000 ft/lbs of energy at 600 yards, which is enough to kill a bull elk.
I think that means atleast 1/2 moa at the range. Weight is also important because I often hunt in wilderness areas.

1 moa doesn't change to 1/2 moa just because you are shooting longer distances. 1 moa at 600 yards generally means your rifle is capable of hitting within 3 inches of your aiming point.

My opinion is to spend more time on the bench paying attention to the wind flags and experimenting with different reloads and I bet you find out your rifle is capable of 1 moa. There are very few shooters capable (myself included) of wringing out the maximum accuracy out of any hunting rifle from the bench or when hunting. I would add the McMillan, have it properly bedded, and practice.

 

[awpk03s]

Lefty Tikka shooter here.
I like the Stockys VG carbon stocks. Bought two of them. Rokslide30 will get you 30% off.

I would say you’ll probably get more mileage from an upgraded stock then upgraded barrel.

 

[Spoonbill]

Last year I bought a left-handed Tikka T3X in 7mm Rem Mag, intending to upgrade it into my 1-gun solution for western big game. My thought was to first replace the factory stock with Carbon Fiber, and then replace the factory barrel with a pre-fit carbon wrapper barrel in 7PRC.

To that end I have several questions, first is upgrading the Tikka a worthwhile project or would I be better off buying a rifle already built that will meet my goals.

Assuming I went forward with the Tikka build, dose anyone have any experience with the Stocky’s Next Gen Ultra Carbon Hunter VG, AG Composites Alpine Hunter, and or the Oregon Mountain Rifles Bridger Stock?

It seams that my options are limited, as usual, because I am Left-Handed.

Any insight would be helpful.

I have an AG Alpine Hunter that I got because I hate the T3 stock and its a definite improvement over the T3 stock that came with my first Tikka. My biggest complaint about it is the flat forend gets uncomfortable to carry all day hiking. I swapped my T3 06 between the original stock, the AG and a T3x stock with vertical grip, the AG Alpine Hunter was the most comfortable to shoot between those 3. Depending on how/where you hunt it could be a good or bad choice.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

@KWheeler No pissing match. I've tinkered and dumped a ton into tweaking stuff. Simply relaying that you wind up right back at zero. I have a 24yo son that gets GoogleEyes at all kinda shit. Then gets disappointed.

You are correct about recoil mitigation. And a different stock may help. If I got serious and upgraded it would be for the AG stock, but many others say the ergo suck for LR.

I bought a LH 300 WSM. Had the barrel chopped to 19". This is the one I put back into a factory stock. Topped it with a new Maven RS1.2. All up it's almost sub 7lbs.

Best form in the world and/or changing your stock....you aint spotting shit with that....other than a bottle of Ibuprofen after 5 shots. Just saying there are diminishing returns after a point.

I bought the bougie bottom metals, recoil lugs etc....I can still easily hit coyote minis at 750 yards with or without the trinkets. That's my only point. So I shoot more, beat the brakes off the rifles, and rock on.

My experience with that Stocky's stock is...Meh. Seems stiff. I got the RoughTech barrel channel...because...I have a 6.5 PRC LH RoughTech. That is the rifle that goes with me everywhere. Factory for the most part. Upgraded the recoil pad. Lug. Tikka Vert Grip. With a NF NX8...that rifle has tipped over shit way out there. And hit micro steel pretty far out there. Decent ammo, attention to detail and a solid, reliable optic.

And the fatter barrel which adds some extra weight....is actually a blessing.

If money is not an object, nor is wait time....I'd order a Warden something from McMillan. The thinner fore end one.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

RE: Factory plastic stock. To be fair, I do generally sand out the barrel channel a touch to make certain we have a nice and generous float

 

[davsco]

1 moa doesn't change to 1/2 moa just because you are shooting longer distances. 1 moa at 600 yards generally means your rifle is capable of hitting within 3 inches of your aiming point.

think he's saying he wants a 1/2 inch rifle at the bench in perfect conditions, to give him some enough slop to still shoot 1moa in hunting conditions/positions.

op, a box-stock tikka will not hold you back. but i (also a lefty) have four in which i have installed proof carbon prefit barrels (actually one is carbon six) and pure precision altitude stocks. the stock seems to be stronger, less flex and i like having a decent comb. i don't think the proof barrels are much if any more accurate (nor lighter), but they are threaded (i have a couple with cans and a couple with brakes) and at least theoretically handle heat better, not that you will be having long strings of fire while hunting. and heck it's fun to do some minor gunsmithing.

 

[KWheeler]

@KWheeler No pissing match. I've tinkered and dumped a ton into tweaking stuff. Simply relaying that you wind up right back at zero. I have a 24yo son that gets GoogleEyes at all kinda shit. Then gets disappointed.

You are correct about recoil mitigation. And a different stock may help. If I got serious and upgraded it would be for the AG stock, but many others say the ergo suck for LR.

I bought a LH 300 WSM. Had the barrel chopped to 19". This is the one I put back into a factory stock. Topped it with a new Maven RS1.2. All up it's almost sub 7lbs.

Best form in the world and/or changing your stock....you aint spotting shit with that....other than a bottle of Ibuprofen after 5 shots. Just saying there are diminishing returns after a point.

I bought the bougie bottom metals, recoil lugs etc....I can still easily hit coyote minis at 750 yards with or without the trinkets. That's my only point. So I shoot more, beat the brakes off the rifles, and rock on.

My experience with that Stocky's stock is...Meh. Seems stiff. I got the RoughTech barrel channel...because...I have a 6.5 PRC LH RoughTech. That is the rifle that goes with me everywhere. Factory for the most part. Upgraded the recoil pad. Lug. Tikka Vert Grip. With a NF NX8...that rifle has tipped over shit way out there. And hit micro steel pretty far out there. Decent ammo, attention to detail and a solid, reliable optic.

And the fatter barrel which adds some extra weight....is actually a blessing.

If money is not an object, nor is wait time....I'd order a Warden something from McMillan. The thinner fore end one.

I appreciate your input.
McMillan was on my radar but they don't appear to be able to guarantee delivery until after hunting season next year, so at this point I think it may be AG or nothing.
I already put in the Tikka vertical grip aluminum bottom mettel a lighter trigger spring & replaced the recoil lug. All seemed to help, but admittedly that is anecdotal, except for the VG which made a measurable difference on target.
Overall I like the Tikka but want a little better performance.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I appreciate your input.
McMillan was on my radar but they don't appear to be able to guarantee delivery until after hunting season next year, so at this point I think it may be AG or nothing.
I already put in the Tikka vertical grip aluminum bottom mettel a lighter trigger spring & replaced the recoil lug. All seemed to help, but admittedly that is anecdotal, except for the VG which made a measurable difference on target.
Overall I like the Tikka but want a little better performance.

Look at the ready to ship stocks. They ship in a couple days.

I have to disagree with a couple comments here about coming full circle back to a factory-ish setup. I prefer to modify stuff til I’m satisfied with the setup and it’s almost never in a factory config. I also love that I can order a prefit and install a barrel in a new cartridge myself as long as I keep the same bolt face, which I generally do. I think the tikka platform is great especially for people who like to tinker and that’s coming from someone who was only a custom rifle shooter for many years prior.

Find what makes you happy and go shoot! With this hobby it can take time and money to find what you like.