Light Weight Rifle Advice/Input

[Burnt Reynolds]

I've been eyeing a Kimber Hunter in 308 or 7mm-08. Had for some time a CA Ridgeline 20 in. 308 which I regret selling. On paper I like the Kimber - I plan to weigh it down with an atlas bipod and NF NXS 2.5-10x42 with steel Warne bases and rings.

By my calculations it would end up at 8.5 lbs which is a great carrying weight for me and, assuming it's a shooter, it'd be ready to go for any scenario I could imagine myself in. Then rattle can.

 

[ReddingArcher]

Do you have a T3x Superlite? If so have you weighed it?

My Super Lite in 300 WM weighed in at 5 pounds 15 ounces bare rifle. I dont think you can go wrong with a Tikka. Both of mine shoot fantastic with pretty much any ammo. The only one my 300 didnt like is the Nosler Trophy Grade 180 grain accubonds. I am going to load up some Barnes 175 LRX and see how they do.

 

[Benjblt]

I have a kimber hunter 7mm-08.. hacked up but shoots well.. 1 Moa.. you can have for 450$.. I'll throw in lapua brass and dies as well.


That said I have Remington 700 gun for 60$ , A savage 110 that to me cost 0 dollars, and a weatherby vanguard for 100$.

Putting pen to paper a superlite 6.5 creedmoor does more (6lbs, vertical grip, extreme accuracy with cheap ammo, large mag box) then what I can do with free guns and a build.

Add in the fact 22lr trainer that matches perfectly for 450$??

It's a no brainer.

There's about a 3-4 ounce variance with superlites. The caliber and cartridge makes some difference due to hole size in barrel and length of barrel. Give or take an ounce from 96oz is a good rule of thumb.

I might be interested in the Kimber but you're selling the Tikka 6.5 much more

 

[Benjblt]

My Super Lite in 300 WM weighed in at 5 pounds 15 ounces bare rifle. I dont think you can go wrong with a Tikka. Both of mine shoot fantastic with pretty much any ammo. The only one my 300 didnt like is the Nosler Trophy Grade 180 grain accubonds. I am going to load up some Barnes 175 LRX and see how they do.

Thanks for the feedback. Nice to know they weigh in about where they say they do.

 

[deerkiller]

I have a kimber hunter 7mm-08.. hacked up but shoots well.. 1 Moa.. you can have for 450$.. I'll throw in lapua brass and dies as well.


That said I have Remington 700 gun for 60$ , A savage 110 that to me cost 0 dollars, and a weatherby vanguard for 100$.

Putting pen to paper a superlite 6.5 creedmoor does more (6lbs, vertical grip, extreme accuracy with cheap ammo, large mag box) then what I can do with free guns and a build.

Add in the fact 22lr trainer that matches perfectly for 450$??

It's a no brainer.

There's about a 3-4 ounce variance with superlites. The caliber and cartridge makes some difference due to hole size in barrel and length of barrel. Give or take an ounce from 96oz is a good rule of thumb.

Apparently the Tikka actions vary oh so slightly too, or that's what the stock companies feel - I have a superlight that I purchased a few years back, '06 for 2 years then '06 AI - Killed a whole bunch of game with that rifle launching 180 gr Accubonds, it's now a 338/06 AI, weather's been so bad I haven't even fired it yet AND and long time back I added a Roedale Machining German made "model 70 style" safety (not exactly like a model 70 but close enough to make MY superlight nearly "perfect" - Tikka builds one heck of a rifle, still made in Finland by TIKKA gunsmiths, each gun start to finish by the same smith - they're tough to beat

 

[Ndbowhunter]

A tikkakoski rifles are the standard for budget rifles. The recoil lug, one size fits all receiver, plastikka parts are compromise. But man do they shoot.

A bit of digging around and a guy can still find new stainless guns for 650$ or so to the door. 750$ plus tax on superlites is a deal.

At this rate I can't even give away my kimber. Granted it's rubbishy looking but sub Moa rifle that's pushing 5 lbs shouldn't be hard to trip at 60% of retail.

All my tikkas have been sold for 10% loss at most. Says something right there.

Pushing more and more to have a safe full of tikkas topped with mil quad reticles and leave all the load development, wandering zero's forever in the rearview.

 

[Lawnboi]

A tikkakoski rifles are the standard for budget rifles. The recoil lug, one size fits all receiver, plastikka parts are compromise. But man do they shoot.

A bit of digging around and a guy can still find new stainless guns for 650$ or so to the door. 750$ plus tax on superlites is a deal.

At this rate I can't even give away my kimber. Granted it's rubbishy looking but sub Moa rifle that's pushing 5 lbs shouldn't be hard to trip at 60% of retail.

All my tikkas have been sold for 10% loss at most. Says something right there.

Pushing more and more to have a safe full of tikkas topped with mil quad reticles and leave all the load development, wandering zero's forever in the rearview.

Funny you say that. I ended up trading my Kimber Hunter in for more than I had it for sale. Traded it in for a tikka

 

[MuleyFever]

If you want to run the long 7mm-08 rounds get the Tikka and convert it to a long action and get the larger mags.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Funny you say that. I ended up trading my Kimber Hunter in for more than I had it for sale. Traded it in for a tikka

Lucky!!!

Either way not gonna worry about it. If I trip it or keep it as a beater back up..

The funniest part about these rifle discussions is that outside of specific cartridges that tikka doesn't make, or a twist rate too slow.. there just isn't many rifles I want or need that exceed what tikkas are from the shelf.

I have a few friends that are gunsmiths, so build cost of components plus a couple stacks.. but outside of a micro action 6br adl style build none of them move the performance needle past what a superlite creedmoor is to even bother with the process.

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I own a Tikka T3 SL (not T3x) in 7 RM and have been completely happy with it. I also own a Savage 116 in 260 Rem that shoots lights out. I am partial to the Tikka but don’t hesitate to carry either one to the Whitetail woods. Both have taken their share of critters (Fox, Coyotes, Bobcats and Whitetails). While the Tikka is MOA the Savage is sub MOA. Both wear Leupold 4.5 x 14 x 40 VX3i scopes mounted in DNZ mounts.

 

[slick]

tikka 7-08 owner here. Wanted a short 7 something and a tikka. Threw a lightweight leupold on it and called it a day.

 

[Benjblt]

Not too many Savage lovers out there. I'm starting to feel like I need to get a Tikka. Too bad Cabelas sucks and doesn't sell the superlites!

 

[.270]

I have the discontinued Savage lwh in 7mm-08 and it shoots 140 accbonds very well with little load development. I used RL-17, gave them .05 jump and they shoot 3/4 moa. The rifle weighs 7 lb .5 oz with the talley rings and VX3 4.5-14x40. I didnt like the look of the new Savages with the adjustable stock but I was able to find this one online. It is the only Savage I own and I like the little rifle.

 

[Muttly]

Pushing more and more to have a safe full of tikkas topped with mil quad reticles and leave all the load development, wandering zero's forever in the rearview.

I like Kimbers, and Winchesters, get an itch for a Fierce that comes and goes..

But the Tikkas are real easy to like! I,ve got 7 Mag T3x that has somehow turned into my favorite rifle.
With the SWFA 3-9X42 Mil Quad.. And a hankering to get my hands on another one in 223..
Easy to get shooting well ( insert ammo..), decent weight, a few different grip inserts that let you do a little fine tuning if so desired.. Plenty of aftermarket goodies if you want to fool around with em..

And straight out of the box, you don't have to do ANYTHING to em. Turns out that stock I never liked actually fits and functions pretty well..

 

[JeffRaines]

I might be interested in the Kimber but you're selling the Tikka 6.5 much more

In all honesty, if you go Tikka I'd stick with the 6.5. Its the only one twisted correctly and their actions not being scaled means that you can buy a long action bolt stop and magazine and load them long if you want to.

 

[jwilson4425]

Just my experience, but my Kimber Adirondack in .308 is an absolute tack driver with Barnes 168gr TTSX loads. Half inch groups consistently at 100. From what I see on the message boards, I may have just gotten lucky but that rifle is a gem and my ultimate brush rifle with an ultralight suppressor on it.

I’ve shot a couple Tikkas and they were fantastic though. Didn’t LOVE the feel of the stock but at that price point who cares?

 

[Benjblt]

In all honesty, if you go Tikka I'd stick with the 6.5. Its the only one twisted correctly and their actions not being scaled means that you can buy a long action bolt stop and magazine and load them long if you want to.

That's a good idea. That's both an attractive and an unattractive aspect of the Tikka. . they all come in long action. . Why does the twist matter if they all the T3X's shoot so well? I guess I don't fully understand how twists affects things. Does it limit bullet weights that shoot well?

 

[jwilson4425]

That's a good idea. That's both an attractive and an unattractive aspect of the Tikka. . they all come in long action. . Why does the twist matter if they all the T3X's shoot so well? I guess I don't fully understand how twists affects things. Does it limit bullet weights that shoot well?

Basically, you want to get a twist rate fast enough to stabilize the heaviest load you plan to shoot. There's been a strong trend towards heavier, longer bullets as more people are shooting long range now and some manufacturers are just slower to catch up to the times. Because 6.5 Creedmoor is relatively new and was designed for long range shooting, the standard twist rates for it have always been geared towards heavy bullets.

In theory, a slower twist rate should allow very slightly higher velocities but the difference would be marginal at best.

 

[cmahoney]

I got a Tikka on sale at cabalas last year and saved $100.


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[Benjblt]

In all honesty, if you go Tikka I'd stick with the 6.5. Its the only one twisted correctly and their actions not being scaled means that you can buy a long action bolt stop and magazine and load them long if you want to.

The rate of twist for the Savage 7mm-08 is the same as it is for the Tikka T3x - 1 in 9.5. I so I guess that part is a non-issue.