New rifle decision

[wheels291x]

Ive been lurking and learning here for a little while and am looking for some input.

Just sold my savage axis in .308 and T/C venture in .300 wm. Both were sold because I didn't love either of them and self admitted am a little recoil shy. (Knowing there's work ahead to cure my flinch) I'm looking into a new rifle that will fill a few roles. I have AR rifles in 6.5 grendel (12.5 inch) and 16 inch 5.56 as well as a remington 722 chambered in .300 savage.

The new rifle will be a deer (east tn)/ range/ elk gun (2026 wyoming out of state cow) and must be .243 or larger due to caliber restrictions. It will host a suppressor. Currently torn between a howa barreled action 16.25 inch 6.5 creed in a krg bravo stock or a tikka t3x lite 20" .243 1:8 twist threaded. Price difference is within 100 dollars. Scope I already have is a vortex diamondback tactical ffp 4-16. I am able to handload.

I know this is rokslide so most answers will likely sway towards the tikka. If I get the tikka its unlikely I'll be upgrading the stock other than a cheek riser and pistol grip. Both seem ballisticaly (is that a word?) sufficient for killing elk out to 500 yds which is plenty for me.

 

[Axlrod]

Welcome aboard!
Not being a jerk here, but if I were in your situation, I would get a different scope and 100% hunt elk with the 6.5 Gr or 300 Sav before buying a new rifle and using the diamondback.
But the easy button is the Tikka 243 with a SWFA/Maven 1.2 /NF/ or Trijicon scope.

 

[bnewt3]

Hmmmmmmm

Trying to put myself into your shoes.

WIthout having actual numbers in front of me im going to make a stab. Its probably not as much of an effect as I think but 6.5CM is not a fast cartridge in 24", I dont think I would want it in 16", but wait you said you handload......so you could work up some handloads to get back some of that velocity..........

dang, IDK. Both sound good. But I dont think Howa makes a LH, Tikka does so I have to go with Tikka in 243. Solid choice.

 

[Laramie]

I believe you should consider the 6.5 PRC with a 20" barrel. With a quality suppressor, recoil is minimal and the velocity increases in the PRC will result in a more versatile overall weapon. Your Vortex will work for now but keep your ranges within reason until you can upgrade to decent glass.

 

[KenLee]

Ive been lurking and learning here for a little while and am looking for some input.

Just sold my savage axis in .308 and T/C venture in .300 wm. Both were sold because I didn't love either of them and self admitted am a little recoil shy. (Knowing there's work ahead to cure my flinch) I'm looking into a new rifle that will fill a few roles. I have AR rifles in 6.5 grendel (12.5 inch) and 16 inch 5.56 as well as a remington 722 chambered in .300 savage.

The new rifle will be a deer (east tn)/ range/ elk gun (2026 wyoming out of state cow) and must be .243 or larger due to caliber restrictions. It will host a suppressor. Currently torn between a howa barreled action 16.25 inch 6.5 creed in a krg bravo stock or a tikka t3x lite 20" .243 1:8 twist threaded. Price difference is within 100 dollars. Scope I already have is a vortex diamondback tactical ffp 4-16. I am able to handload.

I know this is rokslide so most answers will likely sway towards the tikka. If I get the tikka its unlikely I'll be upgrading the stock other than a cheek riser and pistol grip. Both seem ballisticaly (is that a word?) sufficient for killing elk out to 500 yds which is plenty for me.

Good Lord you lay out 2 rifles and a scope i wouldn't use if you gave them to me. As my Papa would say, go back to bed and start again.

 

[wheels291x]

Welcome aboard!
Not being a jerk here, but if I were in your situation, I would get a different scope and 100% hunt elk with the 6.5 Gr or 300 Sav before buying a new rifle and using the diamondback.
But the easy button is the Tikka 243 with a SWFA/Maven 1.2 /NF/ or Trijicon scope.

No offense taken. I had considered just using the 300 savage as I think its a cool rifle. My only concern was the wood stock affecting accuracy in case we get hit with nasty weather during our elk hunt. The 12 inch grendel makes me feel real limited when it comes to distance on elk.

Im not against a better scope but please help me understand why the diamondback is a no go. Its the nicest rifle scope I've ever had (not saying too much).

 

[wheels291x]

Good Lord you lay out 2 rifles and a scope i wouldn't use if you gave them to me. As my Papa would say, go back to bed and start again.

Thanks that sure was insightful.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Tikka, and try to flip your vortex for a swfa. You'll be in business then

 

[wheels291x]

I believe you should consider the 6.5 PRC with a 20" barrel. With a quality suppressor, recoil is minimal and the velocity increases in the PRC will result in a more versatile overall weapon. Your Vortex will work for now but keep your ranges within reason until you can upgrade to decent glass.

Oddly enough I've seen the 6.5 prc for better deals. Was a bit concerned about the recoil. I plan on shooting a bit more this year.

 

[MSPharm]

The recoil of the 6.5 PRC is close to the 308 in the same rifle. The 308 might be a little more, but if you don't like 308 recoil, you probably won't like the 6.5 PRC much better. I have 2 6.5 PRCs. A light Tikka and a 12 lb christensen arms. The CA isn’t bad with a suppressor, but the Tikka isn’t as much fun. The more I shoot, the more I like smaller cartridges. I’d vote 243 tikka/SWFA combo

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Oddly enough I've seen the 6.5 prc for better deals. Was a bit concerned about the recoil. I plan on shooting a bit more this year.

It's not odd, they're reducing price to move inventory. If you're budget conscious, check out the Sauer 100 6.5 Creed from eurooptic

 

[WeiserBucks]

Im not against a better scope but please help me understand why the diamondback is a no go. Its the nicest rifle scope I've ever had (not saying too much).

Check out the scope evaluations here.

 

[Axlrod]

No offense taken. I had considered just using the 300 savage as I think its a cool rifle. My only concern was the wood stock affecting accuracy in case we get hit with nasty weather during our elk hunt. The 12 inch grendel makes me feel real limited when it comes to distance on elk.

Im not against a better scope but please help me understand why the diamondback is a no go. Its the nicest rifle scope I've ever had (not saying too much).

The 722 IS a cool rifle- I made the mistake of selling mine to my brother! I stil have one in 222 Rem though.
I have hunted with quite a few wood rifles in the past, and I never had any issues. You could make sure the barrel is free-floated though. Each of those guns range limit will be in order: The shooters ability, and the velocity of the particular bullet you are shooting. Bullets have a min velo for proper expansion- most bullets I use are around 1800 fps. So you could use a balistic chart to find your limit.
As for the scope, the Vortex (all) have a pretty solid track record of not staying zeroed. After you put in the work to find an animal the only thing you need the scope to do is put the bullet where you are aiming. A LOT of scopes don't. Not to overwhelm you but there is a scope field eval section on here:

Rifle Scope Field Evaluations

rokslide.com

The short cut to all that reading is to get a SWFA, Maven 1.2, Night Force, or Trigicon. I own multiples of each (just 1 Maven) and have more SWFA's than anything else. The prices range from $350 (SWFA straight power) to way more, but they all will do what you need everytime. And get the Tikka 243. Good luck!

 

[N2TRKYS]

Tikka t3x lite stainless in either 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5 PRC, Sportsmatch, Leupold Backcountry or UM rings, and a SWFA 3-9x42 and never worry about nothing.

 

[Ajsomp]

Get the 243. Hand load 95 TMKs. Keep it in the factory stock and add the vertical grip and maybe a cheek piece. Possibly a new recoil pad. Sell that vortex and find a Swfa.

My favorite set up to date is a Swfa 6x on a 243 tikka. A 6.5 creed are also great.

I’ve gone from factory tikka, to custom tikka, to full custom rifle, back to a factory tikka. I gained no performance out of the custom versions. The rokstok was the biggest actual improvement to my system, but it’s not a necessity.

 

[Laramie]

Oddly enough I've seen the 6.5 prc for better deals. Was a bit concerned about the recoil. I plan on shooting a bit more this year.

With a suppressor, felt recoil will be similar to a .243 without anything. My 10 year old niece has shot mine without any complaints. With nothing added to reduce recoil, they are around 5lbs higher in felt recoil than a .243.

 

[Chris in TN]

Im not against a better scope but please help me understand why the diamondback is a no go. Its the nicest rifle scope I've ever had (not saying too much).

They're budget scopes well known for breaking.

Even if you don't buy into the results of the drop tests posted here (and I do!) you need to understand that the Diamondback line is the budget end of a budget brand. I would NOT trust one on a western hunt.

Now having said that, I have two Diamondback HP scopes. One has been fine but not used much. The other has held up fine thus far but there's a wiggle in the power selector ring that I don't trust and it's about to get replaced. I wouldn't buy them again.

As for caliber, either the 6.5cm or the .243 will suffice even for elk hunting, at reasonable ranges, but so would your .300 Savage.

 

[LeftyWilbury]

i have a tikka 1:8 i cut down to 20" and shoot suppressed. zero regrets other than maybe all the powder i burned in my youth loading and shooting 30-06 and 7 mag.....swap in a tikka vertical grip and call it good for a few more years while saving up for a better optic.

 

[wheels291x]

Thanks for the replies so far, I expected to see the votes of confidence in the tikka 243 option.
Was not quite expecting the response to the vortex that im seeing. Im not claiming its unwarranted just bummed that it seems I've thrown away money by purchasing it. (Was under the impression it was at least serviceable for my use case).

Does shooting this old Rem 722 in .300 savage with a better optic make more sense than the tikka with vortex? Will be without a suppressor.

Also slightly disappointed in no love for the howa/krg bravo combo. That one got me excited to shoot/own. Admittedly I often stray from what's popular. Must be a middle child thing.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Thanks for the replies so far, I expected to see the votes of confidence in the tikka 243 option.
Was not quite expecting the response to the vortex that im seeing. Im not claiming its unwarranted just bummed that it seems I've thrown away money by purchasing it. (Was under the impression it was at least serviceable for my use case).

Does shooting this old Rem 722 in .300 savage with a better optic make more sense than the tikka with vortex? Will be without a suppressor.

Also slightly disappointed in no love for the howa/krg bravo combo. That one got me excited to shoot/own. Admittedly I often stray from what's popular. Must be a middle child thing.

Almost any rifle you choose will work, same can't be said about scopes.