New to rifles, buying a tikka caliber selection?

[evan711]

So im somewhat new to rifles not a lot of trigger time and have been doing a ton of research on rokslide between caliber selection and drop testing and all sorts of other stuff lol. I've decided on a trijicon scope with um rings and I know i want a tikka tx3 lite.

My only thing im still uncertain on is caliber selection. Like I said im newer to rifles and haven't shot a ton but I plan on hunting mainly deer,bears, with some elk opportunitys. I'm going to practice fairly often and was leaning toward 308 or 30-06, but there's alot of other PRC cartriges that interest me but don't have any experience with, are they more maintenence with carbon cleaning being an issue I've heard about?

Ill mainly be hunting two scenarios close timber possibly from a treestand and hiking through logging timber country that could open up longer shot opportunities just depending on my skill level and what feel comfortable by hunting season.

I know kind of long winded but i wanted to paint a good picture for my intended use. I'm sure some of you will have some good insight on what would be a good fit for me.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Do you reload?

6.5 creedmoor or a 308 would do everything you will ask of it

 

[3325]

Rule of thumb: When you don’t know what you want, you want a .30-06. There can be reasons to go up or down from there. Sometimes good reasons, sometimes imagined.

 

[glock233]

This is a big moment because the choice you make actually does matter. The gun you practice with and will actually make hits with is the right choice.

My answer: 6.5 Creed if you commit to shots under 600 yards. 6.5 PRC if you’re considering taking shots over 600. The 143ELDX bullet is a good choice for either, it’s just how fast you are pushing the projectile.

Don’t get sucked into antiquated calibers just because they are popular. The 6.5 is extremely popular too.

Don’t underestimate the effect recoil has on accuracy. You won’t (and can’t) practice much with a gun that brutalizes you. The recoil anticipation makes you miss. Normal shooters shoot best with lighter guns. “Lighter but sufficient” should be what you think about.

22 Creed and 6 Creed are also great choices but they don’t come from the Tikka factory yet.

 

[evan711]

Do you reload?

6.5 creedmoor or a 308 would do everything you will ask of it

I do not reload

 

[glock233]

If you’re thinking of 30-06, you’re better off with a 270 Win. Better range with no compromises.

I’d still recommend one of the 6.5s.

 

[evan711]

This is a big moment because the choice you make actually does matter. The gun you practice with and will actually make hits with is the right choice.

My answer: 6.5 Creed if you commit to shots under 600 yards. 6.5 PRC if you’re considering taking shots over 600. The 143ELDX bullet is a good choice for either, it’s just how fast you are pushing the projectile.

Don’t get sucked into antiquated calibers just because they are popular. The 6.5 is extremely popular too.

Don’t underestimate the effect recoil has on accuracy. You won’t (and can’t) practice much with a gun that brutalizes you. The recoil anticipation makes you miss. Normal shooters shoot best with lighter guns. “Lighter but sufficient” should be what you think about.

22 Creed and 6 Creed are also great choices but they don’t come from the Tikka factory yet.

Thanks for all the great info in your reply, it's definitely easy to get caught up in the you need a huge caliber stuff.

 

[DisplacedHusky]

I sold a T3X in 30-06 and built a Tikka 6.5 PRC (before they had a factory offering). The 6.5 PRC is immensely more enjoyable to practice with than the unsuppressed 30-06.

 

[24valve]

If you are serious about practicing and improving your field shooting, you cannot beat a 223. Everyone should have one, even if caliber restrictions in your state mean you cannot hunt some animals with it.

If you intend to hunt with it in Washington, and only want one rifle, then a 243, 6.5 creedmoor or 308 would be best. There are decent factory ammo options for all three.

And if you rebarrel down the road, then a 6ARC or 6 creedmoor are worth looking into.

Hopefully you have also done lots of research on bullets and terminal ballistics, they matter far more than caliber.

 

[43.6N]

Any of the short action tikkas.
308
7mm-08
6.5cm
243
22-250

20” threaded T3X 6.5cm is a great first recommendation.
Suppress it asap.
And try as hard as you can to shoot the barrel out over the next 1-2 years.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'm going to practice fairly often

I do not reload

That screams creedmoor to me

 

[grfox92]

If your new to rifles I would get the lightest recoiling cartridge you can.

.243 with an 8 twist or 6.5 Creed would be my recomendation. 6.5 creed would be best with Factory ammo options as you dont reload.

But someone new to rifles should not be buying a 30-06 to gain experience.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[glock233]

Thanks for all the great info in your reply, it's definitely easy to get caught up in the you need a huge caliber stuff.

You’re welcome. Just stay in the mental frame. Large calibers are not needed for any purpose or North America.

You could absolutely just get a Tikka 223 and use “Bone Frog 77 TMK” as your hunting cartridge. It’s extremely effective inside reasonable ranges. But it does cap your range a bit and some jurisdictions don’t allow 223 on all big game.

Your situation calls out for 6.5 Creed. If you stick with the factory stock, get a Limbsaver recoil pad. If you want to upgrade the stock, get a Rokstock (I strongly recommend). And get a suppressor. No need to break the bank on suppressors (there’s way too much suppressor nerd talk out there), just make sure it’s light and semi compact.

 

[keystone112]

Do you have some friends with different rifles that you can shoot?

I would go with something like a 6.5 PRC or 270 Win.

 

[43.6N]

Tikka T3x RoughTech Superlite 6.5 Creedmoor 20" 1:8" Bbl Roughtech Coyote Tan 3rd Rifle JRTXRC382 For Sale - EuroOptic

Tikka T3x RoughTech Superlite 6.5 Creedmoor 20" 1:8" Bbl Roughtech Coyote Tan 3rd Rifle JRTXRC382 For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3x-lite-synthetic-65-cm-22bbl-1-8-5-8in-x-24tpi-synthetic-blued-jrtxe38222mt

@evan711
These are what you’re looking for.
5/8x24 threaded muzzle.
20 or 22” barrel.

Call up Jake @EuroOptic when you place your order and tell him you’re a rokslider. He will 100% take care of you.

 

[evan711]

If your new to rifles I would get the lightest recoiling cartridge you can.

.243 with an 8 twist or 6.5 Creed would be my recomendation. 6.5 creed would be best with Factory ammo options as you dont reload.

But someone new to rifles should not be buying a 30-06 to gain experience.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

I should preface i have shot rifles a bit just not much alway been an archery guy. I own a 30-06 right hand and shot my first deer just don't have much trigger time and i need lefty.

 

[evan711]

Do you have some friends with different rifles that you can shoot?

I would go with something like a 6.5 PRC or 270 Win.

Yah I have a few friends with different calibers I could ask to try.

 

[evan711]

Thanks everybody these are great suggestions! I definitely have a few more options to consider now. One of my questions in my original post about the prc's was carbon ring issues anybody think I should stray from that route or am I off base? Is this really an issue? And do they require deeper cleaning and more often?

 

[LongWayAround]

The easy answer is 6.5 Creedmoor. It has more factory offerings than most other cartridges, ranging from cheap practice ammo to match grade. There's hundreds of animals posted on here as proof of efficacy.

Mild recoil, reasonable cost to shoot, kills animals.

 

[AntelopeEater]

.308 is perfect, will give you the most choices of factory ammo, and with practice and good ammo you can reach out and take anything in the Americas with it.

30-06 is also a good choice and it has a little bit more power (average factory load about 10 to 15% more power in 30-06 vs 308), but more recoil, ammo on average tends to cost a bit more, and you don't really need the bit of extra power unless you maybe are going after the biggest and baddest bison or grizzlies and want to feel very confident you are bringing enough gun, but then you could always step up to a 300 Win Mag or .375 Ruger, etc., if you ever decide to hunt the really big stuff.

Anything smaller than .308 and you may or may not be able to legally hunt in some places with it, I think there are still some jurisdictions that require 30 cal minimum for big game.

Plus, despite many people on this site trying to promote using a .223 for all big game, hunters you run into in real life may (incorrectly) disparage your choice if you choose anything less than .308.