New to rifles, buying a tikka caliber selection?

[mtnbound]

So im new to rifles 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.

I would go with either a 6.5PRC or a 1:8 twist 243. You will have more high BC factory 6.5PRC ammo choices but you can find some good 243 loads. I would cut and thread the barrel but I always use a suppressor. No issues with a PRC being more maintenance.

 

[Steve300xcw]

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.

so?

 

[Steve300xcw]

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?

I have yet to hear anything about a carbon ring outside of the internet

 

[solarshooter]

8 twist 243 if you reload.

6.5CM if you don't.

In either case, get a 20" threaded barrel, multiple factory ways to get this.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

If you are going to put a brake or suppressor on it 6.5 prc. If you are not 6.5 creedmore.

 

[flyfisher117]

6.5 Creedmoor to start. Shoot out the barrel. Learn and gain experience. Then decide if you want to go smaller or larger or keep on keeping on.

 

[Elkslut]

My 6.5 creed filled all my tags this year. Pronghorn at 480 and a mule deer at 175. I shoot the 147g ELDM bullets (my own loads). I found the 143g Eldx just pencil through deer, did not open or expand for me.

There are lots of good ammo choices out there for this cartridge. That will be half of the getting to know your rifle, is figuring out what ammo you want to shoot. Plus the practice it gives you.

If nobody has recommended it yet, I'd say look at a Tikka. They just plain work, and shoot great right out of the box. Pre-threaded muzzle gives you the option to choose if you want a muzzle device or not without having to do any gunsmith work.

Good luck, have some fun with it.

 

[solarshooter]

If you are going to put a brake or suppressor on it 6.5 prc. If you are not 6.5 creedmore.

CM. Has plenty of terminal range, especially for a novice shooter. Less recoil, better barrel life, cheaper ammo.

 

[barrister]

My one gun for all hunting purposes would be a 30-06. It's largely personal as to how a person fills out the list of pros and cons, but for me the 30-06 always comes out on top when I consider every variable.

Second choice for me would be a 308, but I could definitely see a 6.5 CM in that space. I just don't have enough personal experience with the 6.5 CM to change my opinion.

 

[Johnny Tyndall]

I tried to teach myself to shoot with a .270. It didn't work very well. Maybe you're tougher than me, but I'm much happier with a 6.5cm.

 

[Dave Thomas]

I have yet to hear anything about a carbon ring outside of the internet

They are real. Not a big deal though just keep it clean. If there's enough clearance between chamber and bullet it may never cause a problem though.

 

[HuntHarder]

Can we all agree to call our 6.5's bitch biscuits? Creedmoor sounds so feminine.

 

[Speaks]

6.5CM or 243. Honestly best bet is get a 223 and shoot it a ton. Once you can reliably shoot over 450 or so from field positions and make good shots nearly 100% of the time then start looking at what to move up to in order to increase your range.

30-06 will likely make you get worse with practice instead of better.

 

[nikomedeiros]

With being a newer shooter, I'd strongly suggest steering far from anything with recoil. There's a lot of traditional wisdom within the hunting world that is becoming a little outdated when it comes to cartridges and even bullet selection. Nothing wrong with shooting the largest cartridge you can truly handle well, but I've seen big gun claimed folks struggle with even the "little" 6.5creedmoor. Humans just don't deal well with sharp and strong pressure impulses, loud noises, followed by a force to the body. Nobody's fault, nothing to be ashamed of, just the way we are wired. So, all this said, something in the 243win-6.5creedmoor would be an excellent choice, followed by shooting the heck out of it. Either round is plenty for all NA game. If someone tells you otherwise, please consider all the other more crucial variables involved, shot placement being #1. Best way to increase the probability of a good shot placement is to reduce recoil. Following that, lots of practice, which is certainly easier and more enjoyable if you aren't getting the crap beaten out of you. Heck, check out the .223 thread being used for everything from coyotes and pigs to moose and grizzlies if you are on the fence. Ultimately, for your needs, 6.5 is hard to beat, especially with the abundance of good factory ammo.

 

[Matt5266]

I wouldn't look at a PRC if I were you, you need lots of practice and your not going to do that with a PRC. Ammo price and recoil will stop you.

I will echo a 223 will make you a better shooter and get you tons of trigger time. If you can only get one get a Tikka short barrel 6.5 creed. Plenty for anything, good barrel life, decent ammo prices since you don't reload and won't beat you up. You can buy a bunch of cheap stuff to get comfortable shooting before you purchase more expensive precision hunting type loads. I just did a search and you can buy cheap 6.5 creed ammo for as low as $14 a box if you buy in bulk and keep your eyes peeled.

 

[Chris in TN]

As others have said, the correct answer is either 223, 8 twist 243, or 6.5cm.

It is simply unwise to go any larger, and completely superfluous to killing things the size of elk and smaller.

 

[tstowater]

Buy two guns. Get the 223 and a 6.5 PRC. Should easily cover everything you listed plus plenty of practice and varmint shooting.

 

[grfox92]

Can we all agree to call our 6.5's bitch biscuits? Creedmoor sounds so feminine.

A 6.5BB?

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