Non-Tikka Hunting Rifle Recommendations

Seeknelk

WKR
Joined
Jul 10, 2017
Messages
867
Location
NW MT
As far as velocity and recoil. A 16" Tikka with a suppressor has been the favorite rifle for me and my young kids. The rest is factory original. Velocity was more than enough for my daughter to make a clean kill at 475 on a mature mulie and my boy got his first buck at 350. Both one shot. Boys was quartering to and easily passed thru the knuckle, heart and thru the other side. Daughters was square broadside and of course it devastated it. But that's using 140 eldm and not copper. For copper I'd use the LRX for factory ammo if I was forced to. And velocity would be ok to 400 at least if I remember correctly from running data.
My hand loads with 140s stays above 1800 fps to 700 yards.
Recoil is very easy to manage even as is but I will get a Rokstok at some point when they are available again.
A 6 creed is what I wish it was tho. A 243 would bump your velocity for monos a bit and lower recoil more than 6.5 obviously.
 
Joined
Apr 9, 2023
Messages
414
For what it is worth, the Tikka is super accurate and has a great action and trigger. I just do not like recoil. I have to work really hard to keep away a flinch I developed years ago shooting 3.5 inch magnums out of a 870. You may tolerate better than I did.
A 3.5 inch mag would develop a flinch in a gorilla!
 

Dbevans

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 18, 2021
Messages
266
Browning xbolt mountain pro on sale in your price range. Stainless and cerakoted it will last forever.


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JGRaider

WKR
Joined
Jul 3, 2019
Messages
2,011
Location
West Texas
I'm hoping I can keep the stock and just replace the recoil pad. I prefer wood and traditional style stocks. But just out of curiosity, which stock are you referring to?
You can definitely keep the stock on that rifle, replace the pad if you want, and you'll have a kickasss hunting rifle that will drive tacks. I've had Tikkas since 1998, about 7 of them, and never replaced a stock, trigger, or added a rail to any of them. They are superb rifles that you will really enjoy.
 
OP
A
Joined
May 2, 2024
Messages
92
Location
East Alabama
I'm being forced to go to a lighter recoiling cartridge due to medical issues with my neck and shoulder. Giving the .243 a try.

I've never liked shooting 3.5 inch magnums out of a 12 gauge, even when I was younger and healthier. ;)
I still remember telling my dad I was too old for a 20 gauge and needed a 12. I realized very quickly that I in fact was not ready for a 12. I’m seeing a lot of love for the .243 and 6mm creed on this thread. Probably something I will have to consider a bit more.
 
OP
A
Joined
May 2, 2024
Messages
92
Location
East Alabama
As far as velocity and recoil. A 16" Tikka with a suppressor has been the favorite rifle for me and my young kids. The rest is factory original. Velocity was more than enough for my daughter to make a clean kill at 475 on a mature mulie and my boy got his first buck at 350. Both one shot. Boys was quartering to and easily passed thru the knuckle, heart and thru the other side. Daughters was square broadside and of course it devastated it. But that's using 140 eldm and not copper. For copper I'd use the LRX for factory ammo if I was forced to. And velocity would be ok to 400 at least if I remember correctly from running data.
My hand loads with 140s stays above 1800 fps to 700 yards.
Recoil is very easy to manage even as is but I will get a Rokstok at some point when they are available again.
A 6 creed is what I wish it was tho. A 243 would bump your velocity for monos a bit and lower recoil more than 6.5 obviously.
I don’t know much about using match bullets for hunting. How is the ELD-M working for you? Are there limitations you work around?
 

hereinaz

WKR
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Dec 21, 2016
Messages
4,464
Location
Arizona
I don’t know much about using match bullets for hunting. How is the ELD-M working for you? Are there limitations you work around?
Check out the latest Alaska hunt videos by the EXO pack guys. Steve and Jake kill caribou moose and goats with his 6 creed running 108s.
 
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
1,713
Location
Littleton, CO
Here are some of my animals with ELD-M bullets

 
OP
A
Joined
May 2, 2024
Messages
92
Location
East Alabama
Of that list my personal pick would be a Savage with many options in their line up. You could upgrade the stock on most of them and still fall in budget.

I'd be very curious about the 307 Bee although I don't know much about it. I do believe it's built on a 700 clone action so bonus for unlimited aftermarket goodies.
The 307 seems fairly feature rich for a good price. Main thing wrong is I just don’t see anyone online using it. There’s very little information out other than promos from MeatEater and Weatherby who are both biased in favor of it. The Savage is an option that seems to be available at every price range from $500+. I just find myself wondering what I get different when I increase price other than the coating and eventually getting a carbon barrel.
 
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