Rifle Suggestions

[bps23]

I'm primarily a bow hunter and chase whitetails, but have plans to go out West in the future and hunt elk, mule deer, etc. I currently have a Tikka T3 in 7mm mag. Yes probably a little overkill for deer, but I bought it with the intention of also using it to chase bigger game.

I bought the rifle years back without fully considering what I was looking for, and I'm at the point where I want something else. I'd like to stay under $2000, but I'm looking for something heavier with a longer barrel that's better shooting. Not looking for a 20lb monster, but something that feels substantial in hand and will hold on target a little better. Suggestions for bolt action models?

 

[juju]

Differences between rifles are often not as great as we expect. You can go to a lot of trouble and not end up a great deal different. You certainly won't be killing any you couldn't.

Hanging a suppressor off it may do what you want.

But I want a Beretta BRX-1 pretty badly so you should get one. .308 probably.

 

[madcalfe]

you literally have a gun that 75% of the people on this forum is going to suggest....
buy a new stock for the tikka and spend the rest on ammo....
you already have a 24" barrel and going longer isn't going to achieve anything with a 7RM

 

[hereinaz]

You can rebarrel the Tikka with a 6.5 PRC barrel and get all the same/better ballistic performance as the 7 rm with a bit less recoil and better factory ammo.

You can drop down to 6mm Creedmoor and substantially reduce recoil with similar ballistics and kill out to 600 reliably.

Add a stock to the Tikka and you have an awesome rifle.

It’s a niche to swap and upgrade Tikka around here, so much that I am getting my FFL to basically make the process easy for you.

To buy a new rifle to run out of the box, I would look hard at Seekins PH2 on clearance in 6.5 PRC or 6 creedmoor. Their new version is a bit more and sweeter. All the Seekins I have seen are awesome and they have a no questions asked warranty.

 

[bps23]

Thanks for the tips. I never considered a suppressor or new stock. Recommendations for either?

 

[kickemall]

Well for a stock, of course it would be the Rokstok from Unknown Munitions.

 

[hereinaz]

Stocky’s VG, Bastion or Rokstock.

100% buy a suppressor.

Ultra 7 has been the go to for absolute precision and is my fav. Thunderbeast snd Diligent Defense makes other good ones. Go Titanium and in the 6-8 inch range.

You can go 18” 6 creed and still hit what you want. Check out the EXO Alaska Hunts where they kill moose and caribou with 6 creed.

There are also other threads we can point you to for deep dives into going smaller caliber.

 

[Mangata]

AB Raptor 8 for a suppressor.

 

[D Lee]

I'm old school - long on hunting experience and rifle / cartridge ownerships. Keep 95% of your 7mm Mag performance - 1/4 to 1/3 less recoil - in a lighter rifle: 270 Winchester. Rifle choices abound. My VERY accurate Tikka Laminated .270 with 24 oz Zeiss scope weights 7 lb 11 oz. Both rifle and cartridge meet your requirements.

Good luck.

 

[EastHumboldt]

I’m reading between the lines, but it sounds like you don’t shoot your 7 mag that well. I have a problem with shooting anything well that has more recoil than a 30-06. I definitely shoot .243, 7mm-08, etc better than I shoot my 30-06 because I just can’t stop anticipating recoil. So I bought a 7mm-08 and I’m much happier. If you have access to a friend’s lighter kicking rifle, give one a try and see if you don’t shoot better.

Ive never done it, but from what I’ve read, barrel swapping on a T3 is quite simple. The gun classifieds on here are chock full of take off barrels for $100 or so…so pick your cartridge, buy a barrel, and go to town.

 

[KenLee]

I'd vote sell the T3 and buy a Browning x-bolt 7mm-08. Baby 7 120gr NBT is a mean little pill.