Searching for rifle's purpose

[Pwfo]

TLDR - what are some of the different purpose-built rifles you have? Do you have a solo trusty hunting rifle, or use multiple rifles for different hunts?

I got a good deal on a Tikka T3X superlite in 308, so I bought that. Then I found a good deal on an MDT Timbr Frontier chassis, so now I have that.... But when I put them together, the rifle seems to lack a strong purpose. The MDT chassis is a bit heavier than the Tikka stock, but I do like it quite a bit better when shooting at the range. The stock says "this thing feels great and should shoot great" the factory barrel says "hold your horses - not so fast buddy."

I've become a firm believer that the all-purpose rifle does not exist. I have a Begara 6.5 creedmoor heavy barreled match rifle that is a hoot to shoot and shoots tiny little groups. Then I have a lighter weight 7mm rem mag for hunting - not fun to shoot, but lightweight and shoots good enough (also a Tikka), so I'm trying to find a purpose to steer the future of this 308 Tikka - right now, I'm just blowing in the wind where ever I think a deal can be had.

I'm leaning on maybe a shorter barrel 6mm creedmoor for deer, with a heavier barrel than the factory spotter barrel. Maybe even up to an M24 contour? Something that won't heat up too badly after 3 rounds at the range. Someday maybe I'll suppress it. Shorter barrel seems like a good option hunting the woods. Not terribly concerned about weight since I'm carrying probably 50 extra pounds on my belly.

Anyways - just wanted to see if you all can convince me to keep pouring money into this thing, or maybe I should just bite the bullet and recoup the cash to put into my other rifles.

 

[Antares]

Hard to make useful recommendations with the details provided.

When you say "the factory barrel says 'hold your horses - not so fast buddy.'", what does that mean?

What's the round count on the rifle?

What scope is on the rifle?

How is the scope mounted? What rings?

All hardware degreased, torqued, and secured with loctite/nail polish?

What range are you shooting at?

How many rounds in your groups?

What are the group sizes?

What ammo have you tried?

Also, welcome to Rokslide!

 

[TaperPin]

I’ve always enjoyed an accurate general purpose 243, but a 6 creed would be just as good. I like to say when everyone in the pickup is taking bets on who can hit a rock way out there, this is my go to. It gets shot 10x more than anything else. It’s not super easy or super hard on barrel life, not the best or worst bucking wind, but always works better than it should. Ideal for a rock way out there, a couple of rock chucks, a single running coyote, 200 prairie dogs, a 450 yard antelope, or mulie that jumped up 100 yards away and making tracks.

 

[Pwfo]

Hard to make useful recommendations with the details provided.

When you say "the factory barrel says 'hold your horses - not so fast buddy.'", what does that mean?

What's the round count on the rifle?

What scope is on the rifle?

How is the scope mounted? What rings?

All hardware degreased, torqued, and secured with loctite/nail polish?

What range are you shooting at?

How many rounds in your groups?

What are the group sizes?

What ammo have you tried?

Also, welcome to Rokslide!

Thank you for the reply. Glad to be here. Truth be told, I spend a lot more time and money dorking out over rifles online than I actually get to shoot them. Got too many young gremlins running around the house. This is an entirely stock Tikka outside the stock. The barrel was hot to touch after about 3 rounds. Group sizes could have been a factor of a number of things, but less of an issue on my Hart barreled Begara and thats why I'm considering rebarreling as maybe my next step. I've tried some cheaper factory round nose bullets from Remington, some Sierra 180 gr round noses and then 155 ELD-M, both behind Leverevolution (because I have too much of it and don't have any other great 308 powders). I have some Berger factory loads to try out still. This was prone from bipod at 100, 10 round groups, probably 1.5-2 MOA groups.

The scope in this case is a Vortex Razor G3 6-36 that I bounce between rifles in Area 419 one-piece mount. It's my go-to range scope and spoils me... so I'm playing the multiple rifles with one scope game. It's not going too badly with good mounts and pic rails on all rifles. Cost me a 1-2 rounds to re-zero every time I switch it using a Wheeler torque set - much cheaper than another equivalent scope. If/when I hunt with this rifle, I'd probably throw something lighter on it.

Anyways, I do like the 308. I think the rifle is good, and I'm not against it as a cartridge, but as it stands, if I'm going to shoot small groups, I'll grab the other rifle. If I'm going hunting for big game I'll probably still grab my trusty 7mm rem mag - so then what is this rifle's point? I do like it, I'm just trying to also be rational ha. Maybe I cater this to a rifle for my son in... 10 years ha.

I think next I'll try some 130 TTSX loaded down to hunt inside of 200 yds with a more suitable powder. Apologies if I'm too long winded. All the best.

 

[Pwfo]

I’ve always enjoyed an accurate general purpose 243, but a 6 creed would be just as good. I like to say when everyone in the pickup is taking bets on who can hit a rock way out there, this is my go to. It gets shot 10x more than anything else. It’s not super easy or super hard on barrel life, not the best or worst bucking wind, but always works better than it should. Ideal for a rock way out there, a couple of rock chucks, a single running coyote, 200 prairie dogs, a 450 yard antelope, or mulie that jumped up 100 yards away and making tracks.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

I like the idea of this. Maybe I'll try to get my hands on a used factory .243 takeoff for starters. I was also considering a bolt action 223 for this similar purpose, but since I have this rifle, my thought was to just rebarrel it as light-recoiling as the standard bolt-face and standard AICS mags will allow.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

It just sounds like you need to shoot more and not look to buy your way into proficiency.

And you need to set realistic expectations. A rifle that shoots 10 rounds into 1.5” at 100 yards is a great rifle. A rifle that shoots a 3 rounds into .5” at 100 yards needs to be shot more.

I could get by with one hunting rifle. Any cartridge between 6mm ARC to 8mm Mauser would serve me well for hunting. Instead, I have about a baker’s dozen. And then some others. Even when I am done trimming my collection down, I will probably still have enough to use a different one every day of the week.

But if I could only have one hunting rifle, I’d take a Tikka T3X with wooden Rokstok in .243 or 6mm CM. With proper bullets, I wouldn’t need anything else for what I intend to hunt. And then a Tikka T3X in .223 for a trainer.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Pwfo]

It just sounds like you need to shoot more and not look to buy your way into proficiency.

And you need to set realistic expectations. A rifle that shoots 10 rounds into 1.5” at 100 yards is a great rifle. A rifle that shoots a 3 rounds into .5” at 100 yards needs to be shot more.

I could get by with one hunting rifle. Any cartridge between 6mm ARC to 8mm Mauser would serve me well for hunting. Instead, I have about a baker’s dozen. And then some others. Even when I am done trimming my collection down, I will probably still have enough to use a different one every day of the week.

But if I could only have one hunting rifle, I’d take a Tikka T3X with wooden Rokstok in .243 or 6mm CM. With proper bullets, I wouldn’t need anything else for what I intend to hunt. And then a Tikka T3X in .223 for a trainer.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

Well said, I agree that I need to shoot more. And I could be a better hunter.

To kind of build off the point I think I’m hearing you make, I do wonder if more rifles becomes a distraction that inhibits greater proficiency with fewer systems - especially with how seldom I get out to shoot these days.

The problem I’m running into is that it’s easier to dream and scheme and shop online to fit my aspirational lifestyle than it is to get a few uninterrupted hours to get out shooting.

 

[Diamondback]

Op, that 6.5 Creedmoor you have has higher BC bullets, less recoil, and can do the same thing as your 308 Win for a universal hunting rifle. You already own a better solution.
Why try and solve a problem that is already solved?

Option 1: Sell that 308 Win and put the money toward ammo for your already proven accurate 6.5 Creedmoor.

Option 2: You can change the 308 Win barrel to a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel to use the same dies, reloading supplies for a custom backup rifle. I would use the Tikka factory stock for hunting.


A muzzle brake on your 7mm Rem Mag will tame recoil or reduce your handload charge.

 

[Pwfo]

Op, that 6.5 Creedmoor you have has higher BC bullets, less recoil, and can do the same thing as your 308 Win for a universal hunting rifle. You already own a better solution.
Why try and solve a problem that is already solved?

Option 1: Sell that 308 Win and put the money toward ammo for your already proven accurate 6.5 Creedmoor.

Option 2: You can change the 308 Win barrel to a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel to use the same dies, reloading supplies for a custom backup rifle. I would use the Tikka factory stock for hunting.


A muzzle brake on your 7mm Rem Mag will tame recoil or reduce your handload charge.

Appreciate the response. I think you're right. The stock can go and I can run with the factory stock in a hunting setup - rebarrel it with a 6.5 creedmoor takeoff and I've got perfectly suitable hunting rifle to complement my already proven setup.

I do really like the stock, but agree that the money could be better used elsewhere.

Sometimes I get so spun up in my head, it's nice to have a second/third opinion that can set me straight. Appreciate it!

 

[Kyguy]

A rifle's first "purpose" should be to give you personal satisfaction in your investment. Yes, it's a tool that's solely designed to put a hole in something at great distances, but if you just plain don't like the rifle, it doesn't matter how accurate it is.

I think too many of us get wrapped in the minutiae of everything have to have a very specific philosophy of use. We've got to have a target rifle, varmint rifle, a coyote rifle, a trainer rifle, general deer rifle, woods deer rifle, long range deer rifle, game bigger than deer (black bear/mule deer?) but not stuff like brown bears/elk/moose rifle, then the bear/elk/moose rifle if applicable.

I've got a few .223 rifles, a couple of 6mm Arc rifles, a .350 Legend, and a custom .308. I bought the Arc's to have something with lower recoil than the .308, but I also will admit that if I hadn't gotten smoking deals on them, I wouldn't have bought them. The .308 is my first and only custom rifle, I picked up from an estate sale on Gunbroker, that I'm not sure was ever fired. It was configured exactly as I would have had one built, and probably at least $1000 less than it would have cost to have it built, so it was a no brainer for me. It shoots exceptionally well with most factory ammo, a plus since I don't reload. I also like a rifle that I can buy ammo for, anywhere I happen to be.

Let's be honest.... a good .22LR and a mid-caliber centerfire can absolutely cover 95% of hunting/shooting that any of us will ever do. Everything else is superfluous.

 

[ShortMagFan]

I’ve got:
Muzzleloader (purpose self explanatory)

Tight quarters box stand rifle

Long range rifle

Back up rifle

Loaner rifle

Son’s rifle (doubles as my saddle/climber rifle)