The Left Hand Mountain Rifle Struggle...

[Eric4]

I'm a bow hunter, looking to increase my effective yardage a hair. Currently I'm hunting blacktail, coues, and mule deer, but would like a rifle that I'd feel confident with on an elk hunt too. I'm thinking of leaning to a short action caliber, such as 7mm-08, .308, or 6.5CM, as my main priority is deer hunting, and becoming a good shot.

Budget ~$1400 (rifle only), ~$600 scope

Current options:
Christensen Arms Mesa, $1400, 6lb 8oz, available in 7-08, .308, 6.5 creedmoor
Montana Rifle Company X3, $1400, 6lb 15oz, available in .308 and .30-06
Tikka T3x Superlite, $800, 6lb, available in .308, 6.5cm, 7 rem mag, 300 win mag
Weatherby MkV UL, $1700, 6lb 12oz, available in 6.5-300WBY, 300-WBY, 257 WBY


Initially, I wasn't interested in the Tikka due to the plastic stock and 'bottom metal', but after reading reviews, it sounds like a good value for the price. Also, there is only a $50 premium for a LH Tikka, as opposed to the $250 added cost for the Mesa.

There are a few makers of LH Tikka t3x stocks, grayboe and southfort labs, and I was told that the wildcat composite stock can be fitted to a LH Tikka with a bit of extra work. As of now, AG Composites and Stockys don't seem to make anything compatible... If I were to purchase and pay for the fitting of a new stock, the price wouldn't be far from the Montana x3 or Mesa.

I'm certain that any of these rifles would be equally effective with a good shooter, but I'm not opposed to investing more if it makes for a buy-once cry-once purchase.

Any/all input is greatly appreciated!

 

[davsco]

i had your 'lefty struggle' but for an elk rifle and just went with a tikka t3x lite stainless. only have a few shots thru it, so no idea on accuracy yet. trigger is real nice, stock and all feels ok/good. totally 'un-sexy' but should get the job done.

now if christensen made their lefty ridgeline in 300wsm, without a wait or much of a wait, i would have done that. fyi i'm seeing three CA Ridgeline lefty's in 308 on gunbroker...

 

[Eric4]

i had your 'lefty struggle' but for an elk rifle and just went with a tikka t3x lite stainless. only have a few shots thru it, so no idea on accuracy yet. trigger is real nice, stock and all feels ok/good. totally 'un-sexy' but should get the job done.

now if christensen made their lefty ridgeline in 300wsm, without a wait or much of a wait, i would have done that. fyi i'm seeing three CA Ridgeline lefty's in 308 on gunbroker...

Which caliber did you go with on the t3x lite? It's my understanding that the only difference between the Lite and Superlite is the barrel fluting and $50 increase for the Lite?

I noticed the Ridgelines in .308 and 7mm-08 on gunbroker and am tempted to push my budget up to consider it (as well as the Weatherby Mk5 UL). It seems like the Ridgeline model is worth the upgrade for the larger cartridges for the larger muzzle brake and CF barrel. Not much of a weight savings for the short action models.

 

[slowelk]

MT Rifle Company was just bought by Nosler, but I don't think they are going to change over night. They are a horrible company to deal with and their products are not worth what they charge. I got rid of an X2 that would never shoot even after some custom work. Replaced it with a Tikka and have been more than happy with their no BS simplicity.

 

[gbflyer]

MT Rifle Company was just bought by Nosler, but I don't think they are going to change over night. They are a horrible company to deal with and their products are not worth what they charge. I got rid of an X2 that would never shoot even after some custom work. Replaced it with a Tikka and have been more than happy with their no BS simplicity.

Fellow lefty here.
I can affirm the CS part at least in sales. Nothing like being called a liar by someone who is supposed to be selling you on their product, then shuffle blame to the IT department when called on it. Never got far enough to comment on the quality. If Nosler in fact has it now, I say great! Their CS is awesome.

Pretty hard to argue about the Tikka. Great platform and if you don’t like the stock, get a McMillan. If they don’t inlet for left hand, then order one with just the basic barrel channel and have a professional stocker inlet it for you. I can give you a name if you need one.

 

[Eric4]

That makes for an easy pass on the MRC X3.

I'm definitely leaning Tikka at this point...

Just got off the phone with AG Composites, and was told that they'll be releasing t3x stocks in left and right hand around July.

 

[NDGuy]

Dude just get a Tikka especially with your budget grab the T3X and slap some nicer glass on there.

I feel your pain though, I was holding out for either CA Mesa or Bergara Ridge to come out in long action...

looks like another waiting year : |

 

[fightthenoise]

I have three T3x’s that all shoot sub MOA. They aren’t sexy but they have a bitchin minimalism/utilitarian aspect to them. My wife carries a Superlite in 6.5 Creed. She’s totally disinterested in guns and just wants one that will do the job every time all the time so she can focus on the parts of hunting that she enjoys and the Tikka has done it so far.

 

[Bkottke35]

You’d be hard pressed to do better than the Tikka. I have two at the moment, 6.5 creedmoor stainless SL and a 338 Win mag (lite) with a CTR stock and a muzzle brake. Both are great guns, easy to carry and shoot lights out. Looking into a McMillian game scout stock for the 338 currently. If you go with the Tikka you’ve got some extra left over from your budget; add that to your optics budget and get yourself a real nice scope and some ammo!

 

[jhm2023]

MT Rifle Company was just bought by Nosler, but I don't think they are going to change over night. They are a horrible company to deal with and their products are not worth what they charge. I got rid of an X2 that would never shoot even after some custom work. Replaced it with a Tikka and have been more than happy with their no BS simplicity.

Hopefully they fix themselves. I just got rid of an X-3 that took nearly 10 months to get after the order kept falling through several times due to employee attrition. Finally I got the gun and was less than satisfied. While it did shoot decent, it had a lot of QC problems and even had metal shavings trapped in the threads between the barrel and action. That and the thing jammed up more often then it would feed reliably. So much for CONTROLLED round feed. They didn't care to try and fix the problem but made excuses and continually blew me off when I inquired about it. One of the worst companies I've ever dealt with and the product is lacking a lot for a $1,300 rifle. I definitely lost money getting rid of it but a bear/moose gun has to be reliable.

 

[Eric4]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone.

It seems like the Superlite in 6.5 creedmoor would be the best caliber for my purposes, since the 7mm-08 isn't available in LH. If i went to the t3x lite, it would open up 300WSM, 30-06, and 270 winchester chamberings.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Seems this question gets asked a lot and guys go back and forth between companies yadayadayadyadayada.........................
Usually comes full circle back to a tikka.

For a mountain rifle, they have it all.

Randy

 

[davsco]

Which caliber did you go with on the t3x lite? It's my understanding that the only difference between the Lite and Superlite is the barrel fluting and $50 increase for the Lite?

i got the 300wsm, a cartridge i've been wanting for a while. honestly, not sure of diff in the superlite other than it being lighter (presumably from fluted barrel and perhaps other things, not sure if stock is diff or not). actually some of the SL's i've seen cheaper from being on sale. but the SL's have a more limited caliber lineup than the t3x's.

 

[hodgeman]

My son has a LH Tikka in .270WIN... shoots everything so far under an inch, factory or my handholds, and I got it used for $500, with a Leupold VX2 on top.

I'd not look hard for another LH rifle for him,

 

[BAKPAKR]

I got a left hand Tikka Superlite in 6.5 CM from SW in December. Although I don’t have too many rounds down the barrel yet, it looks like it is going to be a shooter. I would prefer to have a stock that is more rounded where I grip it for carry at the front of the magazine. However, since the McMillan cure for that would cost me almost as much as I have in the rifle (more if I have a smith bed it), I will probably just live with it.

 

[Wrongside]

A true ultralight mountain rifle is one of the largest unfilled niches in the LH segment.

That said, I'll echo some of the other guys- go Tikka. They aren't fancy, but they just work, and work well. They offer good value, IMO.

My LH T3 6.5CM shoots like this most days. (OK, it's not always a one holer. ) I don't shoot a lot of paper with it, usually a quick zero check, then on to LR plates. But the zero checks always stay put and are exceptably precise for my purposes.

 

[Dexter Grayson]

Lefty tikka in .300wsm for me. Shoots a ragged hole with factory nosler accubonds.

 

[fightthenoise]

Lefty tikka in .300wsm for me. Shoots a ragged hole with factory nosler accubonds.

Not to derail the thread, but since Tikka’s are all long action, why opt for the WSM over WM? Not dogging on the WSM, it’s a great round, but I thought the main draw was the short action.

 

[howl]

Using the T3 length action on short action cartridges makes for a non-binding smooth cycle, because the bolt has more support throughout travel.

 

[ckleeves]

Not to derail the thread, but since Tikka’s are all long action, why opt for the WSM over WM? Not dogging on the WSM, it’s a great round, but I thought the main draw was the short action.

I would think guys would chose it because of the short magazine length in the WM. Whereas in the WSM you can run a LA mag and seat any bullet anywhere you want. I’m a WM fan but wouldn’t take one in a tikka. Depending on bullet the WSM’s and Saums fit best in a “ Medium” action which is kinda what a Tikka is.