Tikka T3 Lite .300 win mag loads

[GetOutside]

What factory loads do you suggest I start with once my new T3 shows up? I've find little information on what load it likes. Some say go light, others say it doesn't matter. What do you like?

 

[colonel00]

Unfortunately I don't have anything to add but I subscribing and giving this a bump as I am leaning towards a .300WM Tikka as well and have obvious interest in any answers you might get.

 

[digger]

Just went through your same options with a friend. His 300 tikka loves Barnes brand ammo with the 165 tipped non lead bullet.
It shoots that ammo extremely well and the speed was within 10 fps of what it said on the box. Hope this helps.
He just killed a raghorn elk in Idaho with it a month ago now.

 

[VANDAL]

I've owned my 300 Tikka for a few years now. Awesome gun with excellent accuracy!

I started with the Hornady SuperPerformance 165 and they shot well. This year I switched to the Barnes Vortex 165 TTSX and I really like them. I shot two deer this year with them (both ~400 yrds) and had very good penetration and action from the bullet. I will keep using them. The main reason I swithed was availability of the ammo. At the time the SuperPerformance wasn't in stock, I got nervous and stocked up on a bullet I could build a long-term supply with. The only thing I didn't like on the Barnes was the point on the soft tip seemed to misshape over time during hunting. I never shot those rounds and rotated to a new bullet with a sharper point...not sure if that would alter accuracy

 

[Trr15]

Vandal/Colonel/GetOutside - Are you/are you planning to run a brake on the .300 Tikka? I'm considering one of these as well. Just curious about the recoil. I'm running an 8lb rifle in .338 win mag with no brake right now and I'm wondering if the recoil would be comparable. Sorry, not trying to derail the thread.

 

[VANDAL]

No brake. Initially I was worried about the recoil but to me it's very managable. Now I don't shoot much though compared to other people. I probably shot 60 rounds to get the rifle dialed in and comfortable with it the first year. After that maybe 30 rounds/yr. When I do go and target shoot I do not use a bench and can only tolerate about 8-10 shots per session. Thats enough of a beating for my shoulder!

If you plan to shoot frequently with long sessions I would consider a brake.

 

[Justin Crossley]

HSM also makes some good factory loads for the .300 Win mag. I just helped a friend of mine set up a new Tikka and that is what shot best out of his rifle. I can't remember which bullet weight off the top of my head though.

His has a Micro Bastard brake on it and is a blast to shoot. I feel like a muzzle brake is a valuable addition to most rifles and really recommend it if you plan to stretch the legs on your rifle at all.

Here is a video of a different buddy testing the Micro Bastard on a Tikka 7mm mag.

[video=youtube_share;EASb0fjY6zg]http://youtu.be/EASb0fjY6zg[/video]

 

[GetOutside]

Trr15...this is my first rifle. I've been bowhunting since I got out of school. Time will tell whether or not I'd like to have a brake put on it.

 

[Nuke Man]

First thing go ahead and get a Sims recoil pad. It helped some. My Tikka has shot everything well. It really shoots Hornady SST 165's great. I switched over to Federal Premium with Nosler Partitions in 180 grain for an upcoming bear hunt. Shoots them great also. The only ammo it didn't shoot moa or better was Hornady Superformance. None of my rifles in any calibers like that stuff for some reason.

 

[bcimport]

My tikka shot every factory round I fed it pretty well but the Barnes Vortexx were the best