Tikka T3 Rebarrel .280 AI or .338-06

[wmdurway]

Hi everyone,

I picked up a Tikka T3 in .308 Win today for a price I couldn’t pass up. I plan on using it as a donor action and rebarreling it. I’m going to swap out the short action bolt stop for a long action but am trying to figure out which caliber to chamber the rifle in.

Currently I’m considering at a .280 AI or a .338-06. I hand load so finding ammo off the shelf isn’t a concern.

The rifle will be used for western big game hunting up to Elk and Moose.

What are y’all’s thoughts? Is there another caliber with a .470” bolt face I should consider?

 

[mtg]

280ai imo, in my mind it’s the most optimized of the standard bolt face options.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

280

 

[Long84]

280ai. If I ever shoot my .270 barrel out, it'll get replaced with a .280ai

 

[LightFoot]

Hi everyone,

I picked up a Tikka T3 in .308 Win today for a price I couldn’t pass up. I plan on using it as a donor action and rebarreling it. I’m going to swap out the short action bolt stop for a long action but am trying to figure out which caliber to chamber the rifle in.

Currently I’m considering at a .280 AI or a .338-06. I hand load so finding ammo off the shelf isn’t a concern.

The rifle will be used for western big game hunting up to Elk and Moose.

What are y’all’s thoughts? Is there another caliber with a .470” bolt face I should consider?

Do both with a WTO switchlug.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wmdurway]

Thanks for the input everyone. I was leaning towards the .280 AI but this certainly helps solidify the decision making process.

Any input on barrel contour and twist rates? I am looking at McGowen #2 and #3 contour. Not sure if the ultra lightweight #1 is too pencil thin?

1:8 twist?

 

[LightFoot]

Thanks for the input everyone. I was leaning towards the .280 AI but this certainly helps solidify the decision making process.

Any input on barrel contour and twist rates? I am looking at McGowen #2 and #3 contour. Not sure if the ultra lightweight #1 is too pencil thin?

1:8 twist?

Look at PBB prefit taperless 750


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cal30_sniper]

preferred Hybrid Light. It’s basically a taper less .750 with the right shank shape for a Tikka stock. If you get the taper less, you’ll end up having to open up the stock forward of the receiver.

 

[hereinaz]

280 ai shooting 168 VLDh

 

[Ikmclean]

Consider a 284 winchester, 280ai can be longer than ideal In tikka mags,

 

[MuleyFever]

Consider a 284 winchester, 280ai can be longer than ideal In tikka mags,

If you want to shoot heavy 7mm bullets out of a Tikka the 284 is the way. I did a 280ai on a Tikka and had to seat the 162s deep with factory mags. I sold 2 280ai rifles and still regret it. I plan to pick up another one and get rid of the 7PRC at some point.

 

[TaperPin]

The 280ai is such a classic well rounded cartridge it would be hard to not vote for it! I am biased to 7mm rifles, but in this case I also have a long love affair with 338” cartridges. The big downside that would be a deal killer for all around mountain use is the rainbow trajectory. Still a great cartridge!

You can’t loose either way.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Consider a 284 winchester, 280ai can be longer than ideal In tikka mags,

Not the cheapest option, but the UM bottom metal lets you take it out to 3.54”. That should be plenty. I think waters rifleman makes mags out to 3.48” (edit, they're 3.38") or so that work with the factory bottom metal.

 

[MuleyFever]

Not the cheapest option, but the UM bottom metal lets you take it out to 3.54”. That should be plenty. I think waters rifleman makes mags out to 3.48” or so that work with the factory bottom metal.

I was going to add to my comment that there are aftermarket options but I wasnt sure. I think these would be an option for the 163s but not sure on the longer bullets. Maybe someone else has experience with them.

 

[cal30_sniper]

If you hand load, don’t overlook the 6.5-06. I like it the best of all of them.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I was going to add to my comment that there are aftermarket options but I wasnt sure. I think these would be an option for the 163s but not sure on the longer bullets. Maybe someone else has experience with them.

I have the magnum version that goes out to 3.48 (edit: they're 3.38"). They’re very nice, and surprisingly easy to get considering they come from Australia.

 

[cal30_sniper]

For reference, the neck on a 280AI is ~.366"

Hornady 180ELDM
Seated at 3.54" (UM mag) would have the bottom of the bearing surface ~.029" below the neck
Seated at 3.38" (WR mag) would have the bottom of the bearing surface ~.186" below the neck

Either will work, but I'd go with the UM mag for the extra length.

 

[Snowwolfe]

If most of your shooting is no more than 300 yards go with the 9.3x62.

 

[BAKPAKR]

If you go with the 280 AI, what bullet are you hoping to shoot? In mine (not a Tikka), I was planning on shooting 175 or 180 gr Bergers. Neither shot well. If they had, the overall length would have exceeded the Tikka magazine length (like @MuleyFever noted). It turns out that mine loves 160 gr Accubonds and the overall length with that bullet would easily fit in a Tikka magazine.

BTW - I think you will have overall length issues with the 338-06 in a Tikka, too. The 280 AI and the 338-06, were the two cartridges I was going back and forth between when I was putting together a faux Remington 700 KS.

 

[MuleyFever]

If you go with the 280 AI, what bullet are you hoping to shoot? In mine (not a Tikka), I was planning on shooting 175 or 180 gr Bergers. Neither shot well. If they had, the overall length would have exceeded the Tikka magazine length (like @MuleyFever noted). It turns out that mine loves 160 gr Accubonds and the overall length with that bullet would easily fit in a Tikka magazine.

Both of my 280ai rifles loved the 160 Accubonds. It was the easy button. It's like they were made for the cartridge.