Tikka T3 too light

[Macintosh]

well, yes, I do frequently shoot a lot to get better at shooting, and dont really give two chits what anyone else thinks about my recoil tolerance. If you want to “mtfu” with a 7lb magnum rifle thrown in the mix for a couple hundred rounds at a go, and can do that without developing a flinch, more power to you buddy, knock yourself out. I’ll just be over here with my heavier rifle or my lighter cartridge enjoying my lack of bruising.

 

[35WhelenAI]

These are all good thoughts and ideas. One way or the other everybody picks their poison. I would venture 200 rounds through a gun or combo of guns with even moderate recoil at a sitting is a task in and of itself. I think it's great to get that many shots off but in reality moderation spread out over time isn't a negative.

It's been my experience, and to be clear, my experience, trigger time is the key. Practicing form, focus and consistency with lighter recoiling rifles and a lesser round count through the heavier recoiling gun getting ready for the season is a great way to develop good habits and form, and keep bad habits from forming.

And simply use a recoil shield on the shoulder at the range regardless of what gun is at hand.

This isn't said as a reason to or not to do anything for anybody, just what makes sense to me and works for me.

But I am coming to the conclusion and shift of mindset that there are plenty of lighter recoiling combinations (due to chambering, brake, suppressor, heavier gun or combinations of such) that with advances in bullet construction, hunter understanding of terminal performance, etc, will do yeoman's work for the job at hand in the field.

Myself, won't trade the 35 Whelen AI or 300 Win Mag (8lbs 3 oz and 8 lbs 7oz all up, respectively) in the field here in Colorado. I shoot them well and they do what I tell them to do with success year in and year out. Fwiw, both of them with their respective hunting loads recoil slightly more than a 7lb 7mm Rem Mag shooting a 160 gr bullet at 3050 fps with 70 grs of powder underneath.

None of this is a testament to manhood, phallic size or anything. Just different ways to get guys in the field and supporting hunting in this great country.

 

[Fingershooter23]

I didn't read through every response and this might have been said. But try a sims limbsaver recoil pad. I have a 30-06 t3 lite and that gun was a pain to take to the range. Saved money cause I didn't want to shoot an entire box lol.

The sims pad doesn't add more weight and made my gun a lot more enjoyable at the range without needing the muzzle break.

 

[Macintosh]

These are all good thoughts and ideas. One way or the other everybody picks their poison. I would venture 200 rounds through a gun or combo of guns with even moderate recoil at a sitting is a task in and of itself. I think it's great to get that many shots off but in reality moderation spread out over time isn't a negative.

It's been my experience, and to be clear, my experience, trigger time is the key. Practicing form, focus and consistency with lighter recoiling rifles and a lesser round count through the heavier recoiling gun getting ready for the season is a great way to develop good habits….

Exactly, agree 150%. 200+ rounds with even a moderate cartridge IS a task in itself. Shooting competitive sporting clays its not at all uncommon to shoot 200 or more rounds in a session, and its not even debatable that the effect from recoil accumulates through a day and affects focus, trigger, etc. I dont mean to suggest that everyone needs to go out and shoot 200 rounds with their hunting rifle for practice, it’s simply applying what I’ve learned about myself in one situation (that manning the f up is counter productive, at least for a lesser man like me) and applying it in a parallel situation. Even though the cumulative effect of recoil in a bigger cartridge is much less apparent over just a box or two of ammo, the effect is still there. If you have a trainer rifle that is close-enough, that works great as you said, I also like to build muscle memory and familiarity under recoil, etc as well as intuitive use of reticle. And I just like to shoot. If you dont have a similar rifle to practice with, then you either wont practice as much and/or you will probably develop some bad habits. If that recoil is unpleasant over just a couple rounds as the OP said, then to me It matters even more. Pretty sure most people will agree with that.

OP said they already had replaced recoil pad, so to me adding a brake and/or a bit of weight to the gun to bring it up to a standard rifle weight and make limited range time that much more effective does work.

Or one could just “mtfu”

 

[Freeride]

So what's the max limit for caliber for all you saying MTFU about the rifle?

 

[35WhelenAI]

So what's the max limit for caliber for all you saying MTFU about the rifle?

I chuckled as I read that. I like the line of thinking, it poses a good question.

Even for the guys that have an "MTFU card" in good standing, the point at which a guy takes a shot from the bench with recoil abating measures in place and quietly opens the action, lays down the gun and walks away shaking his head would be an indication the limit has been found.

Probably fair/accurate to say it is a different threshold and cartridge/gun weight combo for each person. We all base where our individual membership in the "MTFU club" based on experience. I've shared in post #142 what I shoot in the field, unbraked/suppressed and have no hesitation shooting those cartridges at the bench on a regular basis in sensible moderation.

For me, my "MTFU card" gets turned in with a 400 gr bullet at 1900 fps from an 8lb scoped Marlin 1895 SS. Which is around 42 ft/lbs of recoil vs lower 30's for my main "MTFU" rifles. Yeah, no fun from the bench regardless of a shoulder recoil shield.

 

[J&A Outdoors]

I get this call often, even though muzzle brakes can be obnoxious it truly does transform the overall experience with these lightweight heavy hitters.

Check out the salmon river titanium series muzzle brakes. If you start to carry ear protection around your neck while hunting - you'll be amazed just how much of reduction a quality brake will provide. They truly do breathe new life into these lightweight magnums. The cost is worth it!

 

[35WhelenAI]

I can see for long-range hunting putting ear plugs in with animals not alarmed or alerted to a hunters presence, and glassing vs audible sounds being the main way the animals are located. I don't know, maybe I'm way off on that. Where I hunt, shots are going to be 350-400 yds tops, and the animals can appear from a close by draw where I can/will hear them first or see them over a saddle further away, or anywhere in between with the animals typically on the move. Not much time (IMO) to pull off the gloves, insert earplugs and get down on the animal to take a shot.

With the animals closer in range, that motion in and of itself could be seen. Then it becomes herd of running elk and not a herd of elk moving easily through the area that allows for a good shot. With the longer range shots, the elk come into view, and the shot windows are not large with openings they pass through and pause briefly being the opportunity for a well-aimed shot. The time to put in the ear plugs could make a difference. Again, maybe I am way off on that. One shot years ago in the field with a braked rifle has me saying "no mas, never again" and I could not have put ear plugs in window of opportunity the shot needed to be taken in.

I'm all "ears" for thoughts on how to overcome what I see as the main issue for hunting with plugs, in the type of setting I hunt in.

 

[Lawnboi]

I can see for long-range hunting putting ear plugs in with animals not alarmed or alerted to a hunters presence, and glassing vs audible sounds being the main way the animals are located. I don't know, maybe I'm way off on that. Where I hunt, shots are going to be 350-400 yds tops, and the animals can appear from a close by draw where I can/will hear them first or see them over a saddle further away, or anywhere in between with the animals typically on the move. Not much time (IMO) to pull off the gloves, insert earplugs and get down on the animal to take a shot.

With the animals closer in range, that motion in and of itself could be seen. Then it becomes herd of running elk and not a herd of elk moving easily through the area that allows for a good shot. With the longer range shots, the elk come into view, and the shot windows are not large with openings they pass through and pause briefly being the opportunity for a well-aimed shot. The time to put in the ear plugs could make a difference. Again, maybe I am way off on that. One shot years ago in the field with a braked rifle has me saying "no mas, never again" and I could not have put ear plugs in window of opportunity the shot needed to be taken in.

I'm all "ears" for thoughts on how to overcome what I see as the main issue for hunting with plugs, in the type of setting I hunt in.

This issue is super simple.

Buy a flippin suppressor.

 

[Freeride]

I have a braked lightweight tikka, that I made some mods to reduce weight as well. It's a 300wsm. I don't mind the recoil unbraked but can definitely shoot a lot more braked.

What I do when hunting is run no brake at all for the quick shots if needed. I Have the brake in my chest pocket with ear plugs. If I have time to put the plugs in I have time to screw the brake on.

Just make sure the rifle hits the same braked and unbraked first

 

[Freeride]

My MTFU card was checked in with my dad's steel butt pad bolt action 12 guage when I was 12.

I don't mind shooting my 300wsm unbraked, my 45/70 is a lot of fun, but some days a 22 is quite nice. Lol

 

[35WhelenAI]

Thanks for the idea Freeride, that addresses ear plugs and the way you deal with it.

 

[medvedyt]

should past recoil pad might help your aversion for recoil at the range.

 

[Colinc]

Just chiming in since there is some discussion about suppressors to help out...

I have a short barreled Kimber Mountain Ascent in .300 win mag. fully loaded, with scope, sling, and suppressor it comes in at just shy of 9 lb. From a bench, I usually shoot about 20 rounds in a session at the range, with no issues to my shoulder. The recoil is significantly reduced on the rifle, even when compared to the muzzle brake I have installed. It is still too loud to plink without earpro, but a handful of shots per year are completely doable.

I have never fired it w/o suppressor and earpro, but I have done that with my .25-06 while hunting. By comparison, the suppressed .300 wm without earpro is many, many times quieter than the previously mentioned .25-06 raw. I can fire it outdoors and have no ringing in my ears, though its still unpleasant and certainly does damage that accumulates in the long run.

 

[Boarmaster]

Easy to get hung up on the trend lighter weight. I bought a nice 7mm08 rifle years ago that came in about a pound heavier (8lbs all up loaded) than I really wanted. I scoped it up zero’d it, hunted with it a few times.
Meanwhile I picked up a 270 that I semi customized with a mcmillan stock and timney trigger. It really fit me great and I loved to hunt with it so the 7mm08 became a back. For years I would check the zero once a year and never hunt with it.

Long story short my beloved 270 had an issue and the 1lb heavy 7mm08 got pressed into service on a 21day hunt where I was in a climber everyday. I fell in love with that bit of extra weight in the light kicking 7mm08. I still love my semi custom 270 but if Im in a stand I’m using the very pleasant shooting 7mm08.

So yes your T3 might be too light for your taste or style.