Tikka T3x 30-06 - what 6 or 6.5 ?

[Swampcruiser]

I have a T3X lite in 30-06 pretty much stock. Just sick of the recoil. I also have a X bolt 7prc I love, i shoot it well and the recoil Hawg brake works great- Im looking for a shorter deer all around eastern woods gun I may suppress. I want to try a 6 or 6.5 creed maybe? Or something in that range. I know all the Tikka’s are long action I believe- is it worth it or should I just buy a new rifle and sell this?
I know the tikka stock sucks for recoil and I could do a brake on this gun but I don’t want to loose my hearing if I forget ear protection on a snap whitetail shot-

 

[Wrench]

6.5 barrels pop up in the classifieds often. Market price is around $125.00 +/- depending on condition/option. If you want to roll a creed....that's the cheap entry fee.

6mm barrels don't seem to pop up as it's the current darling. For an east coast guy who can't shoot all that far easily (600+) cartridge choice based on performance is unnecessary.....a 6br will do more than your available space.

Don't be afraid to load the 06 down. Light bullets and lighter charges will tame the beast quite a bit.

 

[swavescatter]

Buy a lightweight 6mm barrel and have a gunsmith chamber it to 6mm Creedmoor would be my vote. 6.5 Creeds are great, but those are on the shelf and honestly more oomph than is needed out to distances beyond ethical (for most people). You'll love shooting a 6 creed.

 

[DangerRanger]

I can’t personally justify the cost difference of a custom 6 creed at 500$ vs a tikka 243 or 6.5 creed takeoff for 100-150$

Tikka stocks are fine for 243/6,5 creed. If anything get in line for a rokstok

I hate brakes

 

[cgavason]

Factory Tikka Barrels - Unknown Munitions

Factory Tikka barrels left over from action removal from complete rifles.

www.unknownmunitions.com

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[wind gypsy]

OP, you can sell your rifle and buy a replacement 6.5 or 243 tikka or as others are saying, swap barrels with someone elses factory take off. You'll probably want 6.5 magazines ($35ish?) and a shorter bolt stop (also cheap) but in reality you might be able to change only the barrel and have a serviceable rifle.

I just pulled a new blued 6.5 barrel that i'd let go and i'm sure others would as well.

Factory Tikka Barrels - Unknown Munitions

Factory Tikka barrels left over from action removal from complete rifles.

www.unknownmunitions.com

Send it to Unknown


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They were out of 22, 6mm, and 6.5 mm take offs last I looked.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I would just sell it and buy a new rifle.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Unless you're going to a non-factory caliber I would agree just buy a new gun during the sales and rebates right now.

 

[LeftyWilbury]

i'd probably just sell it and buy a 6.5CM tikka. i like tinkering with things but a tikka roughtech in 6.5 CM comes threaded and can be found with a 20" barrel. why screw around? then next year upgrade the stock if swapping out the grip for the VG doesn't make it nice enough.

 

[Highvoltage1]

I had a 3006 and purchased a superlite 6.5 creed barrel for $100. I had the smith install it and chop it to 21”. I love that thing, I ended up giving it to my son. It has a 2-10 viper on it and it’s a perfect “deer woods” rifle in my opinion. I’ve been debating on putting one together for myself but I think I’d go 7mm08 just for the option of using a 160 accubond for elk/deer. Best wishes

 

[Samson7x]

I would just sell it and buy a new rifle.

Yeah, if you're wanting to try 6.5creed, I'd just sell the 06 and buy a 6.5.

 

[Bluefish]

Why not spin on a 25-06 barrel? Same brass, just neck it down. A few really good bc 130+g bullets now. Need a faster than Saami twist for those, so no takeoff. The 06 case is about equal to a 6.5 prc for case volume.

If using a takeoff I see lots of love for the 120g for deer. Look at the data from Barnes for ttsx, fast. 80g should go 3600.

 

[Hydra6]

I swapped my 3006 Tikka barrel for a takeoff Tikka CTR 20 inch which comes threaded. Watch for 260s also. Tikka fast twist takeoff 243 also

 

[Leaf Litter]

In the event that you buy a new gun, my first thought is a T3X fast twist (1:8") 243 Win. You'd be set for any 6mm projectile and if you swapped for a LA bolt stop, you could load to any desired overall length.

 

[Swampcruiser]

Awesome- thanks for all the input. I thought about the 25-06 option. I wasnt sure if getting into the sixes was just spinning on a barrel or rechambering and messing with stuff I dont know about. I dont reload- I'd like to. I mostly ignorant on rifles as I'm more of an archery guy. There's just something about this gun and the recoil- damn! Maybe I'll sell it and just get 6.5 creed as mentioned above but I think I'll call UM first.

 

[mtnbound]

I have a T3X lite in 30-06 pretty much stock. Just sick of the recoil. I also have a X bolt 7prc I love, i shoot it well and the recoil Hawg brake works great- Im looking for a shorter deer all around eastern woods gun I may suppress. I want to try a 6 or 6.5 creed maybe? Or something in that range. I know all the Tikka’s are long action I believe- is it worth it or should I just buy a new rifle and sell this?
I know the tikka stock sucks for recoil and I could do a brake on this gun but I don’t want to loose my hearing if I forget ear protection on a snap whitetail shot-

If you buy a new Tikka before November 30th, you get a $75.00 rebate. I just bought a SS 6.5CM for $749, not counting the rebate, but I will have to have it cut and threaded, and that's $135.00 from my local GS. Rebarreling your current Tikka will cost $400 - $900, depending on your specs, but that might be cheaper in the long run, and if you want a 6CM, that's your best bet.

 

[sdupontjr]

Put a tikka takeoff barrel on it in the boring old 308 and stay in the 30 cal class.

 

[bojangles808]

I went through this and just sold my 3006 Tikka and bought a new one in 6.5. I was surprised how much I got through my LGS

 

[OXN939]

There's just something about this gun and the recoil- damn!

'06 in the factory stock definitely lets you know it's there. I'd consider keeping it and getting it a little brother in 7mm-08 or 6.5 CM though- between those two, you've got everything on the continent covered. Also, an aftermarket stock or milder hand loads would both help tame recoil. Lots of relatively low impact options

 

[Swampcruiser]

'06 in the factory stock definitely lets you know it's there. I'd consider keeping it and getting it a little brother in 7mm-08 or 6.5 CM though- between those two, you've got everything on the continent covered. Also, an aftermarket stock or milder hand loads would both help tame recoil. Lots of relatively low impact options

Yup, lots of great advice and a really awesome offer from another member on a “take off” barrel. I’m grabbing another tikka t3x 6.5 creed on sale and building off of that - keeping the ‘06 as I also have tons of ammo- though the 7prc will do pretty much everything better it’s just long and built for open country. I do love the versatility of that 30-06.