Tikka T3x 30-06 - what 6 or 6.5 ?

Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
435
Location
Michigan
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

WKR
Joined
Aug 23, 2018
Messages
6,243
Location
WA
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

Pain in the butt!
Joined
Apr 3, 2021
Messages
1,254
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.
 
Joined
Mar 27, 2017
Messages
1,582
Location
North Carolina
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
 
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
9,676
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.


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They were out of 22, 6mm, and 6.5 mm take offs last I looked.
 
Joined
Oct 6, 2014
Messages
368
Location
Western Montana
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.
 
Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
378
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
 

Bluefish

WKR
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
Messages
673
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

FNG
Joined
May 1, 2023
Messages
48
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

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
236
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.
 
OP
S
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
435
Location
Michigan
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

WKR
Joined
Nov 8, 2016
Messages
424
Location
N. Idaho
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.
 
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