Tikka T3x lite recoil

Encore4me

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 28, 2023
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Not afraid of recoil, often shoot 3 1/2” 12 ga. turkey loads and heavy 45-70 rounds. I was just wondering if the weight of the gun would cause excessive recoil.


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had a t3 in 300 winmag that kicked like a friggin mule, if not two or three! and i've had 340wby, 7stw etc (all non-tikka) that didn't bother me at all. sold that and a few years later got a t3x in 300wsm. limbsaver pad helped but then i put a brake on it which really helped. eventually moved it to a mesa altitude stock which also helped.
 
Not afraid of recoil, often shoot 3 1/2” 12 ga. turkey loads and heavy 45-70 rounds. I was just wondering if the weight of the gun would cause excessive recoil.


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Recoil depends on caliber, bullet weight, and stock configuration. I run a 270 Tikka T3X with original stock and recoil pad. I shoot a 130 gr bullet for deer. Also shoot a Savage '06 and 7RM for elk and can handle the recoil. Shooting the 270 T3x is a breeze like shooting a strong 243. If you are shooting heavy turkey loads you should be able to handle the recoil from the 270 T3X.

What caliber you planning to shoot?
 
Recoil depends on caliber, bullet weight, and stock configuration. I run a 270 Tikka T3X with original stock and recoil pad. I shoot a 130 gr bullet for deer. Also shoot a Savage '06 and 7RM for elk and can handle the recoil. Shooting the 270 T3x is a breeze like shooting a strong 243. If you are shooting heavy turkey loads you should be able to handle the recoil from the 270 T3X.

What caliber you planning to shoot?

300 Win Mag.


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had a t3 lite stainless in 7mag and it was like 2 miles kicking.
Installed limbsaver and it was great after that
 
Big tikka fan here. I think a bit depends on the weight of your scope and the overall gun but YMMV

- My 6.5 creed is a kitten.
- my 308 with heavier pills starts getting punchy after a few rounds
- my 300 win mag, Thomas, will wake you up. It is a non issue while hunting because adrenaline takes over and I have not had to fire more than one shot. However, on the range, 300 WM from any light gun is a bit punishing. I have a limb saver on mine and, after dork stamping myself twice (swelling but no blood), I make sure it is tight to my shoulder before I touch one off. If I don’t, Thomas has been kind enough to remind me to make sure I do next time.


no clue about exact force, but I expect it will be on par with your turkey and lever loads.
 
300 Win Mag.


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Ouch! Unless you're a big guy it'll rock your world. I'm of average build and find 7RM to be my non-suppressor recoil limit that I can shoot accurately without developing a flinch. The T3X is a moderately light rifle. In 300WM it'll kick like a pregnant mule. The only way I would hunt with one would be chopping the barrel and with a suppressor. If you know someone who shoots a non-suppressor 300WM, see if they'll let you shoot it and you can judge for yourself. Good luck.
 
stock design is definitly a factor in felt recoil and muzzle jump, but this calculator can help you see the physics differences.
 
The highest recoil T3 I've shot was a .300 win mag. It was a little snotty but not horrible. As long as you have decent technique it isn't bad. I shot it about a dozen times in one sitting. It would be unnoticeable shooting game.



Recoil tolerance is 100% mental. Any grown man can learn to shoot that rifle very well, and will become a better shooter across the board learning to do it.
 
I have the t3x lite in 7mm rem mag with the after market limbsaver air tech installed. Recoil is not bad at all compared to my older wood stock browning abolt 300 win mag. I wouldn’t hesitate to step up to a cartridge with a bit more recoil.
 
Everyone's recoil tolerance levels are different.

This is my personal experience:
  • Borrowed an older T3 in 270 Win for many hunts in HI and the recoil was never an issue.
  • My 8# T3X Lite SS in 6.5 CM (129 gr ABLR @ 2900 fps) has very mild recoil.
  • My 8# T3X Lite SS in 300 WM (190 gr Berger @ 2900 fps) has noticeable recoil. While it lets you know it is there, it doesn't knock you to next week either. The horror stories online are grossly overrated.
I have verified that when shooting prone with my 300 WM the felt recoil is massively less than doing the same with my Beretta A300 and A400 shotguns shooting Federal 3rd Degree Magnum Turkey Loads.
 
I do t even consider myself a recoil junkie and my tikka t3x lite 30-06 was/is really no big deal to shoot.
 
People don't realize how much recoil those heavy turkey and waterfowl loads have and will shoot a whole box of them in a day, but will shy away from a light .300



Those heavy duck loads recoil on the order of things like an 8 pound .458 win mag. The recoil is downright brutal.
 
People don't realize how much recoil those heavy turkey and waterfowl loads have and will shoot a whole box of them in a day, but will shy away from a light .300



Those heavy duck loads recoil on the order of things like an 8 pound .458 win mag. The recoil is downright brutal.
You’re right. I hate getting new 3 1/2” magnum turkey loads to pattern. But for a rifle, ain’t no way I’m joining the 🌈 6.5 creedmore crowd.
 
I think the tikka stocks are well designed recoil wise. I have a T 3X in 30-06. Installed a limb saver. Weighs 7.5 pounds field ready with a full magazine. I use 165 graIn pills At about 2900 FPS.. I can shoot it all afternoon Off a pair of sandbags. The recoil is noticeable but not terrible. I shot my sons rifle Exact same model in 300 win mag. with 178 GR. ELDX pills. The recoil is more than the 30-06 but not as bad as I’d been told, and I had no problem shooting decent groups at 100 yards. I’ll admit I Shoot A littl bit better with my 243. The 300 WinMag is not as bad as my pump shotgun shooting a load of 4/0 buck.

I am pretty heavily invested in brass and bullets for the 30-06. It works fine for the way that I hunt. And I’m used to shooting it. So I don’t want to start over with another caliber. If I was starting over knowing what I know now, I would go with the .270.
 
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People don't realize how much recoil those heavy turkey and waterfowl loads have and will shoot a whole box of them in a day, but will shy away from a light .300



Those heavy duck loads recoil on the order of things like an 8 pound .458 win mag. The recoil is downright brutal.
You and its variants are generic.

If waterfowl and turkey hunters shot from prone, I'd guarantee many would do 1-2 shots max in a day and tap out (that poop is downright brutal). Throw a rifle scope on a shotgun and you'd start to see folks begin to worry about being scoped. Shotguns give you a bit more "leeway" on your jerking/slapping/yanking/etc due to the volume so it hides your recoil fear better.
 
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