Tikka T3x Superlite .30-06 vs Seeking PH3 300win

[LearningTheElkWay]

Brand new (big game) hunter and going to get my first rifle soon for next season. I have never shot a bolt-action before, but will be going elk hunting with a mentor next year (long-time hunter, ex military and does lots of long range shooting). Basically I want a rifle I can learn on and really hone my skills and hunt mostly for elk and mule deer. I was leaning toward the Tikka for the price point and versatility, but my mentor was about the Seekins being an awesome rifle. Given my situation, what would you all recommend? The price difference is about $1k, I plan on putting a Vortex Viper PST Gen II 3-15x 44mm Rifle Scope - EBR-7C MRAD scope on it. I think regardless of rifle, I'd get a muzzle brake on either to help with recoil.

Tikka: Go with this and get a good setup, learn lots on it and use it for a few years. Once I get a lot better, I can make this my dedicated deer rifle and get a better setup for just elk.

Seekins: Start off with a high-end setup (by my standards), and just learn on a single caliber and use it for both deer and elk. Invest early and just have a do-it-all rifle for what I want.

I am open to other options but have done lots of research on the two and they seem like great options.

 

[Lurkin1]

Are you dead set on these two options? If not you may rethink your cartridge choices. I think you choice in rifles is great. But maybe step on down to a 7mm-08 or something that recoils and costs quite a bit less to shoot, and this will make your practice and learning process a bit more effective and enjoyable.

It's not that you couldn't handle the recoil it's just a lot more difficult to learn to shoot when your focus right before the trigger breaks is making sure your braced for impact. Not to mention the financial savings of a little smaller round that is still more than capable of taking an elk with the right bullet.

If I were in your shoes my first rifle would be a tikka in 6.5 creedmoor or 7mm-08. And then once you learn the basics and if you feel undergunned on elk later down the road get a seekins in 300 win mag.