Two guns to end them all?

[NoobHunter]

Hey new to the forum here and relatively new to hunting. I currently just hunt deer with my Marlin 30-30 but I’m looking to broaden my big game options with a couple new lighter rifles. Something for bear and Moose, and then something for everything smaller than that. What I was thinking about was the Tikka T3x in 30-06 and 6.5 creed, each with a vortex diamondback or viper mounted on top. Either that or the Hells Canyon series.
I have a $3000 budget for all this. Any thoughts, advice or alternate suggestions from the all wise ones would be much appreciated. Thanks.
P.s I’m in Close to the Rockies in Canada

 

[kickemall]

.338 or .300 wm and 6.5 creedmoor Tikkas then put SWFA 3-9 ss hd scopes on them and your all set and under budget. You might want to add a limbsaver pad to the wm as its going to kick.

 

[sveltri]

.257 Weatherby Mag & .300 Weatherby Mag

 

[TREE ‘EM]

Tikka T3X .270 Win topped with a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 will cover everything in one rifle.

Add a .375 Ruger or a Whitworth .375 H&H and you’re set for anything that walks the earth.

 

[archp625]

I will throw in my 2 cents. I would go 6.5 Creedmoor/PRC or .270 win then round it out with a .300 Win Mag. You can be under $3000 with two Tikkas and decent glass.

 

[robtattoo]

Hey new to the forum here and relatively new to hunting. I currently just hunt deer with my Marlin 30-30 but I’m looking to broaden my big game options with a couple new lighter rifles. Something for bear and Moose, and then something for everything smaller than that. What I was thinking about was the Tikka T3x in 30-06 and 6.5 creed, each with a vortex diamondback or viper mounted on top. Either that or the Hells Canyon series.
I have a $3000 budget for all this. Any thoughts, advice or alternate suggestions from the all wise ones would be much appreciated. Thanks.
P.s I’m in Close to the Rockies in Canada

All great suggestions so far & I'm sure you'll get a slew of others.
I think you're on the right track. A .30-06 is literally never the wrong option. I'd maybe switch out the 6.5 Manbun for the far more pedestrian .243 though. Everything smaller than elk, you'll be fine with the .243. The ol' '06 will cover you for everything else. No need to have a magnum frenzy, being fairly new to hunting. Stick with the T3xs, can't go wrong there at all. I'm a vortex fanboy but detest the Dismondback. I've had several & every one has a really small eye box. It feels very much like you're looking through a tube. Vipers, though, are awesome.

 

[rileybassman]

Hey new to the forum here and relatively new to hunting. I currently just hunt deer with my Marlin 30-30 but I’m looking to broaden my big game options with a couple new lighter rifles. Something for bear and Moose, and then something for everything smaller than that. What I was thinking about was the Tikka T3x in 30-06 and 6.5 creed, each with a vortex diamondback or viper mounted on top. Either that or the Hells Canyon series.
I have a $3000 budget for all this. Any thoughts, advice or alternate suggestions from the all wise ones would be much appreciated. Thanks.
P.s I’m in Close to the Rockies in Canada

Pretty much exactly what I have done ... Matching superlites 06 and 6.5. One has a vx6 and the other has a vx3i. Very happy with this combo... I have upgraded bottom metal, but you can kill any critter with that combo

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[rileybassman]

Just to add, a T3X in 30-06 with a stout reload (my 180 ABs are 2800-2850 depending on how cold it is) lets you know you have shot it... for lightweight rigs, you probably wouldn't want to go much stouter. My 30-06 does have a limbsaver, and that helped quite a bit. The 6.5 doesn't need one.

 

[BRTreedogs]

How bout just a Tikka 30-06 but with a real scope on it not that low end vortex.
Ad another down the road after you have more experience in what you may want, and a larger budget

 

[alexanderg23]

Just start with the 30-06. You might not want/need the 6.5. Those 125gr out of a 30/06 will zing. Invest in the scope.

 

[Trr15]

Get two of them, both chambered in .338 win mag.


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[mcseal2]

My main pair has been 264 win mag and 300 win mag for years. I recently bought a 6.5 Creedmoor in a Browning Hells Canyon speed and really like the rifle. The velocity is low from my barrel but it's really accurate. I prefer a 3 position or tang safety to the one Tikka uses.

For your needs I'd ask if you plan to shoot longer ranges and dial elevation or not. I'd also ask if you like the newer high BC bullets that expand very rapidly like the ELD-X or if you plan to shoot something like the Accubond.

For the smaller of the two if I was doing it today I'd buy a Browning Hells Canyon Speed or X bolt Pro in 6.5 PRC (if you like the ELD-X type bullet) or 270 win (if you like the Accubond type bullet). The PRC only gains a big advantage over the 270 with a Berger, ELD, or similar bullet with the current offerings. In a bullet like the Accubond the BC is very close.

For the bigger one I'd use that same logic and buy either a 300 win mag or 300 PRC, depending on what bullet you want to use.

For glass if you aren't dialing the Leupold VX-3 series is hard to beat for the price. I'm not a huge Vortex fan for dialing elevation either. The cheapest scopes I trust to dial are the SWFA or Huskemaw scopes. I've been switching to Huskemaw as I can afford to do so on my hunting rifles.

My advice will probably have you over budget if you want to dial elevation. I would personally probably get the little gun first unless you do a lot of moose or bear hunting. I'd add the second rifle as funds allow. The big gun works on smaller stuff too, so the opposite is also fine if that's what works best for you. I like to practice a lot and prefer practicing with the smaller gun when possible, it's the one I hunt with more also.

If you do a lot of predator hunting you might want to add another rifle at some point, but I'd rather do that than step all the way down to a 243 for my smaller gun. I have filled a lot of antlerless tags with a 243 and it works great with careful shot placement. I just won't take all the same shot angles I would with a 6.5 or 270 pushing a bullet 40-50 grains heavier at similar speed. That limitation is fine for me during antlerless season but not when I'm buck hunting.

 

[EmperorMA]

I like the Browning rifles A LOT more than the Tikka.

I also like the 6.5 Creedmoor and .30-06 as a two-rifle battery. Awfully hard to beat, but you’ll probably end up using the 6.5 for everything after you realize that it kills just as well as the ‘06 and is quite a bit more enjoyable to shoot.

 

[joelbiltz]

300 Win and 6.5 PRC. Isn’t a critter in NA that combo wouldn’t take care of.

 

[rileybassman]

I like the

I also like the 6.5 Creedmoor and .30-06 as a two-rifle battery. Awfully hard to beat, but you’ll probably end up using the 6.5 for everything after you realize that it kills just as well as the ‘06 and is quite a bit more enjoyable to shoot.

I kind of have been running into this over the last year. If I explicitly go hunting elk or bear I'll take the 06, but antelope and deer - even if I could run into a random elk, I pretty much carry the 6.5.

6.5 PRC looks cool... But hard to get ammo and it's spendy when you do. Something to be said for easily attainable ammo... And I'm a reloader... Unless really milking it for long range, 6.5 Creed and 06 will get you to 6-800 no issues.

Put good money into the scope of you want to dial. If you are just looking for a 400 and in hunting rig, no need for magnums imo.


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[NoobHunter]

Pretty much exactly what I have done ... Matching superlites 06 and 6.5. One has a vx6 and the other has a vx3i. Very happy with this combo... I have upgraded bottom metal, but you can kill any critter with that combo

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I wish that setup was staring at me when I open my safe..........
I assume you have the vx6 on the 6.5 for long range?

 

[rileybassman]

I wish that setup was staring at me when I open my safe..........
I assume you have the vx6 on the 6.5 for long range?

Actually I have it on the 06... It was on there first and I have the turret to match my load.

I have the 24" 6.5 so a slightly longer barrel... It has a vx3i 3.3-10 B&C and the 06 has a 2-12 vx6 duplex. I've thought about switching the scopes, but I imagine if I end up dialing more then a handful of times per year I'll get a swfa or nf SHV... But that's not financially in the cards for awhile ... So I'm happy with what I have for now they are hunting rigs and excel at that.

Blessed for sure... I have had savages and then I sold them and went Kimber... After a year with a Kimber I decided I wanted to try the Tikka and sold my Montana. Super happy with the decision... Tough, reliable, smooth, don't mind the looks, don't have to baby it.

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[3sdad]

I would get 2 tikkas. Probably super lights. 1 in 300wm, the other in 243. Top both with leupold capped turrets and call it a day.

 

[robtattoo]

Y'all 300/338wm guys.......
You, like, read the bit where he's new to hunting, right?

Any of y'all want try bowhunting, come on down to TN & I'll let you try my 110lb custom Bowtech to learn with...

 

[hodgeman]

Buy a .300, stick a nice scope on it and go kill stuff.

If you really want another rifle- get a .22 and hunt the small stuff too.