What to do? (308)

[roosiebull]

I’m getting a.308 pretty soon, I like the available ammo and cheap, and as boring as it is, it suits my needs… I have an xlr almost done for my 6.5, and braked it to set it up for my wife and daughter, and as cool as it is to have a rifle with no recoil, I don’t want to hunt with a braked rifle, so I’m going to make that the ladies gun and get a.308

I’m torn between a tikka t3x lite with a krg bravo or a seekins ph2, don’t know I can make a bad decision there, and weight isn’t a concern, both will be close enough to not lead me either way based on that… just want a simple sub 500yd rifle for most of my hunting

Almost positive I’m going with a NF shv 3-10x with the moar reticle, that scope seems to fit the theme of what I want this rifle to be

Any reason you would lean one way or another on the rifles I’m torn between?
It will have no muzzle device on it ever (if that matters)

Already stocking up on 175gr terminal ascent

 

[FLATHEAD]

Recently bought a .308 myself.
Should be just right for my needs.

 

[N2TRKYS]

My 308 with regular duplex scope gets me to 400 yards with 165 grain Accubonds.

Next year I’m gonna shoot a deer with a 125 grain NBT, if I can’t find the same weight in a Accubond.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I was really close to getting a tikka t3x SS in 308 because I saw the gobs of 308 ammo available right now and had similar thoughts for it. I have 2 tikkas right now and unless I shot a buddies gun that was something else and liked it. IM gonna just keep getting tikkas. I've been lucky and can't find anything that doesn't shoot well in both of them, and im sure hand loading could only make matters better.
New guns are fun, get the one you like better. both good options.
good luck.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I’ve got a 3-10 SHV with the MOAR reticle on a tikka now. In my mind, it’s just about the ultimate hunting tool to use and abuse. But man, I’ve wanted a PH2 for a looong time now… I called Seekins and they said their rifles should do better than 5 shot MOA groups with factory ammo, and if they didn’t do that they’d have the owner send it in. At the end of the day, a tikka with a vertical grip is pretty close to the Seekins. The Seekins stock, while I like it a lot, is just plastic. That’s what always stops me from the extra $800. I compare them at scheels every time I’m there and there’s no doubt, the tikka has the stiffer stock.

 

[Wapiti1]

Both are good choices. My preference would be the Seekins. I prefer the angle it ejects brass at better than the Tikka, and I am not a fan of chassis stocks. Not a big concern with a low profile turret scope, but a thought to consider if you went to a tall turret scope. I prefer the forearm of a composite or wood stock. Or something like a Woox Wildman. Simply my preference, chassis do the job just fine and if you like them, are a solid option. Just not for me.

As for load, which you didn't ask about, I've been slinging 155gr Lapua Scenar's out of a .308 for a while, and it is a stupidly consistent bullet. Easy to get to 2900fps, and a good enough B.C. to keep you happy well past 500.

Jeremy

 

[Sled]

i picked up my first 308 in a decade this year. my last one i traded off for a 223 around 2010. now, a 308 seems like a good option for factory ammo and a tikka just seems right anytime. i have several because i like the way they shoot and handle. seekins is nice but i prefer to stick with one action and get used to the safety position and bolt throw until it's all second nature.

both would be nice though. good luck with your decision

 

[Gunnersdad49]

Can’t go wrong with either rifle. I have NF on my long range rigs, but have grown really fond of the swaro glass on hunting rigs. Their 3-18 is awesome for a hunting rifle.

 

[3sdad]

I have 2 tikkas and a ph2. My ctr stock feels much different than my seekins stock. I prefer the seekins stock and would like to get the bravo stock for my ctr. Tikkas are much smoother actions out of the box. In fact, my ph2 was disappointing untill i cycled it about 1000 times. All sub 3/4 moa rifles. If I were to get a 308 for a non braked sub 500 yard hunting rifle it would be a bergara hunter. Hinged floor plate, more mag capacity with a clean look... can't misplace it... and the extra weight helps soak up recoil and is easier to shoot. Of your options, I would choose tikka

 

[BRTreedogs]

What about a Sig cross

 

[Hthunter]

I just bought a tikka ctr 308 for same reasons as previously mentioned. I wanted the 20” threaded barrel bc I use TBAC ultra 7 at times and I just prefer the 20” barrel. I originally wanted the T3x ss but looking at cost of cutting and threading barrel I went with ctr. I have an EH1 I’m thinking about putting it in but I’d have to get different bottom metal so I’m probably gonna try factory stock for a while and see. I’m with you on scope choice for that rifle. I’m trying to decide myself on accupoint (mil dot or moa dot) vs SHV. If shv was mil that would definitely be my choice as all my other scopes are mil except for 1 accupoint. For your application I think the tikka with shv or accupoint is perfect. I did have a shv with moar reticle and didn’t really love the reticle. I do have an accupoint 3-9 and love it so that’s what I’m trying to decide on now. You can definitely get used to the moar it just looks tiny and I prefer the view of mil reticle as the mil dot on accupoint. The accupoint I’m considering is the 2.5-12 with mil dot but they also make a MOA dot if you prefer MOA. I’d give the accupoint a look and compare to the SHV. Good luck, sounds like you have a solid plan for a useful hunting rifle.

 

[Lonewolf72]

You've mentioned 'cheap' and 'simple'. This isn't a difficult choice...go with the Tikka. Had a very accurate Seekins, but hated carrying it. Disliked the action and the carbon fiber mag that tended to hang up. My go-to remains Tikka. Have a CTR 6.5cm and a 22lr T1x in Bravos...no complaints. Save some money for all that ammo you need to buy.

 

[sdupontjr]

Tikka would be and is my choice. Love this gun and ammo just about anywhere.

 

[roosiebull]

You've mentioned 'cheap' and 'simple'. This isn't a difficult choice...go with the Tikka. Had a very accurate Seekins, but hated carrying it. Disliked the action and the carbon fiber mag that tended to hang up. My go-to remains Tikka. Have a CTR 6.5cm and a 22lr T1x in Bravos...no complaints. Save some money for all that ammo you need to buy.

The price will not be too much different between the two, I would be putting the tikka straight into a krg bravo, I know I don’t like the factory tikka stock… the tikka is a for sure thing, I know I like the platform

 

[roosiebull]

Going to snoop around tomorrow, but I stopped at the only place I know of that Carry seekins, hoping to at least check it out In person, but no dice

There was a t3x super lite on the rack in .308 though… if I can’t figure it out tomorrow, I will probably grab that tikka super lite on my way back east on Sunday, then get a chassis ordered that night

 

[Lonewolf72]

Don't get me wrong about the Seekins Havak PH rifles. They are very nice and generally quite accurate. You get a lot of rifle for what you spend. It just wasn't for me and the type of hunting I do (stalking, heavy timber, rifle carried in-hand most of day, etc.). I think it is better suited for open country and long range work). Also, I am not a big fan of the Rem 700 or it's clones, and kind of have a thing for European rifles and the Win 70 and similar. My current stable is mostly Tikka T3x, Sauer 100, Mauser M12 and Win Mod 70/ Kimber 84, etc. The accuracy alone for the Seekins was not enough to win me over for how I use my hunting rifles, so I sold it and invested elsewhere. YMMV.

 

[roosiebull]

Don't get me wrong about the Seekins Havak PH rifles. They are very nice and generally quite accurate. You get a lot of rifle for what you spend. It just wasn't for me and the type of hunting I do (stalking, heavy timber, rifle carried in-hand most of day, etc.). I think it is better suited for open country and long range work). Also, I am not a big fan of the Rem 700 or it's clones, and kind of have a thing for European rifles and the Win 70 and similar. My current stable is mostly Tikka T3x, Sauer 100, Mauser M12 and Win Mod 70/ Kimber 84, etc. The accuracy alone for the Seekins was not enough to win me over for how I use my hunting rifles, so I sold it and invested elsewhere. YMMV.

i appreciate the insight.... my local gun dealer is going to see what's available on Monday, so i'm going to see what he comes up with, if there are some around, i do think it will be 150-200$ cheaper than any i have seen..... they don't deal with seekins, or really specialize in any bolt rifles, they mostly sell AR's and pistols, but he's good at seeking out anything i have ever wanted, and at a cheaper price than i can find anywhere else.... i'm ordering something next week, haha.... have 200 rounds of terminal ascent, and that will probably grow another 120 next week, so i need to get something going soon. in .308, they are a buck per bullet cheaper than the 6.5 creed, and i can reliably find it.... i like my .308 a lot already, and don't even know what it's gonna be yet.

i was pretty set on the seekins, that's why i wanted some opinions, to read some logic to even out my impulse.... i have a krg bravo, arca rail and a couple mags in my cart on their site, i'll be happy either way... looks like the scope i want is pretty available, but still shopping to make sure that's the best fit.

i have always been a sako/tikka fan, and a super lite fits the .308 well in this case as boringly practical.... also have been very intrigued by the seekins since they first started building bolt rifles... it's a lot of rifle for the money, and pretty turn key, all i would do to it is put a spartan adapter on it

 

[Lawnboi]

I’d get the tikka and spend the savings on an ultra 7

 

[Lonewolf72]

Here's a bit of logic for you...the thing that convinced me to sell the Seekins Havak...I picked up a Seekins Element and said to myself "Now this is the rifle I wish the Havak was". Since the Element is a bit more expensive than the Havak, I sold the Havak and went back to Tikka and have no regrets. Slap the vertical grip on the Tikka and it still carries very well. A Mauser M12 Extreme now fills my 308 needs. I went way overboard on rifles and scopes...now I realize the value of simplifying...spend more on ammo and components, a good rugged scope, and all the tertiary items that make for a good hunting experience (boots, tents, packs, sleeping bags, outerwear, etc.).

 

[NorCal 707]

I was shooting a 6.5 PRC and then the ammo and components drought hit and I switched to a Rem 700 LTR in 308. I picked up this rifle for $600 because it's a lefty and with the high BC craze rifles with 1:12 twist aren't desirable. I put a Timney trigger in it and started shooting. Ammo is everywhere and it is cheap. This 308 flat out shoots dimes. I can shoot 168 grain bullets at 2670 fps out of the 20" barrel and it will print 1/2 moa out to 500 yds. I ended up selling my 6.5 PRC and used the money for an out of state hunt last fall. The 308 has taken 2 blacktail bucks, 2 hogs, 1 bear, 1 antelope and 1 elk. All with one shot 150 to 410 yds. It's a very solid choice and is very capable. I don't miss the PRC one bit. I have a 270 wsm and 25-06 so there is plenty of overlap in my gun safe. I love the Tikka rifles as they have been nothing but tack drivers for me. Enjoy your new 308!