Which Option for New Rifle?

[LongWayAround]

I bought a upr this summer. It's cool, but I should have gone with the 20" barrel rather than the 24".

I thought I would like the stock more than I do. It's also fairly heavy at 10lb scoped.

If I did it again, I would have just got the CTR that I had been eyeballing.

 

[TaperPin]

Ok, so I am getting ready to get a new rifle. It will be my first new hunting rifle and due to budget/time constraints, it’s going to be a hunting and fun shooting rifle. I have decided I want to go with 308 Win seeing as most of my hunting is going to be Ga deer and hogs, but the boss is warming up to the idea of going out west for antelope and mule deer to start with. I don’t have any aspirations to shoot 1000 yards with any regularity, plan on keeping myself 500 and in. I like a longer barrel in general. But here are the options I have narrowed myself down to:

1) Tikka UPR in 308 with a 24” barrel, 0 or 20 MOA rail, stainless or black, no experience with Tikka.

2) Tikka T3X in 308 if I am not mistaken the longest barrel I will be able to get is 22”. Put in stock or UD chassis.

3) Ruger American Gen 3 Predator in 308 with 22” barrel and put in an upgraded stock or likely and UD chassis.

Of these 3 options, would you go with a ready to go rifle in the UPR, or more of a semi-custom route with T3X lite/superlite or Ruger American Gen 2?

I think a 308 is a great choice for western hunting to 500 yards. My current 308 rifle is loaded with a 165 gr and it carries well enough for most uses. Velocity at 500 isn’t burning down the house with 1,900 fps, but it’s enough for reliable expansion of most bullets. That’s also enough bullet weight to even work well as an elk rifle. I’ve carried 26” barrels most of my life in Wyoming and have yet to have the length cause problems, especially antelope/deer hunting. Maybe if there was more brush to deal with I’d feel differently.

 

[nm.otter]

I agree with getting an affordable T3X lite and then customizing it from there rather than getting a package like the Roughtech.

Generally yes -- but IMO those EuroOptic Roughtech Superlites are worth the squeeze.