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.

 

[Jebrown1517]

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.

That was what I had intended was to shoot a 165/168gr projectile. The Barnes 165gr TTSX is rated to expand down to 1500 fps.

Would a 6.5 PRC really be that much more? The barrel life seems abysmal and I want to get something that I can shoot a fair bit and last.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

That was what I had intended was to shoot a 165/168gr projectile. The Barnes 165gr TTSX is rated to expand down to 1500 fps.

Would a 6.5 PRC really be that much more? The barrel life seems abysmal and I want to get something that I can shoot a fair bit and last.

The 6.5 PRC is basically a .270. I see no reason to get one over a .308. The advantages are marginal. I may prefer smaller bores, but the differences just don’t matter at normal hunting ranges.

If you want a .308, get a .308. It’s a superb cartridge that is effective and widely available.

Anyone arguing the relative merits of just about any short or long action cartridge between 6.5mm and 7.62mm is splitting hairs. There are a superb array of bullets and they all can do a more than adequate job out to 500 yards. If you are good enough to shoot at game past that distance (I am not currently), then a .308 will work for you.


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[2ski]

The 6.5 PRC is basically a .270. I see no reason to get one over a .308. The advantages are marginal. I may prefer smaller bores, but the differences just don’t matter at normal hunting ranges.

If you want a .308, get a .308. It’s a superb cartridge that is effective and widely available.

Anyone arguing the relative merits of just about any short or long action cartridge between 6.5mm and 7.62mm is splitting hairs. There are a superb array of bullets and they all can do a more than adequate job out to 500 yards. If you are good enough to shoot at game past that distance (I am not currently), then a .308 will work for you.


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“Keep on keepin’ on…”

This is the guy to listen to.

For what you need, even a .243 would suffice. I will say, I was surprised when I got my .308 at how similar the recoil was to the .243. The .270 is noticeably more recoil than the .308.

 

[flyfisher117]

In all of my years of pissing away money on stupid shit… my vote would be a Tikka in .308 or 6.5 Creed. I have been very happy with mine, I’ve made it into what I want and it hasn’t cost me a fortune.

Shoot it a bunch as is then upgrade and swap what ever you feel you need. If you end up hating .308 it’s just an awesome excuse to barrel swap it!

If you are dead set on wanting a new stock I would just get the T3X lite. If you wanted to shoot it a bit as is then the Roughtech stocks are sweet. I would have left mine in the factory stock had I gotten the rough tech. There’s now a 16” Rough Tech ranch .308 at my LGS. It’s tempting.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

This is the guy to listen to.

For what you need, even a .243 would suffice. I will say, I was surprised when I got my .308 at how similar the recoil was to the .243. The .270 is noticeably more recoil than the .308.

Yes, I do love a .243 too. If I was to rewind a year, I would have bought a 6mm ARC and a .243 instead of the 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 CM I bought. But I am content with my choice now. The differences are marginal.


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[gtriple]

In all of my years of pissing away money on stupid shit… my vote would be a Tikka in .308 or 6.5 Creed. I have been very happy with mine, I’ve made it into what I want and it hasn’t cost me a fortune.

Shoot it a bunch as is then upgrade and swap what ever you feel you need. If you end up hating .308 it’s just an awesome excuse to barrel swap it!

If you are dead set on wanting a new stock I would just get the T3X lite. If you wanted to shoot it a bit as is then the Roughtech stocks are sweet. I would have left mine in the factory stock had I gotten the rough tech. There’s now a 16” Rough Tech ranch .308 at my LGS. It’s tempting.

The Roughtech stock is exactly the same as the standard stock, with a cheap textured finish on it. It’s not “sweet”. It’s just a pig with lipstick.

Buy the standard stainless T3X Lite in 308.

 

[flyfisher117]

The Roughtech stock is exactly the same as the standard stock, with a cheap textured finish on it. It’s not “sweet”. It’s just a pig with lipstick.

Buy the standard stainless T3X Lite in 308.

Grippy finish, less barrel contact, and non hollow plastic sound when items bump into it. Sounds pretty sweet to me.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Grippy finish, less barrel contact, and non hollow plastic sound when items bump into it. Sounds pretty sweet to me.

For me, the comparison between the Roughtech stock and the basic stock isn’t really that important.

To me, the comparison is between the Roughtech stock’s added price versus the added cost of a better aftermarket stock. If you like the Roughtech stock better than an aftermarket alternative, then that is the model to get.


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“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[flyfisher117]

For me, the comparison between the Roughtech stock and the basic stock isn’t really that important.

To me, the comparison is between the Roughtech stock’s added price versus the added cost of a better aftermarket stock. If you like the Roughtech stock better than an aftermarket alternative, then that is the model to get.


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“Keep on keepin’ on…”

Hence why I said if they are dead set on replacing the stock to just get the Lite.

I’m not saying the roughtech is gods gift to earth… good hell people.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Hence why I said if they are dead set on replacing the stock to just get the Lite.

I’m not saying the roughtech is gods gift to earth… good hell people.

I agree with you.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Jebrown1517]

What about a Bergara HMR Carbon? My LGS has one for sale in 308. The only thing is has I’m not sure about is a 20” barrel. Is that going to change my ability to have a kind of do all rifle to 4-500 yards using a 165gr bullet? Also, I find mixed things about those rifles in particular, most folks having issues with accuracy? Is that fairly common on those rifles?

 

[Dougfir]

Another vote for the T3x Lite or Superlite. And the .308 win is a great choice, especially if you shoot factory ammo.

 

[TaperPin]

That was what I had intended was to shoot a 165/168gr projectile. The Barnes 165gr TTSX is rated to expand down to 1500 fps.

Would a 6.5 PRC really be that much more? The barrel life seems abysmal and I want to get something that I can shoot a fair bit and last.

That seems like good logic to me. The 6.5 PRC/270 win are both in the sweet spot for a lot of western hunting, but like you said large volume shooting is definitely not their strong suit. The added benefit when shooting a solid copper bullet is the 30 cal starts off with a little extra diameter and when expanded is definitely larger than an expanded 6.5 or .277” bullet. The only reason it isn’t more popular out west is the 308 was traditionally handicapped by a quickly dropping trajectory, but the rangefinder has evened the field. Not that it would be ideal, but if I couldn’t use one of the varmint rifles, I’d even prefer the 308 over all the other hunting cartridges on my shelf to go prairie dog shooting where good conditions may mean 300 or more shots per day. *chuckle*