Thinking about a new rifle, need ideas

A Tikka T3x is rarely a bad idea. I'd prefer 308, but 30-06 isn't a bad choice.

Tikka is an excellent choice. 30-06 will work, but it is more gun and more recoil than you need, especially from a Tikka. While not as light as many, they are one of the lighter options. One of the most accurate too. A 30-06 was the ONLY cartridge I used for the better part of 40 years, but I no longer recommend it for most hunters/shooters. If you primarily hunt game bigger than deer, it is a good choice.

I'd be looking at one of these short action options. The 6.5CM, 7-08 or 308. I have all but the 7-08. My 308 load uses 45 gr of powder vs 60 gr for 30-06 so powder goes a lot farther. Recoil is noticeably less, yet there isn't that much gain in velocity with 30-06. 6.5 recoil is just a tad more reoil than 243 and it is the smallest round I'd consider for elk size game: probably the perfect deer round. It will probably be the most accurate too. I only use 40 gr of powder per load.

At 400-500 yards any of the 3 are more than adequate, but I can almost guarantee 6.5CM, 7-08 or 308 will be more accurate. 30-06 will be slightly flatter shooting, but when shooting at known ranges that is irrelevant. You're going to deal with some bullet drop with either. It is just as easy to compensate for 12" of drop as 10".

As I've gotten older, and hopefully smarter, recoil is less appealing. For a handful shots to get a rifle zeroed and for hunting I can tolerate 300 WM. But for putting a lot of rounds downrange even 30-06 recoil starts to add up. A day of shooting my 6.5CM or 308 at the range is a lot more fun. They work even better on targets and kill game just as dead.

You don't mention your budget or your recoil tolerance. For the range you mentioned, 30-06 is better choice than 308. But the recoil pays that difference, unless you do what I did to my Howa and add a muzzle brake or suppressor. It's louder now, but almost no recoil. On a budget, 6.5cm in the Tikka or anything else is a kitty cat. If money didn't matter and I could snap my finger and give you any rifle for what you described, it would be my X-Bolt Pro Long Range in 300wm.

I shoot a Tikka T3 SS in 7-08 with a muzzle brake. Ideal combination for me. The right balance of power and recoil. .308 or 30-06 are great too. I little more recoil than I like. I had a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 30-06. 7-08 works for Elk too, but I consider it a minimum for Elk or Moose.
I am a fan of Tikka rifles. Better quality than others in that price range. Good to go out of the box.
I agree that 30-06 is better but it depends on your tolerance for recoil. I also had a 7 MM mag but at normal ranges there is no difference in performance that I can tell.

bernie said:

I am starting to think about a new rifle. I have two purposes, shooting at my private range out to 425 yards, and hunting. I am a whitetail hunter, but have never really done much modern gun hunting for them, but now I have a place that I can do that on a friends small ranch. I have never elk hunted, but would like a rifle that could take an elk if I got the chance. I have always shot M-1 rifles for fun, but at my age my eyes are starting to give me trouble, so I really want a rifle that I can not only hunt with, but that I can also shoot recreationally that would take an optic.

I am not looking for a super lightweight mountain rifle because my knees don't allow me to backpack into the back country anymore. I want something that is accurate, and I am thinking .30-06 might be my caliber of choice because I already load for it.

What are some of your ideas. I am thinking a stainless Tikka T3 in .30-06 might be a good one. Any other ideas?

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Love the Finnlight...

I’ve given a bit of thought towards a new rifle, I always wanted to replace my old 30-06 but I keep thinking that there are a lot of interesting calibers beyond the standard set by days gone by.

IF You're stuck on 30-06 it some what limits your options ; IMO .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor allows for far greater selection .

Ever consider Building a lightweight AR platform Rifle ?. I just finished MY 6.5 CM and have a # of .308's also which I've assembled .

With sales ( Black Friday ) numerous quality barrel manufacturers ,as well as upper / lower receivers makers it's near endless combination wise .
I can assure You or anyone else ,when it comes to accuracy AR platform weapons will HOLD THEIR OWN .

Provided one starts with a Quality proven sound upper and lower and as said earlier Barrel manufacturers are all over the place ,some better than others and others Top Tier bar none . Below link is for visual purposes .

https://onlylongrange.com/bn36x3-long-range-270-25-06-30-06/

Tikka is excellent. I upgraded the bottom plastic to High Desert Rifle Works bottom metal, and had the pad replaced with a Pachmayr SC100 1" pad. So far it is shooting pretty well. Mine is a 270.

For giggles, maybe I'd throw out there:

Remington SPS in 30-06 (24" barrel)
Bell Carlson Stock in your choice of color and LOP
Timney Elite Hunter trigger.
Leupold Backcountry ringmounts.
Leupold VX 5 HD 30mm 2-10X42 scope.

Excellent choice

.30-06 IS the DO-ALL caliber

The only other caliber comparable, would be .280 Rem. .280AI will be a step up, but handload only.

Already loading for .30-06, seals it. Unless you want a new caliber.

The .308 family, 7-08, .260, are great for deer, but marginal for elk.

I love my .260, accurate, light recoil, outstanding deer, coyote, hog round.
If I'm hunting elk, I'm carrying. 30-06.

https://onlylongrange.com/bn36x3-long-range-270-25-06-30-06/

Something to think about.

bernie said:

As much as I love the Remington 700, I do not know that it is going to outshoot the Tikka from what I have read. Are the current ones accurate and solid rifles?

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I don't think it will outshoot a Tikka with factory ammo. My thinking is with the Tikka you will see 1-1.5" three shot groups at 100 yds with factory ammo, while the Remington will show 1/4 to 1/2 MOA worse than that. But I would be really surprised if you could not get the 700 to shoot 3 shot groups of 1" with select handloads. More than good enough for deer or elk.

Tikka 6.5 prc for elk

Tikka 6.5 Creedmoor for less than elk

I have a Tikka t3 in 30-06, and it is truly a hard to beat rifle. There are lots of guns that specialize better for whatever niche they belong in, but that Tikka is a keeper.

I also had a howa1500 in 30-06, a few sporter milsurps in -06 and 300wm, a savage 11 in 7-08 as hunting rifles, not to mention lots of chicanery with SKS, AK, AR, etc semi autos. Other than the savage having a slight accuracy edge, the Tikka wins for me. Only thing I don't like is the safety doesn't lock the bolt. That is a no go for a lot of people, and in that case I recommend the Winchester model 70ew.

Id take a hard look at the Cva Cascade, Mauser m18, Sauer 100, Howa 1500/wby vanguard.

The T3 would be a good choice as well.

I was somewhat surprised and delighted when I read the consideration of the 30-06 !

I assumed with all the Hoopla around 6.5 wondergun and 308 that the old 30-06 would get little notice ... My first choice would be the 30-06 ... and the Tikka T3 would be a fine rifle .

There is nothing a 308 Win. can do that a 30-06 can't do better .
The longer case lets you effectively utilize 30 cal . bullets fromm 100 grains to 220 grains .
I've always said ... If I can't take it with my 1903-A3 Springfield Sporter ... I don't need to hunt it .
About the safety not locking the bolt ... the safety stays on and you can operate the bolt to unload the gun ...it all depends on how you want the safety to work ...I don't have a problem with the safety and unlocked bolt ... safer to unload the gun that way .

I second your choice !
Gary

If you're in to quick reviews, here ya go:

Best Hunting Rifle Under $750: Eight guns reviewed head-to-head - YouTube

To summarize, Tikka proved to give the best groups with factory ammo, but had the worst recoil because it was considerably lighter. Other excellent options presented in the video are Bergara B14 (I recently purchased one with a threaded barrel for a suppressor in 7mm-08) and a Weatherby. The Bergara is a Remington 700 clone, so any stock, scope base or trigger that you might want to replace is easy to do.

If Elk hunting is seriously a consideration, then I think a sound recommendation starts at .277 cal and goes up. I have a friend who shot a cow elk broadside several times with a 25-06 and lost the cow. 6.5 is only 0.007" larger.
Maybe a Sako, or Kimber 270 WSM or 300 WSM?

bernie said:

That Bergara B14 looks interesting.

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Mine is a B14 Ridge with a 22" barrel and I just mounted a picatinny rail for a Remington 700 on it yesterday. It fit perfectly. There are a lot of models and I got a bit frustrated because I kept finding 20" barrels and I wanted a 22". Well, I finally found it and got it at a good price off of Gunbroker. I'll probably shoot it next week to break it in...can't wait.

Just curious, if you already load for an ‘06 did you not have a rifle in that caliber? Anyhoo, the ‘06 or .308 or .270 should cover the bases for you!

Get a Sako l579 in 308 and don't look back.