Tikka T3 Hunter

If you replace the recoil pad you should be good to go. My T3 is a 300 WSM with a HiViz X-coil pad - Limbsaver and Kick-Eez make fitted pads - and I don't have any problems with recoil. You will be glad you bought a T3.

Welcome to the forum.

You didn't mention the model. I'd recommend getting the Hunter model. It'll give you a little more weight to handle the magnum.

I'm confident you'll be satisfied with it. It's the best in it's price class.

Well, he did title the post 'Tikka T3 HUNTER'.

The Hunter has a wood stock instead of the Lite's composite stock. There should be enough mass to tame the 300wm as much as can be expected from any other wood stocked rifle. And if that's not enough, you can always install a Limbsaver recoil pad. If they work for the Lite's, they should be just as effective on the Hunter.

I have a T3 "Forest" (wood stock) in .30-'06. Take the advice above and do the recoil pad upgrades. Even in my caliber, the recoil is significant with such a light rifle.

You'll love the Tikka though. Mine is amazingly accurate with almost any hand load I've put through it. I've never shot a factory round through it to judge how they would perform. At first I didn't care for the thought of polymer parts - floorplate, trigger guard, etc. Then I realized that I don't need to worry about fingerprints, moisture, or anything at all. It's pretty much bulletproof.

Tuning down a 300 win mag sort makes me think you should buy a 30-06 instead as it can be stead up a little if needed. Buy the tikka and shoot it. If your buying it for hunting you mat find a folded up towel will clean up the recoil at the range and when hunting many of use don't feel any recoil . I can always buy a simm's limbsaver recoil pad on it and decide then if you like the length or want it a little longer LOP or trim it to what you want with the new pad set up the way you hunt, heavy coat or thin.

300 WIN MAG recoil not that significant

In an 8 or 9 pound gun a 200 pound man should not have a great deal of difficulty with the 300. The stock on the T3 has no drop at comb this will add to the felt recoil. I shot the 300 wby in a Weatherby Accumark with 1" drop at comb and it was bearable I traded for the 300 WIN Mag and really its okay thats about 9.5 pounds with 1" drop at comb. I shot 300 Win Mag sendero no drop at comb similar to the T3 Hunter alittle heavier and the recoil was like my 300 wby.

Good Luck and shoot straight the 300 win mag is an awesome caliber.

Bob

Please pardon my ignorance, buy why a .300 Winmag? What purpose is the rifle going to be used for that .308 won't accomplish?

If it makes the owner happy, that's reason enough to use a 300WM. If a .308 makes you happy, that's a good choice for you. I happen to have a soft spot for the 270WIN, and own several of them. But, I also shoot other rifle cartridges: 22LR, 222REM, 223REM, 30-06, 300WM, and 35REM, to name a few.

There is no 'one round to rule them all'. If there were, everybody would be shooting a 270WIN!!



Sarcasm aside, surely you can see the inherent benefit in the ability to launch heavier bullets at a higher velocity than is possible with the 308, can't you?

Matt, what type of rifle is your uncles? If the weight of your uncles rifleapproximates the T3 Hunter your answer is all there. The T3 Hunter is 6-5/8 pounds. If yours has the same weight and stock recoil will be the same. You can always add a muzzle brake to it if you find the recoil offensive.

The 300 Win Mag is an awesome caliber.

Shoot Straight

Bob

Good choice. When to get it...........how about now?? Summertime is good plinking weather.........

Just so ya know, the 308 and the 300 shoot the same diameter bullet. Only difference is case size and capacity. I handload for my 300 and the recoil js easily managed. For whatever reason, if u want the 300 then by all means get one, it's a helluva caliber...

You'll like the 308. I have no problems with someone owning a magnum round if you want it. Recoil can be managed, but most anyone will enjoy shooting more if they are getting kicked less. Recoil varies depending on individual loads and rifles, but your 308 will be in the 17-20 ft lb range. A 300 mag 25-30 ft lbs. Ammo costs will be less and at 300 yards or less there is no animal on the planet that will react any differently if hit with either. The magnums start making sense for longer ranges.

jmr40 said:

You'll like the 308. I have no problems with someone owning a magnum round if you want it. Recoil can be managed, but most anyone will enjoy shooting more if they are getting kicked less. Recoil varies depending on individual loads and rifles, but your 308 will be in the 17-20 ft lb range. A 300 mag 25-30 ft lbs. Ammo costs will be less and at 300 yards or less there is no animal on the planet that will react any differently if hit with either. The magnums start making sense for longer ranges.

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Better yet, get a 6.5x55, hits like a .308 with much less blast and recoil.

MethodMatt said:

I've owned a .308 and I didn't much like it, my uncle bought a .300 win and I love that rifle.

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Its a Ruger M77 Mark II I believe.

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Just out of curiosity, if you love your uncles M77 why get the Tikka? Why not get the rifle you know works for you?

The recoil in my T3 lite 300WM was tolerable but I'm a pretty big guy. I like to target shoot a lot because I hand load and hunt woodchucks. So I weighed my T3 down with brass balls and expanding foam just for extra comfort. I also have a limbsaver pre-fitted pad that works great. You don't feel a thing when it goes off, but you don't see your target getting hit a lot of times too.

I'd say get it. It will drive tacks! A buddy of mine has a T3 lite stainless 300WM and he doesn't mind the recoil at all. His is bone stock too. A Hunter model will be heavier than a Lite, so I don't think you'll hate the recoil. I have a few videos on my Tikka T3 300WM on You Tube. Search Chuckin' TV and the channel link will be the first thing there.

FWIW, now that you're changing to .308, I have a Tikka Sporter chambered in .308 and it is a joy to shoot. Very little recoil (for a .308), very very good trigger, very accurate (even in my hands). The bad news (which I knew when I purchased it) is that it is heavy. Nine pounds sans scope. For the range, no problem but hiking big vertical miles with it is heavy and ungainly (read: I don't do it). For that, I'd get a Tikka Hunter in 308 (also left hand) and shave two pounds when doing a same-same comparison.
But choosing the Tikka line is brilliant!
B