She wants a Tikka T3 to match her 243. Either 308 or 30-06. Problem is, I have never owned either caliber, so my knowledge on them is slim to none ( I am more of a 6.5x55 and 7 mag type fella). So, I need you guys to compare and contrast those to rounds for me. Velocity, recoil, etc.
My wife wants a new rifle
- Thread starter viking499
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Abel
Member
IMO, the only advantage of a 308 is a short action and a smaller/shorter rifle. In a T3, those are not options, so go with the 30-06.
Viking;
I'm voting .30-06 also, with personal experience. I have a Tikka T3 LHB ought-6 & took both my mule buck & pronghorn buck with it this year. Accuracy is MOA or better if I do my part. My only kick against the guns is that the magazines are very expensive for what's there.
As far as the short vs long action thing, there is no practical advantage to the short action. The two touted advantages of the S/A are bolt cycle time and stiffer, therefore more accurate, action. On the bench, the bolt cycle time means nothing. In the field, practice recovering from recoil quicker & that's more of an edge than a quarter-inch of bolt throw. And then there's the supposed accuracy edge. The barrel contributes far more to that than stiffness of action. Or, to put it another way, prove you can out-shoot a long action that's a .5 MOA gun before you point that finger at me. Which brings me to an example that you should appreciate, being a 6.5 Swede kinda guy.
My custom left hand bolt 6.5 Swede is on a Tikka action. It does have a Lilja barrel, and other goodies abound, but the point is, it's an under .5 MOA gun. Best three shot group at 100 yards so far is .261" But it's consistently under .500".
To my mind, the ought-6 is a logical step up from the Swede in any case. Recoil certainly isn't harsh, and both that & velocity can be altered through reloading. If you don't reload, there are certainly enough factory-rolled rounds out there that you'll find something that'll work. I do believe that there's even reduced-recoil stuff, or was at some time. The .30-06 will handle heavier bullets better than the .308, it's simply more versitile, if for instance, somebody in the family drew a moose permit. Both rounds are capable of fine accuracy, but really, that depends more on the particular gun and shooter than the round itself. Tikkas do shoot though, that's why I've got several.
Best to you though! It's a problem many guys would like to have, finding a gun for their wife who wants to shoot.
900F
I'm voting .30-06 also, with personal experience. I have a Tikka T3 LHB ought-6 & took both my mule buck & pronghorn buck with it this year. Accuracy is MOA or better if I do my part. My only kick against the guns is that the magazines are very expensive for what's there.
As far as the short vs long action thing, there is no practical advantage to the short action. The two touted advantages of the S/A are bolt cycle time and stiffer, therefore more accurate, action. On the bench, the bolt cycle time means nothing. In the field, practice recovering from recoil quicker & that's more of an edge than a quarter-inch of bolt throw. And then there's the supposed accuracy edge. The barrel contributes far more to that than stiffness of action. Or, to put it another way, prove you can out-shoot a long action that's a .5 MOA gun before you point that finger at me. Which brings me to an example that you should appreciate, being a 6.5 Swede kinda guy.
My custom left hand bolt 6.5 Swede is on a Tikka action. It does have a Lilja barrel, and other goodies abound, but the point is, it's an under .5 MOA gun. Best three shot group at 100 yards so far is .261" But it's consistently under .500".
To my mind, the ought-6 is a logical step up from the Swede in any case. Recoil certainly isn't harsh, and both that & velocity can be altered through reloading. If you don't reload, there are certainly enough factory-rolled rounds out there that you'll find something that'll work. I do believe that there's even reduced-recoil stuff, or was at some time. The .30-06 will handle heavier bullets better than the .308, it's simply more versitile, if for instance, somebody in the family drew a moose permit. Both rounds are capable of fine accuracy, but really, that depends more on the particular gun and shooter than the round itself. Tikkas do shoot though, that's why I've got several.
Best to you though! It's a problem many guys would like to have, finding a gun for their wife who wants to shoot.
900F
CaliCoastie
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do you reload? if so take a look at 7mm-08, a little more recoil than the 243, but with more umph down range. as for the tikka t3 not having a short action option, one quick trip to their website fixed that. good luck with her choice and have her find a gun that fits her.
She is making the step up from a 243. Used to be mine till she handled and shot it. Figure that if she gets a new gun, I might get mine back.....
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She wants a Tikka. My buddy has one he might sell. Like new, less than 20 rounds. Nikon Buckmaster BDC scope already on and sighted in. If so, it might work out with an 06.
If not, then I am looking at buying new or trading for one.
. She wants a Tikka. My buddy has one he might sell. Like new, less than 20 rounds. Nikon Buckmaster BDC scope already on and sighted in. If so, it might work out with an 06.
If not, then I am looking at buying new or trading for one.
BrocLuno
Member
Both good rounds. Tikka action is built around the 06 length to start with, but the shorter .308 magazine takes care of that. $80+ for a magazine is expensive to USA tastes, but seems to be the norm in Euro? Other MFGs over there charge the same
I'm looking for one in .308 to pair with another rifle in the field. I'll spring for the extended magazine as number 2. I have two 06's (not Tikka) and don't need more. I like shooting the .308 a bit more, but have yet to do so in a Tikka. Hope to have that solved by Tax Day?
But have to ask, why is she/you asking about .30 only? Tikka's come in lots of choices. Is it ammo availability? What does she want to do with it?
I'm looking for one in .308 to pair with another rifle in the field. I'll spring for the extended magazine as number 2. I have two 06's (not Tikka) and don't need more. I like shooting the .308 a bit more, but have yet to do so in a Tikka. Hope to have that solved by Tax Day?
But have to ask, why is she/you asking about .30 only? Tikka's come in lots of choices. Is it ammo availability? What does she want to do with it?
unwise11
Member
.308 has about the same recoil as a standard 30-06 load. and I like it more because you get literally a smidge more power and often less accuracy from the 30-06 for more cash per box.
I was in the same situation for myself and chose the .308 because 1- short actions are stiffer.
2- more Match ammo available.
3- a bit less recoil
4- I know someone who loads match ammo for 13.00 a box for me.
there. get .308
I was in the same situation for myself and chose the .308 because 1- short actions are stiffer.
2- more Match ammo available.
3- a bit less recoil
4- I know someone who loads match ammo for 13.00 a box for me.
there. get .308
Just some of the popular calibers in this area. 7mm-08 would be OK too. My Swede would work for here, but she doesn't want the same caliber as me.
She just wants something a little bigger than 243. She killed her first deer this year. Nice 7 point. But wants to go a "little bigger" so she can shoot a "little farther".....She started with the intentions to "upgrade" someday. Guess that day has come..........
I am guiding her on her choice, but letting her make the final decision. That is how she has ended up with her CZ 22, Franchi shotgun, and TC muzzleloader. She has done fine with her choices so far.
Moose458
Member
If possible, have her shoot a 30-06 to see how she handles the recoil. The 6.5 Swede would be a good choice for her for a couple of reasons. First, the recoil isn't much more than her .243, second, it is big enough for any animal up to and including elk, third, when going on a hunt, you both will be using the same ammo. And as far as distance and flat shooting, the 6.5 will do as good or better than either the .308 or 30-06. So unless its a macho thing, there really isn't any reason to go to a 30-06. My wife used to use my 30-06, and did well with it, but it did punish her. After the first time she shot my 6.5 Swede, she said "this is now my rifle and you can keep the 06".
kaferhaus
Member
Nope.
Most 308s have 1-10 twist barrels.... same as the 06. They'll both shoot the same weight bullets.
Unless she's a good sized girl either of them in a bolt gun is going to be pretty punishing.
a 7-08 loaded with 120s would be about perfect.
Although for deer hunting the 243 is already "perfect" in my opinion.
kaferhaus
Member
So I guess those 220s I've been shooting out of it are my imagination? The longer bullets also "intrude" into the 06s boiler room. Granted it doesn't make as big a difference but that was not what you stated. you stated that they cannot be used in a 308 which is patently false.
BrocLuno
Member
Might be looking at .270 for real flat in an affordable to shoot scenario (if you don't load?). Or as stated, 6.5 to 7mm are always nice
Coal Dragger
member
If it were my choice between a .308 and a .30-06 for a hunting rifle I would personally choose a .30-06. It offers more power, especially with heavier bullets, and has an edge in factory ammo offerings for those that don't reload (or find themselves so short of time they don't make it to the reloading bench like they wish they could...... grrrrrr!!!).
Now that is if it were for me, and I'm 5'10" so I don't have any issues with a standard length action, nor do I have any issues with lugging around a slightly heavier rifle.
On the other hand were I a 5'4" female I might not appreciate that longer action and correspondingly longer bolt throw, or the extra weight, or the extra recoil.
Caliber wise if deer are primarily on the shooting menu I would feel perfectly comfortable using a .260, 7mm-08, .308, .270, .280, .280 AI (my current stick), or .30-06. All of them will easily penetrate all the way to the vitals of a deer from virtually any shot angle with good bullets. Some shoot flatter than others, and some also allow the use of heavier bullets for larger game should you get the chance.
Now that is if it were for me, and I'm 5'10" so I don't have any issues with a standard length action, nor do I have any issues with lugging around a slightly heavier rifle.
On the other hand were I a 5'4" female I might not appreciate that longer action and correspondingly longer bolt throw, or the extra weight, or the extra recoil.
Caliber wise if deer are primarily on the shooting menu I would feel perfectly comfortable using a .260, 7mm-08, .308, .270, .280, .280 AI (my current stick), or .30-06. All of them will easily penetrate all the way to the vitals of a deer from virtually any shot angle with good bullets. Some shoot flatter than others, and some also allow the use of heavier bullets for larger game should you get the chance.
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