New rifle

[Stew0576]

I'm looking at getting a new rifle, my budget will be 2k, I'm thinking a Tikka T3x COMPACT TACTICAL RIFLE ADJUSTABLE cheek, not sure about the adjustable cheek piece though. https://choose.tikka.fi//usa/tikka/compare

Looking at pairing it with a Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen I 6-24x50 FFP Riflescope - EBR-2C MOA Reticle
https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optics-Viper-6-24x50-Riflescope/dp/B00HYRGSCQ

Not sure what mounts to get, right now I can shoot out to 300 yards, looking for a place to reach out further.

Any thoughts or recommendations? I'm primarily a paper puncher with hunting being a possibility.

 

[LoonWulf]

Certainly a good combination for the intended task.
Mounts wise id probably look at Burris or Warnes, probably high rings with that scope and the heavier barrel.
Might as well go with the heavier rings, since your already looking at an 10+lb rig.

I gravitate away from Tikkas, but Ive shot a fair share, and never had one shoot poorly.

 

[Stew0576]

I gravitate away from Tikkas

Any particular reason? Looking for the best bang for my buck, this will be the most I've ever spent on a shooting rig, want to make a good choice

 

[LoonWulf]

Any particular reason? Looking for the best bang for my buck, this will be the most I've ever spent on a shooting rig, want to make a good choice

No not really, I just don't really like them. I've had enough rifles to know myself, and I'll give up performance every time to get something I think is neat.
The only real complaint I've got are the action length.
CTR might have a different action, but all the t3xs are built on long, and I can't abide a short cartridge in a long action.

Again really the only reason I mention my dislike is to point out that it's completely a personal preference, and not related to what I think about the quality or performance.

 

[Stew0576]

I've got time to shop, sold both my commute cars last fall to family when I switched jobs and got a work truck, they both claim they are paying them off so I'm taking the proceeds to fund my new rifle, wife is taking a third but that's the price of happiness lol

 

[LoonWulf]

Well I'd suggest handling as many different guns as you can.
With, let's call it 1300, as a rifle budget you got some nice options, including suff like the Christensen Mesa, Bergara HMRs, higher end Savages, Rugers etc.
still tho you may come back to that CTR as YOUR best option.

 

[stillquietvoice]

CTR might have a different action, but all the t3xs are built on long, and I can't abide a short cartridge in a long action.

I think in terms of mag box length. Rather than long or short actions. I have 2 as files an m11 223 and an m 700 in 7mm08.

The savage has a longer as than most and a very generous mag box neatly 3 inches. Plenty of room to load long coal to tune loads. My 700 is short only 2.81 inches. In this platform i'd prefer long action with a bigger mag box to tailor loads better.

I've never even fired a tika but many reviews testify to their accuracy.

A few years back Iirc parts like bolt handles, if they separated or break were hard to find and customer service wouldn't fix it. I could be mistaken, but something to research before purchasing.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think in terms of mag box length. Rather than long or short actions. I have 2 as files an m11 223 and an m 700 in 7mm08.

The savage has a longer as than most and a very generous mag box neatly 3 inches. Plenty of room to load long coal to tune loads. My 700 is short only 2.81 inches. In this platform i'd prefer long action with a bigger mag box to tailor loads better.

I've never even fired a tika but many reviews testify to their accuracy.

A few years back Iirc parts like bolt handles, if they separated or break were hard to find and customer service wouldn't fix it. I could be mistaken, but something to research before purchasing.

The savage has both a long box and a longish action in the short actions. They do give you a good bit of leeway for messing with coal, which is quite nice. I used to load my .243 at 2.95ish with 95gr Berger's, and while short of the lands by a bit, it shot WAY better than if I'd been stuck with a 2.8" box.
The new centerfeed mags, are way more tolerant to wierd coals also (I use them for projects as well).

My 6x47 was built on a 700 and it was a fight to get anything over about 2.4" to feed from that thing, and i wanted to run 2.5 some odd with 88 and 95gr goes.

I've heard similar complaints, but truth being the t3/t3x series of rifles is so modular, replacing anything shy if a barrel or complete bolt, is probably cheaper done by the end user than shipping it back.
Not to say you shouldn't take the possibility of being on your own for repair work for granted, just that the things a lego blaster.

 

[Gtscotty]

What do do you want to do with the rifle? All target shooting? Mostly target shooting some hunting? etc.

For a mostly hunting, some target shooting use case, the CTR is a good option. CTRs are usually excellent shooters, and the CTR mag allows for long OALs, and feeds great, I actually prefer them to AICS style mags. Everyone has preferences, but I'd take a CTR over an equivalently priced Salvage rifle every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I'd lean more towards the PST gen 2 than the gen 1, they are a decent step up in optical quality. You could also look for deals in the Athlon Ares series (ETR and BTR 2). Burris XTR 2s might be an option as well, either way I'd be looking for FFP, mil/mil. Camera Land NY often has good deals, you might need to call and talk to Doug on the phone to get some of them though.

 

[jmr40]

I can't abide a short cartridge in a long action.

For a lot of applications I understand the reasoning, but there are some advantages.

The Army chose to build their 308 sniper rifles in long actions at least partly to be able to fit longer high BC bullets in the magazine. With some rifles there is a noticeable difference between long and short action ( Remington and Savage ) and if you're trying to put together a lightweight rig using a short action cartridge it doesn't make sense to use a heavier long action. On others the difference between long and short action is nominal.

BTW, the Remington short action is almost too short, the Savage long action too long. In fact a Savage short action the loading/ejection port is only about 1/16" shorter than a long action Remington. A Tikka is virtually the same as length as a Savage short action so the differences aren't as great as it first appears.

And while Tikka only builds one action length they manage to do it with the lightest trimmest hunting rifles under $1000. The CTR sorta bridges the gap between hunting and target rifles. They are heavy enough to shoot well, but not excessively heavy to hunt with. Not my pick for a high country elk rifle, but you can keep the total weight under 9 lbs scoped.

I've had great luck with everything I've owned or shot made by Tikka, including my CTR 308.

That said, my $350 Ruger Predators are every bit as accurate. They are much lighter and not everyone will shoot a rifle that light as well. That isn't a negative or positive, just something to think about.

 

[Stew0576]

my $350 Ruger Predators are every bit as accurate.

I've been doing load development on my wife's predator in 6.5cm, wonder if I should just get me one and spend the difference on a better scope?

 

[LoonWulf]

For a lot of applications I understand the reasoning, but there are some advantages.

The Army chose to build their 308 sniper rifles in long actions at least partly to be able to fit longer high BC bullets in the magazine. With some rifles there is a noticeable difference between long and short action ( Remington and Savage ) and if you're trying to put together a lightweight rig using a short action cartridge it doesn't make sense to use a heavier long action. On others the difference between long and short action is nominal.

BTW, the Remington short action is almost too short, the Savage long action too long. In fact a Savage short action the loading/ejection port is only about 1/16" shorter than a long action Remington. A Tikka is virtually the same as length as a Savage short action so the differences aren't as great as it first appears.

And while Tikka only builds one action length they manage to do it with the lightest trimmest hunting rifles under $1000. The CTR sorta bridges the gap between hunting and target rifles. They are heavy enough to shoot well, but not excessively heavy to hunt with. Not my pick for a high country elk rifle, but you can keep the total weight under 9 lbs scoped.

I've had great luck with everything I've owned or shot made by Tikka, including my CTR 308.

That said, my $350 Ruger Predators are every bit as accurate. They are much lighter and not everyone will shoot a rifle that light as well. That isn't a negative or positive, just something to think about.

I certainly dont disagree. My need for cartridges fitting their intended action sizes is another one of the personal preference things, and for long action cartridges I sometimes ignore it.

I also agree that the Rugers are great rifles, and are my personal favorite budget gun. I did a fluf and buff on a friends American, and shot it side by side with anothers T3X and got nearly identical groups.
I wish they would offer a "target" version with an adjustable boyds proV and a RPR weight barrel. My RAM was sorta like that.

Personally Id really consider what you want before buying, if you LIKE your wifes rifle, then it might be a better idea to get one for yourself. If its kinda meh, then you might be better served spending the extra on the CTR or something else.

 

[Walkalong]

This can save you some money on the scope.

https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-vi...pe-with-ebr-2c-reticle-moa-pst-43127-new.aspx

 

[Stew0576]

To be honest I just want something nice that I'm proud to own, not just the average rifle I guess, want to pamper myself, I've always just settled in the past and bought what I could afford, thus cheaper off the shelf rifles

 

[Walkalong]

To be honest I just want something nice that I'm proud to own, not just the average rifle I guess, want to pamper myself

You're in good company here, where a lot of folks have done the same thing at one time or another.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I've always just settled in the past and bought what I could afford, thus cheaper off the shelf rifles

Or I buy used to save money.

 

[Stew0576]

Looking at the tikka with and without the adjustable cheek piece, leaning toward without, don't like the big dial on the side of the stock, will the built in riser be high enough?

 

[Gtscotty]

Or I buy used to save money.

That's another good option, especially for nicer scopes that come with lifetime warranties. I'd recommend perusing the optics classifieds over on Snipers Hide, it's not hard to find killer deals on really good stuff when the next shiny thing comes out.

I will say that when my buddy came to me to recommend a decent mid-range rifle/scope setup with similar parameters a few years ago, I recommended a few different options and he wound up going with a CTR in 6.5 topped with a PST II 3-15x44 EBR-2C MRAD. He's been very happy with that rifle.

 

[LoonWulf]

Looking at the tikka with and without the adjustable cheek piece, leaning toward without, don't like the big dial on the side of the stock, will the built in riser be high enough?

It may, it may not. It will really depends on the scope and how you hold your head.
I've never shot a CTR, but the regular t3x stock are a smidge too low for me with medium dnz rings.
I'd probably opt for a riser since it's likely that thicker barrel will force you to high rings with the types of scopes your looking at.

You could also go with the standard stock and add an adjustable cheek riser, or change the clamp nut on the adjustable ctr stock.