Tikka...but which one

Dakota24

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Apr 8, 2021
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Location
CO
Hello all, I am fairly new to this forum but have been reading it nonstop over the past few weeks. I have been shooting all my life but I am looking at getting into hunting/long range and want a solid rifle in .308/.270/7mm-08 that gives me flexibility to take large game like elk and still fun/precise enough to shoot long range. I want a Tikka and have it narrowed down to two options, the CTR and the T3x Lite. I had my heart set on the CTR but there's a catch—I'm a lefty and sadly the CTR LH isn't imported into the US, I called beretta today. Do I go with the CTR right handed and just deal with it or go with the Lite LH? I've read some things about the barrel of the Lite not being as accurate and durable as the CTR. Thanks all!
 
Okay thank you! Is there a specific barrel you're looking to re-barrel with or would recommend?
 
Our group has three lefties shooting RH guns and it's never been an issue but the choice is yours. They are both great rifles and I would consider opening up your calibers considerations. I own the T3 Lite in 270, 270wsm, 308, 300wsm and 338wm and they are all great.
 
Our group has three lefties shooting RH guns and it's never been an issue but the choice is yours. They are both great rifles and I would consider opening up your calibers considerations. I own the T3 Lite in 270, 270wsm, 308, 300wsm and 338wm and they are all great.
Which caliber would you recommend for large game and long range shooting with minimal recoil?
 
Limbsaver #10826 fits the T3x and I put the equivalent (#10011) on all of my Tikka T3 magnums. This is how I minimize felt recoil, even with that 338 which comes in at just shy of 6.4 lb stock. If I had to hone my 5 calibers down to 1 it would be with the 300wsm, which I've had excellent success with on elk using 175-180gn class bullets.
 
7mm08 is light recoiling and very long range capable with heavy bullets, probably not ok for elk at distance but anything up to deer size would be great. Very easy to load also. Crazy amount of bullets, cases, and powder availability for it also.
 
Your pretty limited on what chambering's are available in the CTR. I think it's 223, 6.5 creedmoor, 260 and 308 in the us.

Im not sure I would say the lite isn't as accurate, it's just a totally different rifle then the CTR and most (pretty much everybody) isn't going to shoot a very lightweight rifle as well as something with some weight to it. The Lite is simply harder to drive.

Tikka's are a awesome action and a well built gun, but just be mindful of the twist rate and magazine length when you pick a cartridge. Personally I would wait for the 6.5 prc they are supposed to be chambering this year. It's not the ideal long range elk cartridge, but it's better then some of their handicapped twist rates and mag lengths.
 
Do they do a Varmint in a lefty version for the states?

I own a Tikka CTR in 7mm-08 and I know they did a Varmint in 7-08 too.

Starting with a Varmint gives you a heavy barrel straight off, I had a Varmint assembled in .22-250 but the CTR is a great platform and light enough to carry as a hunting rifle , just on the heavy side
 
I own 2 T3's, one is the superlite from sportsmans warehouse with the fluted barrel in 6.5 CM and a regular T3 in .308 and both are crazy accurate with the right load. But, i am RH and do not share the same issue as the OP
 
I am three different T3 rifles. They are all light versions. They all shoot well, especially the .308. I would not really want to carry a CTR into the mountains hunting elk, but to each his own. I find the T3 light shoots as well as some of the heavy barreled varmint guns I have from other makers, namely Remington. I think a 308 is a fantastic caliber. It is one of the few calibers available now for a reasonable price. Check AmmoSeek.com . It's availability is worldwide. As Jeff Cooper pointed out many years ago, a 30 caliber bullet going about 2700 ft./s is very effective on just about anything. He based his reasoning for choosing a 308 as the scout rifle caliber of choice partly on evidence of Teddy Roosevelt safari to Africa. If you read about that safari you will realize how many animals he took with the 30-06, and at that time loads approximated modern 308 ballistics. It will be very effective on elk, and although there are better long range calibers, there are not better general purpose calibers. I also own a world class 6.5 PRC, and while an awesome caliber and rifle, the .308 would be later to go. It's so dang useful.
Tikka .308 compact on top. Prc on bottom.
Tikka groups
 

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Our group has three lefties shooting RH guns and it's never been an issue but the choice is yours. They are both great rifles and I would consider opening up your calibers considerations. I own the T3 Lite in 270, 270wsm, 308, 300wsm and 338wm and they are all great.
Agreed. If you are looking to hunt elk I would recommend a 300 WSM. The tikka action is like a medium action so you could really lengthen out a very heavy bullet on a short action magnum if you are reloading. Recoil would also be manageable with the lighter bullets or with a muzzle break.

get the lefty option and re-barrel and upgrade the stock as your budget allows.

For elk, most people feel more comfortable with the option to go with a heavier bullet so think about a 7mm or 30 caliber bullet head with enough energy to shoot at distance. 7-08 and 308 are fine out to 300 yards but much beyond that, and energy and velocity necessary for good bullet expansion for elk is lacking.
 
Your pretty limited on what chambering's are available in the CTR. I think it's 223, 6.5 creedmoor, 260 and 308 in the us.

Im not sure I would say the lite isn't as accurate, it's just a totally different rifle then the CTR and most (pretty much everybody) isn't going to shoot a very lightweight rifle as well as something with some weight to it. The Lite is simply harder to drive.

Tikka's are a awesome action and a well built gun, but just be mindful of the twist rate and magazine length when you pick a cartridge. Personally I would wait for the 6.5 prc they are supposed to be chambering this year. It's not the ideal long range elk cartridge, but it's better then some of their handicapped twist rates and mag lengths.
Agree with paying attention to twist rates, but if your plans are to re-barrel the gun, it's no big deal. A 300 WSM in a 1-10 twist will handle a 180 grain bullet just fine.
 
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