NoCuntryForOldMen
New Member
I recently bought a Tikka T3x Lite in 6.5 CM to use for my new hunting rifle. I want to hunt suppressed and the more I have read about threading these barrels the less I want to go that route. I know there are ways to bush up to 5/8-24 and whatnot but I don't feel comfortable with that. Now I am stuck with a brand new rifle that I either need to get a new barrel and stock for or sell it and buy something already built with a 5/8-24 threaded barrel in a configuration I like and was hoping to get some advice from you guys with more experience on what direction you'd go.
If I customize my current rifle I'd probably get a Proof carbon barrel and some sort of nice stock, I haven't done my research there but possibly a Manners (open to suggestions). Would there be additional parts I should upgrade/change out at that time? I figure if it's going to the smith I might as well take care of any other low hanging fruit. I want to do it right but I'm not looking for a competition gun here, I assume a Tikka with a Proof barrel and Manners stock will shoot pretty darn good for a hunting rig.
If I decide to sell it and buy something else some of the Christensen Arms rifles and Fierce rifles seem like good options.
One benefit I see to customizing my Tikka is I can get an 18" barrel and so when I have my can on the overall length will be pretty darn manageable. I want to shoot out to 1k but all my hunting will be under 600 and most likely under 400 so the 18" barrel seems pretty sufficient. Also, what kind of gunsmith bill would I be looking at here? I don't really have a set budget for this and can make room where needed but I don't want to spend unnecessarily either. Paid $820 out the door for the rifle, if I go the custom route I'd like to keep all extra costs under $2000.
As a disclaimer, I'm not very experienced in the world or modifying bolt guns, I've built a number of AR variants and feel very comfortable with that platform but I don't know the first thing about what needs to be modified for a bolt gun.
If I customize my current rifle I'd probably get a Proof carbon barrel and some sort of nice stock, I haven't done my research there but possibly a Manners (open to suggestions). Would there be additional parts I should upgrade/change out at that time? I figure if it's going to the smith I might as well take care of any other low hanging fruit. I want to do it right but I'm not looking for a competition gun here, I assume a Tikka with a Proof barrel and Manners stock will shoot pretty darn good for a hunting rig.
If I decide to sell it and buy something else some of the Christensen Arms rifles and Fierce rifles seem like good options.
One benefit I see to customizing my Tikka is I can get an 18" barrel and so when I have my can on the overall length will be pretty darn manageable. I want to shoot out to 1k but all my hunting will be under 600 and most likely under 400 so the 18" barrel seems pretty sufficient. Also, what kind of gunsmith bill would I be looking at here? I don't really have a set budget for this and can make room where needed but I don't want to spend unnecessarily either. Paid $820 out the door for the rifle, if I go the custom route I'd like to keep all extra costs under $2000.
As a disclaimer, I'm not very experienced in the world or modifying bolt guns, I've built a number of AR variants and feel very comfortable with that platform but I don't know the first thing about what needs to be modified for a bolt gun.
