Good evening, I am about to pull the trigger on a Tikka. 1050 purchase price. I want to use it for long range hunting coyotes etc but also want to possibly hunt dear or elk in the future. I will reload for it as well. Any thoughts or ideas before I purchase. I was going to go with 6.5.
Tikka T3X SS 7mm-08 looking for advice
- Thread starter SKIBEEDOO
- Start date
Homesteader
CGN Regular
- Location
- In a Wallow West of Edmonton.
You're really splitting hairs on either. I love the T3 platform as do many. If you weren't going to reload I'd say 7-08. I have a 6.5x55, shoots great, but they all do. 6.5 bullets have a smidge better ballistics in similar weights. You could argue the whole "it's a long action so go with the x55, but honestly again we're splitting hairs. If you had a 7mag, maybe the 7-08, and load a 140 tsx for both.
Potato, Potatto
Potato, Potatto
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
I have a tikka in 7mm-08. Really enjoy it now. So far only shot 139gr in it but working on a load for 162gr eldx.
bulldog284
CGN Regular
- Location
- pigeon hill
Love my 7-08 have 3 just picked up a sako a7 in 7-08 wonderful rifle and caliber
I have a tikka in 7mm-08. Really enjoy it now. So far only shot 139gr in it but working on a load for 162gr eldx.
what stock is on your tikka?
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
B&c m40
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
I load mine to 2.950" and could go well above 3" with the 7mm-08. This leaves lots of room for powder. Cant see running a long action round in there due to how short the mags are on these guns.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
6.5x55 or 30-06 would be my choice to take advantage of the long action. 7mm-08 is also a dandy round and a good choice if you reload and want to stretch OAL.
the longer OAL is typically only a mental advantage more so than a real world one
140gr AB @ 2.8", 43.1grs RL15 = 2878 fps
140gr AB @ 2.95", 44.6grs RL15 = 2903 fps
Since the OP does not reload (yet) and is considering a T3 (long action), I would suggest a plain olde 270Winchester would fill his needs well.
Lots of factory ammo, fits in a LA and will work on anything up to his mentioned deer and elk.
Lots of factory ammo, fits in a LA and will work on anything up to his mentioned deer and elk.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
The factory mags that come with them are very short. The short action that cam with my 7mm-08 some factory ammo was only 5 thou from the end of the mag. Did not like that. 270/30-06 mags are the same was very short. I wouldn't even consider using a long action round in a t3 because the mags don't let you seat out at all beyond factory specs.
Yes I am using the long action mag to seat 162gr out far. Can still fit 46-46.5gr of h4350 behind the bullet easily. Seating those at 2.800 would lose major case capacity.
have you chrony'd this load? Reason I ask is because @ 2.8" you can still push a 162gr ELD-X to 2700 fps with RL17, Win760, H414, CFE223, Ramshot BigGame
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Yes. 2850fps with no pressure signs. I don't use ball powder as I have never had luck with them for accuracy or speed from summer to winter. Never wanted to try RL17 either due to wild speed spreads as temps change and accuracy being lack lustre.
Makes sense.
