BC hunting deer and moose for the first time Rifle pick and setup.

BenBelgian

BenBelgian

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Hi,
I am not new to the world of hunting as I did a lot of small games, I did a bit of .22 target shooting. I've been following friends and family going hunting for ~20 years.

I am now looking for input on the following items to hunt deer and moose maybe elk:

  1. Rifle
    I am thinking about picking a Tikka T3 in 30-06
    I still don't know which exact version of the T3 but I sure know I don't want a blued and I don't want a wood stock. (Or maybe another brand / model to consider? Budget $2000)

  2. Scope: From the past years I spent following my friend, the shot he took were from 30m up to 170m. Several times there was a longer distance like 300-400m but my friend isn't a fan of taking a shot beyond 200m. I am thinking about a Vortex, budget $800-1300 maybe more IF the features are really worth it. (I love shooting "long distance" so if I am not hunting I'll likely be out trying to hit the cardboard maybe 400-600m)

  3. Scope mounting: (if you had to pick or redo your setup, which one would you opt for?)

  4. Range finder: : I've seen some are "connected" with the scope.

I don't mind putting the extra $ as I usually like to buy once instead of re-purchasing 3 times to "upgrade" for better gears and should just have gone for the good stuff to begin with.

Thanks,
Ben
 
Past few years I've been using a Tikka T3X in .30-06 with a Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44. Good choice for rifle, but you could always get better glass though I find it does the job just fine.
 
Less than a week to go before hunting season isnt really the best time to be shopping ;)
Me, I would go with a Browning Stainless Hunter A-bolt in 300 Winmag.
There was a nice (sounding nice deal) in the EE last week.
Might be a tad heavier than the T3 , but the Browning are nice handling, fit and function very good and accurate right outta the box 99.9% of the time.
So it being lightly used there should be nothing to worry about someone having tinkered/bubbahed it.
Leupold-3-9X40mm ....
Rob
 
I prefer Winchester model 70's over the Tikka T3x. Integral beding block instead of an aluminum insert, control round feed instead of push feed and they sit in a Bell and Carlson custom stock. Honestly I don't think I'd be willing to buy any other brand, after using my Alaskan.

https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/rifles/model-70/current.html

You can find all weather ones for around $1700. Or the newer Variety of the Extreme Tungstun for around $1900

[youtube]T65H3nCKIzM[/youtube]

I also back up FLHTCUI's asertion that a 3-9 Leupold would be a good fit. If you plan on playing with the turrets often, I don't recommend their freedom line. Good priced scopes with good glass, but they are a set and leave it hunting scope not really meant for on the fly alterations. But I am a fan of the leupolds in general. My freedom ones have better glass then my buddies similarly priced Votex's, but worse turrets.
 
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Your choice of a T3 in 30-06 is probably a good one. A bit heavier, but also quality is the Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06.
I would mount a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 B&C on top in Leupold dual dovetail bases and rings. Quality Glass that trumps
Equivalent priced Vortex scopes IMHO.

I would definitely avoid the 300 Win Mag in the T3, since the recoil is noticeable, particularly to those who have not
become used to heavier recoil.

A bit flatter shooting option would be the 7mm Remington Magnum. Recoil very similar to the '06. Dave.
 
I hunt with a blued rifle. Being based in Greater Vancouver and doing a lot of semi-local weekend hunts, I spent a good amount of time in the rain with my rifles each season. Never had an issue with rust other than a tiny spec here or there that you could remove with a wipe of oil on a rag.

My current setup is a Remington 700, steel nikon bases and steel weaver rings, a Vortex Viper 1" 3-9x40 scope, and a Nikon ProStaff 7i rangefinder.

The rangefinder's effective range on trees is about 400-500m depending on conditions/target. It claims 1400yds or some crap on the box, but they never work that far unless you've got a giant mirror on the neighbouring hillside to aim it at.

I bought Nikon bases because they were what I could find locally in steel (everything else was aluminum) and I already had the rings on the shelf from a clearance sale a few years ago. Aluminum would be lighter, but I decided to go with the steel bases as I already had steel rings on the shelf.

The scope I bought on sale a few years ago. For full retail price I'd probably opt for a Leupold over a Vortex but the Vortex was on sale and over $100 off. I knew I wanted something with a stellar warranty because the only luck I have is bad luck.
 
BenBelgian said:
Hi,
I am not new to the world of hunting as I did a lot of small games, I did a bit of .22 target shooting. I've been following friends and family going hunting for ~20 years.

I am now looking for input on the following items to hunt deer and moose maybe elk:

  1. Rifle
    I am thinking about picking a Tikka T3 in 30-06
    I still don't know which exact version of the T3 but I sure know I don't want a blued and I don't want a wood stock. (Or maybe another brand / model to consider? Budget $2000)

  2. Scope: From the past years I spent following my friend, the shot he took were from 30m up to 170m. Several times there was a longer distance like 300-400m but my friend isn't a fan of taking a shot beyond 200m. I am thinking about a Vortex, budget $800-1300 maybe more IF the features are really worth it. (I love shooting "long distance" so if I am not hunting I'll likely be out trying to hit the cardboard maybe 400-600m)

  3. Scope mounting: (if you had to pick or redo your setup, which one would you opt for?)

  4. Range finder: : I've seen some are "connected" with the scope.

I don't mind putting the extra $ as I usually like to buy once instead of re-purchasing 3 times to "upgrade" for better gears and should just have gone for the good stuff to begin with.

Thanks,
Ben
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Nice rifle choice Ben. I bought my son his T3 chambered 30:06 for his 18th birthday 14 years ago. Never a lick of trouble with it, shoots about half moa with hand loads, over all impressed with it. Of course there can be arguments made for other rifles but in the end there is nothing wrong with your choice.
I have a couple Vortex and they are ok but I would suggest a Sightron S-Tac model, there is one that is 3 - 16 x 42 that covers all the bases for you. I have a couple S-Tacs and love them. Eventually I will change all of mine to Sightron.
For rings I like the Burris Signature Z rings - the ones with the plastic inserts (so no ring marks). Yes if the rings are lapped properly you aren't likely to get marks but if they aren't done properly you will get marks on the tubes - why chance it?
I have no experience with those range finding scopes but hear that they don't do well in the cold. Might be better off to get a small stand alone range finder that you can tuck into your coat till you need it and save the batteries. We have Nikon and Leupold range finders and can't recommend one over the other
 
The 7mm rem mag shines in BC for pretty much all big game.
The 30-06 is a solid choice as well.
I can't stand Tikka actions and hunt with a ruger m77 mkII , with ruger factory rings and a Nikon M3 4-12 x 42

Things I might do different.... add iron sights in case a scope takes an damaging hit during a hunt. Been there.
If money was not an issue when comparing to other options..... I would have ATRS build me a custom rifle based on their actions with a Bob Jury barrel , detacheable mag system and a nice light composite stock.
 
I would go Tikka T3 in .308....I have thins thing about short actions...buy decent bullets...no cheap stuff.

Vortex scope 4-16x44 good choice, or Leupold 3x9x40 another good choice

Talley rings for sure......

Have a good time....
 
Bigbubba said:
I would go Tikka T3 in .308....I have thins thing about short actions...buy decent bullets...no cheap stuff.

Vortex scope 4-16x44 good choice, or Leupold 3x9x40 another good choice

Talley rings for sure......

Have a good time....
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No advantage to a short action cartridge in a T3, the action is the same length. Might as well shoot the long action cartridge in a T3.
 
Some points to maybe consider:

- 30-06 is a good caliber for the game you're considering, although probably overkill for costal blacktail, if that's the deer you're after.

- 7mm is probably a good middle of the road caliber for BC game

- 7mm has arguable better ballistics at the longer distances you mention

- You can get a good scope with that budged. If Vortex is your preference then StrikeEagle is pretty awesome scope in that $$ range.

- Scope mounting will depend on the type of scope and the rifle you end up with. My opinion is to pick a mount that allows you to place the scope in a way that best fits your face, so you don't have to pull your face up from the cheek rest as you change scope magnification. For example some guys use a pic rail on a rifle so they have more options where to mount the scope. But not all rifles will allow this set-up. A scope with good eye relief will help this too; or you can build up a cheek rest for best fit.

- Range finder I don't know much about, sorry. But I believe Vortex is one of the only (the only?) that actually has a decent warranty. Many companies with otherwise good warranties on their scopes don't cover their "battery operated" products as long.
 
OP, the rifle and cartridge you stated is a solid choice, the only thing I would change is your choice of scope. I would mount a leupold VX3I 3.5-10X40 like Eagle Eye already mentioned in a previous post.
 
Brian46 said:
Same recoil short and long? Same over all length?
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The action is the same length for short or long action cartridges in a T3.

A short action cartridge will have a small amount less recoil, but will only be shorter if it has a shorter barrel.

In a true short action, you gain the advantage of a slightly shorter gun, a tiny bit less weight and a a slightly more compact and possibly better handling rifle by selecting a shorter cartridge.

If buying a long action, with a short action round in it makes you happy, then go ahead, but a short action to fit the shorter cartridge gives more of the benefits the shorter case offers.
 
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I have blued Ruger GSR in 308 with a synthetic stock and a Leupold VX-R 1.25-4x20mm, weighs 7.374 lbs with the scope, OAL 35". I also like Tikka's and if I could afford it I would like a Winchester model 70 compact in 308, however I would not sell or trade the Ruger GSR
 
Many quality choices out there for a synthetic/stainless rifle in your price range.
Tikka's are a good value for the money, but the stocks are thin and noisy when bumped/scratched in the brush and the recoil pads are somewhat hard. The Sako A7 has a softer finish that isn't as noisy, and you can replace the factory recoil pads for softer recoil pads. You also get some better quality features here as compared to the Tikka, and a better accuracy guarantee.
As mentioned above, the Browning X-Bolts are also very nice rifles with a larger variety of models and features to choose from. May of their models have Cerkoted barreled actions that improves corrosion resistance and adds lubricity to the action.
A used rifle can net you a higher end rifle for a better than new price. A used Sako Finnlight might be if interest to you.

As for a scope, I agree that there are better choices than Vortex. There is a reason why they have an over the counter guarantee; they have to!
I too am a Leupold fan, and highly recommend the older VX-iii or VX-3 lines in a 3.5-10x40 with wither duplex, or Boone & Crocket reticle (the latter better for any longer distance shooting and practice).
You can also find good used scopes here on EE like Swarovski, Zeiss and Kahles for your budget.

As for rings and bases, Leupold make good ones, although the Talley Lightweight one piece rings/bases are also good and reduce weight by a bit.
The Burris Z rings have the aforementioned advantage of the inserts (as do the Optilocks for Sako's).

For rangefinders, I do not care for the scope/RF combination units as they add weight to your rifle that will take away from its balance and handling.
I prefer and recommend a RF binocular that you will find more useful in the field. There are some good less expensive choices out there now; Bushnell, Nikon (if you can still find them), Meopta, Sig Sauer, etc.
 
BlackRam said:
As for a scope, I agree that there are better choices than Vortex. There is a reason why they have an over the counter guarantee; they have to!
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Leupold has a lifetime warranty... So does Bushnell, Nikon, Athlon, Burris... You get the point. Lifetime warranties are pretty standard in the world of low-to-mid priced rifle scopes these days.

I agree with not wanting a rangefinding scope. In addition to the weight mentioned above, I don't like the idea of aiming my rifle at everything I would want a range of - if I sit in a spot I will normally range landmarks around me so if a deer shows up I already know the sort of ranges I am working with, and I wouldn't want to do that with a riflescope.
 
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Winchester all weather is the answer to all questions. You won’t find a finer factory rifle unless it’s a Winchester featherweight (I’m a wood and blues fan) 30-06 is a round that while boring, has a lot of potential and isn’t terrible for a range session either. I also scrounge plenty of free brass from guys at the range just before hunting season. My last trip netted me 80 pieces of once fired. I’d look at a VX3 2.5-8 leupold or maybe a 3.5-10. You could always find a lower end Swarovski for $1300-1500ish if you wanted fancier optics and wanted to shop around. I have not had any issues with leupold though. Mounts? Something sturdy your choice. Happy shopping, tikkas no doubt are decent shooters, but they have no soul.
 
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