Anybody shooting T3 in .338 Win Mag

Bob Raymond

Bob Raymond

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A buddy of mine bought one and is getting 3" groups at a 100 with Federal factory ammo in 225 grain.

It appears that the group size is increasing with heat after the 3 round.

He is not a reloader so trying to pack his own is not an option to try and tighten the group.

He has good glass on it, everything is tight and he knows how to shoot

What are the folks shooting it getting for groups and if any better what are you using?

Thanks.
 
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If he doesn't reload, try different factory ammo. Not every rifle is going to shoot a 1" grouping with all factory ammo or bullet weights that you try. I have had factory ammo shoot anywhere from 1/2" to 4" groupings, in the same rifle just by changing the ammo used. Tikka's are quite accurate out of the box, just try a different ammo before changing anything else.
 
you bet bud I use one a lot!

I have shot a 1/2 group for 3 shot and its very prdictable. I am shooting a 250g HDY Interbond with a healthy charge of 4831 SC seated to sammi spec
and she works and works well!! and its just added fun being in a T-3 Lite!
 
JasonYuke said:
you bet bud I use one a lot!

I have shot a 1/2 group for 3 shot and its very prdictable. I am shooting a 250g HDY Interbond with a healthy charge of 4831 SC seated to sammi spec
and she works and works well!! and its just added fun being in a T-3 Lite!
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Thanks Jason but he doesn't reload like I said.

What has your T 3 grouped with factory ammo if you have used factory at all?
 
That rifle will shoot an inch with factory ammo, I have tried 5 federal loads of a buddy of mines 225 gr and have tried winchester 225 grain ammo as well about 10 loads.

Never did try any factory ammo in 250s

You should get him into reloading! The reloads really dialed her in.
 
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Maybe after the first three rounds, its starting to hurt too much and his groups are getting bigger quicker. I notice that even from my 300 after about 12 rounds. That happens and time to put er' away.
 
Cletus said:
Maybe after the first three rounds, its starting to hurt too much and his groups are getting bigger quicker. I notice that even from my 300 after about 12 rounds. That happens and time to put er' away.
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I had a similar problem. Not with the recoil on the shoulder per se, but the chest "wrenching" I took when shooting it while sighting in. It actually left my chest sore after a few shots.
I had a mercury recoil reducer installed in the butt stock, which has helped and I see Brownells also have one for the forestock as well.
 
A T3 in .338WM just has to be a punishing gun to shoot, so I'm not surprised that the 3rd shot is a bit of a flyer. Besides, that barrel has probably soaked up enough heat, add that to a possible flinch and it's only natural for the groups to open up. If reloading is not an option, then he's pretty well at the mercy of the factory ammo. Another problem arises though. The bullets that will yield the best groups are not necessarily those that will provide best downrange terminal performance on game. Is he willing to sacrifice some accuracy for better knock down power? :) Me, just me remember - I think that a T3 in .338WM in not a good choice. The T3 frame is just too light for that caliber, again only my opinion.
 
gitrdun said:
A T3 in .338WM just has to be a punishing gun to shoot, so I'm not surprised that the 3rd shot is a bit of a flyer. Besides, that barrel has probably soaked up enough heat, add that to a possible flinch and it's only natural for the groups to open up. If reloading is not an option, then he's pretty well at the mercy of the factory ammo. Another problem arises though. The bullets that will yield the best groups are not necessarily those that will provide best downrange terminal performance on game. Is he willing to sacrifice some accuracy for better knock down power? :) Me, just me remember - I think that a T3 in .338WM in not a good choice. The T3 frame is just too light for that caliber, again only my opinion.
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Even in the laminate stainless?
 
Assuming the shooter is actually capable of shooting a one-hole group, it is most likely the combination of a non-bedded action, factory ammo and one phukk of alot of non-braked recoil producing flinch. That is a very light rifle for that kind of energy.
 
I owned a T3 .338 Win Mag this spring. It was an accurate gun but the recoil was stupid... I am an experienced shooter and I have shot bigger and nastier calibers but that 6.5lbs Tikka was a monster with 225 grain Accubonds.. I put a limbsaver recoil pad on it and that tamed her up a bit but I like to shoot my rifles and I can honestly say that is the first gun I have ever owned that I didn't like or want to shoot.
 
Holy ####, you guys shop at victoria secret for underwear too?

a 338 in a 7.5 lb rifle isnt something that is going to make your head explode...


Because you cant handle it, doesnt mean others dont thrive off of it, or are incapable.

One member here built a 458 WM on the same setup, (but I think it was a 695 action)
Hardly a shoulderbreaker, and was apparently pretty tame.
I grew up shooting a single shot cooey for years as a kid... a T3 in 338 WM is a powderpuff compared to a 3 inch load in a cooey.
C'mon guys, seriously?
 
There was a T3 in 338 at the driller's match last weekend and it shot the following at 600 yds (5 shot groups)

7.537"
8.287"
6.162"

Another 338 in an AI shot...
11.912"
8.412"
5.537"

Another 338 (wildcat actually a 338-416) shot
9.130"
15.662"
6.225"


These 338's were using anywhere from 225g to 300g bullets.

For comparision, my little 6/250 30 degree Imp with 105 Lapua's shot...
3.507"
7.195"
2.945"
 
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I'm certainly not a wimp about shooting light rifles, I like to unload my 5.5lb maverick stuffed with 3" slugs as fast as I can for practice. But I had a look at a Tika .338 win mag that had a synthetic stock on it and I had to tell the sales clerk that I'm not an idiot thank you very much. Guess he was hoping someone would finally take the thing off of his hands. If you want a .338 there are likely better rifles to pick from.
 
The Tikka T3 and the M695 are diffrent creatures..

The M695 all dressed up was closer to 9.5lbs and was easy to shoot.
The Tikka T3 all dressed up was closer to 7.25 lbs...

Big diffrence in stock design and fit for me as well. M695 good in .338 Win Mag(never should have sold it) the Tikka T3 in .338 Win Mag well if you have not actually shot one I'd give her a try before recommending it to someone..

I could shoot it just fine for what its worth I just decided not to because IMO there are better choices.

Just my 2 cents
 
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I've looked at the T3's; their "hockey puck rubber" recoil pad is not appropriate for the larger magnum calibres in my opinion (they should exchange it with a steel plate..same effect, at least it would add some weight). They are really too light to shoot comfortably in the large magnum calibres (If you like to punish yourself; fill your boots).

In the lighter calibres, these guns are probably "sweet" little rigs to shoot.
 
My T-3 is a wood stocked blued .338, it initially shot poorly aprox 3.5"avg. with a 225g horn. interbond. My buddy bedded it and I changed to a 210 nosler part. groups hover around .75". Some won't tolerate the recoil, there are always trade offs. I like it as a hunting firearm period. The moral of the story is if your buddy likes it, try a different load or/and bed it, if the recoil isn't worth it to him sell it and move on.

Good luck, Homesteader
 
I'd prefer a light rifle while packing all day than a 10 lb one and admit im a pussy. You might think that the Tikka T3 in 338 win mag is a bad Idea, but there are just as many folks out there that enjoy the Idea of a lightweight capable of hitting hard. *Beware, recoil is stout* should be sewn on to the buttstocks for those of you incapable of seeing the benifit of a lightweight magnum... Define Better... Better because its heavier?
A gun isnt bad because your incapable of handling the recoil it produces...
Put a recoil pad on it, or sell it if you cant handle it... My guide gun kicks harder with 500 gr hardcasts than a 7.5 lb 338 win mag. so I guess its a bad gun too?

I Guess savage should have never sold, or offered any of their synthetic rifles in 300 Win mag, or above. My old 111F in 300 Win mag was lighter, and a much worse stock design for recoil than the T3. It was brutal to shoot, but did the job EVERY time.
A bit of recoil is a trade off for carryability. But for those of you guys that sit in a treestand for 12 hours a day, I could see your point.
 
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