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

I like the Tikka option or maybe a Sako A7 RTP. I like Leupold scopes but the new Sig Sauer BDX scope has new intrigued with its Bluetooth link from their rangefinder And scope reticle to hold at. Not too badly priced either. Good luck on your new big game hunting adventure
 
TimberPig said:
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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true
but the bolt stop on a SA means I can cycle the SA faster.
The bolt doesn't open as far as a LA.
 
Bigbubba said:
true
but the bolt stop on a SA means I can cycle the SA faster.
The bolt doesn't open as far as a LA.
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If it makes you happy packing a long action rifle set up for a short cartridge then enjoy it. Cycling speed is a pretty small difference between the two case lengths. If I am buying a short case, I’ll pick a rifle built for it from the start and get all the advantages instead of part of them. To each their own, but this is my view of it.
 
If a short action were in order..... I'd build up a .338 federal, not widely popular but it is one of the best choices for performance in a short action. Inside 300 yards mind you.
That was my choice and one of the now banned firearms I had built up was in .338fed, set up for the 210 nosler partition. Good thing I sold that rifle a couple weeks before the ban eh?
So now I'm going to get one built on a MRA Maverick straight pull or an ATRS Maverick bolt gun , have not decided yet.
 
45ACPKING said:
If a short action were in order..... I'd build up a .338 federal, not widely popular but it is one of the best choices for performance in a short action. Inside 300 yards mind you.
That was my choice and one of the now banned firearms I had built up was in .338fed, set up for the 210 nosler partition. Good thing I sold that rifle a couple weeks before the ban eh?
So now I'm going to get one built on a MRA Maverick straight pull or an ATRS Maverick bolt gun , have not decided yet.
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What sort of muzzle velocity were you getting with the 210s? ~2500fps? Any idea how fast its going at 300yds?
 
hawk-i said:
This is an advantage if your shooting WSM's
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Do the magazines let you seat them bullets out farther in the T3 WSM guns? No direct experience with this combo, but it is a common reason to use a longer action as many short cartridges and a few long ones ram the bullets deep into the powder to fit a too long OAL into a shorter action length.
 
I personally see the "short action"/"long action" debate as a waste of breath.
I have used both extensively, each has their advantages/disadvantages. It's
largely a matter of personal preference. Dave
 
TimberPig said:
Do the magazines let you seat them bullets out farther in the T3 WSM guns? No direct experience with this combo, but it is a common reason to use a longer action as many short cartridges and a few long ones ram the bullets deep into the powder to fit a too long OAL into a shorter action length.
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Yes with a "short action" t3 you can install a long action bolt stop and use a long action magazine to load longer than normal - at least thats my understanding. Of course you'll only get as far as your throat will allow.
 
TimberPig said:
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 understand the action.

A 30-06 will typically have a 24 or 26" barrel where as a 308 will have a 20"

The overall length being shorter means it is also lighter.

You may perceive the recoil being similar between the two, but if they were the same weight the 308 would be less.

There is no need for a medium or even magnum cartridge for the OP's needs other than just because
 
Brian46 said:
I understand the action.

A 30-06 will typically have a 24 or 26" barrel where as a 308 will have a 20"

The overall length being shorter means it is also lighter.

You may perceive the recoil being similar between the two, but if they were the same weight the 308 would be less.

There is no need for a medium or even magnum cartridge for the OP's needs other than just because
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26" for a 30-06? I'm not saying they don't exist, but its hardly the standard these days from what I've seen. Seems 22", regardless of caliber, is the standard, with Magnums getting 24-26" tubes. 24" tubes for 30-06 might have been common 20 years ago, but its much less so these days.

3 of my friends use 30-06, two savage and a browning. 22" barrel on 'em all. Same with my 270win savage. My 7mm08 Remington 700 is only a 20" barrel but thats only because it started life as a youth model. The Winchester Model 70 still comes with a 24" barrel in 30-06, but thats the only one that comes to mind off the top of my head - Ruger, Savage, Browning all use 22" barrels. Again, I'm sure there are other options, but they seem to be more the exception than the rule at this point.
 
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So much of all this debate is more about semantics and personal preferences. The real differences are not large.

As long as the gun fits the shooter well, is in a chambering they can handle the recoil from and is chambered for a remotely suited round for the game and conditions with an appropriate bullet it will work out fine.
 
Suther said:
26" for a 30-06? I'm not saying they don't exist, but its hardly the standard these days from what I've seen. Seems 22", regardless of caliber, is the standard, with Magnums getting 24-26" tubes. 24" tubes for 30-06 might have been common 20 years ago, but its much less so these days.

3 of my friends use 30-06, two savage and a browning. 22" barrel on 'em all. Same with my 270win savage. My 7mm08 Remington 700 is only a 20" barrel but thats only because it started life as a youth model. The Winchester Model 70 still comes with a 24" barrel in 30-06, but thats the only one that comes to mind off the top of my head - Ruger, Savage, Browning all use 22" barrels. Again, I'm sure there are other options, but they seem to be more the exception than the rule at this point.
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2, 4, 6 inches longer is still more weight.

There is a lot of 16" 308's now but I used 20" because that is an older std and yet here we are anyways discussing the obvious.

Other than the tikka, the short action itself has a weight savings. But hey, we all knew that as well.
 
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As you can see, choices are fairly personal. There is no "correct answer". Everyone has a different opinion as to what good looks like.

In my experience, moose being the tougher game, I would look at .270 Winchester or 7mm-08 as the "starting point" for cartridge selection - .30-06 is a good one, 300-400 meters is doable with practice. Recoil is manageable and handloading can give a big kick in the pants to the old warhorse.

The Tikka T3x is a great rifle. I like them a lot, they shoot very well and are a good carry rifle. I personally wouldn't buy a short action cartridge in a T3x unless it was a WSM (the single stack magazines feed amazing). But the T3x Lite Stainless might be a great option. Also mentioned are the Browning X-Bolt and Winchester M70 Extreme Weather - both can take a beating in the field and will be able to land shots at 300-400 meters reliably.

Scope-wise in your price range you'll find Leupold VX-3HD which is a pretty easy "no-brainer" choice, the 2.5-8x36mm and 3.5-10x40mm will do very well. I would lean towards the latter for 300-400 meter shooting. You can look at a rail + rings package or ringmounts, there are a lot of good options out there for "all of the above" as far as rifles go. Burris Signature, Steiner Predator, Swarovski z3, Vortex Razor LHT, basically most of the big-name scopes in the $1k price range are going to be solid in the field and have a solid warranty to support you.

Then practice, practice, practice!
 
Kimber also puts a 24 inch tube on their 30-06 rifles


Suther said:
26" for a 30-06? I'm not saying they don't exist, but its hardly the standard these days from what I've seen. Seems 22", regardless of caliber, is the standard, with Magnums getting 24-26" tubes. 24" tubes for 30-06 might have been common 20 years ago, but its much less so these days.

3 of my friends use 30-06, two savage and a browning. 22" barrel on 'em all. Same with my 270win savage. My 7mm08 Remington 700 is only a 20" barrel but thats only because it started life as a youth model. The Winchester Model 70 still comes with a 24" barrel in 30-06, but thats the only one that comes to mind off the top of my head - Ruger, Savage, Browning all use 22" barrels. Again, I'm sure there are other options, but they seem to be more the exception than the rule at this point.
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My observations have been that moose, hit in the vitals, are no harder to kill than deer hit in the vitals.

Where you hit it matters, not what you hit it with so much. If you don't shoot it in the ass with your SooperDooperLoudenboomer, and stand there like a moron wondering why the head didn't fall off, you'll be fine. Based on a true story, BTW...Not a good story, a stupid one.

The REAL difference? Moose make a lot more work to haul out! Usually!

Rifle and scope choice is pretty personal and you need to have something that fits you well enough, and you are confident in.
Caliber choice too, hard to go much wrong with pretty much anything a 7mm bore size, or above, in a cartridge that is considered acceptable for big game use.

Hard to find many guys that had a bad thing to say about a Leica rangefinder. Skip the combo rigs, unless you have money to burn on a top quality rangefinding Bino. Carry at LEAST one spare battery!

There's pretty good reason for there being almost a Gold Standard for a North American Hunting rifle being a basic 30-06 or similar, topped with a 3x9x40 scope. You have to be pretty well experienced in order to outgrow such a rig. Basic cup and core bullets work really well, if not driven to super magnum velocities. I would suggest that if you are not reloading, buy what you can get, try it to see if it shoots well, and whatever shoots best, AND you can reliably get more of, should be your pick.
 
Stainless, synthetic rifle, decent glass, with good mounts(I’m a Talley guy, but there’s plenty of good choices). Try to get a decent pair of binoculars, they’re one of your most important pieces of hunting equipment. I think range finding binos would be awesome, but I haven’t personally used them.
 
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