BLR or Tikka T3 - Light?
- Thread starter Skippercyr
- Start date
Well, my friend and I are going to attend the Outdoor show at the CNE on Sunday to see the Ontario OUT OF DOORS Hunting Hall and visit some of the rifles they will have there. Who knows I might end up coming home with a new rifle. I'm still undecided between both rifles. They both feel great and have pros and cons that balance each other out. I don't know anybody that actually owns one of each to try them out. Gosh darn it.
I shoot a Lefty t3 lite ss in 270wsm and love the gun.
The action is buttery smooth and the gun is nice and lite for hiking.
Put a limbsaver stock pad on it if you haven't shot a lite gun much.
I haven't shot a blr so I can comment on it. But don't buy a used gun in a caliber you don't want just because it's cheaper. The biggest reason I went tikka is they were the only available rifle in 270wsm with a detachable mag. That way I can carry an unloaded rifle and be loaded with 3 rds in about 2seconds. Can't do that with a hinged floorplate.
The action is buttery smooth and the gun is nice and lite for hiking.
Put a limbsaver stock pad on it if you haven't shot a lite gun much.
I haven't shot a blr so I can comment on it. But don't buy a used gun in a caliber you don't want just because it's cheaper. The biggest reason I went tikka is they were the only available rifle in 270wsm with a detachable mag. That way I can carry an unloaded rifle and be loaded with 3 rds in about 2seconds. Can't do that with a hinged floorplate.
both
got a t3 lite s/s in 30/06 and a blr pistol grip in 308. I had a win70 featherweight in 300wsm that seemed to kick less (OK less perceived recoil) than my t3 in 30/06. the blr is a mighty handy gun...I have a 2-7x on it. (sometimes I think of going back to open sights only on it). Ammo for the 300wsm is expensive compared to 308 or 30/06 for not a HUGE improvement in performance.
As mentioned if you get the t3 plan on putting a limbsaver recoil pad on it...not sure why Tikka doesn't include this on their rifles.
Good luck and let us know what you decide on.
got a t3 lite s/s in 30/06 and a blr pistol grip in 308. I had a win70 featherweight in 300wsm that seemed to kick less (OK less perceived recoil) than my t3 in 30/06. the blr is a mighty handy gun...I have a 2-7x on it. (sometimes I think of going back to open sights only on it). Ammo for the 300wsm is expensive compared to 308 or 30/06 for not a HUGE improvement in performance.
As mentioned if you get the t3 plan on putting a limbsaver recoil pad on it...not sure why Tikka doesn't include this on their rifles.
Good luck and let us know what you decide on.
- Location
- Possum Lodge.... Bracebridge,Ontario
Got my 270 Win BLR from Epps this Jan. after christmas. Love the gun. Got it from Epps and the service is amazing as always. Answered all the questions I had and gave me some tips on what scope to mount on it.
You guys are a bunch of wusses 
I shoot a Tikka in 300WSM . It was my first rifle. I didn't develop a flinch and I dont see what all the recoil fuss is about ?? I put a Limbsaver on mine and I can shoot it all day long, yeah she kicks hard, but it wouldn't be any fun if it didn't . Any 300 Mag is going to thump a bit, but its not like it hurts, just wakes you up a bit
Sometimes I will put 2 or 3 rounds into a nearby stump just for the thrill of the recoil
I shoot a Tikka in 300WSM . It was my first rifle. I didn't develop a flinch and I dont see what all the recoil fuss is about ?? I put a Limbsaver on mine and I can shoot it all day long, yeah she kicks hard, but it wouldn't be any fun if it didn't . Any 300 Mag is going to thump a bit, but its not like it hurts, just wakes you up a bit
Sometimes I will put 2 or 3 rounds into a nearby stump just for the thrill of the recoil
Yup. I would add, the original straight grip configuration (in short action) is the lightest and best balanced BLR...and best looking too.
The BLR and T3 are very different rifles and I find it strange to be deciding between the two. Personally I cannot get warm to the funky looking grips or checkering on stock of the T3. It's just too "modern" I suppose.
Well I've owned both the T3 and the BLR. In my opinion the triggers SUCK on the BLR. I sold mine in 308 and currently have a T3 in the locker. I even had my trigger worked on by a gunsmith and it was still way to heavy for me. The T3 trigger was awesome.
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
the ore one shoots a blr the better the trigger gets.
I have not posted an update in a long time. On my way to Ellwood Epps in the morning to look closely at a BLR 300wsm, pistol grip in black metal and stainless steel. I will come back with a rifle but not sure which one. I will keep you all posted.
I don't know why people are so obsessed with the WSM. WSM shoots only 50 feet per second faster whan WM. The ammo in WSM is much more expensive than in Wm and if you reload you can make the WM shoot faster than the WSM. The only reason that factory ammo is faster than WM is that they are loaded hotter because there are 30 year old poorley cared for WM's out there that might not be able to handel extra pressure. And I know that the wsm can use a short action but in most rifles they weigh the same in a short and long action.
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
My two cents...
The Tikka T3 will almost definitely shoot circles around the BLR. Both BLRs and BARs, while decent enough rifles, nevertheless are not known for spectacular accuracy...as in, sub MOA groups...that is much more commonly found with bolt actions.
Next, the T3 will probably cost you less, too.
The T3 Lite, on both this forum and another I frequent stateside, is getting almost unanimous rave reviews from owners. I've handled one...my son-in-law's...just enough to know that those rave reviews are merited. It's a terrific rifle, especially for the dough they cost. It's pretty easy to spend twice as much, or more, and end up with less actual performance.
That said, I think the Sako A7 might even be better, a sort of slightly refined version of the Tikka. (same manufacturer)
Not to say that there aren't other good bolt actions out there, too. But I sure am hearing and reading a lot of really good stuff about these two particular models.
Caliber? The future, IMHO, is with the 300 WSM, which I think is becoming one of those turning point rounds in the same manner as were the 30.06 Spfld, .308 Win., and .223. For moose, doesn't get any better.
That said, I think there's a good argument for the .270 WSM, too. I'm increasingly of the opinion that heavy bullets, at least for N. American game (short of bison and griz), are somewhat overrated. The way ammo has evolved over the last decade, the advent of well constructed/designed bullets, and the consistent quality now found in factory ammo, and the kind of performance one can count on from 120 to 150 gr. ammo, is making a believer out of me in calibers that are a tad easier on the shoulder, and considerably more enjoyable to indulge for more than a dozen rounds at a time at the range.
I personally don't think a 180 gr. Barnes TSX or whatever of similar quality will kill anything from a moose on down any better or faster than will a 130 gr. bullet of the same quality, all else being equal. And 180 grs will never compensate for a lousy shot. What the 130 will do better is fly straighter and faster, making 300 yd shots that much more forgiving. Yes, beyond 350 yds the heavier bullets won't deflect as much with a cross wind, but then I don't shoot at stuff beyond that range anyway. And out to 350 yds deflection on 100 to 150 gr bullets on most days isn't usually significant enough to fret, IMHO.
The last bull elk I took was with my 300 WM, using Federal Premium Barnes 130 gr. TTSX, which leaves the barrel at a sizzling 3600 fps, and drops all of 4" at 300 yds. Got it at about 100 yds, through the front shoulder. It hunched up hard, and made it about 30 yards to where it dropped stone dead. Lungs were blown to absolute rat unowhat! The shock from impact of that warp speed bullet was so severe, I think, that it never drew another breath.
Don't know how many posts I've read from those who have taken every elk they've ever shot with a 25.06, cleanly and very often DRT. Me, I think that's maybe stretching the limits of that caliber a tad, but don't try to convince these guys of that!
For some reason the 7mm WSM hasn't caught on, and may go the way of calibers like the 6mm Rem. over the long term.
FWIW.
The Tikka T3 will almost definitely shoot circles around the BLR. Both BLRs and BARs, while decent enough rifles, nevertheless are not known for spectacular accuracy...as in, sub MOA groups...that is much more commonly found with bolt actions.
Next, the T3 will probably cost you less, too.
The T3 Lite, on both this forum and another I frequent stateside, is getting almost unanimous rave reviews from owners. I've handled one...my son-in-law's...just enough to know that those rave reviews are merited. It's a terrific rifle, especially for the dough they cost. It's pretty easy to spend twice as much, or more, and end up with less actual performance.
That said, I think the Sako A7 might even be better, a sort of slightly refined version of the Tikka. (same manufacturer)
Not to say that there aren't other good bolt actions out there, too. But I sure am hearing and reading a lot of really good stuff about these two particular models.
Caliber? The future, IMHO, is with the 300 WSM, which I think is becoming one of those turning point rounds in the same manner as were the 30.06 Spfld, .308 Win., and .223. For moose, doesn't get any better.
That said, I think there's a good argument for the .270 WSM, too. I'm increasingly of the opinion that heavy bullets, at least for N. American game (short of bison and griz), are somewhat overrated. The way ammo has evolved over the last decade, the advent of well constructed/designed bullets, and the consistent quality now found in factory ammo, and the kind of performance one can count on from 120 to 150 gr. ammo, is making a believer out of me in calibers that are a tad easier on the shoulder, and considerably more enjoyable to indulge for more than a dozen rounds at a time at the range.
I personally don't think a 180 gr. Barnes TSX or whatever of similar quality will kill anything from a moose on down any better or faster than will a 130 gr. bullet of the same quality, all else being equal. And 180 grs will never compensate for a lousy shot. What the 130 will do better is fly straighter and faster, making 300 yd shots that much more forgiving. Yes, beyond 350 yds the heavier bullets won't deflect as much with a cross wind, but then I don't shoot at stuff beyond that range anyway. And out to 350 yds deflection on 100 to 150 gr bullets on most days isn't usually significant enough to fret, IMHO.
The last bull elk I took was with my 300 WM, using Federal Premium Barnes 130 gr. TTSX, which leaves the barrel at a sizzling 3600 fps, and drops all of 4" at 300 yds. Got it at about 100 yds, through the front shoulder. It hunched up hard, and made it about 30 yards to where it dropped stone dead. Lungs were blown to absolute rat unowhat! The shock from impact of that warp speed bullet was so severe, I think, that it never drew another breath.
Don't know how many posts I've read from those who have taken every elk they've ever shot with a 25.06, cleanly and very often DRT. Me, I think that's maybe stretching the limits of that caliber a tad, but don't try to convince these guys of that!
For some reason the 7mm WSM hasn't caught on, and may go the way of calibers like the 6mm Rem. over the long term.
FWIW.
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