Browning X-Bolt or Tikka T3 in 338 Win Mag

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Statichavoc

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Hey guys,

I'm in the market to buy a new rifle and I have narrowed it down to the x-bolt or t3 in 338 win mag. Does anyone have experience with either of these rifles? If I get the t3, it would likely be the laminated stainless version as I hate the feel of the lite. My main concern is the weight of both rifles in the given caliber. How hard do they kick? I'm not recoil shy but I'd like to know before taking the plunge.

My current hunting rifle is a Sako A3 Finnbear Deluxe in 300 win mag that I inherited from my dad.

Thanks!
 
I hunted two seasons with a T3 St.Lite in 338 Win.Mag., and yes it does have recoil because of its weight.
People seem to concern themselves with recoil and do not realize that the one important kill shot you make that in all the excitement you ain't gonna notice recoil.....off the bench however we all complain ... Don't we ?
In short, yes recoil is there....be like me, if it's a bother wear a sissy pad, no shame in that..
 
I have some heavy boppers, including one bought from Kevan. So i am accustomed to recoil, and found my T3 30-06 to be extreme for caliber. The problem is the hockey puck reformed into a "recoil pad". That 30-06 has been my go to for about 5 years, mainly because of a addition of a Limbsaver pre fit pad. Now the recoil is like a 243.

So one more vote for the T3, but factor in a $55 pad, which takes 5 minutes to change( if it takes 3 to find the screwdriver).
 
nowarningshot said:
I have some heavy boppers, including one bought from Kevan. So i am accustomed to recoil, and found my T3 30-06 to be extreme for caliber. The problem is the hockey puck reformed into a "recoil pad". That 30-06 has been my go to for about 5 years, mainly because of a addition of a Limbsaver pre fit pad. Now the recoil is like a 243.

So one more vote for the T3, but factor in a $55 pad, which takes 5 minutes to change( if it takes 3 to find the screwdriver).
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I also find it interesting that Sako continues to put hockey pucks on their rifles. Thankfully they addressed it on the new Tikka T3x. +1 for Limbsavers!
 
I like my t3 .338 wm.

Limbsaver makes the experience more comfortable; but you can't cheat physics and it will wallop you good.

No experience with the x-bolt. Lots of rounds down a t3 .338, so many it has damaged my brain enough that I almost like it. I actually prefer it to my lever action with 300 grain loads.
 
tough choice

I have an X-bolt stalker .338 win very accurate, because of its light weight recoil is heavy, I shortened the barrel to 21" and put a brake on it

I also have a SS T3 Lite in 9.3x62 very accurate, because of its light weight recoil is heavy added a Limbsaver to soften blow.

I like them both
 
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I had a T3 Lite in .338 WM. It kicked quite noticeably with 250gr loads. I would, without a moment's hestation, take the Finnbear Deluxe in .300 WM over either of the rifles you are considering. It's not even close - your rifle is far, far nicer. also the .300 WM is no slouch. I used to shoot one of those too and would not hesitate to hunt anything in North America with it using 200 or 220 grain Nosler Partitions.
 
Thanks for the responses guys.

1899 said:
I had a T3 Lite in .338 WM. It kicked quite noticeably with 250gr loads. I would, without a moment's hestation, take the Finnbear Deluxe in .300 WM over either of the rifles you are considering. It's not even close - your rifle is far, far nicer. also the .300 WM is no slouch. I used to shoot one of those too and would not hesitate to hunt anything in North America with it using 200 or 220 grain Nosler Partitions.
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The rifle is indeed beautiful. One of the reasons I'm looking at the x-bolt and t3 is because I can take either of them into the bush and not worry about damaging them, unlike the Sako. I also looked at the Sako 85 Kodiak & Hunter LS - both beautiful rifles. But after doing some research and hearing about the large action having ejection problems I decided to avoid them altogether.
 
Statichavoc said:
Thanks for the responses guys.



The rifle is indeed beautiful. One of the reasons I'm looking at the x-bolt and t3 is because I can take either of them into the bush and not worry about damaging them, unlike the Sako. I also looked at the Sako 85 Kodiak & Hunter LS - both beautiful rifles. But after doing some research and hearing about the large action having ejection problems I decided to avoid them altogether.
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I think Elmer Kieth said - regarding not wanting to use beautiful rifles - "would you not kiss a woman because she is too beautiful?"
 
I had a T3 Lite in .338WM and , although accurate, was a wee bit on the brutal side of recoil speed. Glad I had it scoped with a Bushnell 4200 , the rubber occular piece save me from 3 different "scope-eyes". Just lose concentration once and you get bit through the eyebrow!! I'd choose something a wee bit heavier (I have not shot an X bolt , but own several A-bolts. I love Browning to death, so get the real nice ones like the Gold medallion etc. If not , Can you find a Weatherby Vanguard or Howa in .338? Nice solid guns at decent prices. Just not sure about .338 chamberings. Don't actually recall seeing any...........
 
One thing that sets the X-bolt over the T3 for me is the recoil pad, the newer inflex style pads on the x-bolt(and the abolt3's) is fantastic. I've got one side by side with a savage, where the savage was heavier and had a nice recoil pad already and the x-bolt had a less noticeable kick.

Other than that I find the weight and feel is pretty similar between the two.
 
1899 said:
I think Elmer Kieth said - regarding not wanting to use beautiful rifles - "would you not kiss a woman because she is too beautiful?"
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Not kiss a beautiful woman because she is beautiful or because her husband is watching?
I found that my T3 in 338 had a passion for the 210 gr. Partition over any other bullet weight so that was all I used and really had no need for a larger bullet...they did the job admirably.
As an all round nice light gun to car
 
^funny how that works; my rifle seems to prefer 250, 275 and 300 grain bullets and sends the light ones all over the place.
 
Kevan said:
Not kiss a beautiful woman because she is beautiful or because her husband is watching?
I found that my T3 in 338 had a passion for the 210 gr. Partition over any other bullet weight so that was all I used and really had no need for a larger bullet...they did the job admirably.
As an all round nice light gun to car
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Fired next to a .375 Ruger Alaskan the T3 .338 had similar felt recoil with 250gr Partitions as the Ruger with 300gr factory loads. On my scale the T3 with 2.5x Leupold M8 was something like 6.3 lbs.
 
Kevan said:
Not kiss a beautiful woman because she is beautiful or because her husband is watching?
I found that my T3 in 338 had a passion for the 210 gr. Partition over any other bullet weight so that was all I used and really had no need for a larger bullet...they did the job admirably.
As an all round nice light gun to car
Click to expand...

Exactly where the battery died in my I Pad., funny how this electronic garbage works.
As I was saying I liked the little lightweight T3 in 338 for packing around, certainly made a nice Moose thumper..
 
1899 said:
Fired next to a .375 Ruger Alaskan the T3 .338 had similar felt recoil with 250gr Partitions as the Ruger with 300gr factory loads. On my scale the T3 with 2.5x Leupold M8 was something like 6.3 lbs.
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OK - so here's another comment that's food for thought. Do you guys feel like the .338 is a noticeable jump in performance over the .300 win mag on game - particularly larger game animals like elk/moose/bear? Say I took 1899's advice and continued to use the .300 win mag for my hunting endeavours - would moving up to something like a 375H&H for the sake of having one and/or grizzly hunting make more sense? What are your feelings on both calibers for NA hunting? I often wonder if people actually use their .375's for anything other than the great bears.
 
A gun smith I know told me XBolt show up in his shop with the stocks cracked close to the "pistol grip". The original stocks are not super solid, in his opinion. It might be a problem with 338. I own an XBolt, but in 30-06. I put a muzzle break on it (for me, not because of the stock!).

I have no experience with T3 durability.
 
sgt.rock said:
I had a T3 Lite in .338WM and , although accurate, was a wee bit on the brutal side of recoil speed. Glad I had it scoped with a Bushnell 4200 , the rubber occular piece save me from 3 different "scope-eyes". Just lose concentration once and you get bit through the eyebrow!! I'd choose something a wee bit heavier (I have not shot an X bolt , but own several A-bolts. I love Browning to death, so get the real nice ones like the Gold medallion etc. If not , Can you find a Weatherby Vanguard or Howa in .338? Nice solid guns at decent prices. Just not sure about .338 chamberings. Don't actually recall seeing any...........
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I have seen videos of Weatherby Vanguard S2's in .338 but have yet to see one on the rack at any of the stores in my area
 
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