Tikka T3 338 Winchester Magnum

J

Jim870

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Hampton, New Brunswick
I am trying to resist the urge to purchase a medium bore and a deal I found on a Tikka T3 stainless 338 Win mag has me reaching for my wallet. Before I do What should I know about the cartridge and rifle? I know that the recoil could be very stout because of the rifles light weight and the less than impressive recoil pad. I don't think there is any other medium bore cartridge with the support for components, dies and ammo availability that the win mag has. It likely won't get shot much, I'd probably find a load it likes with a 225 grain or 250 grain bullet and then unless drawn for a moose hunt locally or chasing moose or elk outside of New Brunswick it may only see the occasional foul weather hunt for whitetails and black bears not getting shot much.
If I didn't already have an accurate 7mm Rem Mag I'd probably just add a .300 Win Mag or WSM and stuff it with a 200 NAB and call it a day.
 
You will love the brutal recoil in a T3 with that caliber.A buddies dad has one and it split the laminate stock shooting it..........no thanx
 
had in Winchester m70 featherweight with a muzzle brake, I fired it without the brake and wasn't long putting it back on lol
 
So to derail my own thread, if I already have a 7mm Rem mag that shoots 160 partitions well, would there be anything a 300 mag with either a 200 accubond or 200-220 partition offers for any kind of improved performance on elk and moose sized game and if so would it rival the 338 win mag?

I ask because I have some experience shooting the 300's in a t3 and while not as much fun as some of my light recoil guns they certainly were manageable. Although they were just 165 and 180 grain loads and not overly hot at that.
 
I have a stainless laminate T3 in 338 win. It's killed a couple moose to date. Seems to prefer the 250 partitions to anything else. The recoil isn't near as bad as my Vanguard in 300wby. More of a push than a sharp punch. The Vanguard 300 is absolutely brutal even tho it's a much heavier gun.
I have a T3 in 243 as well and it's the most accurate centrefire rifle I've ever owned.
 
It'll be stout recoil for sure but nothing unbearable unless you're quite recoil sensitive. Having said that, your 7mm with 160gr partitions is totally fine for elk and moose. The 338 won't kill them any deader.
 
Jim870 said:
So to derail my own thread, if I already have a 7mm Rem mag that shoots 160 partitions well, would there be anything a 300 mag with either a 200 accubond or 200-220 partition offers for any kind of improved performance on elk and moose sized game and if so would it rival the 338 win mag?
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I liked all the T3s I've owned in the past. I would not buy one in a magnum larger than 7mm given the weight.

That 7MM Mag would kill any moose that walks here in NB or anywhere else for that matter, esp with the bullet you mention.
 
A good friend sold his t3 in 300 win mag to get a t3 in 338 win mag. He found a used left hand model and scooped it up. He reloads 225 ttsx and it's a shooter. Well worth the money and if the stock fits then recoil isn't bad. I have a kimber 338 win launching 210 ttsx and it's one of my favorite rifles. I say if you want it, then get it.
 
I had one in a Forest Stock with a Limbsaver, shot it both with open sights [Skinner with an NECG front band] and also with a scope, a good friend had a synthetic left hand model in the same also with a Limbsaver, He was afraid to shoot His, He is recoil sensitive but after I shot His first He was fine, I would not want to shoot one without a Limbsaver or equivalent, I liked the weight for carrying but it does come with more recoil. The only reason I traded it is something else caught my eye.
 
It will be a completely different gun if you put it into a better stock like a B&C. I’m a big fan of tikkas but I pull them out of that plastic POS stock immediately. The B&C has an aluminum frame with integrated recoil lug and will be much more comfortable to shoot.

Patrick
 
When I had a Remington 700 Classic it shot 210 Nosler PT, 225 Hornady and 250 Nosler PT with Great accuracy.
At 2750 fps with IMR 4831 the 250's produced over 2 tons at the muzzle.
For a young man without fear of recoil there is nothing to fear.
 
I have one with iron sights on it similar to Milt's setup but with a synthetic stock. My favourite rifle in the safe by far.

The recoil is good, there's lots of it...

I don't find it super objectionable but I have practiced with the rifle a lot.

Suggesting that the recoil would not be that bad might be true for a heavier rifle in the caliber, but in my experience with this gun the level is above the tolerance of the majority of shooters that I know. Changing the recoil pad is a must.

I also bought the rifle for hunting elk in SW Alberta, and now live in Northern BC, for where you are it might not be the best option in the world. Might not do anything your 7mm rem won't do.

As for availability I have never had issues with finding components. When I lived in PG I was desperately looking for a box of factory ammo and had no reloading stuff, but could not find it on the shelves due to the popularity of the cartridge locally (I would assume based on the variety of the empty slots at WSS at the time).

I have played with 250, 275 and 300 grain loads. My personal rifle doesn't like lighter bullets.

YMMV
 
^ probably weights over 9lbs scoped, coming in at 8lbs specced, not even in the territory of my less than 6.5lb t3...

Even a scoped t3 synthetic would weight less than the stock hog hunter.
 
I have had a blued synthetic and a laminate 338 t3. I found the original pad a little hard on the shoulder from the bench. with a limbsaver pad installed it was just fine. cold weather with a jacket on no problem. I mostly used 225 grn with a max load of rel 19.
 
SuperCub said:
I liked all the T3s I've owned in the past. I would not buy one in a magnum larger than 7mm given the weight.

That 7MM Mag would kill any moose that walks here in NB or anywhere else for that matter, esp with the bullet you mention.
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SuperCub said:
....... and be a much more flexible choice here in NB for use on deer given the poor chances of drawing a moose tag on a regular basis.
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Why do you have to go and be so pragmatic...
 
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