KaibabHunter Report post Posted July 11, 2016 So I need some help. I'm mostly a bow hunter and only rifle hunt on my kids tags. I know enough to get them up and running out to 300 yards. I have a couple hand me down rifles but I am ready to finally get my all around hunting rifle. I don't want to change up ammo etc based on species/tags so basically an elk setup oughta cover everything imo. My budget is $1200 for gun, scope, rings, recoil pad, and taxes. I'm looking to practice out to 600, but prefer shots under 300. Just in case I screw up and he goes from 250 to 500, I wanna be able to take a follow up shot with confidence. I don't reload, and frankly have too much on my plate as it is to start that venture so the gun will have to shoot factory ammo. I hunt hard and want a light weight gun. I'm looking at BDC reticle scopes, probably Leupold or Vortex based on budget. I'm liking the Tikka T3 Lite 300 Win Mag and think I've made up my mind in that. Where should I start for factory ammo? I'd like an ammo option in 165-180 grain. And any scope recommendations as well. Maybe some of you have this gun and know what works well out of the box. Not much of a gun guy so any advice is appreciated. Thx Ryan 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Good choice in rifle! Not much better out there. My Tikka likes nosler and barnes ammo. Hates hornady ammo. barnes 300 win mag 180 gn ttsx shoots best out of my .300. Factory ammo and 1/2 moa. Cant beat that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Lance how do you figure SFP is only accurate for dialing at max power? Please explain as i have never found that to be true. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
452b264 Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Kaibab hunter I would suggest shooting a light weight 300 win. before you buy one, when using stiff loads or heavy bullets they have stout recoil in an 8 pound gun and under gun. You can also put a brake on the Tikka. You didn't mention what calibers you already own? A 7 mm rem. magnum is also a very useful round for large deer and elk with the right bullet. My self I would stick with Leupold. If you buy a BDC scope make sure you confirm drop with your choosen load for each post (yardage) in the scope. Good hunting 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KaibabHunter Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Lance: I agree that the money should be in the scope. I should qualify for a discount which will up my purchasing power on the glass. So my $350 will hopefully get me a $500+ scope. AJ: Good to hear about the Tikka! I've read quite a bit on em and like what I hear about the weight, smooth action, and accuracy. 452: I'm gonna start with a limb saver recoil pad and go from there. If I need to add a brake I'll look into one but I don't think I can squeeze it into my initial budget. My boy's guns are a .270 and a 7mm-08. I was gifted a very nice 25-06 and would prefer to leave it in the safe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Ok Gotcha...wasnt sure if I missed something or had something new to learn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Tika 7mm mag 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KaibabHunter Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Just poking around I found that Nikon has an app that ties the bullet/ballistics to the BDC and provides the range changes based on magnification level. Im assuming all the scope manufacturers have something similar. http://spoton.nikonsportoptics.com/spoton/spoton.html#Index:8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big or Bust Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Tikka T3 Lite a great choice. DNZ rings, and a SWFA 3-9 scope. Done... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metau Report post Posted July 11, 2016 There are several apps you can get for your phone that will let you match the reticle, yardage, magnification and rifles ballistics. I am currently using Strelok and I believe Lance is using Shooter. Never owned a Tikka, but can't recall ever hearing anything negative about them either. Tons of quality ammo out there for either 300 or 7 mags. Can't go wrong either way. Find one used so that you can spend as much as possible on your glass/rings/bases. I too used to buy glass that was half the cost, or less, of the rifle it was on. Now I've sold several rifles to help fund better glass for the ones I really want to shoot. Not sure I could ever go back to shooting cheap glass, except for my two vintage rifles that have period specific glass on them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KaibabHunter Report post Posted July 12, 2016 I went to Cabelas and held the tikka and am sold! Super light and and smooth. Researching scopes and depending on the deal I can get am looking at: Vortex Viper PST 4x16x50, Vortex Viper HS-T 6x24x50, or Leupold VX-3i 4.5x14x50 CDS. Any thoughts? What makes the rings any better/worse and what brands should I be looking at? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe Report post Posted July 12, 2016 I like the leupold better than the vortex. Just my opinion. The vortex glass is slightly better though but the leupold seems to be made better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dse Report post Posted July 12, 2016 For the money you can't beat the vx-3i. The cheapest scope I would put on any rifle I intend to hunt with. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
452b264 Report post Posted July 12, 2016 I have to agree you cant go wrong with a Leupold. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrustratedMonk Report post Posted July 12, 2016 While I do not nearly have the experience as a lot of folks on this site have, I will still chime in. I have a Savage Weather Warrior (300 Win Mag) topped with a Vortex Viper HS 4x16-44 with a Kenton custom turret. I run 180 grain Barnes TTSX ammo. My total cost is about what your budget is. I've shot it out to 500 yards; it is sub-MOA. The Kenton turret has been spot on for me (~3500-7000 feet). Attached is an image from shooting at 500 yards; first time at that distance and all errors are mine. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
