30-06 Recommendations
- Thread starter USAFRet
- Start date
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
Tikka T3 Is under 1k, comes in stainless and blue. For just over 1k you can get a Tikka Roughtech which is a little nicer than a standard T3 as far as the stock goes, the barrel is fluted, comes threaded with a muzzle brake too. I have two roughtechs and several T3s, never had a Tikka that didn’t do better than MOA, some much better.
New or used?
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Barrel contour/muzzle diameter will be a consideration for a 5/8-24 thread.
Great question, I'll follow this as I haven't bought a new bolt rifle in decades.
Open to either. I have been scouring the pawn shops. Unfortunately, I blew my budget on a like new Remington 11-87 20 gauge.
Exactly! I keep getting folks suggesting rifles with no threads or 1/2x28. I like a nice medium contour barrel.
You have a high probability of getting an excellent rifle if you go the Tikka route. I have and have had several and they all performed flawlessly. The new modular stock design is a nice feature. I replaced the sporter pistol grips with the vertical grip which enabled me to shoot them significantly better by providing better trigger finger alignment with the trigger.
However, one issue I would consider is the recoil with the Tikka T3X Lites in 30 caliber offerings. I had a 308 that was, at least for me, brutal with recoil. But I am a small guy, under 170 lbs. and old. If the rifle is intended strictly as a hunting rifle, then recoil isn't that big of a deal. However, if you intend to do a lot of shooting off the bench, be prepared to deal with some stiff recoil.
However, one issue I would consider is the recoil with the Tikka T3X Lites in 30 caliber offerings. I had a 308 that was, at least for me, brutal with recoil. But I am a small guy, under 170 lbs. and old. If the rifle is intended strictly as a hunting rifle, then recoil isn't that big of a deal. However, if you intend to do a lot of shooting off the bench, be prepared to deal with some stiff recoil.
Dimner
I do believe in Captain Crunch.
This is a very good point.
I have had the t3x in 308, 270 and 30-06 in the light synthetic stock platform. This is with the Sporter barrel profile that they offer. The 308 and 270 sure were whippy, but not the end of the world. An after market limbsaver made all the difference. The 30-06 with the factory barrel was hard hitting. I ended up epoxying in lead weights in strategic areas. I think it was about 8-10 oz that I put in there but it really helped. However I ended up finding a wood T3x stock cheap. And did my own bedding and now that 30-06 is wonderful.
If you are going to just shoot it to develop a hunting load and then shoot 10 shots a year (verify sight on and then hunting) the synthetic stock is no problem.
Also, for what it's worth, I did not even do load development for my 270 and 308. The Hornady whitetail factory loads both shot 3/4 moa out of the box. 3 shot group. The 3/4 inch part was a cold bore shot and a follow-up shot. A third shot always went into or covered half the hole for the 2nd shot. For the 308 this was even before I bedded it. So I bought 5 boxes of the same lot of factory Hornady whitetail ammo. Shot 2-5 shots per year. 2 rounds to verify zero. 0-3 shots in the field depending on how many deer I took.
For the 30-06 I did load development because I had specifical load requirements that did not meet any factory load options.
Nowadays I'm just down to two Tikkas. The 30-06 and my 270 that I rebarreld to a 7x57 McGowan prefit. Sits in a B&C m40 style stock with a bartelin 3b ish contour. It's a 5/8 moa gun. It's done better, but I'm not as consistent as I should be.
Barrel Theading ( 9/16x24 ) and a BackCountry Jet Blast Brake, on My 6.5 Creed. Tikka, was LESS than, $300 at,.. PVA !
Those guys are, AWESOME,.. Machinists !!
We now have 4 PVA Jet Blast Brakes, in My Family on,..
a 6.5 Creed and 6.5 PRC, .270 WSM and, a New 7 PRC Proof Barrel Tikka ( Tamed them,. Down, NICELY ! ).
My 13 y/o Grandson, can Now shoot, 20 Shots, a Day, easily thru, My old, .270 WSM w/ 140's at near,.. 3,200 FPS !
The Jet Blast Brake, DEFLECTS, the "Blast" so Shooter is, NOT hit as much by, the "Concussion" for, a Hunting Rig !
Those guys are, AWESOME,.. Machinists !!
We now have 4 PVA Jet Blast Brakes, in My Family on,..
a 6.5 Creed and 6.5 PRC, .270 WSM and, a New 7 PRC Proof Barrel Tikka ( Tamed them,. Down, NICELY ! ).
My 13 y/o Grandson, can Now shoot, 20 Shots, a Day, easily thru, My old, .270 WSM w/ 140's at near,.. 3,200 FPS !
The Jet Blast Brake, DEFLECTS, the "Blast" so Shooter is, NOT hit as much by, the "Concussion" for, a Hunting Rig !
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The 30 06 is one of the greatest hunting cartridges of all time in my opinion. A little more than needed for eastern white tail but more is better than less. However, if you plan to hunt bear, elk, moose, etc., along with deer you are in good hands with the 06.
Many years ago, I had a 06 in a Remington 700 with a wooded stock. It was a beautiful rifle. It was a sub moa rifle after I had the action bedded and the barrel free floated. Even though I was a lot younger and more physically robust, it wasn't any fun shooting it off the bench, but I didn't buy it for that purpose.
My Tikka 308 was the hunter model with the walnut stock. An absolutely beautiful rifle and superbly accurate OUT OF THE BOX. But the recoil with 150 and 165 grain full power loads even off cross sticks which is the way I practice, and hunt was uncomfortable for me. I went to reduced loading, 125 SST's with H4895 and the recoil was much more manageable. The load was more than adequate for deer out to 200 yards or so.
As part of my downsizing and consolidation effort I sold it to a fellow shooter who really loved it and is getting the best out it these days. I felt good about finding a good home for this really nice rifle. He's has taken several deer with it.
Howa Gamepro.,
I don't own one but they're very affordable, with sub moa with premium ammo warranty.. Threaded barrel and Houge overmold type of stock. Not sure about the weight but I assume no more than 8 lbs... probably 8 and a little with scope.
.
I seen Howa's do MOA groups with the cheapest ammo.
I don't own one but they're very affordable, with sub moa with premium ammo warranty.. Threaded barrel and Houge overmold type of stock. Not sure about the weight but I assume no more than 8 lbs... probably 8 and a little with scope.
.
I seen Howa's do MOA groups with the cheapest ammo.
It has a 1/2x28" thread pattern.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Savage 110 trail Hunter. The accuracy part,, probably more on the shooter/ammo than the rifle.
22"
5/8-24
Under 7 1/2#, supposed to be.
Under 1000
22"
5/8-24
Under 7 1/2#, supposed to be.
Under 1000
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