Building a hunting rifle

[searcher]

Thanks for all that info searcher! I may just buy a Tikka and call it good. I don't need a more powerful cartridge than the 7mm-08 as all I hunt is deer and hogs here on the eastern USA.

Yeah - then that 7 mm/08 would be a great cartridge. I'd load it up with 120 TTSX bullets. I shot two male "cull" pigs yesterday (about 180 pounders), that were fighting. I waited till they were aligned one immediately behind the other, shooting the first through the head. The bullet exited, plowing through the heart/lungs of the second with a complete pass-through. Both dropped right next to each other. While I'm shooting it about 10% faster than you will with an '08, the results would likely be about the same. Finished the day popping a coyote. No saving any hides.......

 

[Hondo64d]

Here is a question for those that have done it: If you were building a hunting rifle on a Reminton 700 style custom action, which one would you choose and why? I have looked at a lot of the options out there but I have no idea why one would be better than the others. Thanks for your help!

My latest was on the Zermatt Arms Origin action. I really like the controlled round feed, mechanical ejection, floating bolt head, and smoothness of operation.

John

Zermätt Origin Action - Zermätt Arms Website

ORIGIN is a friendly priced custom action that utilizes many features included in the TL3 and SR3 line of actions. This receiver is available in the following configurations: – SHORT, MEDIUM or LONG action – RIGHT or LEFT hand – 223, 308, Magnum or PPC/SPC (Valkyrie) bolt heads – Swept bolt...

www.zermattarms.com

 

[nakneker]

Thanks for all that info searcher! I may just buy a Tikka and call it good. I don't need a more powerful cartridge than the 7mm-08 as all I hunt is deer and hogs here on the eastern USA.

Decide what you’re doing yet? Lots of good info in the thread. I would add that I think Tikkas are probably the best value for performance out there. I have a few standard factory Tikkas, all of them shoot under Moa, some shoot half of that. Hammers forged barrels, decent stocks and a simple spring swap for the trigger and you can get a trigger that performs well.

The other nice thing about Tikkas is aftermarket parts, they are such a popular rifle that you can find lots of options as far as stocks, bottom metal, (Although I think the factory bottom metal works fine), scope rings and rails etc. the only rifle you’ll find more aftermarket parts is the 700 of course.

Tikka is a solid option and if you ever decide you want to go custom you can use the action for a build.

 

[DGP4]

Decide what you’re doing yet? Lots of good info in the thread. I would add that I think Tikkas are probably the best value for performance out there. I have a few standard factory Tikkas, all of them shoot under Moa, some shoot half of that. Hammers forged barrels, decent stocks and a simple spring swap for the trigger and you can get a trigger that performs well.

The other nice thing about Tikkas is aftermarket parts, they are such a popular rifle that you can find lots of options as far as stocks, bottom metal, (Although I think the factory bottom metal works fine), scope rings and rails etc. the only rifle you’ll find more aftermarket parts is the 700 of course.

Tikka is a solid option and if you ever decide you want to go custom you can use the action for a build.

Yes, there was a lot of good info on this thread and I have made notes of it all for future reference. Hopefully, it will help others! I agree that the Tikka is probably the best way to go. Spinning a new barrel on a custom action will cost twice as much and probably makes no sense for a hunting rifle. I will probably use the info to build a .223 target rifle in the near future. Thanks again to all the commentators for the great info!

 

[30378]

Based on the fact you said HUNTING rifle, I will contend there is really no need for a high dollar custom. A good 700 will serve you well. You never define the purpose or what you are hunting. I will kinda go old school, all purpose on you with a 7mm Remington Magnum. Huge selection of high BC bullets. Adequate power for anything on North American continent. If ya handload you can load it up or down for each application. By the way, I love mine.

 

[DGP4]

If you go back and read the full thread. I did say in the first post that it was a hunting rifle and later mentioned the caliber I was thinking of and what I hunt (deer and hogs mostly) several times. I've never felt the need for a magnum. I have a Remington 721 in 30-06 that does anything I need for even the largest game I hunt. I have several Remington rifles and quite like them, but I think the Tikkas are, in general, more accurate out of the box. Nice looking rifle by the way!

 

[WeatherbyFan]

A Tikka T3x stainless in your desired cartridge will serve you well for your intended use, another used rifle to look at is a Sako A7 stainless, they are an excellent option for the money as well, and usually very accurate.
Nice thing about a Tikka lots of aftermarket parts available if you want to gussy it up a little !

WF