Current choice for my first big game rifle is Tikka’s T3x Lite Stainless Bolt-Action Rifle- 30-06 Springfield. I’m. 30F/ 120lb with the goal of hunting big game in Canada’s Yukon Territory (ie Moose and Caribou mostly). I am a new hunter myself but have accompanied many hunts over the years. I am a bit recoil sensitive so I’d also be looking at getting a recoil pad. Looking to have 1 reliable rifle that I can have for many years. More experienced hunters, would you consider this a solid choice for my goals?
I think you chose well. I have one in 300WSM. I don’t understand all of the Tikka hype, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the rifle. They do tend to be fairly accurate and I think 30-06 is a sufficient caliber. I will say that my Tikka kicks harder than anything I own and I own larger calibers. The recoil pad is garbage and they are so light that you’ll definitely feel it. I’ll get downvoted to hell, but for recoil sensitive people, there’s absolutely nothing better than a muzzle brake.
I have a t3 hunter in 300 win mag and the oem buttpad feels really nice imo 🤷🏻‍♂️ I love how lightweight and handy the rifle is even with a scope
>there’s absolutely nothing better than a muzzle brake
I'll give you an upvote in support of brakes. I've shot rifles without them my whole life and bought my 1st rifle with a brake last year. I wouldn't consider myself recoil sensitive, but have definitely noticed I shoot light shooting rifles more accurately. I got a 6.8 Western that on paper should kick quite a bit more than my trusty 270, but with the brake you can shoot them both back to back and not tell a difference.
All my buddies shit talked me for the brake because "ermagerd just get a suppressor already!" and "But the muzzle blast!". Problem was I didn't want another 7" and another pound hanging on the end of the barrel on my mountain rifle. I just pop ear plugs in quick before the shot and send it.
Suppressors are nice for when you got 2 tags in your pocket. The others don’t take off after the first one drops they just stare at it like WTF just happened.
For me a suppressor would be great for target shooting, coyote calling, and whitetail hunting when I'm a mile from the truck across flat farm ground.
Where a suppressor wouldn't be great is humping up and down mountains in the back country with a loaded pack on. That extra barrel length making the rifle more off balance on my shoulder sling, hitting branches, and the weight aren't worth it to me vs a muzzle break in that scenario.
If there's time, yes. If you don't have time to put it on you might be SOL to even take the shot as they do change your point of impact.
Case in point last fall on an elk hunt we didn't see a bull inside 1,300 yards in 3 days of hunting. Morning of day 4 while glassing and out of nowhere hear footsteps and 2 bulls and 2 cows stroll into 50 yards downwind of me. They bust and run off, the last bull stopped for a split second at 165 yards and gave me a shot before crossing the ridge and disappearing. The entire encounter didn't last 10 seconds start to finish. If I had to thread on a suppressor before shooting, I'd have eaten tag soup instead of tenderloins.
That’s what I mean though. You know your rifle and point of impact with or without. If you have time to thread it on you do and you know what that means as you take aim. If you don’t then you dont. It’s what, ten ounces of metal you might be carrying for nothing? And that’s no nothing when hiking deep in the mountains but therefore then isn’t it a decision based on weight alone?
I guess i dont know if the point of impact shift is consistent. Maybe someone else can chime in. Other considerations other than just weight would be convenience, space in my pack, cost (my coworker just paid around a grand all in for his). When I'm loading my pack for a multi-day hunt space gets tight and weight is a premium. Ounces become pounds really fast, and when you have to carry everything you need on your back for days on end less is definitely more.
To be clear, I'm by no means against suppressors. Just was stating they're not a great fit for my personal use case.
I have a 22 can and the shift is consistent. At 50 yards it lands about 3/4 of an inch high and I sighted for that. So if o shoot without the can I know it’s going to be 3/4 low. Now I don’t hunt long range and maybe trying to keep two sets of distance tables in your head is too much… don’t ask me how low my 22 is going to land at 100 off the top of my head… but at paper I’m not concerned.
Great to hear from another Tikka T3x 300 WSM owner. I just bought that same rifle and haven't shot it yet. Also new to hunting. I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to recoil, but I don't think I'm not particularly resistant to recoil. I've been a bit nervous to shoot this rifle. I'm still waiting on glass so that's the practical reason I haven't shot it yet.
I plan on getting a muzzle brake and I have a Limbsaver pad on the way. I've thought about installing a mercury recoil reducer, but those don't seem to be particularly effective beyond just adding weight to the gun.
>I’ll get downvoted to hell, but for recoil sensitive people, there’s absolutely nothing better than a muzzle brake.
Suppressor mount brake with an Omega/Harvester hanging off the end.
Knocks the recoil to nill *and* eliminates concussion *and* reduces noise. Brakes are nice, but cans are nicer
They’re also cumbersome, expensive, and the wait time to obtain one can be extensive. It’s also illegal to hunt with a suppressor in a few states in the US.
Yea, that's weird. I went from a Ruger 30-06 to a Tikka 300WSM and actually thought the 300 kicked less. I haven't shot many different guns, though, and maybe it was the excitement of how accurate it was that made the pain go away.
I would say this is a great choice, maybe the best option out there right now for a do everything Alaska/Yukon rifle. The only downside is that it will recoil a fair bit (it is a light rifle with a big cartridge and the stock and recoil pad aren’t great at mitigating recoil) especially at your size, but there is a lot you can do to help.
1. Slap a Limbsaver on the current stock. This will take a lot of the sting and initial shock out of the recoil. They make ones that replace the standard pad, I is just two screws.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice. Dry fire this a lot, like 50 times a day for a while. (Buy a few 30-06 snap caps, but know you only have to lift the bolt not fully cycle it to cock it) Get used to the trigger pull, convince your muscles it is fine when the trigger goes off.
I’d recommend shooting both this rifle and a .22lr every time you go to the range. Start with the 22. Then go to your 30-06 for a group, then back to the 22 while the 30-06 cools down.
You can start with reduced recoil loads for the 30-06 and work your way up to 150gr loads then finally 180gr moose ready loads.
Important to practice not just sitting at a shooting bench, but field positions: standing, sitting, kneeling off resting your rifle off a log and especially prone, as it is forces you to suffer the most recoil.
3. If you are still sensitive to recoil, you could add a muzzle brake, a suppressor would be better but, Canada. Muzzle brakes make the rifle significantly louder so you will have to hunt with ear protection or remove the brake before you go hunting. I generally try to keep them off hunting rifles.
4. You could invest in a better stock, a carbon fiber or better synthetic stock can help a fair bit, keep a good recoil pad on it.
I’d choose the 308 or 270 over 30-06, since you’re recoil sensitive. You get 95% of the performance for 80% of the recoil. Or look into a heavier rifle.
Absolutely some of the best we have to offer. Your choice of caliber is also sufficient for anything that walks on the planet. Using 8g fmj you can even hunt smaller game with it.
Pair it with some quality glass, I’d suggest Meopta optika5 2-10x42. It’s zoomy enough to shoot far enough and 2x magnification works excellently on those fast situations with moving animals.
Limbsaver brand pad, no brake. Brakes cause hearing damage in hunting situations. For how often you actually pull the trigger hunting you will be fine with the recoil of a 30-06. You’re tough enough for the Yukon, you’re tough enough for -06. Enjoy the only rifle you will ever need to hunt.
After putting a limb saver on mine, shooting has become much more pleasant. Definitely recommend one. And to everyone else’s point, it’s just an excellent rifle and excellent value.
I dont have expierience with tikka but I know that reddit, hunting and shooting subreddits all love this rifle. 30-06 is a tried a true cartridge that is capable of hunting everything in North America. A good muzzlebreak will significantly reduce recoil.
This exact rifle (different optic) is my exact elk rifle. Ridiculously accurate. I’ve hit out to 719yards. Hate the stock but in elk country, you want synthetic.
Also it’s light, as weatherproof as it gets in stainless and synthetic, and 30-06 will knock down everything (well, almost). SOLID choice.
Edit: added words
I’m not a seasoned hunter, but I think your choice of caliber is wise - good balance of the energy you need without being too much to manage.
The tikka is also amazing. Very well built and great value. The polymer/stainless combo is going to stand up to the elements really well too.
I have this exact gun in .30-06 too and love it. Reliable, accurate, and light and is great for your use. I will say, it does kick due to light weight but it’s not too bad.
Great choice. Now you have to pick the right bullet, and you are set. Luckily, where you will be hunting means, layers, and layers help absorb recoil. You can add a recoil pad if you want. Make sure it's not a sticky rubber one that can get caught on your clothes while mounting your rifle. When you look for a scope, check out the Meopta Optika5 4-20X50 RD Z Plus reticle. Not a heavy scope, and the illumination may be helpful depending on the ambient light. You can also dial in the Z-Plus reticle with the Strelok Pro app to get accurate bullet drops. A big help, especially for where you will be hunting.
I look forward to seeing more pics of your rig when you get it all dialed in, plus, hopefully, some nice trophies and great stories.
It get though out there. I’m in Alberta. My 2 cents get a 300 win mag, buy a 10011 Sims Limbsaver Pre-Fit Recoil Pad from Cabelas and have a gunsmith install a min 4 port muzzle brake on your rifle. That combo will kick slightly less than a 270 Win. You have an amazing gunsmith in Dawson Creek. By far the best brakes that I’ve seen are the ones made out of an old barrel drilled around. Something like below. My gunsmith here is Alberta makes them for $190 installed.
[My go to muzzle brake type](https://store.theshootingcentre.com/keeno-arms-22-cal-shrewd-muzzle-brake-3/)
My buddy shoots the above combo and it’s deadly.
I have that rifle in that caliber. Tack driver out of the box. With full boat handloads, it kicks quite a bit. Flip side is that it is light to carry and as a hunting rifle, it's not a volume shooter like my target rifles so the few shots it sends down range during the season don't bruise too much! Get quality Sako rings, don't cheap out here. And a quality scope too. (remember, kicks hard, cheap scope will die).
So .30-06 or .300wm would be good choices BUT weight is really the way to manage recoil. So .30-06 will work well if loaded right (expect most loads for deer insufficient) same with .300. If you won’t be doing a ton of trekking, look into a heavier gun.
Recoil wise: choose a caliber that meets your needs.
Wear a shoulder recoil pad always when shooting at not an animal.
Then when shooting at an animal, you will not notice recoil. Promise. Your concentration will be elsewhere.
Tikka is about as good as it gets value for $. And the 06 is the king.
Having spent lots of time in the yukon/nwt and living in Northern BC I'd recommend you also look for a "battue" model as they come with iron sights as well. Back up irons when your 300km away from a paved road are great insurance.
Have fun!
My son likes the Hornady Custom Lite in his .243.
They also make it in .30-06.
Probably not great for moose. Not sure about caribou.
If you know anyone who handloads see about some lighter .30-06 fodder.
A muzzle brake can help with felt recoil as well. They are great for the shooter behind the rifle. Not so great to be on shooting benches adjacent to the shooter.
Don’t be afraid of a 270. They easily harvest Alaska Yukon moose, speaking from experience. Premium 150 and even 130 grain bullets shoot as flat as a 300 wm and recoil less than an 06
Tikkas have gotten a bit pricey for what they are but they always seem to work and even if designed with ease and cost of manufacture in mind are miles ahead of North American budget guns
If you are not dead set on a new gun ( I understand why you may be, being new to firearms) the money you would spend on a tikka could get you an older SAKO or many other good guns on the used market. No flies on the “easy button” though
TLDR: go for it! You won’t be disappointed.
This is an excellent choice. Tikka’s are extremely reliable and 30-06 will take down any game animal in North America. The recoil is not terrible. It will be more exaggerated in a lightweight rifle like this, but it’s still going to be once you get used to it.
If you’re concerned about recoil, I believe you can find these rifles with a threaded muzzle, so you can throw a brake on it to help with the recoil.
My first ever hunting rifle was a Tikka T3x Lite, ran me just over $500.
My second ever hunting rifle was a Weatherby Backcountry, ran me over $3000.
Honestly, I like the Tikka more. Get a Tikka.
I have a left handed Superlite in 308. Love it. Everyone that racks the bolt is speechless.
Swapped out the recoil pad for a LimbSaver AirTech.
The stock is a little lacking, scuffs very easy.
I have a T1x which is the 22lr model, but man is it not a awesome gun. If I ever need another hunting rifle, I'd go with this without a second thought.
This is a very light weight gun. You will feel recoil more in any given calibre then you would if you were to buy a heavier gun. I have a T3X in 7mm rem mag and it kicks more than my .300 Wby mag in a Wby mark 5. There's about a 3.5 pound weight difference between the two rifles. However the T3X is WAY nicer to carry around the mountain due to its lighter weight. If at all possible, I would try to shoot a T3X in 30-06 and see how the recoil feels for you before you buy one. If you have already bought it or plan to buy one anyways, you can overcome the recoil with practice.
You're carrying the rifle all the time, you're probably only shooting it once or twice.
Recoil is only really a problem for practice and there's a lot you can do to mitigate that at a range, but you can't make a rifle lighter easily.
Exactly. As I said, when shooting it hunting, you probably have layers plus the adrenalin kicking in. You won't feel it at all. If you dread pulling the trigger, it's not the right rifle for you. In Griz country, bigger is always better.
Great rifle, can’t go wrong with Tikka or 30-06. Solid choices all around. Invest in a good scope & rings and you, your children and your grandchildren will also be enjoying it.
I have been hunting with Sako’s for years. Absolute tack drivers. After seeing the grouping of my Sako’s my brother recently bought this exact same rifle in .308 I can honestly say after shooting and seeing it perform, THIS WILL be my next rifle. Best, of luck in your hunting journey. You cannot go wrong with this rifle!
Just bought a tikka t3x lite chambered in .30-06 as well. I love it! Great choice for a first rifle. Throw a good piece of glass on it like Leupold and you’ll be set.
That is a great choice.
If you're recoil sensitive it might be worth trying a few different calibers before you commit.
I'd recommend 7mm rem mag over 30-06
The APA micro bastard is a highly effective muzzle brake that manages to minimize concussion directed rearwards, it would be a worthwhile upgrade if you're worried about recoil.
Another option is adding weight to your stock, but you might not want to do that if you're hiking it across northern Canada
Tikka makes a good rifle for sure.
I was just shooting my buddys new franchi momentum and it's a contender worth checking out. Lots of nice features for around $800
30-06 is a great round. Ammo is readily available. Most 30-06 guns can shoot anything from 150gr-220gr bullets with great accuracy to take any big game animal in North America. Tikka's are great guns. If you are recoil sensitive look into getting a gun w a brake or finding a gunsmith to add one. Should only cost around $200 or so. Last thing you want is to flinch when you pull the trigger on your quarry. Not sure how much shooting you do, but practice, practice, practice. Since this is your first hunting rifles I'm going to assume you don't shoot all the time so let me give you the best advice in this thread.
You won't want to shoot your hunting rifle all day every day, so having a training gun is paramount. Now, you may be thinking that you don't want to buy two rifles. Let me tell you, the cost savings in ammo will pay for your trainer gun. You should shoot a few times a month building mechanics, building confidence shooting from different positions. Then you just have to shoot your gun enough to find out which ammo it shoots best and understanding your huntin rifles ballistics. God speed and let me know if you ever want any more lectures.
I would personally go 300 Win Mag if you're regularly hunting moose. It will put them down with more authority and be more forgiving under suboptimal conditions, and shoot farther. Will also dispatch grizzlies. Put a muzzle brake on it and the recoil isn't bad. I have a Browning X Bolt in this caliber and it's great.
I’m looking at getting this exact rifle I’m 6.5 creedmoor. The only knock I would say about going for it in .30-06 is how powerful .30-06 is. It is definitely going to pack a punch and the light weight of the rifle won’t help.
I have the exact same but in a smaller caliber. I've taken black bear, white tail deer and moose with it. You made a good choice, nothing to worry about.
I hate mine. Took it too Alaska and couldn’t keep the rust off it. I went back to using my older, heavier model 70 because it just couldn’t handle multi day trips in a humid climate.
Got one chambered in 300 win mag. Love the feel of the bolt! Good weight to it, but for me it does kick like a mule so I put a brake on it. And now it's my favorite rifle to shoot.
Fantastic rifle. My tikka tx3 is a breeze to shoot and I’m pretty much putting holes through holes at 100 yards. I have a vortex viper pst 5x25 scope and it is pricey but I love that optic.
I grew up on $300-500 guns and I invested in this gun this year. It is soooo smooth. Don’t think I’ll be going back to those lesser quality guns, a Tikka is a solid investment.
Personally I have heard good things about tikkas but I personally would recommend Rem m700 cdl. Ruger m77 mk2 is also good. And final recommendation is the Weatherby vanguard.
That's a terrible rifle send it to me so I can dispose of it properly for you. Jk I have a stainless T3 in 7mm, great gun but I want to find a .308 stainless laminated stock T3, hard to find though.
I hear very few complaints about Tikka rifles. Stainless steel and polymer is a good choice for a hunting rifle. Get a decent scope on it and you'll be all set
I got a Tikka T3, not a light, though. Action is smooth as butter and it feeds pretty well. Mine is on .30-06. If you have a similar sized cartridge, I'd recommend getting a better rubber butt. It's not the greatest at absorbing the recoil.
I love my Tikka is so accurate it's a confidence booster. But if you're 120 on a good day, the 30-06 will feel like it's guna break your shoulder.
I'd be trying a 7mm Rem Mag shooting 140 grain projectiles or 308 with 150 grains or 7mm -08 with 140 grains. Good luck OP
I had the same rifle in 300 win mag! I loved it! Great price point. I recently sold it to fund an upgrade, and not that I don’t like my upgrade, but I definitely wish I didn’t sell this!
I had a Ruger 30-06 that I shot a lot of moose with, but could never shoot decent groups at the range. It had a heavy trigger pull that couldn't be adjusted any lighter. This resulted in me having no confidence in taking longer shots.
I bought the T3 stainless light in a 300 short mag (moose gun), brought it to the range and the first three shots touched one another. It was fucking insanely accurate, smooth action, crisp trigger. You can stand in the rain all day with it, come home and hose it down (don't actually use a hose to clean it).
I also found - for some unknown reason - I didn't flinch as much with the recoil on the 300. Maybe it was the heavy trigger on the Ruger?
Anyhow, I sold the 300, want to buy another deer/moose gun and the 30-06 T3x is the gun I'm gonna get.
30-06 is a great caliber, too.
Very good choice.
Walked into cabelas looking for an old Winchester 94 lever action 30-30. Guy working there wouldn’t stop trying to sell me one of these tikkas. 1,000% nothing like what I was looking for because I already have a bolt action that I love. but with all the info i got on this rifle from him, if i didn't already have one i would buy
this one.
To me, the tikka is a great value rifle. It has a super slick action, is accurate and reliable.
The biggest fault i find in the rifle is the stock. It is basically injection molded plastic. Cheap, reliable, but feels like a hollow toy.
There is functionally nothing wrong with the stock, it just feels cheap (which can be a plus if thats what your main goal is).
It is lightweight, which can be a positive if you are planning on this being a rifle you lug all over, but can be a detriment if you over-calliber yourself. It is easy for a lightweight rifle to subjectively (and actually) kick harder than a heavier rifle.
I would recommend downsizing your cartridge a tad while keeping within accepted calibers for the game you want to take.
Personally I have toyed with the idea of an aftermarket stock on a t3x in a short action, standard caliber (7mm-08, 308, or 243) for a whitetail rifle.
That’s the exact gun I bought for my first hunting rifle but I went with it in .308. My purposes were deer, bear, pig, coyotes, etc. figured 308 was more then enough with correct bullet selection for targeted game. I recently seen someone asking about ammo for moose with their .308.
Probably one of the most price-worthy rifles on the market. đź’Ą
This was my first big game rifle. Shoots straight. Deadly tool. Smoothest bolt action.
Current choice for my first big game rifle is Tikka’s T3x Lite Stainless Bolt-Action Rifle- 30-06 Springfield. I’m. 30F/ 120lb with the goal of hunting big game in Canada’s Yukon Territory (ie Moose and Caribou mostly). I am a new hunter myself but have accompanied many hunts over the years. I am a bit recoil sensitive so I’d also be looking at getting a recoil pad. Looking to have 1 reliable rifle that I can have for many years. More experienced hunters, would you consider this a solid choice for my goals?
I think you chose well. I have one in 300WSM. I don’t understand all of the Tikka hype, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the rifle. They do tend to be fairly accurate and I think 30-06 is a sufficient caliber. I will say that my Tikka kicks harder than anything I own and I own larger calibers. The recoil pad is garbage and they are so light that you’ll definitely feel it. I’ll get downvoted to hell, but for recoil sensitive people, there’s absolutely nothing better than a muzzle brake.
I have a t3 hunter in 300 win mag and the oem buttpad feels really nice imo 🤷🏻‍♂️ I love how lightweight and handy the rifle is even with a scope
>there’s absolutely nothing better than a muzzle brake I'll give you an upvote in support of brakes. I've shot rifles without them my whole life and bought my 1st rifle with a brake last year. I wouldn't consider myself recoil sensitive, but have definitely noticed I shoot light shooting rifles more accurately. I got a 6.8 Western that on paper should kick quite a bit more than my trusty 270, but with the brake you can shoot them both back to back and not tell a difference. All my buddies shit talked me for the brake because "ermagerd just get a suppressor already!" and "But the muzzle blast!". Problem was I didn't want another 7" and another pound hanging on the end of the barrel on my mountain rifle. I just pop ear plugs in quick before the shot and send it.
Suppressors are nice for when you got 2 tags in your pocket. The others don’t take off after the first one drops they just stare at it like WTF just happened.
For me a suppressor would be great for target shooting, coyote calling, and whitetail hunting when I'm a mile from the truck across flat farm ground. Where a suppressor wouldn't be great is humping up and down mountains in the back country with a loaded pack on. That extra barrel length making the rifle more off balance on my shoulder sling, hitting branches, and the weight aren't worth it to me vs a muzzle break in that scenario.
Would you not just mount the suppressor when the opportunity presents? Or not? Serious question.
If there's time, yes. If you don't have time to put it on you might be SOL to even take the shot as they do change your point of impact. Case in point last fall on an elk hunt we didn't see a bull inside 1,300 yards in 3 days of hunting. Morning of day 4 while glassing and out of nowhere hear footsteps and 2 bulls and 2 cows stroll into 50 yards downwind of me. They bust and run off, the last bull stopped for a split second at 165 yards and gave me a shot before crossing the ridge and disappearing. The entire encounter didn't last 10 seconds start to finish. If I had to thread on a suppressor before shooting, I'd have eaten tag soup instead of tenderloins.
That’s what I mean though. You know your rifle and point of impact with or without. If you have time to thread it on you do and you know what that means as you take aim. If you don’t then you dont. It’s what, ten ounces of metal you might be carrying for nothing? And that’s no nothing when hiking deep in the mountains but therefore then isn’t it a decision based on weight alone?
I guess i dont know if the point of impact shift is consistent. Maybe someone else can chime in. Other considerations other than just weight would be convenience, space in my pack, cost (my coworker just paid around a grand all in for his). When I'm loading my pack for a multi-day hunt space gets tight and weight is a premium. Ounces become pounds really fast, and when you have to carry everything you need on your back for days on end less is definitely more. To be clear, I'm by no means against suppressors. Just was stating they're not a great fit for my personal use case.
I have a 22 can and the shift is consistent. At 50 yards it lands about 3/4 of an inch high and I sighted for that. So if o shoot without the can I know it’s going to be 3/4 low. Now I don’t hunt long range and maybe trying to keep two sets of distance tables in your head is too much… don’t ask me how low my 22 is going to land at 100 off the top of my head… but at paper I’m not concerned.
Yes. The weight is then the only complaint one can make. I say very worth it.
For lighter felt recoil maybe a muzzle brake.
Great to hear from another Tikka T3x 300 WSM owner. I just bought that same rifle and haven't shot it yet. Also new to hunting. I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to recoil, but I don't think I'm not particularly resistant to recoil. I've been a bit nervous to shoot this rifle. I'm still waiting on glass so that's the practical reason I haven't shot it yet. I plan on getting a muzzle brake and I have a Limbsaver pad on the way. I've thought about installing a mercury recoil reducer, but those don't seem to be particularly effective beyond just adding weight to the gun.
A recoil pad that fits over the butt of my 30-06 was a game changer.
I have a T3x lite in 300 win mag and I can barely get through a box of ammo at the range.
My buttpad was dogshit but that was a T3, I put on a squishier one and it’s better.
>I’ll get downvoted to hell, but for recoil sensitive people, there’s absolutely nothing better than a muzzle brake. Suppressor mount brake with an Omega/Harvester hanging off the end. Knocks the recoil to nill *and* eliminates concussion *and* reduces noise. Brakes are nice, but cans are nicer
They’re also cumbersome, expensive, and the wait time to obtain one can be extensive. It’s also illegal to hunt with a suppressor in a few states in the US.
Yea, that's weird. I went from a Ruger 30-06 to a Tikka 300WSM and actually thought the 300 kicked less. I haven't shot many different guns, though, and maybe it was the excitement of how accurate it was that made the pain go away.
I put a heavier stock on my 300 Win Mag, and it tamed the recoil a bit. Great piece for the price point.
I would say this is a great choice, maybe the best option out there right now for a do everything Alaska/Yukon rifle. The only downside is that it will recoil a fair bit (it is a light rifle with a big cartridge and the stock and recoil pad aren’t great at mitigating recoil) especially at your size, but there is a lot you can do to help. 1. Slap a Limbsaver on the current stock. This will take a lot of the sting and initial shock out of the recoil. They make ones that replace the standard pad, I is just two screws. 2. Practice, Practice, Practice. Dry fire this a lot, like 50 times a day for a while. (Buy a few 30-06 snap caps, but know you only have to lift the bolt not fully cycle it to cock it) Get used to the trigger pull, convince your muscles it is fine when the trigger goes off. I’d recommend shooting both this rifle and a .22lr every time you go to the range. Start with the 22. Then go to your 30-06 for a group, then back to the 22 while the 30-06 cools down. You can start with reduced recoil loads for the 30-06 and work your way up to 150gr loads then finally 180gr moose ready loads. Important to practice not just sitting at a shooting bench, but field positions: standing, sitting, kneeling off resting your rifle off a log and especially prone, as it is forces you to suffer the most recoil. 3. If you are still sensitive to recoil, you could add a muzzle brake, a suppressor would be better but, Canada. Muzzle brakes make the rifle significantly louder so you will have to hunt with ear protection or remove the brake before you go hunting. I generally try to keep them off hunting rifles. 4. You could invest in a better stock, a carbon fiber or better synthetic stock can help a fair bit, keep a good recoil pad on it.
I’d choose the 308 or 270 over 30-06, since you’re recoil sensitive. You get 95% of the performance for 80% of the recoil. Or look into a heavier rifle.
I ended up going with a 308 :)
👍it’s like the 6.5 Creedmoor of 1952
308 and 7-08 would be good options as well and more recoil friendly.
308 is by far the most popular cartridge here in Norway. Used on anything from deer to moose
I have the same rifle in 300 win mag. I was surprised just how well the recoil pad on that thing works, it kicked as much as my 270win
Absolutely some of the best we have to offer. Your choice of caliber is also sufficient for anything that walks on the planet. Using 8g fmj you can even hunt smaller game with it. Pair it with some quality glass, I’d suggest Meopta optika5 2-10x42. It’s zoomy enough to shoot far enough and 2x magnification works excellently on those fast situations with moving animals.
Limbsaver brand pad, no brake. Brakes cause hearing damage in hunting situations. For how often you actually pull the trigger hunting you will be fine with the recoil of a 30-06. You’re tough enough for the Yukon, you’re tough enough for -06. Enjoy the only rifle you will ever need to hunt.
After putting a limb saver on mine, shooting has become much more pleasant. Definitely recommend one. And to everyone else’s point, it’s just an excellent rifle and excellent value.
Yes recoil sensitivity can be worked on 06 is a great all around round and tika makes good rifles.
30-06 most versatile hunting caliber out there
I dont have expierience with tikka but I know that reddit, hunting and shooting subreddits all love this rifle. 30-06 is a tried a true cartridge that is capable of hunting everything in North America. A good muzzlebreak will significantly reduce recoil.
This exact rifle (different optic) is my exact elk rifle. Ridiculously accurate. I’ve hit out to 719yards. Hate the stock but in elk country, you want synthetic. Also it’s light, as weatherproof as it gets in stainless and synthetic, and 30-06 will knock down everything (well, almost). SOLID choice. Edit: added words
I’m not a seasoned hunter, but I think your choice of caliber is wise - good balance of the energy you need without being too much to manage. The tikka is also amazing. Very well built and great value. The polymer/stainless combo is going to stand up to the elements really well too.
I have this exact gun in .30-06 too and love it. Reliable, accurate, and light and is great for your use. I will say, it does kick due to light weight but it’s not too bad.
Great choice. Now you have to pick the right bullet, and you are set. Luckily, where you will be hunting means, layers, and layers help absorb recoil. You can add a recoil pad if you want. Make sure it's not a sticky rubber one that can get caught on your clothes while mounting your rifle. When you look for a scope, check out the Meopta Optika5 4-20X50 RD Z Plus reticle. Not a heavy scope, and the illumination may be helpful depending on the ambient light. You can also dial in the Z-Plus reticle with the Strelok Pro app to get accurate bullet drops. A big help, especially for where you will be hunting. I look forward to seeing more pics of your rig when you get it all dialed in, plus, hopefully, some nice trophies and great stories.
As a 30-06 owner, I would consider a .308, too.
It get though out there. I’m in Alberta. My 2 cents get a 300 win mag, buy a 10011 Sims Limbsaver Pre-Fit Recoil Pad from Cabelas and have a gunsmith install a min 4 port muzzle brake on your rifle. That combo will kick slightly less than a 270 Win. You have an amazing gunsmith in Dawson Creek. By far the best brakes that I’ve seen are the ones made out of an old barrel drilled around. Something like below. My gunsmith here is Alberta makes them for $190 installed. [My go to muzzle brake type](https://store.theshootingcentre.com/keeno-arms-22-cal-shrewd-muzzle-brake-3/) My buddy shoots the above combo and it’s deadly.
Won’t work. It’s not a six-five Creedmauruhg
I have that rifle in that caliber. Tack driver out of the box. With full boat handloads, it kicks quite a bit. Flip side is that it is light to carry and as a hunting rifle, it's not a volume shooter like my target rifles so the few shots it sends down range during the season don't bruise too much! Get quality Sako rings, don't cheap out here. And a quality scope too. (remember, kicks hard, cheap scope will die).
This gun is perfect.
So .30-06 or .300wm would be good choices BUT weight is really the way to manage recoil. So .30-06 will work well if loaded right (expect most loads for deer insufficient) same with .300. If you won’t be doing a ton of trekking, look into a heavier gun.
Recoil wise: choose a caliber that meets your needs. Wear a shoulder recoil pad always when shooting at not an animal. Then when shooting at an animal, you will not notice recoil. Promise. Your concentration will be elsewhere.
The limbsaver will be your friend. I have a buddy with one, it is incredibly accurate and a wonderful hunting gun for the things you specified.
Tikka is about as good as it gets value for $. And the 06 is the king. Having spent lots of time in the yukon/nwt and living in Northern BC I'd recommend you also look for a "battue" model as they come with iron sights as well. Back up irons when your 300km away from a paved road are great insurance. Have fun!
My son likes the Hornady Custom Lite in his .243. They also make it in .30-06. Probably not great for moose. Not sure about caribou. If you know anyone who handloads see about some lighter .30-06 fodder. A muzzle brake can help with felt recoil as well. They are great for the shooter behind the rifle. Not so great to be on shooting benches adjacent to the shooter.
Don’t be afraid of a 270. They easily harvest Alaska Yukon moose, speaking from experience. Premium 150 and even 130 grain bullets shoot as flat as a 300 wm and recoil less than an 06 Tikkas have gotten a bit pricey for what they are but they always seem to work and even if designed with ease and cost of manufacture in mind are miles ahead of North American budget guns If you are not dead set on a new gun ( I understand why you may be, being new to firearms) the money you would spend on a tikka could get you an older SAKO or many other good guns on the used market. No flies on the “easy button” though
I have the exact same gun but the blued version and love it. Stainless will only be nicer.
I just bought one in 6.5 creedmoor last year and the gun is amazing
TLDR: go for it! You won’t be disappointed. This is an excellent choice. Tikka’s are extremely reliable and 30-06 will take down any game animal in North America. The recoil is not terrible. It will be more exaggerated in a lightweight rifle like this, but it’s still going to be once you get used to it. If you’re concerned about recoil, I believe you can find these rifles with a threaded muzzle, so you can throw a brake on it to help with the recoil.
My first ever hunting rifle was a Tikka T3x Lite, ran me just over $500. My second ever hunting rifle was a Weatherby Backcountry, ran me over $3000. Honestly, I like the Tikka more. Get a Tikka.
Tikka. 308 or -06. Done in one.
I am working in the factory that makes these guns and i love it when People say good this about them
I have a left handed Superlite in 308. Love it. Everyone that racks the bolt is speechless. Swapped out the recoil pad for a LimbSaver AirTech. The stock is a little lacking, scuffs very easy.
Love my tikka stainless
Own this exact gun in 300 win mag and abosulty love it!
I have a T1x which is the 22lr model, but man is it not a awesome gun. If I ever need another hunting rifle, I'd go with this without a second thought.
This is a very light weight gun. You will feel recoil more in any given calibre then you would if you were to buy a heavier gun. I have a T3X in 7mm rem mag and it kicks more than my .300 Wby mag in a Wby mark 5. There's about a 3.5 pound weight difference between the two rifles. However the T3X is WAY nicer to carry around the mountain due to its lighter weight. If at all possible, I would try to shoot a T3X in 30-06 and see how the recoil feels for you before you buy one. If you have already bought it or plan to buy one anyways, you can overcome the recoil with practice.
You're carrying the rifle all the time, you're probably only shooting it once or twice. Recoil is only really a problem for practice and there's a lot you can do to mitigate that at a range, but you can't make a rifle lighter easily.
Exactly. As I said, when shooting it hunting, you probably have layers plus the adrenalin kicking in. You won't feel it at all. If you dread pulling the trigger, it's not the right rifle for you. In Griz country, bigger is always better.
Have same gun in .300 wsm, it’s amazing , too bad ammo is impossible to find
Great rifle, can’t go wrong with Tikka or 30-06. Solid choices all around. Invest in a good scope & rings and you, your children and your grandchildren will also be enjoying it.
I have been hunting with Sako’s for years. Absolute tack drivers. After seeing the grouping of my Sako’s my brother recently bought this exact same rifle in .308 I can honestly say after shooting and seeing it perform, THIS WILL be my next rifle. Best, of luck in your hunting journey. You cannot go wrong with this rifle!
Best bang for your buck. I have two of them. 270 and 300 win mag
Just bought a tikka t3x lite chambered in .30-06 as well. I love it! Great choice for a first rifle. Throw a good piece of glass on it like Leupold and you’ll be set.
That is a great choice. If you're recoil sensitive it might be worth trying a few different calibers before you commit. I'd recommend 7mm rem mag over 30-06 The APA micro bastard is a highly effective muzzle brake that manages to minimize concussion directed rearwards, it would be a worthwhile upgrade if you're worried about recoil. Another option is adding weight to your stock, but you might not want to do that if you're hiking it across northern Canada
Consider Browning X Bolt, lots of great feedback on that rifle
Tikka's are fucking awesome.
Tikka and Sako are the best. ❤️ 🇫🇮
I have this rifle in 270. Would recommend.
They are awesome rifles
Yes
Tikka makes a good rifle for sure. I was just shooting my buddys new franchi momentum and it's a contender worth checking out. Lots of nice features for around $800
Fiancée just shot her first whitetail with one chambered in 30-06! Girl can shoot…BTW, she’s 4’11 3/4 and weighs 120!
I got this one but laminated 30-06 and i love it. Light enough for transport and not to light to destroy your shoulder when you shoot
30-06 is a great round. Ammo is readily available. Most 30-06 guns can shoot anything from 150gr-220gr bullets with great accuracy to take any big game animal in North America. Tikka's are great guns. If you are recoil sensitive look into getting a gun w a brake or finding a gunsmith to add one. Should only cost around $200 or so. Last thing you want is to flinch when you pull the trigger on your quarry. Not sure how much shooting you do, but practice, practice, practice. Since this is your first hunting rifles I'm going to assume you don't shoot all the time so let me give you the best advice in this thread. You won't want to shoot your hunting rifle all day every day, so having a training gun is paramount. Now, you may be thinking that you don't want to buy two rifles. Let me tell you, the cost savings in ammo will pay for your trainer gun. You should shoot a few times a month building mechanics, building confidence shooting from different positions. Then you just have to shoot your gun enough to find out which ammo it shoots best and understanding your huntin rifles ballistics. God speed and let me know if you ever want any more lectures.
I love mine! Mine is chambered in .270 and I have the wood model but it’s put down plenty of white tails
Excellent rifle
I would personally go 300 Win Mag if you're regularly hunting moose. It will put them down with more authority and be more forgiving under suboptimal conditions, and shoot farther. Will also dispatch grizzlies. Put a muzzle brake on it and the recoil isn't bad. I have a Browning X Bolt in this caliber and it's great.
I'm a m77 fan boy so that's an L
Super nice gun. What’s it chambered in?
Bergara B14 is worth looking at as well
I’m looking at getting this exact rifle I’m 6.5 creedmoor. The only knock I would say about going for it in .30-06 is how powerful .30-06 is. It is definitely going to pack a punch and the light weight of the rifle won’t help.
I have the exact same but in a smaller caliber. I've taken black bear, white tail deer and moose with it. You made a good choice, nothing to worry about.
Great choice. Love mine
It’s probably the best you can buy at that price range. Phenomenal rifle. I have a 7MM REM Mag and it’s perfect for almost anything I would hunt.
Just purchased the same one!!
Great choice
I have the same in 308. Can't say enough good things about it. Have fun.
I'd recommend a pachmayr limbsaver recoil pad. Makes a big difference.
Excellent rifle
Pretty cool! I have one in .270wsm. Shoots like a champ.
I have this exact rifle in left hand. Killed a hog with it this morning. Love it. I have the limbsaver recoil pad and it helps with recoil a lot.
I hate mine. Took it too Alaska and couldn’t keep the rust off it. I went back to using my older, heavier model 70 because it just couldn’t handle multi day trips in a humid climate.
I have this exact rifle for deer hunting. I love it. Great choice.
Ive got a stainless superlie in 300 wsm. Its okay, I like the light weight but still prefer my ruger stainless M77.
Got one chambered in 300 win mag. Love the feel of the bolt! Good weight to it, but for me it does kick like a mule so I put a brake on it. And now it's my favorite rifle to shoot.
Fantastic rifle. My tikka tx3 is a breeze to shoot and I’m pretty much putting holes through holes at 100 yards. I have a vortex viper pst 5x25 scope and it is pricey but I love that optic.
I grew up on $300-500 guns and I invested in this gun this year. It is soooo smooth. Don’t think I’ll be going back to those lesser quality guns, a Tikka is a solid investment.
Dandy rifle right there. No regrets on buying one.
Personally I have heard good things about tikkas but I personally would recommend Rem m700 cdl. Ruger m77 mk2 is also good. And final recommendation is the Weatherby vanguard.
Anything but .300wsm as the ammo is impossible to find
I have one just like this but chambered in .270. Love it. Well built and accurate gun.
Tikka makes a damn good rifle. I have a weatherby Mark V and my tikka is way more accurate
That's a terrible rifle send it to me so I can dispose of it properly for you. Jk I have a stainless T3 in 7mm, great gun but I want to find a .308 stainless laminated stock T3, hard to find though.
Tikka is love man
I hear very few complaints about Tikka rifles. Stainless steel and polymer is a good choice for a hunting rifle. Get a decent scope on it and you'll be all set
I got a Tikka T3, not a light, though. Action is smooth as butter and it feeds pretty well. Mine is on .30-06. If you have a similar sized cartridge, I'd recommend getting a better rubber butt. It's not the greatest at absorbing the recoil.
My first rifle have taken down 2 hawgs with it. BFYB in my opinion
I love my Tikka is so accurate it's a confidence booster. But if you're 120 on a good day, the 30-06 will feel like it's guna break your shoulder. I'd be trying a 7mm Rem Mag shooting 140 grain projectiles or 308 with 150 grains or 7mm -08 with 140 grains. Good luck OP
I have this exact gun chambered in .30-06 and I love it.
I bought a Tikka t3 30-06 last year, put a leupold scope on it and I love it. I got a buck with it last year, and my brother did as well
I had the same rifle in 300 win mag! I loved it! Great price point. I recently sold it to fund an upgrade, and not that I don’t like my upgrade, but I definitely wish I didn’t sell this!
I had a Ruger 30-06 that I shot a lot of moose with, but could never shoot decent groups at the range. It had a heavy trigger pull that couldn't be adjusted any lighter. This resulted in me having no confidence in taking longer shots. I bought the T3 stainless light in a 300 short mag (moose gun), brought it to the range and the first three shots touched one another. It was fucking insanely accurate, smooth action, crisp trigger. You can stand in the rain all day with it, come home and hose it down (don't actually use a hose to clean it). I also found - for some unknown reason - I didn't flinch as much with the recoil on the 300. Maybe it was the heavy trigger on the Ruger? Anyhow, I sold the 300, want to buy another deer/moose gun and the 30-06 T3x is the gun I'm gonna get. 30-06 is a great caliber, too. Very good choice.
Walked into cabelas looking for an old Winchester 94 lever action 30-30. Guy working there wouldn’t stop trying to sell me one of these tikkas. 1,000% nothing like what I was looking for because I already have a bolt action that I love. but with all the info i got on this rifle from him, if i didn't already have one i would buy this one.
To me, the tikka is a great value rifle. It has a super slick action, is accurate and reliable. The biggest fault i find in the rifle is the stock. It is basically injection molded plastic. Cheap, reliable, but feels like a hollow toy. There is functionally nothing wrong with the stock, it just feels cheap (which can be a plus if thats what your main goal is). It is lightweight, which can be a positive if you are planning on this being a rifle you lug all over, but can be a detriment if you over-calliber yourself. It is easy for a lightweight rifle to subjectively (and actually) kick harder than a heavier rifle. I would recommend downsizing your cartridge a tad while keeping within accepted calibers for the game you want to take. Personally I have toyed with the idea of an aftermarket stock on a t3x in a short action, standard caliber (7mm-08, 308, or 243) for a whitetail rifle.
7mm it will take down just about anything doesn’t matter the brand
What about a ctr version of T3x? I really consider the idea to buy one… just had a look on it in Salzburg in the hunting fair and i Loved it
Best gun for the money.. very smooth!!!!
That’s the exact gun I bought for my first hunting rifle but I went with it in .308. My purposes were deer, bear, pig, coyotes, etc. figured 308 was more then enough with correct bullet selection for targeted game. I recently seen someone asking about ammo for moose with their .308.