What cartridge for Tikka build

[opdinkslayer]

Looking for opinions on which cartridge/bullet combination I should go with for my tikka build planned for the end of the year. This is going to be my go to mule deer rifle with the capability to kill elk as well. It will be sporting a 26” carbon barrel & 3 port brake.

I’ve narrowed it down(I think) to a 7wsm/180 Berger hybrids & 300 wsm/215 Berger hybrids. Tell me what round & why. Thanks guys

[b23]

If it's between the 7WSM or 300WSM and elk is on the menu, I'll take the larger bore diameter every single time, so put me down for the 300 WSM.

Back before I thought I had to have one of everything, the only rifle I had was a 300 Wby mag and I shot everything from coyotes to elk with it so I've always been a 30 cal fan.

[BigGoonTuna]

any reason for the WSM over a standard length magnum, being that tikka's are all long actions?

[opdinkslayer]

any reason for the WSM over a standard length magnum, being that tikka's are all long actions?

Length issues when running heavy bullets & a magazine in a tikka.

[opdinkslayer]

Might add that I considered the 7 saum & 7 Sherman max as well but now think the performance edge of the wsm & expense & fireforming of the Sherman has me to the wsm rounds.

[fowl smacker]

I've been very happy with my 300wsm Tikka.  The animals have not.

[Branden]

As long as you already have a Tikka with a mag bolt face I would do the 300 WSM. The 7 Sherman Max doesn’t really make sense to me. Like you mention it’s expensive and you have to fireform. And it doesn’t maximize a Tikka chamber anymore than a WSM does.

[Karl Blanchard]

Obviously another vote for the 300 wsm.  Especially since I'm very familiar with that reamer that will be cutting your chamber

[opdinkslayer]

I do have the tikka with a magnum bolt face. The Sherman max is a saum improved. Makes the same sense as the AI cartridges. The fireforming part & a little more expense is the downside.

Is anyone running the 300 wsm/215 hybrid combo in a chamber throated for that combo & a 26” barrel? Wondering what kind of performance numbers your having with it?

[opdinkslayer]

Thanks for chiming in Karl.   Do you have a rifle cut from said reamer & have you run that combo?

[Karl Blanchard]

Yes sir. I was getting 2925 with a 212 eldx but they were HOT. After 300 of them I ended up stepping down to a 185 hunting vld. Lightened the recoil enough that I could spot my own hits which was the goal as I hunt solo a lot. I'm able to push the 18t's fast e ough that they outrun the heavies anyway. I lose a bit on the windave side of things but not enough that I am gonna worry about it.

[Mtnwalker]

Has B23 given you his pitch for the 7 Blaser? It seems like a perfect fit for a tikka build, brass goes on sale every once in a while for a buck a piece. I am looking at doing something almost identical to what you’re talking about and that or the 7wsm are my two top considerations as of right now I think.

[Wanttohuntmore]

As much as i want to say 7wsm with a fast twist, I think the 300 is more versatile and brass is by far easier to come by.   Im getting tired of fire forming.

[CaNINE]

Go with the 300WSM and run a 200, 212 ELDX or 215 Berger...whatever your rifle likes best. Use a temp stable powder that starts with an H. You get any of those bullets to run 2800+ and you have a serious long range hammer for elk. And those bullets will perform very well on smaller game up close as well.

[Mtnwalker]

As much as i want to say 7wsm with a fast twist, I think the 300 is more versatile and brass is by far easier to come by.   Im getting tired of fire forming.

Bertram has 7wsm brass in stock pretty regularly now. Don’t like it?