Narrowing down on a new big game rifle

[HuntandFish]

Well…it’s time to upgrade my deer/elk/bear rifle. Currently shooting a Rem. 700 30.06…I think I have most of the details worked out but am spinning my wheels on selecting the cartridge…I am looking to pick up a Tilka T3 top it with a zeiss v4…but can’t decide between 300wsm, 300wm, 30.06 or 7mm…Shots will be typically at 400yards or less but the occasional 600yrd shot may present itself… I like to keep bullet weight around 180gr.

What say all you guys? Opinions on my overall set up are welcome!

Thanks all!
H&F

[NRA4LIFE]

I gave up when you said Tikka.  Good luck.

[Skillet]

600 is a relatively long poke with a 30-06.  I'm a huge -06 fanboy, but I'd look to a higher case capacity for that work.

Any of the other 3 would do the job better.

[Magnum_Willys]

Well…it’s time to upgrade my deer/elk/bear rifle. Currently shooting a Rem. 700 30.06…I think I have most of the details worked out but am spinning my wheels on selecting the cartridge…I am looking to pick up a Tilka T3 top it with a zeiss v4…but can’t decide between 300wsm, 300wm, 30.06 or 7mm…Shots will be typically at 400yards or less but the occasional 600yrd shot may present itself… I like to keep bullet weight around 180gr.

What say all you guys? Opinions on my overall set up are welcome!

Thanks all!
H&F

Guys reload and shoot game to 1000 yards with the 300wm, 300wsm, and 7mm.   Its harder to spot shots with the 300’s if you don’t use a brake.   Safe bet is the one in the middle - 300 wsm can be good to 700 on elk with factory loads imo.   For 1000 yrds elk 300wm with 215 bergers but you didny ask that….

[Igor]

Well…it’s time to upgrade my deer/elk/bear rifle. Currently shooting a Rem. 700 30.06…I think I have most of the details worked out but am spinning my wheels on selecting the cartridge…I am looking to pick up a Tilka T3 top it with a zeiss v4…but can’t decide between 300wsm, 300wm, 30.06 or 7mm…Shots will be typically at 400yards or less but the occasional 600yrd shot may present itself… I like to keep bullet weight around 180gr.

What say all you guys? Opinions on my overall set up are welcome!

Thanks all!
H&F

My vote would be to stay with the '06 caliber........you won't be sorry.  I don't think you can improve on the '06 with either 165 gr. or 180 gr. bullets.

If the 7mm you are considering is a 7mm Remington Mag, I would avoid it like the plague.  I had a Browning A-Bolt in that caliber, and the recoil was brutal.  I eventually ended up with a .300 WM to replace it, and, in my opinion, the .300 WM has less felt recoil.

I like the Tikka T3 rifles, but don't like the fact that they only hold 3 in the magazine.

[bearpaw]

If you want to shoot beyond 300 yards very often I would scratch the 30/06. (I have seen elk killed a couple times over 700 with a 30/06 but it's not great for energy when you start getting beyond 300 yards.) I would choose the 300WM or the 7MM RemMag due to cost and availability of ammo and better performance beyond 300 yards. The 300WSM almost duplicates the 300WM but ammo will cost more and is harder to find, IMO there is no real advantage for that extra cost unless you are trying to buy the absolute lightest rifle you can find, the 300 WSM is available in slightly lighter weight rifles due to the shorter action capability.

[NW SURVEYOR]

My three cents....

I bought a Tikka TX3 Superlight in 7MM Mag a few months ago and had a brake installed, replaced the floor metal and has it cerakoted down in Oregon, it came back lookin and performing great.  my buddy also bought one in 300 Win Mag, same rifle.
That said, the magazine on the Tikka limits the COAL that you can use as it seems a little shorter than what a guy may desire when reloading.  I have a bit more freebore than I care for but can't take it up because of the short magazine.  I bought an after market  (Mountain Tactical) magazine, but it's still not long enough to allow me to seat me bullets as close to the lands as I would like.
If I had purchased a 300 WSM I would be able to utilize that magazine length as they are all the same and the shorter case will accommodate the extra length.
I am really happy with the 7MMMag, but for one gun, the 300 WSM may be a better choice.

One more thing, I don't really care for .30 calibers.
Big 7MM fan.
More .338 fan.

God Luck,
Rob.
 

[b23]

I'm certainly no Tikka aficionado, just picked up my first one last week, but I think all the Tikka actions, regardless of what it's chambered in from 204 to any of the magnums, are all the same length.  Bolt face size will be different but other than that, they're all the same.

I'd vote 300 WSM.  IMO, the 300 WSM is one of the best do everything well cartridges you can get.

[Stein]

600 is a relatively long poke with a 30-06.  I'm a huge -06 fanboy, but I'd look to a higher case capacity for that work.

Any of the other 3 would do the job better.

 

For elk, 30-06 is a 400 yard rifle, maybe 500 if you are stretching it but I can't see it being a 600 yard cartridge on elk.

[NW SURVEYOR]

To further add to the conversation, is the Tikka available in 325 WSM?
I don't think is is, but the ballistics on that cartridge are fantastic.
For elk in the timber and out to 600 yards, you'd be hard pressed to find a better round.
Otherwise, for the Tikka, go with the 300 WSM and have the option of seating the bullets out a bit towards to lands.
As for Igor's opinion of the recoil of a 7MM Mag, I don't think it's any worse than a 300 Win Mag.
My Tikka is the Superlight, so I did put a brake on it and I am confident out to 700 yards.
160 grain Speer Hot Cores with 64.0 grains of 4831 at 2940 fps.

[jakeweb]

If you reload and want to shoot 180 class bullets I’m the 7rm with 180 vlds will be hard to beat. Ballistics of the heavy 7mms Will smoke the 180 class .308 cartridges.

[MHWASH]

My vote is 300WSM. I just bought one. I’ve had Tikka's in 223, 22-250, a couple 270’s plus one 270 we bought for the oldest boy’s birthday a few years ago, 300 Win Mag. Almost forgot my favorite, 6.5 Creedmoor.

Although the action lengths are the same, the shorter cartridges have a shorter magazine and a bolt stop. Both can be changed out, but I haven’t done that yet.

[carpsniperg2]

I would vote to the 300wsm/300wm. I own and shoot all the calibers listed. I
I think for what you are looking for with the 180's the 300's do it easy and will be perfectly fine at any of the ranges you listed.

My 300wsm is in a tikka and its light and accurate.

[Buck Rub Jr]

In picked up a weatherby vanguard in the first lite model and have zero complaints. It’s an amazing rifle. The main 5 other guys I hunt with all have tikkas except one and he has a vanguard. Every one of us loves our guns. 2 are 7mm rem mags, 3 are .270’s and 1 is an 06. Mine personally is a .270 and I Just dropped a bear dead in his tracks at 415 yards. Watched him hit the dirt in my scope, dead before he hit the ground. I went 270 so it’s something my wife can shoot with no issue at all especially with the break and eventually my kiddos will be able to use it as well. It really has no kick to it at all and packs a punch, shooting 140gr Berger’s out of it. I love that gun. I killed a Muley with my buddies 7mm rem mag tikka t3, it’s a fantastic gun as well and is a tack driver. I will say I think I’d limit myself to 400 at the very most for elk with my 270.

[Bob33]

I vote for one of the 30 caliber magnums. My preference could be the 300 WSM due to slightly reduced weight and recoil.