I need a hunting rifle

[IBen]

As a guide I get invited to hunt all over NA from clients and I haven’t really had time or a rifle to do it. I am going to have more time in the off season and want to start capitalizing on these opportunities as well as my own hunting. My bear gun is a t3x superlite so I’d like to stick with that model but its the caliber I’m having trouble deciding on.

My criteria:
Affordable to shoot
Fun to shoot
Lightweight
Preferably 22 inch barrel or less
I can reload but initially i’d prefer to buy ammo off the shelf
Large enough caliber to legally hunt all game NA (my bear gun is 30-06 if I intend to hunt grizzly)

Any inputs welcome.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Just use your 30-06 or get another tikka in 6.5 or 7/08.

 

[bojangles808]

6.5 cm with some 147 eldmurders

 

[IBen]

Just use your 30-06 or get another tikka in 6.5 or 7/08.

I dont feel like removing the scope before every season

 

[Seeknelk]

Tikka t3x in 6.5 chopped to 16" and suppressed works very well. 140 eldmurder killed my 14 yo daughter's buck at 475 and 10 yo boys first buck at 350. One perfect shot each. Suppressor is soooooo sweet. Has velocity with that bullet to upset out to 700 and the accuracy to do so. We aren't there yet and always work to get closer if it makes sense etc. Anyway...getting it cut and threaded was easy. It's the easy button. I used a swfa 3x9 and mounted in Hawkins 20 moa rings JB welded to the action. I would use the UM rings now tho.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I dont feel like removing the scope before every season

Why would you need to do that?

 

[IBen]

Why would you need to do that?

The gun is just for bear defense it has irons on it.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The gun is just for bear defense it has irons on it.

Ok got you. I’d get a tikka 6.5 creedmoor.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

25-06

 

[IBen]

Tikka t3x in 6.5 chopped to 16" and suppressed works very well. 140 eldmurder killed my 14 yo daughter's buck at 475 and 10 yo boys first buck at 350. One perfect shot each. Suppressor is soooooo sweet. Has velocity with that bullet to upset out to 700 and the accuracy to do so. We aren't there yet and always work to get closer if it makes sense etc. Anyway...getting it cut and threaded was easy. It's the easy button. I used a swfa 3x9 and mounted in Hawkins 20 moa rings JB welded to the action. I would use the UM rings now tho.

How much did it cost to get chopped?

 

[IBen]

25-06

Cheaper to shoot than 6.5 cm?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

How much did it cost to get chopped?

I got my tikka cut to 18” and had a permanent adapter installed to direct thread 5/8x24 for about 250.00

 

[Seeknelk]

How much did it cost to get chopped?

Its usually in the 150 range for a cut and thread. Before I did that tho I just lopped it off at 18" with my portaband saw. Just lightly made sure there was no burrs with a tiny file and it shot awesome like that. I was waiting for the suppressor but wanted to start to test loads at a similar velocity and they shot every bit as well at 16 with can.

 

[MHWASH]

The gun is just for bear defense it has irons on it.

How did you get iron sites on a Super Light?

 

[IBen]

How did you get iron sites on a Super Light?

Sent it to williams guns sights in michigan. With the service and cost of sights its about 200-250 bucks

 

[jimh406]

5.56 Tikka, but you also probably should look at the Howa Superlite in 243.

 

[IBen]

5.56 Tikka, but you also probably should look at the Howa Superlite in 243.

Wow 4lbs 10 ounces

 

[MHWASH]

Sent it to williams guns sights in michigan. With the service and cost of sights its about 200-250 bucks

That would make a sweet backup rifle. Especially one that is packed a lot and shot a little, in a hunting situation.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

Cheaper to shoot than 6.5 cm?

Probably not. But it’s a death ray for dear.

 

[Trapperkid]

223 or 243 or 6.5 creedmoor you can shoot tanks or eldms from the 223 eldx or sst or 108 eldm from the 243 or 140 eldm from 6.5. Tikka as the rifle hands down.