T3 or Kimber Hunter

[badkneesbro]

Ive just had my 2nd knee surgery & the other knee aint that great either @ 53 years old. Ive lost 30 lbs. this year & the backpack hunting gear I have is top notch & I cant get much lighter there. Thinking of selling my t3 lite in .270 win. & buying the kimber hunter in .270. I love my tikka but am always thinking of restocking it to get a few oz lighter. Pretty sure I could sell the tikka ss t3 for 600, & the kimber is 775. With my scope & rings the tikka is 7 lbs. The hunter would be 6 lbs & 7 oz all up. That's assuming the kimber .270 is @ 5lbs. & 10oz. I started to say the difference in weight is very noticeable to me, but Ive only handled my 7lb. tikka rig compared to the naked hunter. Don't really have a desire to shoot another caliber but I am open to other opinions, & I do reload. Any & all opinions welcome & hoping Mr. Price & Luke Moffett will chime in.(I know you hate the .270 Luke) So fire away yall!

 

[JP100]

alot of hassle for no gain
I would stick with what you have and know.
Be way easier to cut that weight somewhere else in you gear

 

[badkneesbro]

alot of hassle for no gain
I would stick with what you have and know.
Be way easier to cut that weight somewhere else in you gear

Got the Kifaru pack, sleep under tarps & skeeter bivys with quilts & wear "First Lite" clothes. Almost was going to say how wrong you are about my gear. Then I decided to weigh my rain gear. 3 1/2 lbs. Kuiu has a sale on rain gear, & when its all said & done, I can cut 2 1/2 lbs there at less than what I would spend on the kimber once taxes dros fees are added. Thank you. I feel much better now. Going to the gun store got me all wound up. Im all better now. But once I get that new rain gear........

 

[JP100]

haha first world problems!
Your pack should be under 50lbs easy then?

 

[elkguide]

I'm a Kimber fan over the Tikka, just on feel. In your case, I would stick with what you have and what you are comfortable. as one of those "more mature hunters" myself, changing rifles for a few ounces isn't going to be that big of a gain. I find that even though I am in pretty good shape, (5'9" @ 160#) I always try and shed a few more pounds come fall before the hunt begins and that seems to be my best answer.

 

[Nalgene]

In aviation you spend millions to save ounces. It does make a difference. Every ounce counts.

 

[mtwarden]

no opinion one way or the other, but my 6.5 Hunter weighed 5# 8 oz, .270 should weigh a fraction less- so you can probably shave a couple of ounces off your estimate

 

[realunlucky]

no opinion one way or the other, but my 6.5 Hunter weighed 5# 8 oz, .270 should weigh a fraction less- so you can probably shave a couple of ounces off your estimate

Why do you think it would weigh less? Shouldn't it weigh more short action vs long?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[16Bore]

I'd skip the T3 and Hunter and move straight to a Montana if I felt the need for something else. Guys are on the 6.5 CM bandwagon and the Montana could very well be the best of it all.

 

[bhylton]

carry 1 or 2 less rounds of extra 270 in your pack.. there is your few oz weight savings

 

[mtwarden]

Why do you think it would weigh less? Shouldn't it weigh more short action vs long?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

yup- you're right it will weigh more- 2" of barrel + fractional increase for the longer action

 

[Ross]

IMO as I am same age two problematic knees and own a tikka I would look elsewhere towards fitness and other options to shaving the ounces your looking for..

 

[GKPrice]

I have a Hunter 30.06 leaning in the corner naked, 5 lb 11.8 oz - all I shoot is Tikka superlights and Kimbers - size and "in shape" matter a lot but there are other things that matter too - I'm 5'10" (now at 65) 205 - I've "slimmed" down from 220, been aiming for 190 but I can't seem to alter my lifestyle and exercise patterns to do so, I don't throw weights around like I used to but can't leave 'em alone altogether either - That said, I don't have large hands and I'm not as "robust" as I used to be in the standing arm strength arena - I've noticed that 8-10 oz IN THE HAND makes a big difference, it's not when it's slung over my shoulder or hanging in front on a "Safari Sling", it's when I actually carry or handle the rifle in my hands that I really notice the ounces (I also have 4 rotator cuff surgeries under my belt, that surely makes "some" difference too) You guys with those "meathooks" probably don't relate to this, I've comparatively small hands too so a "natural" strong grip is just short of a struggle for me, short fingers I guess (NO JOKES ALLOWED) IF my planned hunt doesn't call for much hiking I'll normally grab the Tikka but these new Hunters seem to have just a little bit different curve in the grip or something because I'm feeling the love sweep over me for it the more I handle it - Identical barreled action as the Montana (but I'd buy at least 1 extra magazine) that's my take on it - Bad knees too, along with lumbar spine stenosis I'm a wreck right now - I had bilateral knees docketed for Feb 15 but cancelled until I can get some nerve blocks done in the back first, I've been bone on bone for several years (medial surface both sides) but the back has changed my perspective a lot, don't think I'll have many "back pack hunts" in my future now - IMO the .270 is a fine cartridge (unless maybe you live in AK or B.C.) that will and has killed many truckloads of moose and elk and at decent ranges too (on a closing note, don't ya need a "backup" ?)

 

[GKPrice]

on Sierra Trading Post there are Simms Hyalite rain jackets in XL & XXL for $70 right now - as good a rain coat as I've ever had, Simms is good stuff

 

[badkneesbro]

Yeah Im leaning towards just guying another rifle down the road instead of selling my tikka. Ive sold rifles before & it really didn't bother me, but to sell my tikka I think would bother me, plastic & all! Another thing you touched on is,"how it feels in your hands". I have no complaints about carrying the t3 lite, but I do hunt with my rifle in my hands prolly 90% of the time. When I glass, it goes in the kifaru gun bearer. Seems like I could appreciate the 1/2 pound or so difference. I think Ill stick to my original plan & buy a kimber in 3006 down the road.Thanx for the tip on the sims rain gear. Keep the opinions coming guys.

 

[badkneesbro]

haha first world problems!
Your pack should be under 50lbs easy then?

With water for the trip & food for 5 days,right at 50 lbs. sans rifle.

 

[badkneesbro]

I'd skip the T3 and Hunter and move straight to a Montana if I felt the need for something else. Guys are on the 6.5 CM bandwagon and the Montana could very well be the best of it all.

Living in cali. I prefer calibers easy to get in factory loads & components for reloading. I know, I know,I should leave this commy state, but I stay because family wont move with me to Montana! Anyways, too much uncertainty with gun & ammo laws here to change to something too far out of the ordinary. Never know when we could have another ammo shortage here.

 

[badkneesbro]

I'm a Kimber fan over the Tikka, just on feel. In your case, I would stick with what you have and what you are comfortable. as one of those "more mature hunters" myself, changing rifles for a few ounces isn't going to be that big of a gain. I find that even though I am in pretty good shape, (5'9" @ 160#) I always try and shed a few more pounds come fall before the hunt begins and that seems to be my best answer.

Im 5 11 @ 225. You think I could stand to lose even more weight? What do want me to do starve to death!?