I just bought a new rifle for elk/bear hunting. I wanted something light, accurate, and hardhitting enough for bear and elk at long range.

I settled on the Tikka T3 Lite in .300 Win Mag. I bought a Zeiss Terra 3x (4-12x42) scope with a ballistic reticle.

Currently waiting on the base mount.

Anyone with experience with this gun/caliber? I imagine it might kick a bit, but I shoot my .416 Rem Mag (MOA on a good day) without too much worry.

BH63

My hunting buddy has a tika 300 wsm an his comment was what ever I shoot at just falls over dead. I think he uses 165 nosler BP shot medium stuff like deer an pigs. His gun shoots less than MOA

It's a light rifle in the 300 win mag - I found it maybe a little tedious during load development but a Limbsaver makes all the difference. Not too bad though.

You won't have any problems if you are used to a 416!

MLG has a good suggestion in using a Limbsaver recoil pad for that rig. Limbsaver makes one that is a very close fit.

I've got one of those rifles in 270WSM and it works well for a light, cheap rifle. The 300WM cartridge at least fills the action length. With luck your fighting-brand Zeiss will stand up to the recoil. (As a general rule, it is better to ask before the purchase, when opinions may be more candid and can actually help.)

"Plastic fantastic" my moose getter !
77gr Rel 22 a 168 gr TSX Match bullet 210 Fed match primers and the rifle does the rest.
Mine has a Euro set trigger and a simple 3-9 Burris scope. It shoots where i point it and it will put everything through one ragged hole !

Thanks for the responses. I bought a couple of boxes of Win Ballistic tips in 180 gr. I hope the rifle handles them well. If not, I will try 165/168 gr bullets.


BH63

Went to the range yesterday. After getting the scope zeroed, I was able to shoot MOA at 100 and 200 yds. After 11 shots, my shoulder was getting a little sore, but not too bad.

Altogether I was pleased with the performance of the gun. I was shooting 180gr Win Ballistic Silvertips.

The Zeiss scope was mounted on Leo low mounts and seemed to be at the correct height for my stock weld and the eye relief was adequate.

Can't wait to shoot something with it.

BH63

The 300 Win Mag is one of my all time favourite calibres. I really like it! I favour 200gr and never shot lighter than 178gr. I think you will enjoy it.

My only complaint on such a light gun is not the recoil in 300 Winchester Magnum, but the aiming stability in a real world situation. At 400 yards, your caliber is capable, but the dancing cross-hairs are not unfortunately!

Corey

quote:

but the aiming stability in a real world situation.

Don't understand why that should be an issue.
I shoot a Tikka T3 Lite 30.06 and from a benchrest it comfortably shoots game-getting groups at 300 and 400 yards. In my experience if I can shoot such groups from the bench it can be done in the field with a solid set up under good conditions. The Tikka 300 Win Mag will be a bit heavier than my rifle and I would have every expectation of great shooting out to 400 yards.

Plastic fantastic strikes again
Earlier this week minus 7 deg Celsius
First snows of winter
Northern BC
154 meters ranged

quote:

Originally posted by 30.06king:
Don't understand why that should be an issue.

It's an issue if you don't take the time to set up properly like you explained. Many hunters get excited and get irresponsible.

[quote]Plastic fantastic strikes again
Earlier this week minus 7 deg Celsius
First snows of winter
Northern BC
154 meters ranged

Looks like nice fur on that Black Bear. Congratulations.
Is the white stuff close to its throat a bit of snow ?
 

yes first snows of winter,not sticking on road though
we also knocked down 3 moose

quote:

we also knocked down 3 moose

No question then that the .300 Win Mag is doing a great job, and hence it's enviable reputation. I recently bought one myself in .300 WMag, the new model Tikka T3x. I won't shoot it until the bolt is modified for a more positive half-cock position but I contain my eagerness with some difficulty. I have starter reloads ready to go as soon as the rifle returns.

Alf, Nice bear!

I start my bear/elk hunt in a couple of days. Already on site, dry, but cold. No doubt I will appreciate the lightness of the rifle. Shooting it at the range confirmed that for me, recoil is a non-issue. I swapped out my bipod's (27") head, so that it is adjustable for cant (took the head off of the 12" bipod). If I miss, I have no excuses!

BH63

I have a stainless T3 in 7mm Rem Mag. It's sub MOA as long as I do my part. It's got a bit of recoil to it but not any worse that others I have shot. I will install a limbsaver recoil pad on it and call it good.

A hunting colleague uses a Tikka L3 in 300 Win Mag to good effect on deer and tahr. He uses reloads with the Hornady 165gr SST and a high quality scope which he can dial in for range once found with a rangefinder. His Tikka is very accurate and effective with the 300WM cartridge, and he has pulled off some long range shots using this rig and always with a bipod.

Getting the Tikka 300WM set up to take a long shot on a bull tahr in Southern Alps of NZ (guest hunter from Alaska going to take the shot).


Bull tahr taken at 425m near top of small basin left of photo centre, photo zoomed 3-4x.


Not a biggy but a nice tahr trophy taken with 300 Win Mag 165gr SST.

Owned one in same caliber. Yes due to lightweight it will kick a bit. Limbsaver and a PAST pad will make a big difference.

As with the one I still have in .308W extremely easy to develop loads for. Numerous easy to attain loads in 180 and 200gr bullets. A-Frames, North Fork, TSX/TTSX, Partitions, Acubonds.....take your pick.

In my mind the T3'S represent the best bang for the buck in terms of accuracy and functionality. Perhaps not so pretty, but for a roughly $550 rifle, you can't do better.