What to Build from Tikka 300WM?

[Glen1978]

REQUIREMENTS:

NO BARREL BURNER / NO "MAKING" BRASS / OBTAINABLE RELOADING SUPPLIES / PREFER SOME FACTORY AMMO AVAILABILITY but NOT A DEAL KILLER:

I've got a Tikka T3 300WM that is in the safe collecting dust. I just don't shoot it....its smaller brother Tikka 270 took its place for hunting here in Colorado. SO.....looking at doing something with it in probably a KRG Bravo stock with LRI prefit barrel. Pick up a Cameraland Bushnell DMRII / Kestrel deal for optics and ballistics. Its duty will be paper punching and some random hunting with it (allthough the 270 will do most of that work). Some long range coyote work would be fun, and some mile shot attempts as well. My reloading requirements are that brass is readily available and some off the shelf ammo would be nice to get started on it.

I initially thought 6.5 PRC since that is the new thing it seems and theres some nice off the shelf ammo available. I have 16# of Retumbo to hand roll it as well. Then I look up and see I have around 16# of H4350 and a set of new in the box Whidden 6.5CM dies for some reason. Major part is the 6.5CM would require a new bolt which seems pricey and a mile shot is pushing it with the Creed.

Some other folks recommended a 7WSM and several other 7mm calibers but I don't think brass is easily obtained. Thanks

 

[BurnOut]

Something in the SAUM/WSM family. Those cartridges are really at their best in medium-length action, which is what the T3 really is, IMO.

 

[Steel head]

7 saum is pretty amazing.
It will drop pretty much anything, does excellent at a mile and recoil is mild.

ADG makes excellent brass for it.

Sammi chamber really likes about 3.0-3.1 oal with the 180-190’s and that makes more room for H1000 and retumbo than running them in my short action.

 

[clcustom1911]

+1 for 7SAUM or 300 PRC

I saw an ad in the PX from someone selling about 1500 7mm 183 Matchking bullets ??

 

[Glen1978]

That 7 SAUM peaks my interest for sure. How is Retumbo doing in that cartridge?

Are you guys suggesting that over the 6.5 PRC for the hunting reason? Im not as concerned with animal knockdown on this rifle as the 270 will fullfill most of that roll (at reasonable distance)

Cant seem to find any 7 SAUM ADG brass. I DO NOT want to build a rifle that will require unobtanium type reloading material. I have Retumbo on the shelf but once thats gone....?

 

[260284]

257 Blackjack or one of the 25 Shermans, 25 SST

 

[clcustom1911]

257 Blackjack or one of the 25 Shermans, 25 SST

Barrel life? Who needs that!?

 

[Glen1978]

I do not want to build a barrel burner either.

 

[260284]

Barrel life? Who needs that!?

The 257 Blackjack is shorter than a SAUM and can be run at lower velocities. Any magnum round is going to have shorter barrel life than a 6.5 Creed. You can burn out a 6 creed as fast as any magnum round.

 

[stello1001]

neck up a 6.5 PRC to 7

 

[Glen1978]

Not interested in "making" brass either. I want to buy / shoot or reload / shoot. Prefer to pick a caliber that will be around in a year or three. Im not into the wildcatting thing to be honest.

 

[clcustom1911]

neck up a 6.5 PRC to 7

Or.....

A 300prc down to a 7

 

[clcustom1911]

7 saum or 300 PRC

Not interested in "making" brass either. I want to buy / shoot or reload / shoot. Prefer to pick a caliber that will be around in a year or three. Im not into the wildcatting thing to be honest.

Mile high has norma 7Saum brass in stock.

 

[stello1001]

Or.....

A 300prc down to a 7

That's not a bad idea either but since OP didn't want much of a barrel burner, I suggested the short action. It also appears OP just wants to buy ready made brass and not neck up/down, etc.

 

[b6graham]

7 saum or 300 PRC

Mile high has norma 7Saum brass in stock.

300 PRC and a necked down 7PRC wont work...tikka arent long enough

7Max from Sherman is perfect for a tikka

 

[Glen1978]

That's not a bad idea either but since OP didn't want much of a barrel burner, I suggested the short action. It also appears OP just wants to buy ready made brass and not neck up/down, etc.

100% accurate. Im not interested in doing that. FACTORY brass thats READILY available. NO barrel burners. Something that will fit into my LA Tikka.

 

[260284]

300 PRC and a necked down 7PRC wont work...tikka arent long enough

7Max from Sherman is perfect for a tikka

@b6graham is on this. Need to sick with short or medium action calibers in a Tikka action. Not LA caliber friendly due to mag length restrictions.

 

[b6graham]

@b6graham is on this. Need to sick with short or medium action calibers in a Tikka action. Not LA caliber friendly due to mag length restrictions.

if you want shit 'factory' brass from hornady then do a 6.5PRC, but the argument is bad anyways cause ADG makes it too and they make the Sherman brass

 

[clcustom1911]

If I were to re-barrel my Tikka T3x from 7mm RemMag I'd probably do 7 SAUM. The 3.41" OAL restriction of the bottom of the action inlet would be a deciding factor.

Unless you're like me and you took hours to hand file a notch in the bottom of the action to allow OAL of up to 3.63" with AICS mags ?

 

[b6graham]

If I were to re-barrel my Tikka T3x from 7mm RemMag I'd probably do 7 SAUM. The 3.41" OAL restriction of the bottom of the action inlet would be a deciding factor.

Unless you're like me and you took hours to hand file a notch in the bottom of the action to allow OAL of up to 3.63" with AICS mags ?

but even then 3.63" doesn't get you a 300PRC

 

[Steel head]

7 saum or 300 PRC

Mile high has norma 7Saum brass in stock.

Adg brass is available a few times a year and gunwerks brass is ADG and in stock now.

 

[Glen1978]

I really like what Im reading about the 7 SAUM. Just dont like what Im seeing on hit/miss brass but seems manageable. Anything else I should know about the round? What kinda barrel life?

 

[b6graham]

I really like what Im reading about the 7 SAUM. Just dont like what Im seeing on hit/miss brass but seems manageable. Anything else I should know about the round? What kinda barrel life?

you could do a 7 Max which is same parent brass but faster and more better

7mm sherman max

With all the latest medium length actions becoming popular and T3 Tikkas making great intermediate builds, what would you guys think of an EFFICIENT 3.1" round that would run a 180 near 3100' out of a 26" barrel and a 195 near 3000'.

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[clcustom1911]

Adg brass is available a few times a year and gunwerks brass is ADG and in stock now.

Midway has Norma in stock now too.

 

[Glen1978]

you could do a 7 Max which is same parent brass but faster and more better

7mm sherman max

With all the latest medium length actions becoming popular and T3 Tikkas making great intermediate builds, what would you guys think of an EFFICIENT 3.1" round that would run a 180 near 3100' out of a 26" barrel and a 195 near 3000'.

www.longrangehunting.com

Seems the Sherman rounds might be kinda heading down the wildcatting rat hole. Not ready to jump into that. This is from my short reading about it.

 

[b6graham]

Seems the Sherman rounds might be kinda heading down the wildcatting rat hole. Not ready to jump into that. This is from my short reading about it.

not much different than SAUM in reality

ADG headstamped and formed brass
dies are same
powder same
bullets same

unless you need to shoot factory ammo. which is scarce for a SAUM anyways. i'd be shooting ADG brass only so that point is kinda moot

 

[Glen1978]

not much different than SAUM in reality

ADG headstamped and formed brass
dies are same
powder same
bullets same

unless you need to shoot factory ammo. which is scarce for a SAUM anyways. i'd be shooting ADG brass only so that point is kinda moot

So say 7 SAUM it is. Whats your take between Norma and ADG brass quality?

 

[b6graham]

So say 7 SAUM it is. Whats your take between Norma and ADG brass quality?

i'd only run ADG, but i havent had issues with other Norma brass

 

[Glen1978]

Ive never ran it. Only Lapua for the most part in other rifles. Thank you

 

[Glen1978]

How is Retumbo acting in the 7 SAUM?

 

[b6graham]

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/7-saum.6252684/

 

[clcustom1911]

How is Retumbo acting in the 7 SAUM?

Like most other magnum cartridges, H1000, Retumbo, Reloder 26, 25, 33, H4831sc, etc el probably do well.

 

[Steel head]

So say 7 SAUM it is. Whats your take between Norma and ADG brass quality?

My ADG brass has been excellent.
Im almost at five loadings and it’s time to anneal.
Primer pocket are still felling good even with Winchester primers

How is Retumbo acting in the 7 SAUM?

retumbo is usable since you’re not running a short action, same with H1000 and 7977.
R26 is awesome in it and a savior for my short action.

 

[Glen1978]

H1000 and Retumbo are not to be had right now....although I have plenty of Retumbo. RL is too temp sensitive to use where Im at I think.....40-50 degrees is easy in a day.

 

[clcustom1911]

RL26 temp stability is on par or very close with H4350 and H1000 based on my experiences.

17, 22, 25 are the angry ones

 

[Glen1978]

Keep it coming guys. GREAT INFO!

Ive talked to Chad at LRI already about a barrel for my action and Im sure the 7 SAUM wont be an issue. I think Im going to grab my optic first and get that big cost out of the way. Im having a hard time passing on the Cameraland Bushnell DMRII / Kestrel deal for $1049 since I need an upgraded Kestrel anyway. THEN I kinda want the GAP Bushnell XRSII / Kestrel deal for $1699. Just not sure the DMRII to XRSII upgrade is worth $650 bucks. With the further range of the 7 SAUM maybe it is.....I dont know.

 

[clcustom1911]

183 Matchkings fir sale in the PX...... just saying..... might be able to talk the seller into a good deal ??

 

[b6graham]

RL26 temp stability is on par or very close with H4350 and H1000 based on my experiences.

17, 22, 25 are the angry ones

Yes this.

16 26 33 seem to be good to go

 

[Glen1978]

Cool. Good to know. Never ran any of those and whatever I built Id want it to be able to eat H4350 or Retumbo since I have plenty of each.

 

[lou400a]

300 wsm

 

[Glen1978]

300 wsm

Why would you go that route?

 

[Krazy_jim]

I thought the KRG offerings for Tikka are all short action only. Meaning you cant run long action mags.

 

[Glen1978]

As far as I know all Tikkas are long action. But Im not sure how they build there chassis to go on them. I guess I should find out. Good eye!

 

[Krazy_jim]

Youre correct in that the actions are all the same "long" action length. But the krg uses AICS or CTR mags. CTR mags are only short action calibers, and the aics Mag well is for short action

 

[Krazy_jim]

 

[Glen1978]

Good to know. Ill have to do some research on this. Thanks

 

[j741]

Another option to consider is the current Tikka package from Hell's Canyon, including one of their CF barrels & their aluminum bottom metal & magazine, even available in 7SAUM:

Online Store | Hells Canyon Armory

www.hellscanyonarmory.com

 

[bgavin]

The AG composites stock looks nice

 

[260284]

Keep it coming guys. GREAT INFO!

Ive talked to Chad at LRI already about a barrel for my action and Im sure the 7 SAUM wont be an issue. I think Im going to grab my optic first and get that big cost out of the way. Im having a hard time passing on the Cameraland Bushnell DMRII / Kestrel deal for $1049 since I need an upgraded Kestrel anyway. THEN I kinda want the GAP Bushnell XRSII / Kestrel deal for $1699. Just not sure the DMRII to XRSII upgrade is worth $650 bucks. With the further range of the 7 SAUM maybe it is.....I dont know.

The step up in glass quality is worth the extra $$ for the XRSII. Buy once, cry once applies here.

 

[6brshooter]

if you want shit 'factory' brass from hornady then do a 6.5PRC, but the argument is bad anyways cause ADG makes it too and they make the Sherman brass

Not saying adg isnt better than hornady, but the hornady 6.5prc brass I have used is far from shit. Pockets are still tight at 6 firings with 140@3100.