1 Hunting rifle for my wife and I. production rifle. Savage / Tikka

[supermo26]

I have done a lot of reading about Browning X Bolt and A bolt, Savage 16/116 trophy Hunter, and Tikka T3 light and super light stainless.

OK so my wife has shot a Savage Axis 270 win to see if she can handle the recoil. She said she would not want any more felt recoil than that.

I like the Tikka T3's and the Savage Trophy Hunter Weather Warrior series with Accu trigger and accu stock.

We would use this rifle for hunting deer and elk. Range would be 30 - 500 yards or so. I am interested in flatter shooting calibers for target shooting at longer distance for fun.

Factory ammo only as reloading at this time is not an option. (I have read some good info about the Hornady 130 gr SST Superformance 270 ammo.)

I'm kind of torn between 270, 7mm, and 300 win mag / wsm. (Basically the 308 cal bullet). I am also considering a muzzle brake to control recoil as well as a recoil pad.

The 308 ammo is less $ but not the hunting ammo. Price for hunting ammo is pretty close in price with 270 and 300 wm but performance is quite a bit less from the 308. The 30-06 is close in price but does not shoot as flat as the 270 or 300. The 308 is the only round that I could shoot cheep ammo for fun and get better ammo for hunting. The 270, 7mm and 300wm/wsm don't really have cheep mil surpluse ammo.

Is there any reason I don't see more 270 talk in the forum?

Does a 30-06 kick more or less than a 270?
Does a 30-06 kick less than a 300 wm / wsm?

I'm looking for some good info about a rifle my wife and I can both faster instead of going out and buying 2 or more guns and being a master of non. ( Be scared of the guy with only one gun.)

 

[Lafayette]

Welcome, maybe consider 7mm-08 or 6.5x55 tikka t3. There are plenty of other threads discussing similar needs. Best of luck

 

[long range newbie]

300 is definitely the hardest kicking out of the bunch, and then 30-06 then 270. 270 has the best ammo availability and isn't too expensive, but 300 win mag is going to be expensive.

 

[mark5pt56]

This might help some. Also, as you will see in the link below, bullet weight plays a big part within the caliber. For the most part, 30-06 will be more than the 270 and less than the 300wm/wsm

Rifle Recoil Table

 

[supermo26]

Thanks for the link.

I have been going back and forth over the 270, 7mm-08, 308 and 30-06. It's the whole faster bullet traveling flatter vs slower bullet with a bigger hole. Once the bigger bullet is traveling as fast as the smaller bullet, recoil and price jump alot. Never ending ladder.

 

[FCS]

260 will do everything you have described wanting with recoil level that isn't horrible.

There are ways to get ammo delivered to your door, loaded to your specifications/needs.

6.5 Creedmoor, pretty much same same but one can get more performance out of the 260, all things being equal.
Savage Arms

6.5mm is about knee of curve for you, it'll kill just fine as long as you put bullet in right place. Recoil level is low enough that your wife should be able to put bullet where it needs to be, either cartridge is plenty capable of great accuracy.

 

[roggom]

The 270, 308 and 30-06 all come with factory "managed recoil" hunting ammo, Lapua makes 123 gr training ammo for the 308 and 30-06.
I would go with something she could shoulder with full power ammo. 7mm-08, 7x57, 6.5x55, 260.

 

[supermo26]

Hornady's web site is pretty consistent showing the best performance from their SST superformance. When compairing the 6.5 Creedmoor to the .270 and .308, the .270 still zips with more speed and energy with less drop than the other 2.
At 500 yards the 300 win mag will drop 1.10 inch more than the .270 but the 300 win mag is packing 511 ft lb more punch at 500 yards. The .270 is a little faster at 500 yards but not by much. The 270 is 130 gr SST superformance. The 300 win mag is 180 gr SST superformance. The lighter recoil from the .270 make it more ideal since it doesn't need a muzzle brake to control the recoil.

I wish Sportsman wearhouse had the Tikka T3 in .270. I really don't want to drive 4 hours or more just to buy 1 rifle.
I have been really thinking of going with the Savage 116 Trophy Hunter in Stainless. Not sure if the Accu Stock is worth the extra cost. I could get the XP package without the accu stock for $599. and that comes with the Nikon 3x9 x 40 scope on it. Shoot my local Bi-Mart has the XP non stainless for $439.99 I think it is. It's s hard decision. Is stainless really worth it?
Will the Tikka out shoot the Savage? Do I buy american made or Finnland?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I've had savages and I have two Tikka T3's. One is a 223 reamed to a 223AI and I chose it because Tikka is the only 1:8 twist game in town and I have a 25-06 because I got a good deal on it. That said both platforms feel cheap and I have my doubts about the plasticy parts (namely bottom "metals" aka "plastics" and plastic mags) holding up to serious use.

If I were to have one hunting rifle for lower 48 game it would be a Weatherby Vanguard S2 in 270. Tough, accurate, reliable, and ergonomic in one of the best all around chamberings ever created.

At normal hunting distances (inside 300 yards) 270 will put an elk on its ass so no need for a magnum.

 

[6.5 Shaggy]

Of your original options and performance requirements, I would definitely go Tikka and either a 30-06 or a 7 mag if the Mrs. can handle the recoil. The 6.5x55 is a better choice but are hard to find in the U.S. A 25-06 has less recoil but may be light for elk, a 7-08 doesn't handle the heavier bullets real well for elk, but could be hanloaded for better performance. For a factory gun, there is no better choice than Tikka in it's price range, or maybe any price range.

 

[45.308]

Leave ballistics to those who like to debate, get a rifle that you can carry and shoot the most accurate, and recoil will be a determining factor especially since you said your wife shooting a 270 is her recoil limit. Nothing will make a miss a hit, a miss is a miss horsepower head stamp included. I recommend T3 lite in 7.08 for hunting or 308 since you say range time and the cheaper target ammo. Practice time will mean more than head stamp. But I would not steer away from 243. If it will tip over 1200 moose at normal hunting ranges it should be OK for deer/elk. The lighter recoil may allow for a more precise shot and this is all that counts, missing with a 338 will not dead right there over a solid hit with a 243.

As far as long range target, not my expertise but I do believe for fun time, it is more about having ammo and shooting than head stamp or ballistics.

 

[hahco]

Tikka and either a 30-06 or a 7 mag if the Mrs. can handle the recoil

will be accurate, light to carry, and will kick your teeth out, especially the 7 mag version. I'm with 45.308, go with the 7-08 or even 243. You will spend a lot more time shooting a lighter-kicking rifle.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

243 and 25-06 will both kill elk, plenty of youth hunters use both each year. I believe some states won't let you use 243 for them though so you should look into that if it's a thought. That said they are both marginal and require perfect shot placement which should always be practiced but shit happens. A bigger round is going to do better penetrating shoulder as well.

Another thing to keep in mind is the weight of the rifle your wife shot. I don't know what a savage axis weighs but it probably isn't heavy with all the plastic on them. I do know the tikkas are very light though so that different rifle in the same caliber could easily be over her threshold. Something to keep in mind. Either way I don't think the likely minimal weight difference in them would allow her to be comfortable with a 7 mag or 300 mag. This is another reason I recommended the Vanguard, not just for its superior action design and trigger, it also has a little more meat on the bones to conquer recoil without being heavy. It tips the scales at about 7.5lbs or a hair less depending on bore diameter and action length. So wil scope and sling it's comfortable to carry all day as well as to shoot. The weight difference there may allow her to shoot a 7mm mag but it's still not needed for elk at reasonable distances. 270 or 308 is more than sufficient and are two of the most popular elk rounds out there for good reason.