6.5 CM Choices - NEMO XO Carbon..........versus.........Tikka T3x TAC A1

[WillieFlo]

Alright fellas, looking for a precision rifle to fill in a hunting and long range target role. I've got a Desert Tech SRS A1 with 4 barrels(long & short) in .338 LM and 300 WinMag. After years of doing about 75% of my Whitetail, exotic, and other big game hunting from tripods/box blinds, I've started doing more stalk hunting for for Elk, Pronghorn, etc. and am looking to sell the big DTA SRS A1 in the big calibers, for a bolt gun in 300 Win Mag, and a lighter platform semi-auto(preferred) in 6.5 Creedmoor. My preference for a semi-auto 6.5 CM stems from the fact that I would like it to be a "do it all" gun.

My key features are:
1. Be light, and semi compact or nimble to carry on long stalk hunts.
2. It can reach out to 600 yds accurately for big game/Whitetail.
3. Be accurate/predictable at 1000 yds+ with low recoil at a range.
4. Be able to rail mount a thermal clip-on in front of a NF scope, to hunt hogs & coyotes at night.
5. Quick follow up shots when hunting groups of coyotes or hogs at night or from a heli.
6. Be Lefty/Southpaw friendly with Ambi controls or LH version

Anyone heard of any negative issues with either model?


Thanks!

 

[rustyinbend]

LOVE my Tikka T3x TAC A1 in 6.5-CM ... I don't hunt, but it's a great target rifle out to and through 1,000 yards.

 

[phlegethon]

You want a semi-auto 6.5 Creedmoor, and you're cross shopping a way overpriced AR from an obscure manufacturer and a midrange bolt gun?

 

[WillieFlo]

LOVE my Tikka T3x TAC A1 in 6.5-CM ... I don't hunt, but it's a great target rifle out to and through 1,000 yards.

I've heard that alot about the Tikka. If I go with it, I'll be upgrading the barrel to the Proof Research barrel, and lighten it up more.

 

[ChidJ]

I'm a wee bit confused. Why not just get the 6.5 conversion for your DT? My SRS is lighter with the factory 6.5CM caliber kit than the Tikka TAC A1

 

[st1650]

I'm a wee bit confused. Why not just get the 6.5 conversion for your DT? My SRS is lighter with the factory 6.5CM caliber kit than the Tikka TAC A1

Also DTA offers a 24" 6.5 creed hunter fluted barrel

 

[st1650]

Also why not just go with a CTR or superlite in 6.5 with a KRG bravo stock or something even lighter like the new MDT Carbon fiber hunting stock ?

 

[UpSideDown]

This is a really scattered approach.

The Tikka is best as a gun that you buy, maybe change the stock, and just shoot. As soon as you start talking about a barrel swap the whole Tikka idea is dead to me. Tikka's all but killed my want for a custom bolt action, they're stupidly precise with factory ammo, but they have slow twists in many chamberings like .308 and .300wm. The Bravo chassis is great as a benchrest platform but I absolutely won't hunt with it, I was so happy to get rid of mine after a few hunts, very uncomfortable in the field; the Manners T-4A is a much happier fit but now it's a 13 pound gun (CTR barrel, Razor scope).

The hardest thing on your list for an automatic is the lightweight part. Everything else is easily handled by industry available parts. Buy an ambi receiver set or something else comparable that's lightweight, keep it all light from the start. The other parts are easy. Anything modest will shoot 6.5 creedmoor accurately at 600yds.

Carbon barrels aren't light. They're lightweight in comparison to steel bull barrels, but a lightweight profile steel barrel is lighter than a carbon barrel.

Personally, doing this same game all over again, I would buy a factory Tikka and put a scope on it and call it done for a hunting rifle, then do whatever for a semi-auto if you want. A 7mm Mag Tikka will go as big or small as you need for any American game, unless you're frequently in grizzly country and feel like a .300wm.

 

[longshot2000]

I've heard that alot about the Tikka. If I go with it, I'll be upgrading the barrel to the Proof Research barrel, and lighten it up more.

Sounds a little sideways. Why buy a new rifle and take it apart? Tikka is a very respectable rifle, at the mid-point between and entry level Savage and an AI or Cadex. On the Cadex line, their "entry level" rifle might be worth looking at. We have entry and expert level Cadex rifles in stock in 6.5 CM, and one Tikka tactical that I think is a huge bargain. But, I would not replace the barrel. (and I am a barrel guy).

 

[WillieFlo]

I'm a wee bit confused. Why not just get the 6.5 conversion for your DT? My SRS is lighter with the factory 6.5CM caliber kit than the Tikka TAC A1

I'm curious to see how much lighter it would be with the 6.5 Ultralight barrel, considering mine is the older model with the stock upgraded to the A1 stock with the monopod. The newer SRS A2 is over 2lbs lighter than even the A1. Right now, my SRS is probably about 13 lbs with the 26" 300 WM barrel, and the NF optic off. My biggest issue with the setup is the weight, for stalking. Other than that, the SRS has kept me happy for years.

 

[WillieFlo]

Also why not just go with a CTR or superlite in 6.5 with a KRG bravo stock or something even lighter like the new MDT Carbon fiber hunting stock ?

Haven't researched enough to come across these options yet. Thanks for the lead.

 

[ChidJ]

I'm probably missing something but am genuinely curious, why not just get a proof barrel for the SRS? You can get it in whatever caliber you like. Tikka is limited to whatever action size you get

 

[WillieFlo]

I'm probably missing something but am genuinely curious, why not just get a proof barrel for the SRS? You can get it in whatever caliber you like. Tikka is limited to whatever action size you get

Currently, according to PR's website, they don't offer SRS barrels in 6.5 CM.

 

[ballisticdaddy]

PR does not offer prefit barrels for DTA rifles but there are a few smiths that can spin one up for the DTA barrel extension. You have one of the lightest and shortest precision rifles made, not to mention getting a caliber conversion is way cheaper than building another rifle.

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

I’m gonna be a bit of a backslider. I am not a proponent of ultra light hunting rifles. Sure, if a fellow was planning a ten day trip, hiking up and down the Rocky’s after a mountain goat, ultra light might be fine, but, remember, the point of a rifle is to shoot at and hit one’s target, be it paper or game, Not be easy to carry. A bit of weight, in a rifle or a handgun is not a bad thing.

And that ultra light rifle is gonna get awful heavy when a fellow has to track a wounded animal for hours and miles when a slightly easier to shoot rifle might have meant a sure hit.

 

[WillieFlo]

All,

PR does not offer prefit barrels for DTA rifles but there are a few smiths that can spin one up for the DTA barrel extension. You have one of the lightest and shortest precision rifles made, not to mention getting a caliber conversion is way cheaper than building another rifle.

There's no doubt the SRS is an exceptional shooter, and I love the gun......as a bench shooter, or shooting it long distance with a single shot from a tripod, a blind, or prone position.

At face value, there's no question that I'd be going to less expensive platforms selling the DTA, but there's a few features many are not considering, listed in my initial posting.
1. Be light, and semi compact or nimble to carry on long stalk hunts. The newer SRS A2 version chassis is over 2+ lbs lighter than my SRS from 2013. Going with an SRS A2 version was something I considered, but they don't make them in a LH model. The A1 SRS was available for a while in LH, but I didn't capitalize on one when they were offered.
5. Quick follow up shots when hunting groups of coyotes or hogs at night or from a heli. I shoot with the wrong hand. My SRS is a RH model and I'm a Lefty. Ergonomically, with the large bolt handle, there's no quick follow up shot. The handle is big with a long throw, and there's no way around lifting off the scope for a LH shooter. With the Tikka, I'd be getting a LH model.
6. Be Lefty/Southpaw friendly with Ambi controls or LH version.....SRS does have ambi safety. The Tikka is offered in LH.

From everything I'm hearing people say, I'm getting the hint I just need to keep my beloved SRS, use my SCAR 17 for shooting groups of hogs and coyotes, and buy the Tikka for stalk hunting separately .....LOL!