What would you do with my Tikka T3

[Sitting Bull]

So got lots of time on my hand lately and my mind is on overdrive. I have a Tikka T3 light in .243 that I really do not use any more. It is unreal accurate . I bought several years ago for a coyote/deer rifle. Well, I don't hunt coyote anymore and 99.9% of my hunting is open farm land and I use a 30-06 for that.I have been looking at new rifles and not much choice in left hand guns.So I was thinking of getting a pre fitted barrel or have one made in 7mm-08. For me to get a Tikka T3x in .308 or 30-06 etc... I am looking at $1300up to $1675.00 new.
Should I sell the gun and wait till I find something or is it worth having my T3 re barreld to what I may want? Does not have to be 1 7mm-08. I also have an old Rem 700 30-06 left handed I am not sure what to do with either. Sell or rebarrel?
Thanks guys.
I picked up a 7mm mag to try out and had some issues with it as well I did not like the recoil. So 30-06 is max.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Sitting Bull

So got lots of time on my hand lately and my mind is on overdrive. I have a Tikka T3 light in .243 that I really do not use any more. It is unreal accurate . I bought several years ago for a coyote/deer rifle. Well, I don't hunt coyote anymore and 99.9% of my hunting is open farm land and I use a 30-06 for that.I have been looking at new rifles and not much choice in left hand guns.So I was thinking of getting a pre fitted barrel or have one made in 7mm-08. For me to get a Tikka T3x in .308 or 30-06 etc... I am looking at $1300up to $1675.00 new.
Should I sell the gun and wait till I find something or is it worth having my T3 re barreld to what I may want? Does not have to be 1 7mm-08. I also have an old Rem 700 30-06 left handed I am not sure what to do with either. Sell or rebarrel?
Thanks guys.
I picked up a 7mm mag to try out and had some issues with it as well I did not like the recoil. So 30-06 is max.

The reality is, that in the same rifle, there is very little difference in recoil between a 30-06, and a 7mmremmag. When you start comparing different rifles, you introduce factors that prevent an objective comparison.

[CanuckShooter]

I sell the ones that I don't use and buy what I want. If you look into getting a rifle re-barreled you will probably find it overly expensive like I did. At one time I owned a T3 lite in 30-06 and my buddy said it kicked like a mule and he wouldn't take a 3rd shot with it, his 7MM Husky light weight had less felt recoil for him & me, so the fit of the rifle you are shooting can have just as big an effect on felt recoil as the calibre.

[Stinky Buffalo]

I'm with the "sell it and buy what you really want" camp, Sitting Bull.

Like CanuckShooter says... I imagine that it can get expensive fast.

Plus on the resale end, you will likely never get that value back, especially being a lefty. We lefty's are a limited edition!

[Smokinyotes]

I would rebarrel the 243 to 6.5x55 and shoot everything with it.

[Sitting Bull]

Excuse my lack of knowledge with this stuff, would I need a new bolt to accommodate a 6.5x55 ?

[pikergolf]

JC custom barrels does pre-fits for Tikka's, as does IBI barrels although there's uses a barrel nut. Basically just screw it on, lots of different cartridges to pick from. Bit of a wait though.

[Smokinyotes]

243 win and 6.5x55 are both .473” bolt face.

[Twisted Canuck]

I'm in the 'It's ok to have as many rifles chambered for whatever you like, and needs got nothing to do with it' camp.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I would rebarrel the 243 to 6.5x55 and shoot everything with it.

My pick for best advice is this ^^^

K&S Arms has got you covered for $1000ish.

[elkhunter11]

I would sell everything that you don't plan on using, and keep/buy two rifles, that you will use.

[Big Sky]

Your 30-06 is great choice for a hunting rifle.

IMO what a person should have is a rifle to use at the range. Something with mild recoil and inexpensive to shoot so that you can get in lots of practise.

I'd sell the 243 and pick up a 223. And, if you ever decided to start hunting coyotes again, you're good to go.

[W921]

Ive sold quite a few rifles over the years that I didn't think I needed. Accurate well made rifles I wish now I would not have sold. A new rifle is exciting and I get that. Sell one in order to buy another. But sometimes if you have to many guns your guns kind of tie you down and they own you. Course the stuff I like is old and harder to find.If you have a big collection it kind of makes you a target.

[6.5 shooter]

I have a Tikka t3 (the older version) in 6.5x55. It has several things going for it that you may want to consider before you rebarrel the .243. 1) the magazine on the 6.5 x 55 is a magnum length so you can seat your bullets really long and not run out of mag space. No need to buy a new mag. 2) If you are going to run X brass you may need to modify the extractor so it will fit some of the 6.5x55 brass. The base "grove" on 6.5x55 brass is thicker then .308. So swapping barrels may lead to feeding issues down the road. 3) The really good brass runs a smaller flash hole then most "American" brass so keep that in mind when you buy depriming pins. 4) You will/might have to open up the bolt face.

PS the case heads are NOT the same diameter
.243
Base diameter 0.4709 in (11.96 mm)
Rim diameter 0.4728 in (12.01 mm)
Rim thickness 0.0539 in (1.37 mm)

6.5x55
Base diameter 12.20 mm (0.480 in)
Rim diameter 12.20 mm (0.480 in)
Rim thickness 1.50 mm (0.059 in)

OR Just buy a set of RCBS dies trade off your .243 and buy the 6.5x55. OR even better, just buy a 6.5x55 t3 and keep the .243 for a back up. Either way you can't go wrong.

[58thecat]

Turn the little 243 into a 6-284....I did that many moons ago....tack driver, fast and flat shooter....oh and little to no recoil....cross hairs never come off the animal after the shot.

Just a thought

[Dick284]

Turn it into a .260 REM or a 7mm-08!

[Ballertrawler II]

You have a 30-06 to do your main hunting with

I would keep the 243, Factory ammo is relatively available, great to reload with a nice recoil for use at the range

If I had two rifles 243/30-06 combo is perfect.

I also like a 270 but the 243 is a very nice rifle. With your spare time I would recommend getting into handloading and it will take up lots of time and is enjoyable as well.

[aardvaark]

Saw a video last night that says he’s turned his 30-06 into near 300wm velocities: https://youtu.be/xNt2Jbrs7Q4?si=tGTr4g3baNazoH71
He’s not much of a speaker, but he knows what he’s talking about

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by aardvaark

Saw a video last night that says he’s turned his 30-06 into near 300wm velocities: https://youtu.be/xNt2Jbrs7Q4?si=tGTr4g3baNazoH71
He’s not much of a speaker, but he knows what he’s talking about

Hardly an advisable endeavour. Sure you can get a bit more from a 30-06 if loaded to .270 Win pressures, but if 300 WM numbers were obtainable don’t you think one of the factory producers would jump at that bit of marketing hype?

They don’t because they pressure test their loads and I’m thinking getting 80000 psi from a 30-06 when even the 270Win is spec’d for 65000 psi!

Factory spec for a 30-06 is 60000 psi…….in respect to things like 1895
Winchesters.


This kind of internet BS is bordering on criminal IMO.

[huntinstuff]

Sell it. Tons of people interested in a good .243

[fps plus]

6-284. Simple rechamber job

[sns2]

Originally Posted by fps plus

6-284. Simple rechamber job

No flies on a 6-284

[Pioneer2]

A .243 on a short action and the 6.5x55 a long?

[brewster29]

Tikka actions are all the same length. Just need 5 minutes with a hacksaw and a file to adjust the bolt stop length to fit the longer cartridge.

[DiabeticKripple]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

A .243 on a short action and the 6.5x55 a long?

Tikkas are all the same action length, only difference is the mag and the bolt stop. easy to change both.

Sitting Bull, I'd look into a 6.5 or 6 Creedmoor. They are very capable charges, and the man bun thing is just dumb.

[H380]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

Sell it. Tons of people interested in a good .243

Already asked ...

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[Dogmatixx]

Wait three years and sell it for double what you paid for it… life’s short get what ya want, what ya really, really want…