Hey Y'all,

I am in the market for a .300 Win Mag. I have narrowed it down to a Tikka T3X Lite or the Sako Finnlight.

I have read that Sako's can be picky about the ammo you shoot and that I should consider shooting the Sako Brand Ammo. I have also read that Sako's components are of higher quality than the Tikka. I want a buy it for life rifle and the price difference doesn't matter to me. I just want a great rifle.

I have read that the biggest flaw for the Tikka's are the stock. I figured if I went with the Tikka, then I would upgrade to an after market, possibly carbon fiber stock. Additionally, I have read that Tikka's 1:11 barrel twist isn't optimal for the .300 shooting heavier bullets (200 grains +).

I'm torn and don't know what to do.

Also, what do you think about Christensen Arms?

Thanks for your input.

Same gun, different pants. I’m sure someone will get online and go on about how much more refined the Sako is but...

As for ammo, any gun can be picky. And I’ll say this: unless you enjoy punishment, I’d not get either of those in a 300 WM. I hear guys talk all the time about how recoil doesn’t effect them. They can handle it and whatever. While I’ll state that I’m not a fan of recoil, I think I handle it fairly well. But, those guns, in that configuration, well... they just flat punish the shooter. That’s been my experience anyway. And I love my Tikka’s.

I wouldn’t worry about either 300:win mag used in Georgia.

I agree same company budget vs premium.

what are you planning to shoot that you think you need >180gr bullets from a 300win

or what kind of distance are you trying to get ?

I've never been around any of the guns you've mentioned or I should say shot them but I have used a .300 Weatherby mag with a #2 barrel with 180 gr bullets .
Yes there's some recoil when you pull the trigger but with a quality recoil pad it isn't bad my suggestion is to hang onto the rifle as if it owes you money with both arms but relax from the waist down and lean into whatever it is that you are going to shoot at as if your trap shooting.
Then allow the recoil to rock you back and the felt recoil becomes much less noticeable just like when your shooting at a big game animal .
I hope this helps you and yes I enjoy the magnum caliber rifles as much as I do the non magnums so if I were to pick just one rifle it would be the .300 Weatherby just like Roy Weatherby said .

Allan

This gun would be used on elk hunts and possibly other big game hunts. I doubt I would shoot above 200 grains, but just found that their 1:11 twist was interesting because it has trouble stabilizing a heaver bullet.

Not terrified of the 300 recoil. I have shot them before and they never seemed worse than a 12 gauge shooting 3.5 inch magnum turkey loads.

I was considering a 308 but want something that can shoot farther with a harder hit especially out past 500 yards.

Buy the one that fits you best.

And I agree the recoil isn't any worse than heavy waterfowl loads for that matter.
I'll add another one to the mix I'm also a fan of the .338 Winchester mag or it's big brother the Lapua or ultra mag .
I lean a bit more toward the .338 win but that's just me ha ha any large caliber rifle that you comfortably shoot is a good elk caliber as long as you do your part and can shoot it accurately.

For elk, I always used 165 grain Barnes bullets in a Tikka 300 WSM. Less bullet drop at long range and will kill an elk out there pretty far as well as a 180 grain.

bullet stabilization is a function of both twist and speed the >200gr bullets just don't make the speed when you have loads ranging from 110gr to 250gr bullets the manufacture is going to have to pick where do they see the most usefulness.

shooting for the middle where common elk bullets in 165 168 175 180 makes sense and let people build custom if they need to push things with the >200gr

I hunt with the .300 win mag elk , deer hopefully moose one day. I have 2 of them 1 BDL and one Cooper firearms. I'll grab either for a hunt but usually the cooper. Cost wise is the issue $900 or so for a BDL and $2000 or so for the cooper. The cooper is a custom quality factory rifle and sub moa guarantee. It has a built in muzzle break and shoots like a dream, only reason I hunt with the BDL is to be different and pack a wood stock rifle in the woods.

If you really want to shoot 500 yards, get a 7mm rem mag

I have a 7 mag. Looking for something different.

If those are the parameters, setting for the fences. Get a Fierce Carbon Fury in 300 PRC and be done with it. 6.5# rifle that won’t wallop your fillings loose with the available muzzle brake. I’ve shot the PRC and 338 lapua. Neither were horrible but those guns are built right. And... they use a Sako clone action. But, they’re not cheap and take some time to procure.

You mentioned already having a 7mm RM. Have you looked at the 7STW? Same family with longer legs. Hard to beat the high BC of a .284 bullet. Just my personal opinion though. Might know a guy that wants to sell one too. But I’d have to talk to him to confirm.

I would avoid a 1:11 twist in most 30 calibers. The m1as use a 1:11 but the super match uses 1:10 Weatherby had a 1:12 but went to 1:10. I’m currently building 2 300 prcs a carbon and a stainless. The PRC I made for heavy 180 plus bullets. Both my barrels have a 1:9. I wouldn’t go above a 1:10 in pretty much any hot rod 30 caliber. For the record for the last 20 years my go to hunting rifle is a MARK V weatherby 30-378 slinging 180s at hyper velocities it has a 1:10. Just my 2 cents

Get a Mc Whorter custom rifle and let me know how you like it. They’re made right here in Georgia too.

I don't care what you do with your money, but you already have plenty of gun in the 7mm. Why not use the money to use it and put it towards a hunt? I have a friend that shot everything from Brown bear to mountain goat and everything in between with a 7mm.

If 1:11 is good enough for an M1A, it is good enough for me! A better battle rifle has never been made IMHO

I shoot a 7 mm STW . With 140 gr partions it has accounted for lots of one shot kills on elk and oryx.

Wasn't looking for info on other weapons.

Just wanted info on the .300.

A 1.75 trap would catch a lot of different critters, but we all know that we have plenty of other traps that hit the ground each fall.