Well,it seems I've gone and done it. Since last Nov, I have aquired a three some of T3 Tikkas. A Tikka Triad of sorts if you will. I didn't set out to,but I see no reason these 3 rifles can't be a North American 3 gun battery. The Triad consists of a blued 25/06 wearing a 4X-12X Leupold. Capable of delivering bullets from 75 to 120gr at not too shabby a speed. Little recoil and quite accurate. Ideal for our local whitetails and varmints out to the plains and beyond for antelope and deer of all species. The other blued rifle is of the 7mm Remington Magnum chambering again scoped with a 4X-12X Leupy. Here we can pick up with the 120gr bullets on up to and including the 160 grainers. Personaly,I'm not a fan of the 175gr pill in the shorter barrels at Remmy Mag velocities. Just a personal preference. I see nothing wrong with a 160gr in say a Partition or other quality design up around the 3,000 fps mark. Good medicine for muleys and elk at reasonable ranges. Easy to shoot accurately and proven effective since 1962. The same year your truly was born. That has to account for something! Last but not least the battery is rounded out with a stainless 338 Winchester Mag that sports a 3X-9X Leupold I had changed to a CPC reticle. Capable of delivering pills in excess of 250gr,or as light as 180gr if you like. Taking over where the 7 Remmy leaves off. From Yellowstone to the Youkon, including the big bears, it doesn't have to appologize to anyone.
Yep,it seems I've stumbled onto a nice little battery for North American critters. I'll be employing them as such too for the next year or two. May as well play out this hand. I delt it. Hope the critters don't mind.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/033.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/032.jpg)
Anybody have a 3 gun battery they rely on for all their Continental hunting needs? I'd love to see them!
Not I, but I dont get to have Continental hunting needs :laf: Well...actually I take that back.
I do have Continental hunting needs but it begins with the need to hunt the Continent. :biggrin:
Nice collection indeed. I love the way you set that pic up :congrats:
Thanks Jim. This is what I do on a Sunday between worming hogs and loading ammo. My 12 year old daughter helped me set up the photo. I need a new hobby. 3 Tikkas since last Nov.! There is something very very wrong with me. Thanks again buddy,R.J.
Nice! come on though, ya just as well add a 22-250 or sorts to the family :biggrin:
Good choices!
My son went a similar route, with two Tikka T3 rifles.
He hunts deer and elk near his house each year with black bears and cougars thrown in and moose, sheep and Mt. goats possible by draw. He wanted two rifles that covered large and small big game that were identical in every way. With these there is no switch in muscle memory, view through scope, feel of trigger, length of pull, fit of rifle, etc. Both rifles feel and shoot the same.
One rifle is 7mm Rem. mag. and the other is .338 Win mag. Both have the same long action and bolt throw. Identical Leupold VXII 3-9x40 scopes are on both rifles. He would have preferred a slightly lesser round than the 7mm mag on the lighter rifle but wanted all of the physical dimensions of the rifles to be the same.
He's taken a deer and elk each year since he bought them, plus one or two bears and a Mt. lion. I shot a buck with the 7mm one year.
There are now four Tikka T3 SS rifles in our family and if I were shopping for a rifle, that's what I would get. Light weight, buttery smooth action, nice trigger, excellent accuracy out of the box, detachable magazine (which I like) in stainless synthetic for our endless rain.
Bravo on your choices!
Quote from: Dogwood Creek on April 01, 2012, 07:14:30 PMAnybody have a 3 gun battery they rely on for all their Continental hunting needs? I'd love to see them!
My three would be:
.22LR
12ga
30-06
Glad I'm not limited to three as it would be boring. :biggrin:
You have good taste I love Tikkas.
Quote from: FOsteology on April 01, 2012, 09:30:20 PM
Quote from: Dogwood Creek on April 01, 2012, 07:14:30 PMAnybody have a 3 gun battery they rely on for all their Continental hunting needs? I'd love to see them!
My three would be:
.22LR
12ga
30-06
+1 for hunting everything on the continent.
Now there's a nice lineup for your specific needs!! I really like the Tikka's too. Maybe someday I'll pull the trigger on one. I've heard sooo many great things about those rifles!! Congratulations on the new arsenal additions RJ!! :yoyo: :yoyo: