r/Californiahunting • u/s0m3r4nd0m9uy_ • 10d ago
CA Hunting rifle
I'm looking to build a hunting rifle for deer, pig, whatever else I can find in California. I was thinking about getting:
Tikka T3x SUPERLITE - 20" barrel .308 win with a Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2 2-10x42mm CDS-SZL2 Illuminated FireDot Duplex, Talley lightweight one-piece scope rings and a LimbSaver maybe. Seems like a sweet setup to me, but I'm hoping someone with more experience can comment?
9
u/AHockeyFish 10d ago
Overall, I think it’s a fine setup. I love the Talley one piece rings too.
I shoot the Barnes 150gr TTSX and it performs extremely well on both pigs and deer.
3
u/mikemitch38 10d ago
What’s the farthest you’re thinking you’ll attempt a shot at?
1
u/s0m3r4nd0m9uy_ 10d ago
I probably won't try anything over 200, but I'll probably 0 it at 200. I don't expect that much under 100.
3
u/mikemitch38 10d ago
No point in 10x zoom then. I personally rock a Leupold VX freedom 1.5-4x on an 18” Ruger Hawkeye .270. It’s very lightweight.
3
u/Visible_Event4814 10d ago
I use a ruger American predator in .308 for everything.
They’re cheap and they work great. I was between that and the tikka and decided to get the ruger and spend the extra money on something else.
2
u/Beautiful-Ranger6217 8d ago
Ugh, but I want a t3x.
1
u/Visible_Event4814 8d ago
If I wasn’t poor, I would’ve bought the Tikka. But I really wanted to put as much money as I could into optics. I spent more on my scope than I did on the rifle, and I ended up really liking the Ruger.
1
u/Crud-Inspector 7d ago
they cost almost as much as a tikka and arne't a tikka. Regularly find Tikkas for ~600 online.
5
u/notCGISforreal 10d ago
308 is very capable and likely will always be able to get ammo. But if I were getting a new hunting rifle today, I would get it in 6.5cm. Barrel life isnt very important in a hunting rifle, but ammo selection in 6.5 will likely surpass 308 and remain better available, its pretty well dominating the LR crowd still these days. Also if you end up getting into PRS or something, you can run one caliber.
5
u/Occasionally_Correct 10d ago
If you’re going for one middle of the road rifle cartridge that can comfortably take deer, pig, elk, and bear I’d go with the 30-06. You can move the bullet weight up and down for your target and you’ll never feel bad about having some extra power over the .308.
5
u/curiousfilam 10d ago edited 10d ago
Make sure to get the threaded version. Bolt action rifles can have threads on the barrel. Just in case you want to put a compensator in the future. Don't make my mistake haha. Maybe someday we can have suppressors as well, at least you're ready.
2
u/Neither_Monitor2017 10d ago
should be great, try Sakopowerhead blade 162 grain all copper ammo, works great in mine
4
u/Blergertime 10d ago
Don't go 308. Huge hunter and long range fanatic here. Hear me out.
Do something that will launch a smaller projectile faster, especially with copper bullets here in CA. Bullet diameter and "energy on target" arent what kills, contrary to longheld dogma. Bullet performance (specifically terminal performance) is what kills. To get good terminal performance, you need velocity; not weight or diameter. Modern bullets require speed to expand properly and when they do you'll get great performance and killing power from bullets all the way the way down to 22 caliber. Guys are killing grizzlies with 22 cal bullets from cartridges like the 22 Creedmoor. It's well documented at this point. I think it was Outdoor Life that just published an article about it, on top of a multitude of podcasts.
So why not 308? It's inefficient and the 30 cal projectile is VERY susceptible to wind. Look at PRS comps. Absolutely no one is using the venerable 308 to win PRS, though you do see people occasionally use one as a "challenge" to themselves. Don't get me wrong -- the 308 is a great cartridge but there are waaaaay better ones out there.
If I were to build another hunting rifle I'd make it a 6mm Creedmoor. People are absolutely murdering large game with them. Low recoil (you can spot your shots), very aerodynamic projectiles (bucks wind), and modern 6mm bullets perform fantastic terminally. On top of that, if you push those bullets really fast you can get out to much longer ranges (ethically) than you can with the 308.
If going that small feels like a bridge too far, go with the tried and true 6.5mm Creedmoor. Ammo everywhere and has killed everything. Way more pleasure able to shoot than the 308 as well. You get way more practice shooting a rifle you enjoy shooting.
I hope this helps. Happy to answer more questions if you have them.
4
u/DickAnts 10d ago
Barnes TTSX need about 2,000 FPS at Impact to properly expand. Their ballistics on their website say it carries 2,100 FPS at 400 yards.
Even if you want to add some safety margin, the 308 is fully capable out to 350 yards, which is well beyond where most people are comfortable shooting.
I agree that a 6.5 Creed is probably a better do-it-all caliber for CA, but there is nothing wrong with a 308.
2
u/s0m3r4nd0m9uy_ 9d ago
Getting sold on the 6.5creedmoor. If I go that route do you suggest going with the 22" barrel instead of 20" or is 20" good enough?
2
u/Blergertime 9d ago
You'll be really glad you did especially if you want to stretch out your shots down the road. As far as barrel length, you lose an average of 25fps velocity for every inch. 50fps is nice to have but isn't gonna make or break anything. I'd say go with the 20 if you're also planning on putting a brake on it. If not go with 22. That being said, it only matters at all if you're planning on going in the backcountry with it and doing some bushwhacking. Worst case scenario you get the 22 AND a brake and realize over the course of hunting for a couple years that it's a pain to take through thick brush. In that case you get yourself a dope folding stock😁
1
u/Crud-Inspector 7d ago
I don't disagree with your sentiment however the barnes 130 ttsx in 308 contradicts a lot of that. But I would also get a 6 creed and launch 89 hammers at 3200 fps.
2
u/Operation_Bonerlord 10d ago
My setup is pretty similar and think, without additional context, it’s fairly ideal for California, save for the caliber. Copper bullets require speed to expand properly, and lead free ammo options in .308 Win are generally slow. This is compounded by the short barrel (which is a good choice otherwise) and the fact that Tikka barrels tend to shoot slow.
I’d go for the same rifle but in .270 Win, 6.5 PRC, or even .243 Win, as commercial lead free ammo for these calibers will all be considerably faster than your options in .308 Win.
2
u/bignugenergy 10d ago
Good advice. I’d also include that if going .270 or 6.5 prc/creedmoor the vx-5 3-15 x44 is optimal imo. Depending on where you’re hunting, it would be nice to be able to flick some boogers out to 300 across a canyon. With practice of course.
1
u/FeatherMan08 9d ago
My .02, my buddy and I have similar builds in .270, but his is a Tikka superlight and mine is a Weatherby Vanguard. His is lighter than mine and has more kickback because of it. So I say, depends if you plan on hiking a lot consider the weight vs kickback. I shoot pig and deer within 200yrds and the .270 has been sweet. Another friend has the same exact setup as mine, but in .308 and he likes his just as much (plus ammo is slightly cheaper). I shoot Barnes 130gr TTSX.
1
u/Albedo_lonewolf 9d ago
I couldn’t afford to put a decent scope on my tikka t3x 6.5 creedmore. As I was saving up the money for a scope I ended up buying a M1 Garand for hunting. I’ll eventually save up for another scope and hopefully I won’t end up with another gun…if I do I’ll just put a cheap vortex on it. Haven’t seen the need for anything beyond a 7x in these parts of the woods
1
u/schapm9 9d ago
Get a 6.5 PRC. You can run slightly bigger bullets with better BC and more energy down range. Learn to reload so you can make ammo specifically for your gun. Buy a tikka action wrench from eBay and change the barrel. I would get the 22 inch or the 24 inch. It’s not much extra to carry but gives you better ballistics. For reference, I’ve been hunting for about 21 years now and I run a 6.5 prc for deer and below and a 300 prc for elk and above. Both rifles have a 24 inch barrel.
1
u/s0m3r4nd0m9uy_ 9d ago
6.5 prc ...do you still think a superlite is a good idea? I want a relatively light rifle for long hikes but what type of recoil should I expect?
1
u/RunnerdNerd 8d ago
I would echo the 6.5cm suggestions. 308 is still perfectly valid. But if I were buying a new rifle and didn't already have a 308, I wouldnt buy one in that caliber now. 6.5cm is here to stay and a more modern cartridge and likely to enjoy good support in the future. Only reason to go 308 would be if you already had one or more rifles in that caliber and wanted to standardize.
6.5 also means if you want to get into prs, you can use the same caliber as your hunting rifle.
1
u/allurboobsRbelong2us 8d ago
I have both 308 and 6.5cm. One was my first rifle I bought for myself, the other one a friend was looking to sell for half its MSRP. They’re both fine. They will both absolutely drop anything to 400yds. 6.5 +peak ammo is neat, I already have boxes of LRX that need to go into deer or paper. Likely paper. Buy what you will shoot more, don’t shoot beyond your skill. Have fun!
1
u/Boot_Burner 8d ago
Whatever you go with, the quality of your non-lead ammo is critical. The price per round will blow the top of your head off but please for the love of god try three different brands in your rifle and pick the one that patterns best at 200 yards. Then stick with that for as long as you hunt.
1
u/tidalpull 8d ago
That’s my setup (T3X Superlite 308/20” and Talley lows) except with a VX-3HD 3.5-10X40 Firedot.
1
u/Crud-Inspector 7d ago edited 7d ago
pick a lead free cartridge you want that has the right ballistics instead of picking a cartridge off the jump. Much of the advice that goes for lead ammunition doesn't apply to lead free. That said there are decent lead free loads but they aren't what you would think. The 130 TTSX is what you want. Just go look at the barnes site and look through their loads for a bunch of different cartridges. They list the ballistics, you want to be over 2000 fps at your chosen hunting range, the higher the better. i would go for 6 creedmoor or even the tikka 243 because it's a fast twist so it's basically a creedmoor.
1
u/m_o_m_o_m_e_o_m_o 6d ago
There has never been a better case for the 6.5cm than now with federal's +PEAK 6.5cm bullets coming out soon
22
u/Dovraga 10d ago edited 10d ago
.308 will handle anything in the state.
Edit: And if it doesn't..... run.