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Tikka T3 Lite: 243 or 308?
- Thread starter Clevinger
- Start date
A 243 with modern bullets is as close to a perfect deer round as you'll get. It can be pressed into service on game as large as elk. With modern loads a 308 is suitable for deer, but more than capable for everything in North America. If deer are the primary game get the 243. The 260 and 7-08 are good too. A 7-08 is much closer to 308 in both recoil and power.
A 243 with modern bullets is as close to a perfect deer round as you'll get.
I'd be happy with the 243, but I've talked to some people who think it is underpowered for bucks.
rdavidsonjr
New member
I know the feeling as I grew up using primarily 30 caliber rounds on deer. I was recently sent a link on the 243 shooting a cow elk at 688 yards and it was quiet impressive. Look it up under Kasandra cow elk 688yds. on you tube. If it will take a 400-500 cow elk down like that it will stop any buck. I think it just depends on what you like because the 308 is a very accurate and capable round also. I think some of it comes down to your style of hunting, will you turn down hard quartering shots, will you take out a shoulder if the shot is offered on a large buck or maybe a head on shot that is not so great in offering sure fire clean vitals. If any of that would happen on a heavy large buck I would move back up personally to a little more weighty bullet.
I had a friend that hunted almost probably at least 10 years with a 243 for deer and Colorado Elk. Took a lot of nice animals with it. Later in his life he was on the 1st day of the 2nd season sitting high on a log resting when a mature male black bear past and picked his scent up due to early morning thermal down drafts. The bear charged and he said he fired once in the air and then when the bear didn't stop he starting hitting him each time dropping the bear but not stopping him while emptying his gun. He began to scramble side ways to try to get in position to run down past the bear as he did he manage 2 more bullets in the gun turned and fired saying he had basically scope filled with mostly bear head .He fired twice and run for his life not looking back.
When back at camp it took the rest of the hunting party quite awhile to settle him enough to understand him. One of them said we need to go find him and be sure he's down a wounded bear is dangerous but he refused. Next day they finally got him to take everyone back to find the bear it had traveled 30 more paces past the last 2 ejected rounds. They found 3 fresh slugs index finger deep in bear fat and a wound that was probably from the 1st season in the rump. One of the two bullets went through the eye socket. For the rest of his life he used a 270.
I like the other two suggestions on the 260 and 7mm-08 both excellent especially if you need a flatter trajectory for less need of hold over. If I was doing short range say 150-200 yards I would use the 308 and not because it lacks accuracy for long range.
I had a friend that hunted almost probably at least 10 years with a 243 for deer and Colorado Elk. Took a lot of nice animals with it. Later in his life he was on the 1st day of the 2nd season sitting high on a log resting when a mature male black bear past and picked his scent up due to early morning thermal down drafts. The bear charged and he said he fired once in the air and then when the bear didn't stop he starting hitting him each time dropping the bear but not stopping him while emptying his gun. He began to scramble side ways to try to get in position to run down past the bear as he did he manage 2 more bullets in the gun turned and fired saying he had basically scope filled with mostly bear head .He fired twice and run for his life not looking back.
When back at camp it took the rest of the hunting party quite awhile to settle him enough to understand him. One of them said we need to go find him and be sure he's down a wounded bear is dangerous but he refused. Next day they finally got him to take everyone back to find the bear it had traveled 30 more paces past the last 2 ejected rounds. They found 3 fresh slugs index finger deep in bear fat and a wound that was probably from the 1st season in the rump. One of the two bullets went through the eye socket. For the rest of his life he used a 270.
I like the other two suggestions on the 260 and 7mm-08 both excellent especially if you need a flatter trajectory for less need of hold over. If I was doing short range say 150-200 yards I would use the 308 and not because it lacks accuracy for long range.
Recoil from a 308 in a light rifle can be intimidating. With a scope and sling a T3 light can nudge the scale over 7 lbs.
With a rifle that light you get a 2 fps reduction in rifle impulse, and a 7 ft/lb reduction in recoil energy. These numbers are comparing heavy loads in the 243 to a "midweight" load in the 308 since this is for hunting.
I wouldn't want to shoot either rifle all day, or compete in a match with something that light. Light rifles are designed to be carried a lot, shot a little.
So if you absolutely want to minimize recoil, the 243 Win is the choice for you. A 260 Rem pushing a 140gr bullet will have 1 fps more velocity on recoil, and 2 more ft/lbs of energy, and a 7mm-08 pushing a 162gr bullet is almost identical to a 308 pushing a 165gr bullet.
I hope this helps.
Jimro
With a rifle that light you get a 2 fps reduction in rifle impulse, and a 7 ft/lb reduction in recoil energy. These numbers are comparing heavy loads in the 243 to a "midweight" load in the 308 since this is for hunting.
I wouldn't want to shoot either rifle all day, or compete in a match with something that light. Light rifles are designed to be carried a lot, shot a little.
So if you absolutely want to minimize recoil, the 243 Win is the choice for you. A 260 Rem pushing a 140gr bullet will have 1 fps more velocity on recoil, and 2 more ft/lbs of energy, and a 7mm-08 pushing a 162gr bullet is almost identical to a 308 pushing a 165gr bullet.
I hope this helps.
Jimro
CarJunkieLS1
New member
243 vs 308...308 hands down. I recoil is a worry slap a limbsaver recoil pad on it and have fun. I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .270 and I'll be one to say it is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. You will not be disappointed.
Btw if you are a hand loader a .308 can be loaded down to .243 recoil.
Btw if you are a hand loader a .308 can be loaded down to .243 recoil.
@Clevinger: I think you have it pegged pretty well. The .243 will not be as powerful for big game, while the .308 will have significant recoil in a light rifle.
Since you intend to use this rifle as a dual purpose gun (small to big game), I would choose the .243. The .243 will provide more flexibility and should be powerful enough for deer. However, I would not recommend the .243 for elk.
Just to throw something else in the mix, you may want to consider the .25-'06, which is also chambered in the Tikka. If I recall correctly the Tikka only comes in a long action, and so there is no overall length advantage from the shorter cartridges. The .25-'06 would provide more power and the option of heavier bullets versus the 6mm's, if you're concerned about that.
Edit: I just looked up the specifications on the .25-'06 tikka. It has a 22.4 inch barrel. The .25-'06 muzzle blast is very noticeable from a 24 inch barrel, and so a 22 inch barrel would be even worse. Plus , there would be velocity loss and you might not wind up any better than a .243.
What I would really recommend is this: Fortunately in this country (for now at least) you can own more than one gun. Go buy yourself a dedicated deer rifle chambered for a deer cartridge. Then go buy yourself a bolt action .223 for the predators and small game. They're plentiful and cheap. Or even better, buy yourself a .22 hornet. It's quiet, no recoil, cheap to shoot (if you reload), and powerful enough for varmints up to and including coyotes. The downside is that it's about a 150 yard cartridge but I rarely shoot farther than that.
Since you intend to use this rifle as a dual purpose gun (small to big game), I would choose the .243. The .243 will provide more flexibility and should be powerful enough for deer. However, I would not recommend the .243 for elk.
Just to throw something else in the mix, you may want to consider the .25-'06, which is also chambered in the Tikka. If I recall correctly the Tikka only comes in a long action, and so there is no overall length advantage from the shorter cartridges. The .25-'06 would provide more power and the option of heavier bullets versus the 6mm's, if you're concerned about that.
Edit: I just looked up the specifications on the .25-'06 tikka. It has a 22.4 inch barrel. The .25-'06 muzzle blast is very noticeable from a 24 inch barrel, and so a 22 inch barrel would be even worse. Plus , there would be velocity loss and you might not wind up any better than a .243.
What I would really recommend is this: Fortunately in this country (for now at least) you can own more than one gun. Go buy yourself a dedicated deer rifle chambered for a deer cartridge. Then go buy yourself a bolt action .223 for the predators and small game. They're plentiful and cheap. Or even better, buy yourself a .22 hornet. It's quiet, no recoil, cheap to shoot (if you reload), and powerful enough for varmints up to and including coyotes. The downside is that it's about a 150 yard cartridge but I rarely shoot farther than that.
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Why not split the difference and do 7mm-08? Gentle recoil and quite potent on deer well down range. Those are very nice rifles for the money.
I agree with Ritz ... I picked up a 7mm~08 over a year ago and haven't put it down since. Mild recoil and good ballistics. Wish I had gotten one years ago.
rdavidsonjr
New member
I should of said that to I have a 25-06 in a pro hunter TC stainless thumb hole stock. I never new a gun could fit so good and shoot so sweet. I shoot 100 gr. barnes tsx and it seems like it hits like a sledge hammer on deer. Groups are great without customizing anything.
@Rdavidsonjr: You're spot on. The .25-'06 is a great cartridge and I have a partiality for all for the .25 calibers which are often overlooked. I just wish the barrel on the tikka was a little longer.
A lot of people don't see any distinction between the.25's and the 6mm's, but my dad always described the difference this way: The 6mm's are good varmint rifles which make good deer rifles and the .25's are good deer rifles which make good varmint rifles."
A lot of people don't see any distinction between the.25's and the 6mm's, but my dad always described the difference this way: The 6mm's are good varmint rifles which make good deer rifles and the .25's are good deer rifles which make good varmint rifles."
rdavidsonjr
New member
The 25-06 I have has the 28" fluted stainless bull barrel and I love it. The over all stock length in a single shot coupled with the thumb hole stock is the most comfortable deer rifle I have ever owned. It makes standing free hand shots a lot more accurate for me.
Sure Shot Mc Gee
New member
Short action rifle. 260 Remington would be my choice. A step up from a 243 but not having a recoil even close to a 308. If your intending on purchasing a 7mm-08. Mise well buy the 308 than as I see it. Similar situation in regards to the 280 Remington verses 30-06. Both have noticeable recoil in that circumstance. If comparing the 270 to the 280. 270 has less recoil of the two. If your Tikka only comes in 243 or 308. Buy the 308 for one reason only. It defiantly has more bullet weight selection verses the 243.
Check this info out http://www.chuckhawks.com/26cal.htm
Check this info out http://www.chuckhawks.com/26cal.htm
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recoil with a 308 in such a light rifle might be heavy
I have two Tikka T3 lites: one in 30-06 and the second in .223 Rem. They are almost identical in many ways; however, factory stock recoil is NOT even close.
The solution is simple, Limbsaver makes a pad that fits the T3 like the factory pad. Roughly $35 and five minutes and my -06 is very shootable. And incredibly nice to carry when out and about.
Recently put a Redfield revolution scope on it, approx 13 ozs and I think cleaner than the Leopolds that I contrasted it with, and it is a nice accurate and light rifle.
My $0.02 would be get the .308 (or a 30-06) and a Limbsaver; you can always load down (or buy factory if that is your cup-o-tea) and make the .308 "smaller" but you can't make the "smaller" one bigger than the .308.
And as a PS do note that a lighter rifle is harder to shoot well than a heavier rifle. My T3s are very accurate out of the box, if I have the discipline to shoot them well.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Bought a little Sako Forester 19" carbine in .243 in 1971. During my active hunting years I tagged a couple of dozen bucks with it. No tracking, no trailing. All bang-plop.
Unless you're in wide-open long-shot country with really big deer, I figure that the .243 is pretty much as good as anything.
FWIW, my other pet is an '06. Same sort of track record, just longer shots.
Unless you're in wide-open long-shot country with really big deer, I figure that the .243 is pretty much as good as anything.
FWIW, my other pet is an '06. Same sort of track record, just longer shots.
Vt.birdhunter
New member
243 vs 308...308 hands down. I recoil is a worry slap a limbsaver recoil pad on it
+1, thats the decision I made with my T3
precision_shooter
New member
.308 for me. That's the caliber I chose in my T3 Lite that I got about 8 years ago. After the first range trip and 20-30 rounds, it quickly became obvious that a direct-fit Limbsaver pad was required. After installing the pad, it's now a joy to shoot and my go-to rifle for hunting.