Tikka 338 win mag stainless lite ... opinions

[nasem]

I have owned a few tikka stainless rifles(30-06, 270, and 300 win mag), they are light and a joy to carry....

I reciently sold my Browning BAR in 338 win mag and Now Im wanting that caliber back in a bolt gun.  How bad is the recoil of those 338 in the Tikkas ? they weight about 7lbs unscopped, with a scope it will be just a tad bit above 8 lbs. 

I know tikka is known for thier amazing accuracy, but hows the accuracy of those 338s ? 

The real gun I really want is a Winchester classic stainless in 338 win mag with the Control round feed / claw extractor mechanizm, but, I don't think those can be had for under $1000..... So my question now is, is the CRF mechanizm "better" than the standard Tikka extractor mechanizm ? 

Some say there isn't much any difference, but other swear only by those CRFs....  I want this gun to be my primary Gun that I will use in winter of 2008 for a Hunt in Alaska (most likly moose hunt but Im not sure yet)....   I wanted to get a gun now and practise long range shooting (300+ yards)

[Thebear_78]

I know everyone seems to love thier tikkas but I am not sold on them.   I actually wouldn't ever own another one.  I had the stainless laminate 338,  they kick mighty hard, and there isn't any recoil lug to speak of in that tikka action.  It might not be a problem with a synthetic because it is flexable, but it split that laminated stock in less than 100 rounds.  It was pretty accurate up until the split.  Worse thing was that because of a muzle break I had put on it berrat USA wouldn't even warrante the stock.  I'm also not very impressed on how berreta usa handled the recall on tikka and sako stainlless rifles.  IT was kept very hush hush, and resulted in unneccessary injuries.

[379 Peterbilt]

Bear, what did you end up doing with that laminate stock that split? I've the same exact 338 wm lammy. Also, I am close to 100 rounds through it btw, and no probs thus far.

And the recoil is not bad either considering it is a 338 Win Mag

[nasem]

You got me thinking now bear….
Well, in that case, I have an option to get a Browning A-bolt composite stalker 338 win mag for about $350 from my friend’s dad….  I have never owned an A-bolt, how are they when it comes to accuracy and everything else ?

[Thebear_78]

I glued it up the best I could and sent it down the road for a song.  I had a stainless stalker in 338 RUM and it was a real tackdriver, I also have a 243 eurobolt w/boss that is amazingly accurate.    Between the two I would go with the browing over a tikka.  Accuracy is there with iether of them but I have more faith in the browning.   My problem with the tikka other than the joke of a recoil lug was mainly directed to beretta usa and thier lack of customer service.    My gunsmith said that the easy fix for the tikka is to have a tubbs style recoil lug installed on them, not usually very expensive.   

[nasem]

I am kinda torn between a brand new tikka for $600 stainless lite with 24.5" barrel

Or The browning stalker 26".... the browning only has about 50 or 60 rounds through her. 

I have no idea which to get lol, I like the $350 price tag on the browning tho   which one is more accurate... Im planning on only loading Nosler accubond BT 225 grainers with H4350 and R19... mostly full loads.

[HuntingGuy]

I'd absolutely go with the Browning if I were to do it again.  I had a T3 Lite Stainless Stalker 338 WIN MAG, and it kicked like nothing I could imagine.  I ended up selling the gun.  It is just not heavy enough for that caliber, in my opinion.  The gun shot 1.5-2" for me at 100 yards, I probably could have shot better with a gun that was able to handle the recoil.  I've never had ANY problems with my A-Bolts, and they are accurate as hell (sub MOA).  Take what I say with a grain of salt, as some guys might disagree, but the 338 is TOO MUCH GUN for the T3 SS Light.  If you are set on the T3, invest in a Lead Sled with all of the lead shot bags.

  Good luck and have fun.

[nasem]

I probebly aggree with you..... My 338 was a semi auto that weighted over 8.5 lbs so I never really experience the REAL 338 win mag recoil.  I don't think its worse than my 375 h&h.

As far as gun goes, Im stuck between Ruger Mk II 24", Browning A-bolt 26", Weatherby Vanguard 24", or the remington XCR 26"......  I like the 26" more but I don't knwo if the extra 50 fps is important...... so far, my eyes are pretty dead on set on the Vanguard only thing turnning me away is the 24" barrel.

Plus, Im getting a good lump sum of cash for my tax returns, I think the new 338 win mag along with a CZ 550 in 416 rigby are my 2 new rifles..... with probebly the 338 being first.

[Thebear_78]

The nice thing about the 338 win is that you don't need that much barrel to get its potential.  The Rum on the other hand the longer the better.  I would still like to get another 338 Rum but don't ever see a 338 win in my future unless its a REAL  lightweight with a 22" barrel.   something along the lines of the new kimber, now that would be a nice 338 win.  In all honesty the 338 win doesn't really do much that a 300 win won't do just as well.  Step it up 400 fps with the RUM, 340 Bee, or 338-378 and your talking a whole new ball game.

[usherj]

I have the Tikka T3 in 6.5 x 55. I was talking to the dealer when I got it - he had a 338 and said the recoil wasn't bad. I thought that was odd. Recoil is very relative - depends on the constitution of the person behind it. Probably not a big deal if used just for hunting. Better to carry one less pound all day have a little abuse for a second. As far as the recoil lug, it does seem a little on the light side. Definitely an "outside the box" idea. I bedded mine permanently into the stock to eliminate any movement. Nonetheless, it looked like aluminum or some alloy of the sort. For the 338, I would have it duplicated in stainless and then epoxy it in. As with any bolt gun, be sure to seat the barreled action rearward when tightening the guard screws. 

[HuntingGuy]

he had a 338 and said the recoil wasn't bad

  He's a liar 

It was bad.  I've never EVER sold a gun up until that point.  At the time I was 240 lbs and 6'0...  It just was not managable for me.  It probably wouldn't be so bad with a bipod or sling, but shooting off the bench sucked.  People are real happy with their Tikka's.. I'll buy another this year, but probably in 7mm-08 or if I do decide on 338 WIN MAG, it sure as hell won't be the lite synthetic version.

[nasem]

The nice thing about the 338 win is that you don't need that much barrel to get its potential.  The Rum on the other hand the longer the better.  I would still like to get another 338 Rum but don't ever see a 338 win in my future unless its a REAL  lightweight with a 22" barrel.   something along the lines of the new kimber, now that would be a nice 338 win.  In all honesty the 338 win doesn't really do much that a 300 win won't do just as well.  Step it up 400 fps with the RUM, 340 Bee, or 338-378 and your talking a whole new ball game.

Bear, you really got me thinking 338 RUM...  I don't believe in muzzle breaks so it will be just like that..... I was thinking Remington XCR... whats your opinion on that ? and also, how can I load the 338 RUM to 338 win mag levels,..... the damn thing eats like 15 grains of power more for EVERY load I looked at... if you have any '338 win mag' loads for the 338 RUM, can you please share them (or send me a private message)

thanks man

[usherj]

The dealer wasn't trying to get me to buy one, I just think he was a tough, old SOB.

[HuntingGuy]

I just think he was a tough, old SOB.

  Some of those guys can shoot a cannon from their shoulder without a flinch 

[Thebear_78]

Any of the starting loads from hodgdons are approximatly 338 Win mag loads.   The XCR seems to be a really nice rifle, I know a few guys who have them and all have been very pleased with them.  Accuracy has been good  and they hold up well.   I have been planning on getting one myself.  When I get one I am going to have the following things done to it.  First a conversion to the Ar15 style extractor, have the bolt pinned, and a 3 position winchester style safety installed.  These will cost me less than 250 dollars to have done. 

As to muzzle breaks, they tend to work very well with cartridges like the 338 RUM.  I have had a few done by a guy here in alaska that makes some of the best brakes I have ever used.  They are fairly big but have angled ports so the bulk of the noise is directed forward away from teh shooter.  It made my tikka 338 shoot like an 06 and my 338 rum was so effective that you could almost watch it cut paper from the bench. 

[nasem]

Just an update.... I ended up getting the XCR in 338 wm....

Unfortunately, when I started med school in '07, I became very broke VERY quickly... I sold all my rifles and just kept my cheapo model 70 30-06 (bought it from wally for $250 ~ it wasn't worth it to sell it)

The couple thousand generated from my rifle sales were enough to buy me books & supplies for 1 semester haha