DID IT! Bought a Whitetail hunter

[Scout]

After some contemplatin I went ahead and bought a TIKKA Whitetail Hunter in 308.  

I am really looking forward to shooting it.  My next steps:

1) Pick a Scope
2) Pick Mounts & Rings
3) Find a 5 round mag
4) Considering a Lam wood or better synthetic stock (Will wait til I use it)

Any advice on these will be helpful.  Iwill start to read through the site for this stuff.  

Ammo ?  Anybody find problems with NATO surplus 7.62x51 in the TIKKA?  For serious  work I will load my own..

HooAH !

[longwinters]

Hey, Congrats!!  I know you will enjoy your Tikka as much as the rest of us have.  I am sure you will hear about going with a Nikon Monarch or one of the Bushnell Elites.  Leupold makes good rings.  One question though.  If you wanted a different stock, why not go with the Tikka Whitetail Delux (Laminated and very nice).  Also the Tikka synthetic stocks are quite nice.  I am just now looking at a 308 in stainless/syn. for $550.00.  If I can scrape up some cash I will add it to my Tikka 243.  Welcome to the "we love our Tikka" club.

[Zachary]

Longwinters is right - as for scopes, get either a Nikon Monarch or Bushnell Elite 4200 - you can't go wrong with either.

As for rings, I STRONGLY recommend the Warne Maxima rings.  I have them on my Tikkas and they are VERY STRONG and heavy duty.  In addition, I also find them very attractive.

So which exact model did you get?  Was it stainless or blue?  Regardless, you will be VERY happy.

I too am looking to buy a Tikka Whitetail Hunter Stainless Synthetic in .308, but I want to pay less than $550.  Gunfinder has a 300 and 7Rem Mag in Stainless Synthetic of $483.  That's a heck of a price, but I already own two 300s and one 7 rem mag.   If I could find one for that price then I would buy it.  (I just have to get good deals! :grin: )

Zachary

[Scout]

It's a synthetic stock and metal is blue.  

22" barrel and it's NIB.  I bought it on Auction Arms and the price seemed pretty fair.   The 308's seem to be hard to find in the basic model.  I looked at the Deluxe with the wood stocks, but thought I would save the $ and buy a synthetic -my first synthetic stock out of a dozen or so rifles -
So it's a move for me personally.  

If I get another stock I would want to make it a Mc Millan (or similar quality synthetic ) or buy a roughed in wood stock and go at it myself.  
 

I am not as concerned about the material of the Tikka synthetic as I am about the style and shape (i.e. how it feels).    I am not much for the Monte Carlo raised cheek piece and prefer a straight comb classic style.


But I'll see when I get her.  I have not found a source for the 5 round Mags - anyone have any ifo. ??  Another post had a link that did not have any for my rifle/cal.

Scopes !! I am down to the Nikon 1.5 -6 x42 Monarch with the german #4 reticle..  Or the Leupold 1.75-6 x32 with the same reticle.  Any input there? I appreciate the tip on the mounts too! Will check it out.

Also looking for backup sights // peep on the receiver.

Scout

[Zachary]

I don't know why you would want a 5 round mag for a hunting rifle - I think that 4 is PLENTY.  Heck, I don't think that I have ever fired more than TWO shots at one animal.  Regardless, I don't think that you will be able to find a 5 round magazine in that particular Tikka.  I know that Tikka has 5 round mags for their Varmint models, but I don't think they have it for their regular models.

As for scopes, I would definately go with the Monarch.  I personally would go with something with a little bit more magnification - like 3x-9x.

Zachary

[Scout]

Well Zachary I know what your sayin, but I am getting to undertsand what some folks say about the rifle industry ..

Let me step back by saying the Tikka I am buying is a tradeoff in itself.  I am getting it only because no rifle imported into the US or made in the US has the features I consider very handy and practical.

No I don't want to start that up --   I'll respond to your comments only

.Scope power - Too much is a bad thing -- I live East (woods ande fields) and I don't take real long shots - Just cause the scope says 1000 power and a guy can see the the flies sitting on the deer's back does not mean he can hit em.  No material value added beyond 4 or 5  power for hunting.     Center of mass shots at 1000 yards? - OK - but I aint going to Iraq and there's other rifles in the cabinet for that anyway.


Significant capability is added in the lower power end for close up shots or quick acquistion.

Mag capacity- I have read 100 debates on this (not including internal versus detacheable mags on bolters) I still don't have the answer, so what I say is "I have 5 fingers and could live with less - but why do I want to?"  The number "5" pops up in nature all over the place (not just fingers) so I say a five round magazine is what is "Good"..That usually ends most of these debates - nothing logical ever does..

The one in the chamber does not count - Why do rifle catalogs always seem to include the chamber in the capacity???  

Just in case you think I am into big magazines and "Lots of rounds"
I have and love single shot rifles too. - None of those magazine debates on the singlyshot forum.

Hope you enjoyed my response - I seem opinionated and  but am having fun. No harm meant.  

By the way, since I could not get a Tikka Battue,what do you think if I get that 22" + barrel cut down to 19"

[TreeFarmer]

Congratulations on you purchase.

Scope - Buy the best you can afford. Look at Leupold Vari-X III, Bushnell Elite 4200, Weaver Grand Slam or Sightron SII. A 3-9X40 or similar would be all thats needed.

Mounts & Rings - I like those made by Warne.

I see no need for a 5-round mag for a hunting rifle.

I would wait until I shot it before deciding to replace the stock. The synthetic Tikka stock fits me perfectly. Might consider changing the recoil pad though.

JMHO, TreeFarmer