T-3 In 30/06: First Blood!

[Big Blue]

I had a chance this past Wednesday to use my Tikka S.S. Lite to take an elk, the first critter with this rifle. The shot was 120 yards very slightly uphill and I used a 180gr Hornady SST bullet over 56.0gr. of IMR4350. The bullet entered the right side just behind the shoulder and took out both lungs and nipped the heart before exiting the far side. The elk appeared unharmed and moved two steps following the shot and then just fell over dead. After skinning the elk I could see it had left a 1.5" hole through the ribs on both sides. Here's a photo of the Tikka's performance with these handloads at 100 yards along with two pictures of the elk cow, with the second elk photo showing where the bullet entered.
Don

[jager]

Congratulations on your elk! (Nice group as well.) That's one of my favorite rifles and loads, but with a different bullet. They are great lightweight rifles that are more accurate than most of their competition.

[kombi1976]

Top work. 
My mate bought T3 Hunter in '06 recently and blooded it on this nice female roo with a Federal 150gr PowerShok factory load at about 110yds last weekend.
She went down lights out, no kicking or anything.



I also took down a couple of big males with my T3 Lite Stainless in 9.3x62.
I'm with jager about the Lite Stainless.
It's a superb rifle even in the heavy recoiling 9.3mm.

[countryrebel]

Good work, I think my next tikka will be a stainless 30-06.

[BeanMan]

Kombi,

Good on ya,  I always did like Kangaroo.  I also like my T3 stainless in 3006.  I like it some much in fact that I've ordered one in .223 Remington.  I spent some time in Buderum, Qld  many years ago.
 
I read on the web in a comment recently that any firearm larger than a .22 lr were banned in Australia.  I guess that was a internet hoax?

Beanman

[kombi1976]

Kombi,
Good on ya,  I always did like Kangaroo.  I also like my T3 stainless in 3006.  I like it some much in fact that I've ordered one in .223 Remington.  I spent some time in Buderum, Qld  many years ago.

Thanks, Beanman.
Kangaroo is quite a good meat once you get used to the taste.
It's certainly a ton better for you than beef or lamb.
Virtually no fat in it at all....a very dark meat.

I read on the web in a comment recently that any firearm larger than a .22 lr were banned in Australia.  I guess that was a internet hoax?

Absolutely a hoax! 
To paraphrase the great Mark Twain "Rumors of our gun laws have been greatly exaggerated." 

[BeanMan]

Yeah,  Roo is good food.  It reminded me of elk a little.

Bean

[wareagleguy]

I found the Sierra 180 HPBT Matchkings with 48gr 4064 will produce one hole groups (5 shots) at 100 yards!!!

I do love my t3 30/06!!!