.338 Tikka T-3 Lite.....Recoil...EEEEEEEEKKKKK!

[jcn59]

I am replacing my heavy .35 Whelen with a T-3 Lite in .338 Win. for hunting Wyoming doghair for elk.  Am contemplating whacking the barrel to 20" & adding a 2 3/4" brake.  I made brakes for friends in .308 Warbird & .375 H&H & we were happy with the results.  I don't want to add weight to the rifle.  I load my own ammo.

Has anyone ever shot the T-3 Lite in .338 & lived to tell about it?

[wareagleguy]

Best I have done size wise is 30-06.  With the rifle ready to hunt (scope, ammo, sling) she is not too bad.  I think the 338 would be on the high end for recoil and shooting from the bench would be the worst part of it.  Before I would cut the barrel I would try the Limbsaver Recoil pad.  I would tend to think if you are going to start cutting the barrel you should just go to a smaller round...Maybe like the 30-06.

I magnum rifle needs long barrel!!!!

[usherj]

I have the T3 lite stainless in 338WM. At 7# with the the scope, it is a joy to carry, but not for extended range sessions. About 4 or 5 3 round groups and mental fatigue starts to set in. I'm on the small side at 160# but I've mastered it by working up slowly. Yes, the limsaver pad takes alot of the bite away, but you need to hold the forend with the off hand. It will move you abit, but it will not hurt you. Assuming of course you don't skimp on the scope and eye relief. It is a wonderful rifle and shoots 3/4" or less with AA3100 and 210g Partitions and 225g Accubonds. Please, please, do not ruin a nice rifle by cutting the barrel and adding a brake. Trade it for a rifle you feel comfortable with. By cutting down a magnum you are defeating it's entire purpose. You will make the Finnish rifle Gods very, very angry!!

[jcn59]

The Finnish gods can work it out with the Austrian gods.  The Mannlicher Schoenaur full stock rifle had a 20" barrel and people loved them.  'Course they don't make them anymore, but then maybe the T-3 Lite is out of production, too.

I'll likely hunt a year with it before I do anything with it.  This is my second Tikka & if it's anything like my first, I'll leave it like it is, maybe.  I think I would loose maybe 100-150 fps by taking 4" off the barrel.  No big deal for a hundred yard elk rifle.

I put a brake on a Warbird and a 375 H&H and they all  of a sudden became pleasant to shoot.  I'm not a stranger to recoil.  Don't like it much, though.

[quickdtoo]

I have a Limbsaver on my T-3 Lite SS 338WM, I've only shot one round from the bench with Rem 225gr factory ammo, it wasn't bad at all, I didn't  shoot any more, just wanted to make sure I was on paper at 25yds before moving to 100yds, the rest of my shooting was in a leadsled. I have a bunch of hard kickers with Limbsaver pads, they work very well at reducing felt recoil. 

Tim

[usherj]

jcn59,

You should be able to develop a 250g load with a lighter charge of faster powder (IMR4350 or H4831, Nosler 5th) that will match or exceed the Whelen and not be too bad on the shoulder, even if you elect to bob the bbl. It will basically be a lighter replacement for your previous rifle.

[jcn59]

That's what I was hoping for.  The 35 Whelen with 250s worked well, and if someone made a 6.5# 35 Whelen, I would have bought it for $450.  (Like the Tikka T-3 Lite, that's a heck of a rifle for that money.)

[BeanMan]

Just a question:  Why would you buy a 338 WM for a 100 yard elk rifle?  It seems like my 06 drops them well at 100 yards.

[jcn59]

Robert Ruark said "use enough gun".  It was good advice 60 years ago, and it's good advice now.   

I wanted a lighter weight rifle, and I didn't want to buy a girlie-man caliber, so I bought a .338 Win Mag.  I would have preferred a .358 ultra mag, but Remington doesn't offer one.   After shooting the .338 yesterday, I realized the recoil wasn't anything to worry about afterall. 

I know, it's no .375 mag., but if I place my shots carefully, and if I don't shoot another real big one, I shouldn't have to track it too far.  The boys complain alot if they have to pack one out from beyond the other ridge.

[WL44]

I'm a bit with Beanman on this, but we all do what we like and enjoy best (or we try).

My main objection would be the high MV of the 338WM at 100m and the resultant meat damage and potential for bullet blow up. Here in SA there is a bonded 275gr in 338 that could work nicely for 100 yard rifle. I'd stick with nothing under 250gr for close work. I've also had good results in 375 H&H with Nosler Accubond, they really did hold together.

For the long range stuff you may try the new Berger VLD's in 250gr (BC's right from the shooting gods!) - I use the 210gr .30 cal and they are awesome if you pick your shot.

Anyway, that's not what you asked about! Enjoy your rifle and let us know how she shoots.

[jcn59]

I'm currently loading a 225 grain Ultra Core-Loct (bonded) bullet at about 2600 fps.   I agree that a 250 +  would be perhaps a better choice, and maybe that's what I'll settle on when the elk season arrives.

It averages a bit under 1 min. & I'll settle for that in an elk rifle.  It's my second Tikka & I'm happy with it.  The .338 mag. Tikka uses the same exact magazine as my 270 Win. magazine.  Strange, huh?    It's a single stack, & it holds 3 in the mag, and 4 I think in the 270.   

Thanks for your feedback!

[wareagleguy]

"girly-man" caliber, huh?

I think that tells a big story.  I see that all the time.  Too many guys think they need a big HE-MAN rifle.  Then afterwards works on the rifle night and day to get it where it doesn't knock the slobber out of them.  Funny thing is you already have the best rifle for elk, the tried and true 270!

[jcn59]

My grandson shot the elk in the avatar with one of my .270s. 

But he'll probably want to use a man's rifle when he grows up.

I just got tired of carrying those big .375 H&H, and 35 caliber rifles & decided to get one of those cute little .338 Win mags. like most guys use.   If I ever have shoulder problems I'll probably have to switch to one of those .270s like my grandson used.

Seriously, that .270 bonded bullet that my grandson used to kill that big cow with just killed the bejabbers out of her.  I was impressed.  The rifle was an early Belgian BAR.

[BBF]

For 100 yard shots on anything big I can think of other "manly" cartridges then a 338 Win Mag.

[1sourdough]

 Why not drop back some, to maybe a 300WSM? It may not be a 338, but still a cool, fairly manly round. You could handload it up & down the spectrum & have a fairly compact & matched rifle. The 338 in a compact form is partially mis-matched(burn rate/barrel length, & cartridge/action length). IMHO

[Dances with Geoducks]

Has anyone ever shot the T-3 Lite in .338 & lived to tell about it?

We have a T3 lite in 300 win mag, and its real bad. I would not want to shoot a .338 once

[jcn59]

My dilemma is that my nephew and his buddy drag out the elk.   I don't want them to have to drag my elk an inch further than necessary.   I'd use an elephant rifle if I could.

When ya shoot em in the doghair the bullet doesn't always go where it's supposed to.  Use a big gun to make up the difference, huh?  I've shot the T3  .338 win mag & I survived.

[usherj]

I use the 210 partition loaded a little under 2800fps and the 225 accubond just under 2600fps. Not excessive, less meat damage potential than a 150g Ballistic Tip out of the '06 at 3000fps.

jcn59 - I'm glad you like it. The only down side I can see with mine is that I can't come close to the lands and still use the magazine. It can consistently cut sub 1" groups, so it's not a problem. Shooting this gun really hones my skills, and allows me shoot lighter calibers even better than before. Most of the challenge is psychological. It's darn fun

[jcn59]

Lets see.......xx grains Varget gave me about 2600 fps out of the 35 Whelen with a 225 grain bullet ........I bet if I put the same grains of Varget under a 225 grain bullet in the .338 Win. mag, I bet I could get about 2600 FPS out of the 338.   Hhmmmmm.


I think I'll stick with that load & the new Core-Lokt 225 grain bonded bullet for elk. Not too brutal on the shooter, but should be he!! on the elks.

[usherj]

What is Wyoming doghair? Is that real dense scrub/brush? If so, any well constructed heavy bullet at moderate to low velocity should do the trick. 225g at 2600fps or 250g at 2400fps. Nothing radical, keep it simple and it will work. Good luck, keep us posted on how it shoots

[jcn59]

It's about like the brush where we hunt deer in northern Wisconsin, except different.  No place for 3000+ fps fragile bullets.  My .35 Whelen worked well on elk there & that's what I'm trying to replicate with the .338 only with a lighter rifle.  I think I have it now.  Thanks all.

[WyoStillhunter]

First, having chased elk in Wyoming (on foot, on public land, alone) since 1992, I see no reason for anything more than 30'06.  That said, I have taken elk at under 100 yards with .280 Rem., '06, 6.5X55, .35 Whelen, and .444 Marlin.  But to each his own.

Second, the photos below aren't exactly true doghair but you get the idea.






100 yards in the timber I hunt is a long shot.  Walking 400 yards seems like a mile.  Stay away from meadows and there simply are no long shots.

[moorepower]

Anyone worried about a little meat damage on an elk, must eat way more meat than I do.

[yooper77]

I am replacing my heavy .35 Whelen with a T-3 Lite in .338 Win. for hunting Wyoming doghair for elk.  Am contemplating whacking the barrel to 20" & adding a 2 3/4" brake.  I made brakes for friends in .308 Warbird & .375 H&H & we were happy with the results.  I don't want to add weight to the rifle.  I load my own ammo.

Has anyone ever shot the T-3 Lite in .338 & lived to tell about it?

What’s rifle is your 35 Whelen?

Buy a Tikka T-3 Lite in 30-06 Springfield and re-bore it to 338-06.  Since you like the 35 Whelen you will love the 338-06 with the bullet weight and velocity you are wanting.  I don’t like brakes, too loud.

I love my Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-square.  Without the scope, mount, rings and sling, it weighted 6 lbs.  It’s a little over 7 lbs with scope, mount, rings and sling.  Not sure what it weight fully loaded with ammo.  It’s very handy and light to carry and a dream to shoot.  Oh yea it has a 24” barrel.

yooper77

[jcn59]

Savage, Shaw .35 barrel, aftermarket walnut.

I've settled on a load that puts out like a 338-06.  I haven't messed with the Tikka because it shoots MOA, sometimes more, usually less, all pretty irrelevant in a 100 yard elk shooter.  I have other, smaller caliber rifles that would work, but I wanted another rifle, you know?  

[jcn59]

Yooper, have you ever had a barrel rebored?  Who did it, how much, and were you happy with it?

I have a mauser that might want to be a .35 Whelen.  Maybe.

[yooper77]

Yooper, have you ever had a barrel rebored?  Who did it, how much, and were you happy with it?

I have a mauser that might want to be a .35 Whelen.  Maybe.

I have talked to this man and I was looking at re-boring my Ruger M77 MKII from 270 Winchester to 338-06 last year, but he wasn’t taking any orders at that time.  Then I found a great deal on my Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight that I couldn’t pass up.

Here are the links to his site.
http://www.redmansrifling.com/reboring.htm
http://www.redmansrifling.com/reboring_prices.htm

Very nice 35 Whelen.

yooper77

[poncaguy]

why not the 338 Federal.....think you said a 100 yard elk rifle.......the Federal would be perfecct. Recoil is mild ( I'm 69)

[Daman]

why not the 338 Federal.....think you said a 100 yard elk rifle.......the Federal would be perfecct. Recoil is mild ( I'm 69)

That is what I am ordering Monday for my new big game rifle. Ordered 210 grain Nosler Partitions and going to try to load them to about 2600 fps and hope for 1.5 MOA or better. Little meat damage on whitetail and controlled expansion on elk, black bear, and moose! If I ever go after moose, my buddy will back me up with a 35 Whelen or if we are in Grizzly country with his 375 H&H.

Daman

[jcn59]

I could probably fall in love with a Ruger 77 International in .338 Federal or .338-06 If I saw one.  Maybe a Remington model 7 in .338 Federal too if nice wood.

I've shot a bunch of deer over the years with larger caliber rifles including 8X57, .348 Win., .358 Win., and .35 Whelen.  I get more "bang-flops" with these than .300 Win. Mag., .300 WSM, 30-06, .308, 7X57 .270 Win., 6.5X55, and .243.  Usually used slightly heavy for caliber bullets, all handloads.  I've only shot two deer with the .45-70 and .270 Win., but with positive results.

I realize this is not "proof" of anything & just my own experience at short distances in heavily wooded cover.  But the reason I like to hit an elk "hard" is to limit the distance my friends and relatives have to drag out an elk for me.  (by myself, I can drag an elk about two inches, maybe farther thirty years ago.)

So, what kind of .338 Federal rifle did you get?  Give us a range report, huh?