Bought my 11 yr. old son a Tikka T3 30-06 Blued last weekend and liked it so much I had to buy one. They were out of the blued so I spent a little more on a stainless 30-06.
All factory ammo I have tried shot under 1" at 100 yrds. I reloaded some and here is a photo of the results.
http://site183.mysite4now.com/v3glassworks/tikka30-06.jpg150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip (Green Tip)
59gr. IMR 4831
Federal 215 Primer
3.188 OA length
No chrono info but the Nosler reloading book shows 2862 fps out of a 24" barrell and Tikka has a 22" barrell. Will chrono at a later date.
60 degrees with a 2 - 5 mph wind dirctly behind
Measured .451 center to center of the three shot group.
Tikka T3 Stainless 30-06
Trigger has no creep and crisp (no work done to it).
Light gun with mild recoil (I usually shoot a 300WBY).
Put a Limbsaver recoil pad on it.
Scope is a 3x9 Nikon Buckmaster (would have prefered the Nikon Buckmaster 4x14 with milldot but was lucky the wife said I could buy this one a week after I bought my son one).
Fantastic rifle. Was looking at the exact rifle a year ago but due to the stainless barrell issue with Tikka I could not find one so I bought a Vanguard in 300WBY. The Vanguard went from a fairly light rifle to a heavy 11 pound + with a stock replacement and went from shooting 150 gr. bullets to 180 with a Leopold VX3 Boone & Crocket. Made a few 350+ yard one shot kills (Not that I recommend shooting 350 + yards) on South Texas Whitetail this year but may have just found its replacement for everyday hunting.
Thanks for listening.
Victor
