Are you in Ireland? We have a good selection of 308s and ammunition over here. I'd say I'll probably go down the 308 route.
New Stalking Rifle
- Thread starter Jack0106
- Start date
I heard the Mauser barrels are press fitted into the action? I'm not sure if I buy it but if you shoot a barrel out it'd be apain to have to buy a new gun instead of a barrel. I do like them though
Get a 308 T3 CTR in stainless. The two I had/have shot/shoot exceptionally well. They are proper rifles that can be re-barrelled unlike some of the new "throw away" rifles from Isny. They have a medium weight barrel that is just right which is a perfect crossover to do some target, long and short range hunting. Possibly one of the best scope mounting methods on the T3 too. Try beat a Spuhr mount on the T3 rail for stiffness and strength.
edi
edi
Didn’t Ed @Edinburgh Rifles debunk this?
Think this was the M18 that he proved was screwed, maybe M12 is pressed?
I can't remember which one it one it was, might have been the M12. Read it somewhere in the depths of other forums
stevenedwards
Well-Known Member
Tikka offer a considerable range of calibers and barrel lengths but only a selection are offered by the importer. You can get a leaflet from retailers showing which combinations are stock which are special order and the large number we just don't get. Most bases are covered.
Must have a word with my local RFD
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
That might be because the 6.5s are more popular. If you plan to do a bit of range work a heavier rifle ( slightly ) helps, for stalking try to keep total weight around 4Kgs or 9 Lb in old money. I wouldn't worry about action length affecting accuracy unless I was competing at Olympic level and maybe not even then. Both cartridges you mention are just about perfect for the job but the 30 s have more loads available, .270 is purely a hunting round, it's also a marmite love it or hate it cartridge. I love it. Dont get hung up on calibers , just about any of the medium bores are fine but be wary of ammo availability if you go for something slightly unusual, Irish dealers don't carry a huge selection.
The 20" 308 CTR is as short as they go as far as I know. A good compromise also when a mod is fitted. The 20" barrel produces enough speed for our normal deer distance. If you shoot deer over 500m on a regular basis a different cartridge & barrel length might suit better.
edi
Not saying you should go out and buy a Mauser but do not discount them due to this.
Some people like their Tikkas and they shoot absolutely fine but they do not have the overall quality and feel of the M12. The trigger is better, the magazine is better, the finish is better and I bet pound for pound they both shoot the same.
Factor in a 10yr warranty from Mauser and the fact that a re-barrel from someone with a cerebrum will likely cost you a similar amount to replacing the rifle. Everyone likes a shiny new rifle. New action, new bolt, new stock. Maybe for the same price or there abouts?
Pick one up and shoot them all. Out of the cheaper synth stocked but good quality guns, the M12 is certainly one of the best handling. If you don't reload, they seem to be very unfussy on ammo as well. All the ones I know of shoot most ammo very well.
I agree about rifle weight.
A mate of mine has a Ruger M77 in .220 Swift and its a lovely rifle, super accurate but it is heavy. By his own admission he's said its fine down south when you might just be sat in a high seat for a few hours but try lugging it up a hillside in Scotland and you'll soon be wishing it was lighter.
I have also handled other peoples varmint barreled rifles in the past - I've had people saying "Yeah they're super accurate and take ages to heat up..." and yes of course they are. They are whacking thick heavy barrels designed for being accurate at distance (2-400m) when you're shooting coyotes, foxes and the like from a high seat, and are probably going to be getting a number of shots off in quick succession and therefore want a barrel that doesnt heat up.
The reality for stalking rifles is you are probably only going to be taking 1-2 shots at a time with them, probably at under 150y and at a bigger target, and you'll probably be lugging them around for hours before you take that shot, so your requirements are different.
Ultimately you want a rifle that fits you well in a caliber that is comfortable to shoot, that you can get ammo for and that you can shoot accurately.
I'd recommend going up to see Steve Beaty at Ivythorn Sporting - He is a top bloke and wont mess you around, he is very knowledgable, has a great selection of kit, excellent customer service and a range on site where you can try before you buy. Whats not to like?
A mate of mine has a Ruger M77 in .220 Swift and its a lovely rifle, super accurate but it is heavy. By his own admission he's said its fine down south when you might just be sat in a high seat for a few hours but try lugging it up a hillside in Scotland and you'll soon be wishing it was lighter.
I have also handled other peoples varmint barreled rifles in the past - I've had people saying "Yeah they're super accurate and take ages to heat up..." and yes of course they are. They are whacking thick heavy barrels designed for being accurate at distance (2-400m) when you're shooting coyotes, foxes and the like from a high seat, and are probably going to be getting a number of shots off in quick succession and therefore want a barrel that doesnt heat up.
The reality for stalking rifles is you are probably only going to be taking 1-2 shots at a time with them, probably at under 150y and at a bigger target, and you'll probably be lugging them around for hours before you take that shot, so your requirements are different.
Ultimately you want a rifle that fits you well in a caliber that is comfortable to shoot, that you can get ammo for and that you can shoot accurately.
I'd recommend going up to see Steve Beaty at Ivythorn Sporting - He is a top bloke and wont mess you around, he is very knowledgable, has a great selection of kit, excellent customer service and a range on site where you can try before you buy. Whats not to like?
Yeah you're certainly right, Irish dealers have a limited stock of ammunition. We have a lot of it but not much variation. .308 seems to be the exception. I'm not entirely sure what drawing me to a .308 over a .270. Maybe its because I've previously shot a .308. Ballistics wise speaking, they're similar enough. Couple of hundred FPS isn't going to make much of a difference.
Funny story actually, was having stern discussion with my local RFD and he was singing the praises of the 6.5 Swede. I was arguing about ammo availability and how a .308 is more practical in that sense. He was having none of it. To prove his point he went to show me where he had vast stock of 6.5 Swede cartridges and low and behold - He was sold out. I looked at him and we both knew what we were thinking.
Steff
Well-Known Member
This should give you an indication:
.308 Win Barrel Cut-Down Test: Velocity vs. Barrel Length « Daily Bulletin
This is for the 308. For the 270, which you are also considering, the drop-off will most likely be higher.
.308 Win Barrel Cut-Down Test: Velocity vs. Barrel Length « Daily Bulletin
This is for the 308. For the 270, which you are also considering, the drop-off will most likely be higher.
Reloading in Ireland is a NO-NO. Can you get the m12 in a blued action? I don't think the press fit action would put me off. Its a stalking rifle, be a long time before I shoot that barrel out
I would love to take a trip but I'm in Ireland unfortunately. We don't really have the luxury on onsite ranges and the likes. Made some excellent points though and I completely agree.
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