New Stalker - First rifle - Advice

CarlHoward · Friday at 8:22 PM

Hello folks,

Hoping to tap the combined knowledge here as I spec my first stalking rifle in 308.

I've narrowed down to the Tikka T3X, either in the traditional Lite iteration, or the Ace Game. I'm leaning towards the Cerakoted Ace Game in 20" barrel because I would occasionally like to shoot targets at 200yds and 500yds at my full bore club.

Spec I'm thinking is.....

Rifle - Tikka T3X Ace Game 20" chambered in 308
Moderator - Wildcat Evo
Scope - Hik Micro Alpex Pro LRF

Really keen to hear views from those more experienced than me as it's a big investment and I want to get it right.

75 · Friday at 8:24 PM

Start with glass not digi for your scope, especially where range work involved. Digital has a place for first / last light but is a quite specific place.

CarlHoward · Friday at 8:31 PM

75 said:
Start with glass not digi for your scope, especially where range work involved. Digital has a place for first / last light but is a quite specific place.

Whats a good glass scope in the £500-900 range?

rocketdogbert · Friday at 8:35 PM

CarlHoward said:
Whats a good glass scope in the £500-900 range?

New, Vortex Venom or Strike Eagle 5-25x56

long_range_rob · Friday at 8:42 PM

Second hand S&B 3-12x50. Look at second hand rifles too as there are loads about atm.

CarlHoward said:
Whats a good glass scope in the £500-900 range?

CarlHoward · Friday at 8:43 PM

long_range_rob said:
Second hand S&B 3-12x50. Look at second hand rifles too as there are loads about atm.

Is 3-12 sufficient magnification?

long_range_rob · Friday at 8:45 PM

CarlHoward said:
Is 3-12 sufficient magnification?

Absolutely.

UpNorthMI · Friday at 8:49 PM

For Stalking I would start with a little less magnification at the low end, the models recommended above are also available in Vortex Venom 3-15x44 FFP or Strike Eagle 3-18x44 FFP, looks like both of those are 34mm tube.

Most or my stalking rifles carried Swarovski 1.5 - 6 x42.

long_range_rob · Friday at 8:55 PM

FYI I have a 5-25x56 pm2 on my target rifle and at 1000yds I don’t go past 20x. My staking rifles are all 3-12 and tend to live on 6-7x

CarlHoward · Friday at 9:10 PM

UpNorthMI said:
For Stalking I would start with a little less magnification at the low end, the models recommended above are also available in Vortex Venom 3-15x44 FFP or Strike Eagle 3-18x44 FFP, looks like both of those are 34mm tube.

Most or my stalking rifles carried Swarovski 1.5 - 6 x42.

Thanks - do you think I will struggle to find one scope for both stalking and target shooting?

CarlHoward · Friday at 9:11 PM

long_range_rob said:
FYI I have a 5-25x56 pm2 on my target rifle and at 1000yds I don’t go past 20x. My staking rifles are all 3-12 and tend to live on 6-7x

Is there a compromise that would see one scope do both?

long_range_rob · Friday at 9:27 PM

CarlHoward said:
Is there a compromise that would see one scope do both?

3-12x50 with BDC

Brad93 · Friday at 9:32 PM

CarlHoward said:
Hello folks,

Hoping to tap the combined knowledge here as I spec my first stalking rifle in 308.

I've narrowed down to the Tikka T3X, either in the traditional Lite iteration, or the Ace Game. I'm leaning towards the Cerakoted Ace Game in 20" barrel because I would occasionally like to shoot targets at 200yds and 500yds at my full bore club.

Spec I'm thinking is.....

Rifle - Tikka T3X Ace Game 20" chambered in 308

Moderator - Wildcat Evo

Scope - Hik Micro Alpex Pro LRF

Really keen to hear views from those more experienced than me as it's a big investment and I want to get it right.

View attachment 471892

Make sure you try one of those first. I tried one in the gun shop the other day and the bolt was awful, kept binding in the action,

rocketdogbert · Friday at 9:33 PM

CarlHoward said:
Is there a compromise that would see one scope do both?

I don’t stalk, only target shoot, my PMII is a 12-50, I use it on 40x out to 1000yds, my Vortex Strike Eagle is a 5-25x56, I use it on 20-25x out to 200 yds, target shooting only.
You’ll need a lot less for Stalking

hendrix's rifle · Friday at 9:34 PM

Arken elp4 or similar, 4-16. Will be right enough for deer and will be right enough for targets. Save the rest for ammo.

Also for what its worth, most of my long range deer + gong bashing tend to be around the x12 power. Stick with glass, I wouldn't bother with an alpex or similar unless you're using it as a dedicated night/stalking rig.

Pic attached roe doe @ 390 odd yards, sure enough, 11.5x mag

CarlHoward · Friday at 9:37 PM

Brad93 said:
Make sure you try one of those first. I tried one in the gun shop the other day and the bolt was awful, kept binding in the action,

I tried it today Brad, seemed fine

UpNorthMI · Friday at 9:40 PM

CarlHoward said:
Thanks - do you think I will struggle to find one scope for both stalking and target shooting?

No a good general scope could be a 3-10 or 3-12 type magnification, this will work for both.

Good luck in your search.

CarlHoward · Friday at 9:41 PM

UpNorthMI said:
No a good general scope could be a 3-10 or 3-12 type magnification, this will work for both.

Good luck in your search.

rocketdogbert · Friday at 9:48 PM

UpNorthMI said:
No a good general scope could be a 3-10 or 3-12 type magnification, this will work for both.

Good luck in your search.

That will depend on lots of factors for target shooting. Are the targets fixed MOA, so the bull at 100 yds is ~1” and 500yds ~5”, so they look the same whatever distance you’re shooting? Lower magnification will work, but ask yourself why Benchrest shooters use high magnification scopes

CarlHoward · Friday at 9:51 PM

rocketdogbert said:
That will depend on lots of factors for target shooting. Are the targets fixed MOA, so the bull at 100 yds is ~1” and 500yds ~5”, so they look the same whatever distance you’re shooting? Lower magnification will work, but ask yourself why Benchrest shooters use high magnification scopes

I currently shoot target rifle using vernier sights at 200 and 500yds and yes the targets increase in size as the distance increases so that they look equivalent in the front sight. Its essentially the same targets on the F Class range I believe.

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