Best bolt action caliber.
 

I’ve hunted with lever actions all my life. .308 blr and .30-30 marlin.
Want to purchase a Tikka 3x but not sure which caliber. I reload so availability of ammo in stores is not gonna be an issue. I hunt moose, deer and thinking of getting into elk. Bears don’t interest me nor sheep or goats. Want a 400 yd caliber. Suggestions?

7 mm rem mag, 160 accubonds or 150ttsx kill everything to 400yrds and look good doing it.

Do you want something fancy or something that works and is easily available anywhere and everywhere?

Hard to go wrong with 30-06 or 308 or 270 or 7mm Rem Mag or.................

.28 caliber.

If you'd like my recommendation as to a cartridge chambering, I'd say .280Rem or 7mm Rem Mag. Personally I'm a bigger fan of the .280.

308 winchester.
Itll put down anything you mentioned plus more at 400
Lots of components to choose from. Great barrel life. Less recoil than the -06.

.284" for caliber , for cartridge, in a T-3, I would go 7mmremmag.

.280 rem or .284 win ? Are they available in t3?

Go see what's offered on Tikka's website.
7mm-08, 7x64, and 7mm Rem Mag.

That's it.

All are .28 caliber.

You mentioned easy availability not being a requirement. Still is a pain trying to get components if it's not somewhat common.

Had to buy loaded shells for one rifle, because no one sells brass anywhere. I prefer to buy 200 gr. bullets for 30-06 because I know that they carry better at long range and have better momentum up front. Many people won't agree, and I suppose they aren't big sellers because no one seems to stock those either. I'm a big fan of .264, but even though it seems to be gaining popularity (again?), it's still hard to find the bullets I'm looking for and the price of anything slightly oddball is quite a bit higher. I had a silent chuckle, when another AO member said he went to a 6.5 to save money on powder.

One of the undisputed (highly disputed) greats of long-ish range shooting came out in about 1952(?) in the form of the 7mm Rem Mag.

Great bullets available, with selection, high BC, and SD, driven to a reasonably high velocity without being crazily overbore, makes it a real contender.

It comes down to personal preference, but a quick look at ballistics shows it's no slouch, and recoil is very manageable.

Totally agree and able to find ammo at many local stores.

7-08. 140 gr pills...this combo will really surprise you...

Another vote for the .280, I like them so much I have 3 right now.

X2 - apparently you already hav exposure to th 308. It is just a 30-06 in Short pants

id say 6.5 Creedmoor but they don't make them yet? All depend of what t3x model you desire.

I’d go 6.5x55 because I love em. 5% more powder than a Creed, but maybe not the OP’s first choice for long range moose killin’.

If I was going to suggest one rifle for 0-400 yard shots... buy a 30-06. It's got everything in spades over every other cartridge listed. There's a reason it's been the king for over 110 years.
If I wasn't recoil shy and liked knowing I could engage an animal at any angle and get enough penetration I could be pretty happy with a .338 win mag.

Tiika makes a 6.5 creedmoor

270 or 7mm with the 7 being about the best all round..."everything" out there.

Flat. Fast. Lots of energy downrange. Manageable recoil and a wide selection of ammunition available everywhere.

Definitely worth looking at

6.5X55 because it kicks like a 243 and kills like a Tiger tank

I ordered my Nula in 6.5 Creedmoor because I did a lot of research beforehand. I believe it's going to be the new and improved 308. It beats the 308 in every category except popularity...... for now.

For a hunting cartridge I personally like the 06' size case with aboout 55-60gr of powder and about 150gr of projectile.

I've done the magnum thing, and after years of hunting have come to the realization that at the ranges I hunt (0-800yds) the magnum offers little to no advantage over the 06' case. Until the advent of the 6.5 Creedmoor I never really put much thought or consideration into the smaller case but seeing what a 143 or 147gr bullet in 6.5 diameter bullet can do, I'm hoping my choice in the Creedmoor was the right decision!

Plus he said he reloads already... He wouldn't have to buy anything (maybe different projectiles & powder), he already has the components !

Winner winner, chicken dinner !

If I didn't already own my two favourite rifle actions in two of my favourite cartridges I would snap up Kury505's Winchester he has for sale
The FWT and the 308 are a grand combination !
Cat

It's a fine rifle, I honestly don't think it's seen a day in the woods! I bought it off my 84yr old neighbor last winter and he said he never even shot it since the 80's!!!

308

They also make a 6.5x55 , which makes more sense in a long action.

Ive got a tikka t3 in .308. A rem 700 in 6.5 creed.
Either will do what you want.
My next rifle will be in 7mm-08

Despite what others have stated Tikka does not make a 6.5 Creedmore.

If I had my druthers I would buy a 7x64 (European ballistic twin of the .280), however they are a special order from Stoeger Canada ...... estimates from vendors say it might take up to a year to get one.

For what the OP wants it to do, the 7mm RM is the best choice.

Fixed it for you.

If 400yds is your max, there isn't an animal alive in North America that a 150gr bullet from a 7-08 won't drop in its tracks.... and that's a fact.

Yes tikka makes a 6.5 creedmoor