Shortly after Kip and I returned from Elk Hunting in 2003, I wanted my own rifle for next hunting season. The decision process went a little like this…

   First, for me: What was I going to use the rifle for; just for Elk Hunting, or Deer Hunting or both? At the time, I knew Deer and Elk Hunting, maybe later Antelope, possibly Wild Boar.
   Next, I knew I preferred to still-hunt, which means a lot of walking and more importantly, carrying a rifle in a ready position. So, I wanted a rifle that is easy to carry, but will bring down a deer or elk.

   I started doing research, via the Internet, on what other people used to hunt Elk. I read a variety of Internet forums, many, many articles on how to choose a rifle and Elk Hunting in general. This is also where I began my research on ballistics.  It’s amazing the amount of information on the Internet.  After spending about two weeks reading, I decided I needed to talk to people; I had questions I needed answered.

   I began to ask around for advice and information. I asked my brother, Al, who had been Elk Hunting in Idaho.  He suggested, if I was going to use the rifle for both Elk and Deer Hunting, I should go with a large caliber, at least 30-06 or bigger.  I asked a few of Kip’s friends and co-workers what they thought; they also suggested larger calibers.
   I stopped into Galyan’s (now Dick’s Sporting Goods), Gander Mountain, (a regional outdoors super store) and of course Cabela’s.  Nearly, everyone suggested larger calibers, the bigger I could handle, the better. At the time, the largest caliber I had shot was .338 Win Mag; I had no trouble with the recoil.  However, two gentlemen I talked to, who were from Colorado and had hunted Elk there and in Montana, suggested all I needed was a .308. That’s all they hunted with and they had brought down many an Elk.

   I went back to the Internet, and Kip handed me some of his “American Hunter” and “North American Hunter” magazines with Elk Hunting and choosing a rifle articles.  I was getting too much information, so I started putting together an Excel spreadsheet with all the information I was gathering. You can look at it here.

   When I was reading about Elk Hunting, there were people using bows to hunt Elk. Now, most often, an animal has to be within 40 yards of a bow hunter for the bow hunter's shot to be effective.  I found this interesting, since most of the advice I received for a larger caliber was because the shot distances are so long. So, if I could bring an Elk or Deer within 40 yards, why would I need a larger caliber rifle?

   I thought this was a good question.  So, I went back to the people I talked to before and asked that very question: "If I can bring an Elk in close, why do I need a large caliber rifle?".
   I'll write a whole other article on the merits of which caliber to use, but the basic conclusion: everyone stuck to their guns or rifles – “bigger is better”. Though no one could really give me a matter-of-fact reason why "bigger is better".
   The two gentlemen who used .308s were amused by the question and said I was right, why can’t an elk hunter with a rifle get close enough to take a good shot?  Armed with this information, I went back to the Internet and my spreadsheet.  I had enough information to decide on a rifle.

   I narrowed my choices to two cartridges: .308 and 30-06. Kip, helping me to simplify the choices, pointed out the bullets were the same caliber: 30 hundredths of an inch, it was the cartridges that were different. Besides, "dead is dead" if you shot the Elk in the right place.
    Aaah, learning more about ballistics. Again, a whole other article for later (see the spreadsheet for some of those details).
   Comparing the ammunition of a .308 and 30-06, I found ballistically, they were close in velocity and foot-pounds out to 200 yards. The .308 had plenty of foot-pounds (1700) to bring down an Elk at 200 yards.
   Having shot Kip’s .308 rifle at a 200 yard range, I decided not to shot much further than 200 yards; accuracy very is important.  Besides, if I don’t drop the deer or elk, they have a 200+ yard head start.

.308 vs 30-06 Foot Pounds
30-06 Ammo is in BLUES
.308 Ammo is in ORANGE and BROWN

   So, back to one of my earlier points, carrying the rifle while still-hunting.  The weight and length of the rifle came into play now.  I decided on a .308 rifle, the lighter the better.  I was warned away from a lighter rifle, because the recoil would be tremendous. But for me, the recoil was not a factor in my decision.
   Looking at different brands, I took the “how does it feel”, “do I like the way it looks” and “can I afford it” route and compiled a list of rifles.  The Browning A-Bolt with BOSS bubbled to the top of my list. The rifle shouldered well, looked nice, was within my price range and I like the idea of being able to tune the barrel for various grains of ammunition.

   I was within days of purchasing the A-Bolt, when a co-worker, of Kip's, Patrick, asked if I had looked the Tikka T3. Patrick spoke very highly of the rifle and I might consider purchasing a Tikka. It was still several months from hunting season, so why not at least look at the Tikka. I did more research on the Internet. I learned the Tikka T3 is made by Sako and the only negative feedback about the T3 was not enough of them were made. And what was the most popular caliber...? .308.

   I managed to locate, what might have been the last Tikka T3 Lite Stainless .308 in the Metro area, at Gander Mountain in Forest Lake, a city about 30 miles north of where we live.
   That evening, Kip and I drove to Gander Mountain and looked at the Tikka T3. It shouldered well, looked nice and was, well... it cost just a little more than I had budgeted. In spite of this, I really liked the rifle and T3 was guaranteed to shoot ½" groups out of the box. I also purchased a Sightron SII 312x42MD scope to mount on the T3.

   After purchasing my Tikka, I was actually surprised with how I made the purchase. I had researched and looked at many rifles, but the Tikka was not on my list of rifles. I had just spent several weeks researching rifles and I made the decision to purchase my Tikka T3 within a matter of days. Nonetheless, I'm very pleased with my rifle. The T3 fits my criteria for what I wanted in a rifle; lightweight, easy to carry, handles and shoulders well and even though the Tikka cost more than what I had budgeted for, it's been well worth it.

   Recently, I found ammunition my Tikka T3 will fire in the same hole at 100 yards. Sweet!

The Tikka website and some specs on my Tikka T3:

Brand	Model	Barrel	Length	Wt+Scope	Sightron Scope
Tikka T3	.308 Lite Stainless	22 7/16"	42 1/2"	7 lbs	SII 312x42MD

Lenise

Advanced Hunter

• Hunting Elk for 4 years in Colorado
• Hunting Deer in Minnesota for 5 years
  
• Knowledgeable on ballistics

• A Short Lessons in Ballistics
• Loving Recoil
• Optics - So much to see: Rifle Scopes
• Matching Guns & Ammo

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