Tikka 30-06 or Ruger 7mm

[JandrevdH]

Which will be a good first rifle? Mostly hunting Springbok but for bigger game also?

 

[cpr0312]

Welcome to AH @JandrevdH !

Out of those I would pick the 30-06! Tikka is a great gun especially for the price!

 

[Nosler guy]

Both fine calibres - more of a Ruger fan myself, especially if it is a Hawkeye, with controlled round feed...

 

[gillettehunter]

Either caliber does great for plains game. I prefer the Tiks. They fit me pretty well. I am a trigger snob. I hate a trigger with lots of creep that you have to yank to get the gun to go off. For a stock trigger the tikka is very good. If you pach a gun a lot you will also appreciate the light weight of the Tikka's. For the price they are har to beat. Bruce

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Tikka with 165gr high weight retaining bullets would be hard to beat. If by 7mm you mean 7mm Magnum, it does pack a bit more punch on both ends and I would avoid it in the Tikka T3 Lite.

 

[Edge]

Tikka, I have 3 now. Great value as they have a very good adjustable trigger, smoooooooth action, 1 MOA guarantee on the T3X and the stock fits me well (have both wood and synthetic models). I also have a couple of Rugers and I like the Tikka much better.

Edge

 

[accipiter]

I would get the Tikka. My last rifle purchase was a Ruger, my next purchase will be the Tikka T3 light. They are guaranteed to shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards. Rugers are hit or miss, some may shoot 1" groups but mine does not.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I'll have to vote for the Tikka Lite as well. My 300WM does belt from both ends pretty good.
Cartridge wise either should do you well, however I'm kind of old fashioned and have had numerous 30-06s. Handloaded they are something else.

 

[BenH2016]

I'd go with a 30-06, that has always been the standard plains game hunting calibre amongst people I've spoken to and hunted with here. I have one and with 180gr bonded soft points it drops most soft skinned stuff very quickly.

 

[Dr Ray]

The 7m magnum is almost the same as a 300 win magnum. The tikka lite will be uncomfortable to shoot I feel in 7 m. I have had one Tikka and it shot great groups. Now lives with my son. I used it for competition shooting.
My suggestion is the 30/06 in Tikka lite. The only thing I don't like is the plastic magazine and, come to think about it, you cannot top up the magazine without removing it.
I now use Sako rifles with stainless steel barrels as in the far north tropical Australia, rust is a major issue. I also like the control feed of rifles rather than the push feed.
Suggest you really think about the top up, rifle weight, and accuracy.

 

[Osama Mahdi]

Tikka second to non

 

[CEO]

I'm a 7mag guy myself but sometimes I feel like the group outcast. Everyone I know (shooters of 270, 30-06, 300mag) tells me the caliber is garbage. My 300 mag buddy even told me last time he was in Africa his PH told him they wouldn't allow the caliber to be used. I've never had anything move after being hit with it but I'm a bowhunter 95% of the time so admittedly it hasn't shot that many animals. As far as the Tikka I've heard nothing but good things from the people I know.

 

[Ridgewalker]

CEO, I have always liked the 7mm mag, I just started out with .308 calibers and hate to start all over. That being said, I still believe for African antelope a .308 caliber is a bit better and a .375 caliber even better.
For really long range work without beating yourself up, the 7 RM is probably the better way to go i.e., until a leopard, lion, etc gets in the way.
JMO

 

[greyfox]

Not a nickle's worth of difference (really, honestly..) between the two - despite what the writers tell us.
Choose what fits you, no animal will be able to tell the difference.

 

[bilmcc]

The variation in fit makes a difference. I briefly had a Tikka in 270, that acted more like a 12 gauge. 270 is not a particularly heavy recoiling caliber, but in that gun, for me, it was! Not pleasant.

 

[bilmcc]

I'm a 7mag guy myself but sometimes I feel like the group outcast. Everyone I know (shooters of 270, 30-06, 300mag) tells me the caliber is garbage. My 300 mag buddy even told me last time he was in Africa his PH told him they wouldn't allow the caliber to be used. I've never had anything move after being hit with it but I'm a bowhunter 95% of the time so admittedly it hasn't shot that many animals. As far as the Tikka I've heard nothing but good things from the people I know.

I think that is known as a superstition -- that 7mm RM is inadequate.

 

[Shootist43]

First off, welcome to AH. Although both rifles and calibers would suffice, my choice between those two would be the Tikka. Guaranteed accuracy with a good trigger for your first rifle is the way to go. You can find 30-06 ammo in any gun shop, plus there is a wide range of bullet weights, types etc. making it a very versatile caliber.

 

[ack]

Welcome to AH @JandrevdH !

Out of those I would pick the 30-06! Tikka is a great gun especially for the price!

You can get the plastic,wood,or laminated in Tika..We have bought 3 and totally satisfied.You won't believe how slick the action is..If you go with wood it's easy to change stock length and trigger is simple to adjust..

 

[JandrevdH]

Thanks for all the comments and advise. So I bought the Tikka 30-06 (stainless steel barrel) with 4-12 x 50 Swarovski scope. Now just waiting for paperwork

 

[Osama Mahdi]

i highly recommend you get this to reduce recoil significantly