Tikka T3x Lite in .30-06, questions about barrel length

Hello,

I've decided on getting a Tikka T3x Lite in .30-06 as I want a cost efficient .30 cal rifle that still can do a bit of longer range shooting.

However, I'm not quite decided on barrel length. I was offered a 20 inch barrel in stock but I think this is too short to maximise longer range potential if I want it. I have enquired about getting a 22.4 inch barrel but am wondering if I should even go up to 24 inch? I'm more of an open area hunter but have been known to do some bush hunting. I'm looking for the rifle to be a bit of an all rounder but with ability to hit and kill at say 600 m if I want to. Will a 22.4 be good enough for a .30-06 while balancing the issues that come with longer barrels (weight, length in bush)? Bear in mind as well I'll be running a suppressor on the end. I heard 1 inch of barrel = 100fps of velocity and the suppressor adds maybe 30fps overall.

Are there any other considerations I should be aware of with barrel length and what are your experiences with barrel length on this calibre or similar rifles?

I could be overthinking this, but I want to make a decision that I'm happy with.

Cheers!

a mate brought a Kimber 30-06 Mountain Ascent and its a real shooter. 24 inch barrel and suppressed. Very impressive on game and at the range.
I liked it so much I brought a Kimber 300wsm and shortened my barrel to 20 inches so I have 24inch (well very slightly better) 30/06 ballistics in a slightly (only very slightly) shorter handier gun.

Shorter does equal louder even suppressed.
i think you may be overthinking it. Buy the long barrel and use it, you can always make it shorter and a short barrel will make things just as dead as a long one.

Good choice.
My standard Tikka barrel (22" +) does nicely out to 500y with the 178gr ELD-X @2800fps

I believe the speed reduction is closer to 25 to 30fps per inch .
And your suppressor might add 5 to 10fps , 30 fps might be a bit optimistic.

The 20” barrel will get you there if 600m is your goal, with right ammos projectiles and a dial up scope.( hornady precision hunter ammunition or 178 gr eldm or eldx projectiles )
But if you can get the 22.1/4” barrel , yep maybe that would be a bit better.

Considering you want to shoot out to 600yds, you'll without doubt have a dial up scope on it. So barrel length is immaterial. Your ballistic data will make up for any small difference in barrel length.

If you look at the reloading manuals with 24 inch barrels and mid weight bullets the 06 is right up with the 300 wm but once you get to 26 and beyond the wm pulls away. If you’re looking at going to 22 inches then you’re back in 308 territory so why have a 06. I would stay at 24 and if you’re getting hung up in the bush move slower.


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I had the same question but the gun was only available in 22” so have decided to stick with that.

As said before on this forum, the faster load in a short barrel will be the faster in a long barrel. The 3006 has half an inch more powder so will always outperform the same barrelled 308. If you want to knobble a 300WSM by all means cut the barrel to 20” or bushpig . If a lot of your hunting suits a short barrel then “There is no replacement for displacement” and a short barrelled magnum comes into its own. As noted above, a range finder and dialling can compensate to some extent but there are other advantages to high velocity.

Just food for thought, but the 06 will have a reasonable boot in a lightweight platform if that's an issue for you at all. Could possibly do what you are wanting more efficiently in .308 or a 7mm flavour if you're not tied to 30 cal. A few inches of barrel length here or there won't make a huge difference. Usually it's just finding a balance between good handling in the bush and maintaining adequate velocity (as already suggested, you don't want an 06 performing at 308 velocities).Probably depends what percentage of your shots are likely to be at your max range vs closer in.

Leave it as long as you can. If you find your doing lots of tight bush hunting,buy a .308 or 7.62x39mm and cut THAT rifle down short.best of both worlds then.

I have both a 308 and 3006 with suppressed 20 inch barrels, the 308 pushes a 165 gr SST at 2730 fps, the 06 pushes the 178 gr ELDX at 2700 fps. With dial scopes both are capable and have sufficient energy out to 600 plus yards.
You could go 22 inch and gain a few fps and still have a nice handy rifle for the bush hunts.

Thanks for the responses all.

Bagheera's comment made me think. I rang Guncity and they said Tikka don't make them in 24s, so I'm getting the 22.4in. I'll have the option to handload now as well, will be interesting to see what I can perform with it!

If you want a 20" have a look at a 300wsm I'm working up loads for mie at the moment which is a Tikka 20" with a surpressor.
I'll be shooting 178grn at around 2860fps

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the ability to hit and kill at 600m is gonna be on you mate, not the rifle.what the longest kill shot you have made to date?

Well I would say, start by killing gongs at 600 on the first shot. That would be good exercise.

I have a .308 that shoots 150g at 2810 fps and a .30/06 that shoots the same bullet at 3009 fps.
180 bullets in the same rifles go 2612fps and 2820 fps

Standard book max loads. Both have 22 inch barrels. If you want proper performance then 22 inches would be short as I would go and 24 inches would be preferable, but most most rifles you cant get in 24inch ling barrels any more.

Hunt and fish chch has the 30/06 tikka’s on Sale at the moment
Just the 2 or 3 30/06 chambered ones by themselves

I find 22 inch ok in the bush. Get a light suppressor so its not too front heavy when you shoulder it freehand.