modern straight-walled bolt action

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arickmittler

arickmittler

New member
I'm looking for a bolt action for hunting in areas that only permit straight walled cartridges, like here in Ohio. After a good while looking around, I think I might go with the Tikka T3x 1:16 20" barrel in .350 Legend. Any thoughts on this gun or other recommendations (for a bolt action specifically)?
 
arickmittler said:
I'm looking for a bolt action for hunting in areas that only permit straight walled cartridges, like here in Ohio. After a good while looking around, I think I might go with the Tikka T3x 1:16 20" barrel in .350 Legend. Any thoughts on this gun or other recommendations (for a bolt action specifically)?
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Let me know how you like that Tikka! I’ve got a T3 in .223 I really enjoy. Don’t sleep on 450 bushmaster either. Great cartridge for big game. Ruger chambers M77 Hawkeye in 450 BM.

Where in Ohio are you?
 
arickmittler said:
I'm looking for a bolt action for hunting in areas that only permit straight walled cartridges, like here in Ohio. After a good while looking around, I think I might go with the Tikka T3x 1:16 20" barrel in .350 Legend. Any thoughts on this gun or other recommendations (for a bolt action specifically)?
Click to expand...
I have a Winchester XPR Sporter in 350 legend; that’s my only straight walled cartridge.
 
I built this one for hunting in Michigan in the straight wall zone, 18" PVA Prefit 450 Bushmaster, handloaded 300gr Hornady SST at 2230fps, absolutely hammers deer and as you see it's a tack driver. The gun is a custom 6mmCM and I just swap the barrels and re zero before deer camp. I would look at the Ruger's in 450BM, especially the Hawkeye!

I used the Henry 360 Buckhammer with 200gr Hornady flex tip at 2400fps last fall and it dumped the pictured buck in his tracks. Basically a 358 Win in a straight wall if you reload.

At our deer camp in Michigan there have been more deer lost to the 350 Legend than any other straight wall caliber, I don't recommend it at all, just doesn't have the energy.
20241019_115344.jpg
Deer 24 Mich.jpg
 
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I have a custom Bear Creek Ballistics bolt gun in 350 that is fantastic (not to be confused with Bear Creek Arsenal). This southern MI company specializes in custom straight wall caliber rifles as well as ammo. Their all copper ammo is amazing in accuracy and expansion. https://www.bearcreekballistics.com/
 
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