Ruger American 30-06 in Stainless steel for $460 Worth it?

[No_Regerts]

I think he is referring to the bolt throw cause all tikkas have the same long action. However they have a short action bolt stop so it is going to be the same.

In terms of lock time, all tikkas are the same.

 

[eightyeight mag]

In terms of lock time, all tikkas are the same.

I'm confused...
Isn't lock time the time between pulling the trigger and the round going off?
All tikkas have the same length action I'll give you that. The bolt throw is different depending on what bolt stop you have in the gun.
What am I missing on this lock time?

 

[pharmseller]

I'm confused...
Isn't lock time the time between pulling the trigger and the round going off?
All tikkas have the same length action I'll give you that. The bolt throw is different depending on what bolt stop you have in the gun.
What am I missing on this lock time?

I had to look it up.

"The term lock time refers to the time that elapses between the "tripping" of a gun's trigger and the ignition of the powder or propellant that drives the projectile(s) downrange."

Even if he's talking about bolt travel (which I've always defined as the distance the bolt travels to pick up a fresh cartridge from the magazine), how much extra time does it take for the bolt to go an extra half inch backward and forward? More importantly, is the time significant?

I would suggest the answer is no, especially if your first shot kills. Which it should.





P

 

[Ura-Ki]

Lock time is a insignificant measure for most all modern firearms, it's not like @AndyinEverson with a slow lock flintlick that can beesured in seconds! No need to get that worked up over a few hundredths of a second, I doubt any one would ever be able to actually tell a fast one from a slow one!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Flintlocks may be slow compared to a modern gun...but I have taken Grouse on the wing and busted many a clay bird with my Flintlock fowler.
Its all 'bout getting to know your gun and finding a load that works...just like any gun.
That said...
A quality flintlock , say from Davis or Jim Chambers will be " faster " and much more efficient than a production lock with a coil spring....Which is what most folks are used too , sad to say.

As for lock speed on a modern bolt action....I do agree , one will hardly notice one from another as a general rule.

If you want speed with a bolt / lever / pump action , learn to work the action from your shoulder...
Work the bolt / lever / pump right after you shoot , do not take the rifle / shotgun from you shoulder...keep your eyes on the target...that will get you speed...
Andy

 

[DuneHopper]

Consider, Repair, parts, future values as well as warranty.

 

[Superglide]

The poor OP. A member since Sunday, with a simple question. Ruger American @ $460 or spend $660 on a Tikka?
It's his first rifle! Not his first born.
Here we are debating long action vs short, light vs heavy weight and other options he wasn't even asking about.
No wonder the number of hunters are declining.
Put a rifle, any rifle in his hand, teach him gun safety and say "go get him, sport"
The sonnufagun gonna get buck fever anywhoo.... Askin' on the interweb what he should be using fer a shootin' iron....

PS I picked up a Ruger American in .270 (not stainless) for $249 new, shipped. Not at all sad.
A very nice rifle to hunt with.

 

[Kruel J]

The poor OP. A member since Sunday, with a simple question. Ruger American @ $460 or spend $660 on a Tikka?
It's his first rifle! Not his first born.
Here we are debating long action vs short, light vs heavy weight and other options he wasn't even asking about.
No wonder the number of hunters are declining.
Put a rifle, any rifle in his hand, teach him gun safety and say "go get him, sport"
The sonnufagun gonna get buck fever anywhoo.... Askin' on the interweb what he should be using fer a shootin' iron....

PS I picked up a Ruger American in .270 (not stainless) for $249 new, shipped. Not at all sad.
A very nice rifle to hunt with.

I was thinking something very similar. It was a pretty easy question, and now it's just a mess.

 

[bbbass]

I was thinking something very similar. It was a pretty easy question, and now it's just a mess.

And that was my initial comment: "Oh, don't start!" I really meant it but, oh well. Nobody ever listens to me... not even me! I'm one of the worst promulgators of thread drift.

 

[bbbass]

.308 terminal ballistics (I use the Remington 180 loads)

Hornady 110 .166 .290 3,165 2,447 11.62 0 - 2.9" - 11.2" - 26.6" - 51.2"
Winchester 120 .180 .256 2,850 2,164 11.47 0 - 4.1" - 15.7" - 37.2" - 72.4"
Nosler 125 .188 .366 3,175 2,798 13.97 0 - 2.6" - 10.2" - 23.7" - 44.6"
Cor-Bon 130 .196 .340 3,000 2,598 13.66 0 - 3.2" - 12.2" - 28.2" - 53.1"
Winchester 147 .221 .415 2,800 2,559 14.77 0 - 3.7" - 13.6" - 30.9" - 57.0"
Hornady 150 .226 .415 3,000 2,997 16.75 0 - 3.0" - 11.4" - 26.1" - 48.3"
Hornady 155 .233 .435 2,865 2,825 16.58 0 - 3.4" - 12.7" - 28.8" - 52.9"
Hornady 165 .248 .447 2,840 2,955 17.95 0 - 3.5" - 12.9" - 29.2" - 53.5"
Winchester 168 .253 .474 2,670 2,659 17.05 0 - 4.2" - 14.9" - 33.2" - 60.6"
Federal 170 .257 .284 2,000 1,510 12.12 0 - 10.0" - 35.4" - 81.0" - 152.6"
Federal 175 .264 .505 2,600 2,627 17.64 0 - 4.4" - 15.6" - 34.7" - 63.0"
Hornady 178 .268 .530 2,775 3,043 19.83 0 - 3.6" - 13.1" - 29.3" - 53.2"
Remington 180 .271 .402 2,620 2,743 18.76 0 - 4.6" - 16.3" - 36.8" - 67.8"

Bullet Diameter: .308".
Bullet Weight: 180 Grains.
Bullet Ballistic Coefficient: .402.
Bullet Muzzle Velocity: 2,620 Feet Per Second.
Bullet Muzzle Energy: 2,743 Foot Pounds.

Velocity / FPS. 2,510 2,404 2,300 2,198 2,099 2,003 1,909 1,818 1,730 1,646
Energy / FT.LBS. 2,519 2,309 2,114 1,931 1,761 1,603 1,456 1,321 1,197 1,083
Trajectory / IN. 0 + 0.1 - 1.3 - 4.3 - 9.2 - 16.0 - 25.0 - 36.4 - 50.4 - 67.3



30-06 terminal ballistics (using 180gr factory ammo)

Bullet Diameter: .308".
Bullet Weight: 180 Grains.
Bullet Ballistic Coefficient: .402.
Bullet Muzzle Velocity: 2,620 Feet Per Second.
Bullet Muzzle Energy: 2,743 Foot Pounds.

Velocity / FPS. 2,510 2,404 2,300 2,198 2,099 2,003 1,909 1,818 1,730 1,646
Energy / FT.LBS. 2,519 2,309 2,114 1,931 1,761 1,603 1,456 1,321 1,197 1,083
Trajectory / IN. 0 + 0.1 - 1.3 - 4.3 - 9.2 - 16.0 - 25.0 - 36.4 - 50.4 - 67.3


It is interesting to me that the Remington published ballistics for both cartridges mirror each other (are exactly the same). How can that be? At any rate, drop at 200yd in one table shows -4.6 for .308 and -4.3 for 30-06. Big diff, eh?

Conclusion: I personally shoot big game at less than 200yds, because I can't see well etc. I have certainly harvested my share of elk with my .308 shooting 180gr factory loads. IMO new hunters should keep their shots as close as possible. Being a responsible hunter and having respect for the game, not wounding with bad shots. Anyway, IIRC most game is shot at under 200yds anyway. The western hunter fetishism for shooting game at 400yds or more is NOT something I respect. Just sayin. Therefore, for a new shooter .308 IMO is a reasonable caliber, if used responsibly. But 30-06 does allow a little more room for growth, being capable of reliable kills up to 300yds. If one wants to make 400yd shots, not recommended esp for new shooters, get a 300Win Mag, a 300 Weatherby, or better yet a real elk rifle in .338 Win Mag.

 

[Whisky Tahoe]

All good points have been made. Tikka is a class above Ruger and entry Remingtons & Savages.
With practice all guns will shoot. All bullets can take game but... when you have slogged through the wilderness just to spot game only to inflict an eventually fatal wound, you can look forward to more slogging to find your animal.

Hunting and shooting is all about preference like cars. Transportation, or cherished possession.
Rifles are as American as anything in our country. Our ancestors hunted with the absolute best they could afford and fed the family. We don't have to do that now, as Brad Pitt says in Spy Game with Robert Redford " No sir, we had a Safeway back home."

My first hunting rifle was a 30-06 and it was adequate based on ballistics. You can stack the rounds effectiveness in your favor at the expense of range which is ethical anyway. My next rifle was a 308 thinking I was set for Deer or Elk and I wanted to practice with cheaper ammo. Now it's small caliber for small game and big caliber for big game. My son's first rifle was a Tikka 7-08, then he built his 1st AR to be 338 federal which is necked up 308.

Figure out where on the sliding scale you want to be. Functional means to an end? or that slippery slope where we justify the next rifle in our collection because it fulfills a specific need

Whatever you choose, practice and learn your effective range. Hey it's your time, have fun

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

If you can afford the Tikka you won't be disappointed but if you just want a hunting gun you won't mind a ding or 3 in then just about anything will work.

30-06 is a better elk round then .308 though imo

7.6 creedmoor for me

 

[Joe13]

7.6 creedmoor for me

Is that the newest caliber?

 

[FishnhuntOR]

I hate how the action feels on RAR. I wonder what the OP got?