Compact rifle opinions

I suck at cleaning so I like stainless steel. I sure wish Tikka offered a Compact T3X in stainless.
 
Budget?

There’s lots of ways to get the Tikka where you want it to be with sales, current $75 rebate, discount codes etc plus swapping/selling stocks. My .308 SS 22” Fluted with a Trijicon Huron scope and carbon stock is 6lbs 11oz before ammo. 41 1/2” OAL and just over 13” LOP. I’m just over 6’ and this works well. Recoil pad and stock design plays a big part in it all and I put my 7mag in the same stock. Both have less felt recoil than the factory Tikka stock.
 
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I’ve shared this before on here, but above is my daughter’s Tikka T3X compact in 243. It’s such a sweet little rifle. I’ve debated, multiple times, about getting another one in 7mm-08. While I don’t have any experience with a 20” 7mm-08, I shot a 22” 7mm-08 for a while and killed caribou, elk, deer, and antelope with it. It too was a Tikka T3X.

I’m biased, but get a Tikka compact in 7mm-08 and shoot the heck out of it!
 
Budget?

There’s lots of ways to get the Tikka where you want it to be with sales, current $75 rebate, discount codes etc plus swapping/selling stocks. My .308 SS 22” Fluted with a Trijicon Huron scope and carbon stock is 6lbs 11oz before ammo. 41 1/2” OAL and just over 13” LOP. I’m just over 6’ and this works well. Recoil pad and stock design plays a big part in it all and I put my 7mag in the same stock. Both have less felt recoil than the factory Tikka stock.

What carbon fiber stock are you using?
 
What carbon fiber stock are you using?

Peak 44 Bastion. 21.6 ounces on the scale. My factory synthetic was 31 ounces with the Limbsaver and vertical grip. Got a great deal on it as it was on sale, plus a 10% off first order and I applied my credit card cash back points to it.
 
Peak 44 Bastion. 21.6 ounces on the scale. My factory synthetic was 31 ounces with the Limbsaver and vertical grip. Got a great deal on it as it was on sale, plus a 10% off first order and I applied my credit card cash back points to it.

Did you have to bed it or is it drop in?
 
Did you have to bed it or is it drop in?

I epoxied the lug in place but didn’t like how the action would rock or just drop out of the stock with the action screws removed. I bed the sides of the action afterward at the lug to get it to lock in place. Much better. I didn’t shoot it without the bedding so couldn’t tell you if it even made a difference but I don’t like loose fitting actions in a stock. The neat thing about Tikka is I also put my 7mag in the same stock and tried it out.
 
View attachment 388326

I’ve shared this before on here, but above is my daughter’s Tikka T3X compact in 243. It’s such a sweet little rifle. I’ve debated, multiple times, about getting another one in 7mm-08. While I don’t have any experience with a 20” 7mm-08, I shot a 22” 7mm-08 for a while and killed caribou, elk, deer, and antelope with it. It too was a Tikka T3X.

I’m biased, but get a Tikka compact in 7mm-08 and shoot the heck out of it!
That thing is wicked
 
Peak 44 Bastion. 21.6 ounces on the scale. My factory synthetic was 31 ounces with the Limbsaver and vertical grip. Got a great deal on it as it was on sale, plus a 10% off first order and I applied my credit card cash back points to it.

My peak 44 blacktooth will be here tomorrow. Wanted to put together an ultra light rifle. Will see how I like it
 
I guess another question is, let’s say 8lb dressed rifle, what’s the recoil difference between a 308 (165 grain load) and a 708 (140 grain load)? I would assume quite a bit less.
 
Ruger American Compact fits the bill exactly. Still available in 7mm-08. You can grab an adult stock for super cheap if wanted.
 
Another vote for the tikka. (But I'm also a tikka whore. A T3 300WM, a T3x 308, and a T1x 22 all call my safe home.)
 
I suck at cleaning so I like stainless steel. I sure wish Tikka offered a Compact T3X in stainless.
Thought about getting it cerakoted?

I'm really liking the cerakote on the 308 superlite I got this spring.
 
Stevens 200, put any stock on it you want. Cheap, accurate, simple to work on. Mine is in 270 win, 7# w scope, ugly and completely functional. The 7-08 weighs even less as a short action. Excellent cartridge choice BTW, aka 7mm HT.
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