What would you do?

My first question is, "Do the two of you like the cartridges you shoot now (30-06 and 300wsm)?" If yes, I see no need for re-barreling in a different round, and maybe no need for re-barreling at all if the current barrel is well suited for your intended application and is in good shape. My second question is, "Do you reload, or do you shoot factory ammo?"

If you shoot factory ammo, and the answer to my first question is no, I would NOT suggest re-barreling into a wildcat such as one of the Sherman options, but rather would suggest determining why you don't like the cartridges you have and going with an option that is more suitable to what you're looking for AND has readily available QUALITY factory ammo. I would also suggest first learning to reload for your rifles as they are setup currently before deciding to modify the rifles.

If you reload for the rifles already, try tweaking your loads for better performance. If you reload and don't like your current chambering, then maybe a wildcat...but I'd avoid switching from two cartridges where factory components are readily available to two wildcats where you'll have to form your own brass, etc.

My opinions only.
 
Tikka's are great shooting rifles. I own T3 in .243 and have a Sako 75 in 300 wsm. I think both scopes are good and you don't need to change them. Honestly, if you like the stocks, leave the rifles as is and put the money towards a hunt. Otherwise, change the stock out. I had McMillan make a stock for my Sako and love it (I was tired of dinging up the beautiful wood stock). Check out your options at Stocky's Stocks.
It's easy to want to upgrade everything. I've been caught by that bug too many times. Where I've spent the most money upgrading has been in my optics. It took me a little bit to be ok with spending $1-2K on a scope, but now I own a few in that price range and I'm very happy I took the plunge.
 
Thanks to all that replied. I know it is mostly a want not a need. Yes both rifles shoot fine. Have hit steel out to 900 yards. It is like looking at that new truck when the old works fine. Yes we try to do a lot of hunting. Love it out west but we live in Wisconsin and are just common blue collar people. So where we spend our money matters.We have done 3 western hunts all horseback pack in trips. We are not spring chickens anymore both 54. So I guess as much as we would like that fancy rifle I think we will spend our money on hunts.Because when we can no longer do wilderness hunts we are done. If anybody out there is looking for a couple people to do drop camp or back pack style hunt feel free to drop us a line. Can't this year we are doing a crossbow gator hunt and a pig hunt with dogs and a knife.
 
Thanks to all that replied. I know it is mostly a want not a need. Yes both rifles shoot fine. Have hit steel out to 900 yards. It is like looking at that new truck when the old works fine. Yes we try to do a lot of hunting. Love it out west but we live in Wisconsin and are just common blue collar people. So where we spend our money matters.We have done 3 western hunts all horseback pack in trips. We are not spring chickens anymore both 54. So I guess as much as we would like that fancy rifle I think we will spend our money on hunts.Because when we can no longer do wilderness hunts we are done. If anybody out there is looking for a couple people to do drop camp or back pack style hunt feel free to drop us a line. Can't this year we are doing a crossbow gator hunt and a pig hunt with dogs and a knife.
They do this style of pig hunting a lot out in Texas. Most-likely the dogs they will be using are one of my favorite breeds...The Dogo Argentino. I've been looking for a pup to buy, or one to adopt, but finding one in my area is very rare, and also registered puppies from a guaranteed bloodline at an affordable price is near impossible to find.

maxresdefault-3.jpg
 
My first question is, "Do the two of you like the cartridges you shoot now (30-06 and 300wsm)?" If yes, I see no need for re-barreling in a different round, and maybe no need for re-barreling at all if the current barrel is well suited for your intended application and is in good shape. My second question is, "Do you reload, or do you shoot factory ammo?"

If you shoot factory ammo, and the answer to my first question is no, I would NOT suggest re-barreling into a wildcat such as one of the Sherman options, but rather would suggest determining why you don't like the cartridges you have and going with an option that is more suitable to what you're looking for AND has readily available QUALITY factory ammo. I would also suggest first learning to reload for your rifles as they are setup currently before deciding to modify the rifles.

If you reload for the rifles already, try tweaking your loads for better performance. If you reload and don't like your current chambering, then maybe a wildcat...but I'd avoid switching from two cartridges where factory components are readily available to two wildcats where you'll have to form your own brass, etc.

My opinions only.
Yes we both like what we shoot. No we do not reload we I shoot 180 grain accubond trophy grade Hornady and my wife shoots 180 grain Barnes. We shoot a lot out to 500 yards we made 10 life size Elk targets that we set up on my cousins farm fields. He has a two large hills that we shoot across the valley trying to simulate western hunting. We have easily shot several hundred rounds trying to prepare for our hunts. On those calibers when is a barrel worn out?
 
Thanks to all that replied. I know it is mostly a want not a need. Yes both rifles shoot fine. Have hit steel out to 900 yards. It is like looking at that new truck when the old works fine. Yes we try to do a lot of hunting. Love it out west but we live in Wisconsin and are just common blue collar people. So where we spend our money matters.We have done 3 western hunts all horseback pack in trips. We are not spring chickens anymore both 54. So I guess as much as we would like that fancy rifle I think we will spend our money on hunts.Because when we can no longer do wilderness hunts we are done. If anybody out there is looking for a couple people to do drop camp or back pack style hunt feel free to drop us a line. Can't this year we are doing a crossbow gator hunt and a pig hunt with dogs and a knife.

I knew your rifles shoots and you've done hunt together, that's why I went with the custom rifle route "IF" budget allows it. I envy you that you hunt with your wife, I have been married for 36 years and have been trying to convince my wife to go hunt with me but to no avail. She'll shoot with me but leaves the hunting fun for me. I am just a few years older than you but I still manage to do wilderness hunts in MT trekking up and down the Big Sky mountains on foot and backpacks.

Enjoy your hunts together. Cheers!

Ed
 
They do this style of pig hunting a lot out in Texas. Most-likely the dogs they will be using are one of my favorite breeds...The Dogo Argentino. I've been looking for a pup to buy, or one to adopt, but finding one in my area is very rare, and also registered puppies from a guaranteed bloodline at an affordable price is near impossible to find.

View attachment 96845
Yes that is the dogs we are using. I met a guy on line that is going to take us in trade we are going to take him Walleye fishing on Green Bay in Wisconsin. And yes we are going in Texas.
 
Yes that is the dogs we are using. I met a guy on line that is going to take us in trade we are going to take him Walleye fishing on Green Bay in Wisconsin. And yes we are going in Texas.
If you don't mind, see if they have any pups for sale, while you're there. I'd be interested to know their prices, if they are breeders. And if they don't mind working out trades (which it sounds like they don't mind), I might could work something out with them on trading for a puppy...
 
I knew your rifles shoots and you've done hunt together, that's why I went with the custom rifle route "IF" budget allows it. I envy you that you hunt with your wife, I have been married for 36 years and have been trying to convince my wife to go hunt with me but to no avail. She'll shoot with me but leaves the hunting fun for me. I am just a few years older than you but I still manage to do wilderness hunts in MT trekking up and down the Big Sky mountains on foot and backpacks.

Enjoy your hunts together. Cheers!

Ed
Kind of a long story but here goes. My wife girlfriends at the time bought us a Elk hunt in Idaho for my Christmas present in 2012. In the Frank Church primitive wreath. After climbing tob11000 ft on day 4 I asked her to marry me on the side of a cliff. Thought any woman crazy enough to do this and never complain I was not going to let her go. She said yes but wanted her ring made out of Elk ivory. We didn't get an Elk she shot a nice cinnamon bear though. Next year we did a drop camp in Colorado really warm weather no Elk!! Had to skip a year $ then we went to Wyoming with Nontypical Outfitters and both got bulls!! Went back out there last summer and got married on the mountain where we shot our Elk. How many woman you know got dressed behind a pine tree for there wedding?
 
If you don't mind, see if they have any pups for sale, while you're there. I'd be interested to know their prices, if they are breeders. And if they don't mind working out trades (which it sounds like they don't mind), I might could work something out with them on trading for a puppy...
Will check. I will try and get you his number if he doesn't mind.
 
Kind of a long story but here goes. My wife girlfriends at the time bought us a Elk hunt in Idaho for my Christmas present in 2012. In the Frank Church primitive wreath. After climbing tob11000 ft on day 4 I asked her to marry me on the side of a cliff. Thought any woman crazy enough to do this and never complain I was not going to let her go. She said yes but wanted her ring made out of Elk ivory. We didn't get an Elk she shot a nice cinnamon bear though. Next year we did a drop camp in Colorado really warm weather no Elk!! Had to skip a year $ then we went to Wyoming with Nontypical Outfitters and both got bulls!! Went back out there last summer and got married on the mountain where we shot our Elk. How many woman you know got dressed behind a pine tree for there wedding?
Made a couple mistakes meant to say my wife who was my girlfriend at the time and the Frank Church wilderness areal
 
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