Each year I try to find what I think is an outstanding Texas deer rifle. Last year, it was the Remington 700 CDL in .260.

John Johnston is a retired sergeant detective who served with the Austin Police Department for 25 years and was a licensed gun dealer for 25 years. He now lives in Lampasas County and can be reached via e-mail at olsingleshot@gmail.com. Before I recommend a rifle/caliber and scope, it must go through some testing in my shop, on the range and in the field.

This year's rifle of choice is the Tikka T3 Hunter in 7mm-08.

First, the caliber: 7mm-08 is based on the highly efficient and accurate .308 cartridge. The 7mm- 08 is found in most gun shops and sporting goods stores. It usually is loaded with 120- or 140-grain bullets. The round reloads easily and being 7mm, you have a tremendous assortment of bullets from which to choose.

The 120-grain bullets can be loaded up above the 3,000 feet per second mark, while the 140-grain bullets can reach over 2,800 feet per second. This amounts to a flatshooting rifle that will not leave your shoulder bruised but has plenty of terminal energy.

PHOTO BY JOHN JOHNSTON The Tikka T3 Hunter rifle is made by the folks at Sako. The Tikka T3 rifle is made by the folks at Sako. When you first pick it up, you will notice the stock is a fine piece of oil-finished black walnut with some attractive checkering. The bolt is the smoothest I have felt in a factory rifle.

One thing I did not care for was the trigger guard and bottom plate are all plastic.

Without a scope it weighs in at just under seven pounds. Even loaded and with a scope it is comfortable to carry.

The blueing is nicely done. The action is manufactured with a builtin scope rail system, and Tikka provides rings with each rifle. It is also drilled and tapped for Weaver mounts.

The Tikka rings are only tall enough for 30mm size scopes. I decided to install a pair of taller Warne rings on this rifle. Warne makes the rings to fit the Tikka rail system, plus they are very stout rings. They have never failed me.

The rifle has a detachable clip magazine for easy and safe loading and unloading. The 22.5-inch barrel is hammer forged, free floating with a 1 in 9.5-inch twist. The trigger is owner-adjustable from 4 to 2 pounds. I set mine at 2.24 pounds.

Tikka guarantees the T3 to shoot one inch or better with factory ammunition right out of the box.

For a scope I chose the Simmons ProHunter 4-12x44 with the side paralax adjustment. To be honest, I have never been impressed with Simmons scopes, but they have changed owners, and the quality has definitely gotten better. I found the side paralax adjustment very convenient to use.

To give the rifle the true test, I started by shooting factory ammunition in both 120- and 140-grain weights. Just as advertised, the rifle shot the oneinch group but no better. I started trying some of my favorite reloads in the rifle, and the groups averaged between .84 and 1.19 inch. I just knew I could do better.

About this time, the Barnes bullet company sent me some of its tipped TSX bullets to try. Using this bullet, I got better velocity, and the groups were now cloverleaf in shape and measured .50 inch or less.

Even though Tikka is part of Sako, the price of the T3 is very reasonable. It is available with a synthetic stock and several configurations in 21 different calibers.