Tikka, but 300 WSM.
The 300 WSM burns about 10-15 gr less powder and gives up about 50 fps to the 300 WM. But is proving to be more accurate and no animal will ever notice the 50 fps. Not many people using any 300 for long range target work any more, but all the 1000 yard records set with 300 WM were broken with 300 WSM before the surge in popularity of the 6.5 and 6mm cartridges.
Plus the combination of less powder burned and a little less speed gives you recoil that falls exactly 1/2 way between 30-06 and 300 WM. The WSM also does well with barrels as short as 22" while the 300 WM really needs 26". The difference in recoil is especially important in a lighter rifle like Tikka.
Although I see only a 3-5gr powder difference in the Hornady manual between the two cartridges I get your point. I had a 300 WSM in an Abolt years ago. I didn’t think the recoil was too terrible. Bad thing about 300 WSM is one round less capacity and reloading components seem scarce.
