Of those two I think I would get the Savage. No personal experience though.. I have handled them both in the store, and I really do not like the Tikka. Have heard tons of good things about them, but the stock is not really my thing. Looks like wood (might actually be wood) but feels like a synthetic and feels really cheap to me. I am thinking about buying a 243 for the same reasons you are, but I think I am set on a Winchester Model 70 featherweight. Not that its any better than the two you a looking at, just more my style.