Have a howa, 2 vanguards and a Smith and Wesson 1500. The howa and the newer vanguard I have made in 2003 have the same triggers in them. The vanguard with a synthic stock as a better synthic stock on it then my howa with a synthic stock. All of them are nice rifle and the older ones with the two way safties. The one vanguard is an older one with a three digit serial number. Looked at the tikka nice rifle but if I was buying and new one out of the two howa/vanguard or tikka I would get the howa/vanguard.