My vote is FIRMLY in a-bolt/x-bolt corner.

are tikka and sako related? aren't they the same company? owned by the same? I don't think ive seen a tikka that I liked, some sakos look great.

How about a CZ?

I have yet to see a top end rifle make a marksman out of anyone. "It's not the gun it's the gunner". Both are excellent rifles so I think it comes down to preference and practise. I have a Savage with a Nikon 3x9 that has done the job for many years and the entire rig cost less than the Tika or Browning (gun alone) you mentioned. The first thing I woulddo is shoulder a number of guns and see which feels best to you.If you can afford the Tika or the Browning with an equally excellent scope then the price tag is the last thing you should check.Granted, this is only an opinion of a hunter and not a bench rest shooter.

I'd stay away from the Tikka T3 lite only due to the light weight and potential for increased recoil with the 300wsm.A friend's father bought the T3 in 300wsm last year and he's pretty recoil shy. The 2 weren't a good mix on the range at all. This gentlemen is anything but a newbie just doesn't like recoil. He's addeda sims recoil pad and lead sled to get easy behind the trigger of his 300wsm, still his groups suffer b/c he's wary. The gun is capable of shooting much better then he allows it. To me its just not a good fit for a person who's already concerned about recoil.


FWIW the T3's i have seen shoot and function well. I'd have no problems buying one if it felt right and fit the situation.

Given the remaining choices you have mentioned I'd personally buy the browning. I just don't care for the Savage stock, accutrigger or overall feel personally. Though will not argue they are accurate and priced well. I'd stay away from the package deals the scope and mounts aren't great quality, more then likely they'll end up on the shelf or in the trash can...but hey its your money.

It boils down to you and the fit. I think if the tikka feels the best buy it and either drop the cartirdge to something you can handle or download the 300wsm so it boots less for the time being.

Last week several of us gave you very good advice on what to do. I in particular went in quite a bit of detail on how to manage the recoil.

This question has already been answered. It doesn't matter how many different ways you ask it the answers will be the same. Go pick a rifle.

Maybe its because its monday, but my BS tolerance is very low today. Browning, Tikka, Savage, ALL GOOD RIFLES.

Don't want a light rifle, stop looking at rifles in plastic stocks. If the recoil is too stout on a 7.5# rifle I gave you perfectly good advice on how to manage it. Whether or not you pay any attention is none of my concern.

if you guys that say a-bolt will out shoot tikka's lived near i'd be willing put some money down on accuratcy of the tikka . i've seen many a-bolt's that even after load seaching and tuning the muzzlebrakes wouldn't come close to most tikka's. the brownings dont shoot real bad,just not great. i have 3 savages
that shoot just about as good as the tikka's.

the tikka is THE BEST buy for the money.....

The Abolt is one of the best shooting guns one can buy. It has one feature I don't like(non fieldstrippable bolt) now comparing it to a gun that has a protruding magazine, a polymer bolt shroud that is prone to cracking) polymer magazineand a one size fits all action and it is a no brainer. I can hear all the Glock owners chiming in about now but you know what I don't like Glocks either. Like I said I am not it's greatest supporter of Aboltsbut the d@%n things....can shoot and well. BTW an added benefit is they tend to have fast barrels...I have found the opposite with Tikka and Sako barrels and not to mention the fact that the 25-06 that Tikka sells has a 22 1/2 inch barrel . I think a lot of people buy into the "its made by Sako and must be just like a Sako".

Oldelkhunter,the bolts on a-bolts ARE field strippable however you need a takedown tool that holds the spring pressure back and you can either buy it or make 1 as I have. Srw shooter-my long range a-bolt ( I have built it)will group 5 shots into 2.5" at 800 yards from bench with no wind-still wanna shoot against it?????

I have had 2 Tikka rifles, and neither of them will shoot groups like my A-Bolts will. They do have a better trigger, and I like the gun, but they can't hang with the A-Bolts accuracy wise. I sighted in my buddies T3 Lite Stainless 300WSM at deer season, and it'd shootfactory fodder into a lil over an inch. After Izeroed it I shot 2 groups to see how it woulddo, I believe it was 180gr XP3s if I remember right.I load for all my rifles, and on a good day I could keep my Tikka (3 shot groups) at 3/4". My A-Bolts will run .5" or better. My Savage shoots pretty well, but I have yet to play with it alot on the range. I got it sighted in for coyotes, and thats all I've done with it. I did bust a p-dog 2 weeks ago at 410 yards with it.

I own both a Tikka T3 in 243 and an A-Bolt in 270.Fit and finnish to A-Bolt (10) over Tikka(8.5).Both will shot sub .75 groups,3 shot, with different ammo.The Tikka is not as picky about ammo as it has shot less than an inch with at least five different brands.The Tikka is a pound lighter.I would not have or shoot a 300Mag unless I were hunting in Africa.My brother has a 300 Win. that I shoot once,too much recoil and muzzle blast.Most important is bullet placement and most people would be much better with a 243,7mm-08 or 270 than the big mags.