Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Ok after much research I am down to 2 rifles. The Tikka T3 My original favorite. The weaterby Vanguard sub moa, a late favorite. Out are the Kimber 8400; price, and the Rem 700. looking at the .270 as a good all around for antelope, muleys and elk. Trying to decide between the two. What does everyone else think?

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

If I was going to get a Vanguard,I would buy the regular Vanguard,not the MOA.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Both are excellent rifles and would more than likely be very accurate. I prefer the T3 just a little more than the Vanguard.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Ok why would you buy the regular vanguard and not the moa? why do you like the Tikka over the Vanguard?

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

I'd pick the Tikka over the Vanguard, personally. I like the Vanguards ok, but I've owned a Tikka T3 and it was excellent both in fit and finish, the trigger is very good, and the accuracy was excellent. Handle both rifles side-by-side if you can and then pick the one that you like better. Both are good rifles.

Mike

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Should have stated "why" in my original post. IMO the Tikka has a better trigger(user adjustable 2-4lbs), has an extremely smooth bolt and feels better to me when shouldered. I also agree with driftrider and think the fit and finish is a little better.

The negatives about the Tikka would be the expensive and hard to get replacement parts, such as the magazine which is $50+, and just a general lack of available aftermarket parts(stocks, etc.).

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

I recently got the Weatherby subMOA. It seems to be very well made, and I like the synthetic stock it came with. The factory target they sent with it had one ragged hole. I found out they will only consider a rifle subMOA if it shoots under 3/4 at the factory. That way they can guarantee the 1". All Weatherbys have a 1.5 MOA guarantee. Life being what it is, I haven't even mounted the scope on it to shoot, so I haven't got it to the range yet to try for myself. Maybe in the next couple of weeks.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

I can understand the lack of customizability with the stock, if you are in to that sort of thing but the thing that I cannot understand is the complaints about the cost of the magazines? I mean, are they not durable and aren't they reasonably priced with the competitions? What am I missing here? That said, I haven't found a better value for the money that I spent! Savage is a close second but it's craftsmanship leaves something to be desired, IMHO.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

The last magazine I bought for a rifle was for a Remington 7400 and I paid $9 for it. A closer look for T3 mags says that I underestimated the cost....seems they are selling for around $70 now on the net. I would have to order one as there is not anyone within 100 miles of me who has T3 magazines. Seems like quite a bit to me for a polymer magazine.

I did not say anything about the magazines not being durable. My polymer Glock mags have taken a lot of abuse and still work as designed. Whether the T3 magazines are as durable remains to be seen.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

I would buy the regular vanguard because every one that I have fired would do better than MOA.Why spend the extra money?If you want a better stock,buy the regular Vanguard and put the difference in cost toward a Mcmillan.By the way,the MOA are restocked Vanguards that shot 3/4" or better as a standard Vanguard,not as a finished MOA rifle.The fact that the MOA rifle is only guaranteed for MOA(not even as good as 3/4") should tell you that they don't expect much of a difference between the two rifles.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Since when did we compare a Tikka T3 with a Remington 7400? Here is what I found in comparison. [/align][/align]Tikka Mag 3Rd Blue T3 by Tikka[/align]Buy new:$90.23 $68.88[/align][/align]Browning® A-Bolt/A-Bolt II Replacement Clips [/align]



Item:9IS-223422










$52.99 [/align]






Savage 116
.270/.30-06
-
Blued Steel
Factory New
$72.95
[/align]







Remington 700 Long Action Magnum
Code: R1700M
Price: $40.00



[/align][/align][/align][/align][/align]

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Shoulder both and see which on you like.
I shouldered a Tikka and it ust didn't feel right.
I shouldered a Vanguard and it it felt great. I got the vanguard and shot a .577 with it two weeks ago during load test. Even the regular Vanguards will usually shoot MOA easily after you find the ammo it likes. They are well built guns I would buy another in a heart beat.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

I personally would go w/ the Weatherby... but they are both great guns for the $$.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Or you could save some money and buy a Howa 1500.The Vanguard is built by Howa and it is based on the 1500 action.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

I'd go with a vanguard. I've had two tikka's and they both shot very well. Just didn't care for the "feel". The one thing that I think is a have to do on a vanguard or howa is get a timney trigger for it

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Tikka T-3 all day. I love mine.It's by far the smoothest bolt action I have ever shot.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

More precisely, a 1500 action on a Weatherby barrel. A 1500 isn't quite the same animal.

I got the scope mounted on the Weatherby yesterday, now all I need is time to go to the range...

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Are you suggesting that Weatherby manufactures all Vanguard barrels.To the best of my knowledge,Weatherby does not make barrels.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

I almost bought the Vanguard but settled on a Rem.700 instead.Only reason was the weight,the vanguard is listed as only 1/4lb more than the Rem. but it felt like more.Again as previously stated,shoulder them both and see what feels better.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Howa makes the barreled actions. The stocks are supplied by Weatherby once the barreled actions reach the Uninted States. The barreled actions are tested while in Japan and the sub moa ones get a different stock and a bigger mark up.

RE: Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard
 

Ok guys, thanks for the great input on this subject. I valued everyones opinions and took them into consideration. I decided to go with the Tikka T3. The gun felt great when I shouldered it and just overall well balanced. Vanguard felt a little front end heavy. Tikka trigger was great feeling. Caliber of choice is the .270. Look for a future post on what ammo to start trying for best accuracy out of this gun. Thanks again.