need rifle purchase advice please
 

I am by no means a newbie when it comes to rifles . I've been hunting for about ten years , and I am prepared to make my first serious rifle purchase. I've been borrowing rifles and using diff. guns for ten years , but am ready to make my first real rifle purchase. I have been doing research for about six months on what to buy and am seriously eying the Tikka T3 prob in .308 . I own one other rifle, and its the (terrible ) Remington 770 .270. Basically before I make a 600$ rifle purchase , id like to hear from experienced users if the Tikka is worth my while, or if there is something Im over looking. I really like the accuracy pitch, the free floating barrel, and the great trigger along with an amazing smooth bolt. I've held one in my hands I just want to know if im getting my money's worth. My budget (including a new scope is 1000$) . sorry for the long thread.. just need advice.

I don't know from personal experience but I've done a little research on the Tikka T3 rifle and it seems to be a pretty solid gun for the price.

The first rifle I purchased was a Ruger M77 Mk II in .270 caliber topped with a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9x40 scope. I paid $399 bucks for the rifle (on sales at Dicks) and recieved the scope as a Christmas present (it retailed for $220 at the time). It was an excellent rifle and I killed a couple dozen deer with it. The only complaint I had was it's trigger which I fixed with an aftermarket job. The new Ruger M77 hawkeye apparently has a much better trigger than the Mk II version.

Whatever you get, purchase a good pair of scope rings and a decent scope and I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you buy :wink:.

Good Luck!

check out ER Shaw rifles...basically a savage rifle with an ershaw barrel...is my understanding.

Savage...
HS...
Hill Country...
ER Shaw...

^ im not a huge fan of the accutrigger on the Savage Rifle, and im unfimilair with "er shaw rifles"

what dont you like about the accutrigger? the look? or something functional? I've heard good things...

tikka rifles, yep they shoot very good at least the 2 I had did. I didn't care for the way they felt and the way the straight stock nailed you when you pulled the trigger. If you notice I said that I had them, don't any more. Replaced the 338 fed with a sako 85, and the 6.5 x 55 I haven't had any desire to replace. The last rifle I just purchased was a ruger 77 in 358 win (yes I reload). The trigger could be better, the stock could have a touch of palm swell and a little cant but it's a solid rifle and shoots well.

i dont like that you have to squeeze the "accu" part of the trigger before you begin to squeeze the "trigger" trigger. I dont like a two step process to firing a firearm . IDK, im traditional i suppose

"rhans", are you trying to say that the Tikka is overpriced / over hyped?

The Tikka in 308 is not a true short action rifle.I don't know if that matters to you.When I was looking @ rifles last year I also was interested in the Tikka but bought a rem 700 instead.

It really depends what you want to do with your rifle. What are you hunting and where? Personally I like a relatively cheap rifle that I am not afraid to scratch as long as I get the accuracy I need. I hunt very thick woods and the equipment takes a beating. I like my Savage but I looked into the Tikka. I think the Tikka was a nicer rifle. Stock was better than the Savage plasticware but I ended up with the Savage.
If you have a $1000 budget, you are likely to spend at least $300-$400 on the scope and possibly another $100 on the mount and rings if you get high quality steel rings and mount.

I hunt south texas and I stalk in Louisiana, meaning I dont hunt heavy thick woods. My budget is 600$ on a rifle and 400$ on a scope, and Im looking for accuracy to 400 yards and a SMOOTH bolt.

You talk like a cajun.

The only thing I dislike about the Tikka is having to use a long action to shoot a true short action round. No biggie I guess but I wouldn't build a gun that way so I wouldn't buy a gun that way.

Your budget can be kept with a Remington SPS, you may get a little better stock for your money with a Savage. Either one should shoot MOA or so out of the box and better if you handload.

How much shooting have you done at 400 yards?

1) im from lafayette, la and go to LSU. 2) I can target shoot 400 yards and have taken one deer at 400 yards.
*Spaniel, are you recommending a Savage or Remington SPS over the Tikka altogether?

[quote=spaniel;3581402]The only thing I dislike about the Tikka is having to use a long action to shoot a true short action round. quote]

Yep! The "one size fits all" action of the Tikka kinda defeats the purpose of a short action! Might be a good gun, but that right there makes it a POS in my book!

i know .308 is a shortened .30-06, but isnt the difference b/t long and short action 1/2" .. I guess this means Tikka puts a block in the receiver to compensate the difference?.. Anyway, I need suggestions on what to do.

Here is something to look at. Click on the links below.
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=86385
http://swfa.com/Vortex-4-12x40-Viper...pe-P11230.aspx:cool2:

First things first;

Change your thinking on spending your funds.

$400 on the rifle and transfer fees

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=86728




$600 on the scope, bases and rings

http://www.opticsplanet.net/zeiss-3-...-reticle1.html

^ Im not a huge fan of the Stevens model.. seems "cheap" . ( i hear its very accurate though) do you have experience w/ the steven's model ?

* I like the Remington SPS , and im considering that but in the Tactical category .

Im trying to step up as far as quality of rifle . The Remington 770 I own feels so cheap and I could prob throw rocks more accurately than I could shoot with it.
Am I asking too much for my price range * smooth bolt, above average accuracy * with a great stock..

Seems no one likes the Tikka..

I like the Tikka "Lite" (although I own a Sako), but you're back to spending all your money on the rifle and don't have quality glass !

Firearms today shoot better than we can, particularly without good optics !


http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=90835

I can get a t3 lite stainless for just under $600 (.308) and spend $400 on a Vortex Viper 4-12x40 and get quality rings for around $1000..I think thats pretty damn good. *side note, im really wanting a .308 but i've been looking into the .270WSM.. however i already own a .270. opinions?

Yes. If you were getting a long action cartridge I would have no real preference beyond personal whim. While the action length difference between long and short action is not huge, pick up one of each and you will see that at least in feeling and handling it is significant.

The other issue is if you may want to do anything to upgrade the rifle in the future. There are innumberable options to upgrade all components on a Rem700 action and a very good number for the Savage action as well. You would have a more difficult time upgrading the Tikka.

Both the Savage and Rem700 are good actions. I give the Rem the edge on the trigger (though some people love the Savage Accutrigger). I have a Rem700 long action and Savage short action with pre-Accutrigger. For an extra $70 I upgraded the Savage trigger (Rifle Basix) and it is now superior to the Remington.

The one interesting thing about the Savage is that if you know what you are doing you can switch barrels (and calibers) all by yourself with minimal equipment. My Savage is set up to switch back and forth between 2 barrels.

I have a slight preference toward the Remington action, though that will be at the very upper end of your budget and the Savage will come in lower for an equivalent rifle.

As for the scope, good bang for your buck is the Nikon Buckmaster. Out the door for around $300 and leave you cash for base and rings. I am a fan of Burris Signature rings. I own two of these scopes and they are a great value for the money.

Pick up the T3 for $600, then a Bushnell Elite 4200 for $240, and mount it in Warne steel rings for $50. Now you have $100 left over for ammo or reloading supplies. This would be an excellent set up.

The best advice I could give you is to "handle" as many guns as you can & see which one feels right to you.Because the one that feels the best is the best for you.

What VAhuntr said.

I've got a T3 Lite in 7mm-08. It's been a fantastic gun. Shoots great, and very light. This is my first Tikka and I couldn't be happier. I will be honest and tell you I would prefer a Remington due to the fact that any smith I know can work on a 700 if need be. I don't know how many smiths know that much about the Tikka's. Also, as has been mentioned if you ever get the urge to tinker with your rifle, replace the stock, rebarrel it, whatever, the 700 has alot more options out there.

honestly, I wont be "tinkering" with whatever rifle I get. I just need something that is the best out of the box accuracy that I can achieve, and I dont see any other solution besides the Tikka.. or maybe Savage. Except I just dont care for the accutrigger system on the Savage.. and buying a entry level savage to me, would be like buying the remington 770, although i hear they arnet comparable, it just seems you get what you pay for w/ guns and optics. Also correct me if im wrong, but I think the Remington 700's are not free floating barrels .. and that is important to me.

The factory rings that come w/ the tikka arent fit for a cheap pellet gun, and I dont think its drilled and tapped for standard mounts. I also think the magazine sucks, although others seem to like it.

IMO, all injection molded stocks are ugly and flimsey, savage are no worse than tikkas. IMO the best inection molded stock is on the 700SPS, but they are all just utilitarian, not suppposed to be pretty. The savage accutrigger is great, and not the hassle some think it is. I can shoot just as quick w/ my 10ml as my 700. For the same price I would take a blued xbolt , or 700 sps stainless over a tikka.

Honestly you can't go by brand as to what will be most accurate out of the box...that will depend on the individual one you end up with. Tikka, Savage, and a Rem700 (NOT 770) can all produce MOA-ish accuracy as sold.

Some Remingtons have free floated barrels. If not that is about the easiest home gun mod there is. A Rem770 is NOT in the same league as a Savage, my cheap Savage package gun shot just over MOA before I tore it apart and improved it. Smooth bolt to boot.

I'd pick the best you can get of each brand within your budget and then start comparing features. Then handle each in the store to do a reality check on fit.

IMO a freefloated barrel is just a marketing ploy, and only good if the action has been properly bedded anyway. my 700 mtlss is not bedded or floated, and does under an 1" all day long. so did every unbedded unfloated 700 ive owned.

[quote=DeerandbearhoG;3581753]The factory rings that come w/ the tikka arent fit for a cheap pellet gun, and I dont think its drilled and tapped for standard mounts. I also think the magazine sucks, although others seem to like it.


The Tikka is drilled for standard scope mounts. You can also use the clamp-on style if you want to.

I have two Tikka's, and love both. One in .308 and one in .270WSM. The 308 is the older 595 model, it has the true short action. The 270wsm is the T3 stainless.

Both are excellent guns, I would be surprised if you got one and weren't happy with it.

[quote=SGT.H;3581770]The tikka I briefly owned, was not drilled and tapped for Leupold mounts , it just had a DT rail and notches for the factory rings.

EDIT- correction, I just looked it up and apparently leupold does make mounts for tikkas so I guess they are drilled and tapped , my mistake.

ah im so confused

The bottom line is that there are many different rifles, Savage, Rem, Tikka, that will give you the sub MOA accuracy you need given the right load. Just look at them and buy the one you like.

Back to basics;

Almost any of those rifles WILL shoot 1" MOA with the right ammo !

Find the ones with all of the features you want and shoulder them.

The one that feels best, "fits" you.................


More imortantly;

Standard rule of thumb - spend at least as much on your scope, as you do on your rifle.


Need lifetime warranty !

You don't want a cheapy scope on a good rifle, but there are a number of good scopes in the $300-$500 price range and few decent rifles there. If you're not cranking your turrents for long range elevation constantly, a $600-$1000 scope is not a necessity.

[QUOTE=Sheridan;3581944]Back to basics;

Almost any of those rifles WILL shoot 1" MOA with the right ammo !

Find the ones with all of the features you want and shoulder them.

The one that feels best, "fits" you.................




You hit it right on the head. I wouldn't spend $600+ on a rifle that doesn't fit right just because it's advertised as accurate. If you really want the Tikka...then get the Tikka. If you're set on a certain calibre, then go somewhere that has a good selection and shoulder everything they have. It's all about personal preference.

I've never owned a Tikka so I can't comment on their quality or feel. I shoot all Model 70's and I love them. I've looked at couple of Rem 700's and they seemed like good rifles except I prefer the 3 stage safety on the Winchesters. It's a little thing but it's what I prefer.

As far as a scope goes...I've got Bushnell's on all my rifles and are great scopes for the money. I had to send one in and they sent me a brand new one...no questions asked.

Good luck.

moa dont mean **** anymore...get a clue on that...go buy a $500 wanker and be done with it...did your mom pick out your jammies last night???