Hey guys found this forum n site so joined up. Looks like its got some good info n advice here
Anyways I shall be buying my first centrefire rifle in the next few weeks.
Got a choice of 2 good ones. Either a Tikka T3 Hunter or a CZ 500 American. Both in 243 winchester.
Im from the UK btw, so can't really go for a .308 or anything good lol!
Rifle will be used for fox and in the future deer

Which do you think would be a better rifle to get ?

I have never shot either, so I cannot give you a good honest opinion... but I hear the Tikka is a very good gun for the $$

Of the two I personally would go for the CZ.

Welcome bigthu87. The .243 is a dandy cartridge that is fun to shoot and low recoiling. Regarding the rifles, they each have pluses and minuses. It's more important to select one that fits you, your body and that you feel comfortable with. Tikkas have good barrels and triggers and are fairly light weight. CZ's are very solid, have single set triggers (which I do like) and are well built. Either will get the job done! Good luck.

Both are accurate and will serve you well. I've handled and shot both, and the CZ is far better-built gun in terms of being solid.

The Tikka is very "plastic-y" and has a stock you either love or hate. Although in .243 Win it won't be a concern, the Tikka stock seems to really magnify recoil, as well. In fact, the one I shot in .270 Win was uncomfortable.

The CZ trigger is one of the best I've used, and the guns are ridiculously accurate right out of the box (the Tikkas are accurate, too). Unless the Tikka just felt 100% better to me in terms of fit, I'd go with the CZ, hands-down.

welcome to the forum!. they allow you to own a gun across the pond

Both known to be accurate and good rifles. Fit and finish the CZ will win hands down, I have shot/handled both. Handle both if you can to see if one feels better then the other. If all things were equal I'dgrab the CZ.

that's good then because I did get the CZ. The stock fit me better and was more comfortable than the Tikka. Also didn't have any platic parts and seemed a nice solid rifle Very nice set trigger (Really liked it) and the regular trigger wasn't bad either
Nice metal mag for 4 rounds, unlike the Tikka which was 3 with plastic. Plus it was £100 cheaper. Now am going to stick a nice scope on it and job done, Need to get it screw cut for a moderator though, where allowed mods over here Although not much else haha!

One little thing, the barrel doesn't seem centred down the stock, appears to be more to one side than the other so its slightly touvhing the stock on the left side. Any ideas ? Does it just need taking out n putting back in or does it need to be sanded down ?

Congrats on your purchase! Regarding the "touching" barrel, I'd pull the barreled action and sand / rasp down the barrel channel a bit. Let us know how she shoots. Good luck.

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