223 is cheap and everywhere. Im also thinking of my two sisters who once they get bored of shooting a 22 rifle a 223 would be great for them to hone there skills. Along with being a good coyote gun for me.
Howa mini 1500 vs Tikka T3x
- Thread starter Canadian Bush Sniper
- Start date
12-1400
The howa, because it's way cheaper than a tikka. Shoots great, lighter, and more compact. Can get the 20" heavy threaded barrel. And can almost put it in a oryx chassis for the price of the tikka. If you get one in the black Friday deal.
223 is good, and readily available. But 22 ARC is the one I would be getting. I have a t3x, and I have howa's. Two minis, one in 6.5 Grendel, and one in 6mm ARC. Also have oryx chassis for them. But I the Grendel usually gets thrown in a youth stock for the kid out hunting.
Whichever you choose you won't be disappointed. Both are great. Both have positives and negatives. The tikka in 223 is available in different twist rates as well. So if you go that route, pay attention to which one your getting.
223 is good, and readily available. But 22 ARC is the one I would be getting. I have a t3x, and I have howa's. Two minis, one in 6.5 Grendel, and one in 6mm ARC. Also have oryx chassis for them. But I the Grendel usually gets thrown in a youth stock for the kid out hunting.
Whichever you choose you won't be disappointed. Both are great. Both have positives and negatives. The tikka in 223 is available in different twist rates as well. So if you go that route, pay attention to which one your getting.
Thanks for the input!. This really has helped me decide what to get. Im not sure what twist rates the CZ527 comes in but I think im gonna go that route.
Sights4Nights
Member
- Location
- the End of the Laneway
My Tikka has had a hard life. Rarely cleaned and shot often. It’s my AR cope rifle after OIC. She also lives in the cold, wet and snow (January coyote hunts). Never have I ever had a FTF/FTE and I run that bolt fast on the range. Some kinda Finnish magic going on here.
I have 2 Howa rifles (.223 and 7mm-08) and 2 Tikka (T3 and T3X). The Tikka's are far, far easier to find an accurate load. They shoot almost anything well. I disagree with a previous post that the Howa is better quality - I think they are similar. The one big difference out of the box, other than the T3 shooting better, is that the T3 has a single stage trigger and the Howa has a two-stage trigger.
Keep in mind that the CZ527 has either a 1:9 or 1:12 twist, neither of which will stabilize heavy bullets. The Howa has a 1:8 twist rate for newer models. Mine stabilizes 69gr Nosler match and 55gr TTSX bullets with no issues at all. The Tikka is available with a 1:8 twist barrel, but also has a 1:12 option so watch out for that.
All things considered, I would go with a Tikka in the 1:8 twist.
Keep in mind that the CZ527 has either a 1:9 or 1:12 twist, neither of which will stabilize heavy bullets. The Howa has a 1:8 twist rate for newer models. Mine stabilizes 69gr Nosler match and 55gr TTSX bullets with no issues at all. The Tikka is available with a 1:8 twist barrel, but also has a 1:12 option so watch out for that.
All things considered, I would go with a Tikka in the 1:8 twist.
Own both, Tikka is superior in most aspects.
The Tikka action is smoother, it has a vastly better trigger, better synthetic stock, my Tikkas are significantly more accurate, and the shorter bolt throw doesn't interfere with low/medium-height rings like my minis do. The Tikka plastic mags are also higher quality than the plastic mini mags. At some point I may swap the mini BM to Jefferson goodies.
The Howa mini is a fair bit cheaper, and the heavy barrels are known to shoot sub-moa. I like that the minis come in less "mainstream" cartridges. I have 6.5G and x39 minis that I think will be a perfect starter rifles when my son is old enough. May even add a 6 ARC mini to the safe at some point.
The Tikka action is smoother, it has a vastly better trigger, better synthetic stock, my Tikkas are significantly more accurate, and the shorter bolt throw doesn't interfere with low/medium-height rings like my minis do. The Tikka plastic mags are also higher quality than the plastic mini mags. At some point I may swap the mini BM to Jefferson goodies.
The Howa mini is a fair bit cheaper, and the heavy barrels are known to shoot sub-moa. I like that the minis come in less "mainstream" cartridges. I have 6.5G and x39 minis that I think will be a perfect starter rifles when my son is old enough. May even add a 6 ARC mini to the safe at some point.
- Location
- Steel Town
Highly unlikely, unless previously owned.
OP, I'm going to tell you of my experiences with the Howa 1500, in both 223rem and 7.62x39, and the Tikka T3X I presently settled on.
Weight, if it's a factor for you, the Howa is close enough in weight, not to be a concern, but it doesn't balance as nicely between your hands or off the shoulder as the Tikka T3.
The Howa can be had with a detachable magazine or a folding floor plate, while the Tikka T3 has a detachable magazine. All of them work perfectly.
The stock on a Howa, from the factory is a bit on the "wide" side for my tastes, but I have small hands. The T3 is more slender and feels better.
When it comes to accuracy, the T3 rifles I've shot and witnessed will shoot better than "most" Howa 1500s, with factory ammo they like.
When it comes to hand loading, it's a toss up, but the T3s I've owned were much easier to settle on an acceptable load than the Howa.
Howa 1500 223 rem twist rate is 1-9 and later models 1-8, the T3 has a 1-8 twist rate.
The Howa generally has a slightly sloppier chamber with a shorter throat than the T3, which may or may not be the reason the T3 is usually more accurate.
Now, the biggest issue, for me anyway, is smooth operation. The How is OK, but not exceptional by any means. The T3 is oiled glass smooth right out of the box.
Now, if I were worried about cost, likely the Howa is a bit cheaper than the T3, so if that is a concern, you make the decision.
Is there enough difference between the two to make one better than the other? That's up to you personally, to go to a store or find someone who will let you handle the firearms side by side.
Whichever feels best balanced in "your" hands is the one to go for.
Weight, if it's a factor for you, the Howa is close enough in weight, not to be a concern, but it doesn't balance as nicely between your hands or off the shoulder as the Tikka T3.
The Howa can be had with a detachable magazine or a folding floor plate, while the Tikka T3 has a detachable magazine. All of them work perfectly.
The stock on a Howa, from the factory is a bit on the "wide" side for my tastes, but I have small hands. The T3 is more slender and feels better.
When it comes to accuracy, the T3 rifles I've shot and witnessed will shoot better than "most" Howa 1500s, with factory ammo they like.
When it comes to hand loading, it's a toss up, but the T3s I've owned were much easier to settle on an acceptable load than the Howa.
Howa 1500 223 rem twist rate is 1-9 and later models 1-8, the T3 has a 1-8 twist rate.
The Howa generally has a slightly sloppier chamber with a shorter throat than the T3, which may or may not be the reason the T3 is usually more accurate.
Now, the biggest issue, for me anyway, is smooth operation. The How is OK, but not exceptional by any means. The T3 is oiled glass smooth right out of the box.
Now, if I were worried about cost, likely the Howa is a bit cheaper than the T3, so if that is a concern, you make the decision.
Is there enough difference between the two to make one better than the other? That's up to you personally, to go to a store or find someone who will let you handle the firearms side by side.
Whichever feels best balanced in "your" hands is the one to go for.
I bought a Howa 1500 mini after some friends recommendation. 4 months later I still don't have a warranty replacement. Couldn't have hit the broadside of a deer with it at 100 yrds. Sent it back & they said it had a bad barrel & would ship a new rifle. Still waiting, that was my first & last Howa.
