.243 X-Bolt or T3 or ????

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vanshooter

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Hey All.

I'm hoping to pick up a rifle for target/varmit/deer. :)

I'm looking at either a Browning X-Bolt, or Tikka T3, or ??? I'm thinking that .243 would be the best caliber, but I can go up to .270 based on locale if there is some compelling reason (ammo price, etc).

Any thoughts on these rifle/caliber combination's (or other suggestions) would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'd take a Tikka by a mile, if it was me. I sure have been very happy with all 3 of the ones I've owned. That, and my buddy who's a gunsmith has promised to never speak to me again if I by a Browning (he hates them), and I kinda like my buddy, so....

:)
 
I'm judt the oppisite of brother jack. While the Tikka T3 lite (in my case) was a very good shooter, I found it a bit of a pig to carry -- had one in 7mm-08. I just bought an x-bolt on 270 (stainless stalker)that will print 1 hole, 3 shot groups at 100 yds. The bolt is as smooth as the Tikka, the mag is great -- center feeds and is cintoured to the stock for ease of carrying. Over all the X-Bolt is well balanced and the shape of the fore end is very comfy to hold. That being said, I've never been a fan of Brownings in anything but I have to say that this is a winner.
Cheers, Luck
 
I have a T3 lite in .270 and my room-mate has a blued/wood X-bolt in 30-06. I agree with previous comments that the browning bolt is every bit as smooth as the T3, and the accuracy is very much in line as well. Also, the browning comes with a great recoil pad. I'd never even considered a browning until my room-mate brought one home - I perceived the brand as "old-man"ish, but having shot one I'm very impressed.

By the time I threw a limbsaver on my T3 and picked up some warne rings I'd spent virtually the same (within $20) as my room-mate had. If you want a wood stock however, you'll pay more for the T3.

Either way you go, you're gonna be happy.
 
I think it is best said as "they are both great rifles, go and hold them both and pick the one that fits you best". As far as being "a pig to carry" the Tikka is 3 oz lighter, so about the same, not sure if Grouser found the balance bad or what. I own a Tikka just because I wanted a 260 and this was not offered by Browning. I like the mags better from the Browning for sure but the Tikka ones are okay. I've not heard anything very bad about either one.
243 is great, enjoy your new toy!
 
The 243 win is a great choice.

1/2 dozen of one and 6 of another between the Tikka and Browning.

I like the synthetic stock a lot more on the Browning.

I like the Wood stock of the Tikka better.

I prefer the position of the tang safety of the Browning expecially when using shooting sticks.

Both have great triggers and both normally are really accurate.

Both have detachable mags (browning holds 1 more, but you can get a 5 shot mag for the tikka)

Go and check them out and buy the one that feels the best, can't go to far wrong with either.

It would be nice if you try out a couple with scopes mounted.

Good luck.

P.S. - one thing that does bother me about the x-bolt is the mag catch on the rifle at the rear of the mag well didn't seem like it was made to last a life time) but that was just my personal feeling, nothing to back that up.
 
I have owned and shot the T3, and it is a great gun. Having said that, I would prefer the Browning over the T3. It just feels better to me, and that is more imprtant to me than the brand name.

Buy what feels best, like others have already said. Then go shoot something!
 
I picked up a X-Bolt stainless stalker last Nov (325wsm) and just love it. Carried it with me all week up north Moose hunting and it got beat up more than any other riffle I have ever had and it was still bang on out to 500 yards afterwards. All in all I was never a huge fan of the A-bolts, although I own one my self but this riffle is a true piece of work. Bolt is smooth, very very little kick even with my 325 due to the build in recoil pad (I would assume that there would be almost nothing with the .243), fit and finish is great, it is SUPER light, magazine is great and most of all the Synthetic Dura-Touch stock is amazing....I will never ever buy another synthetic stock without it!

Good luck on what ever you go with!

Ryan
 
I have a Tikka t3 lite in .308, i love to shoot this rifle !! great gun, super accurate.
I am not disappointed with this rifle at all.
 
For and Excellent target/Varmit/Deer rifle I would go with the .243 . I went with the remington varmiter, heavy barrel and slapped on an axiom stock. Best dam all around rifle a guy could want. My long range mags are too heavy and bulky for all 3 catagories. .243 is a fast pull up for close range 0-300 deer rifle, excellent varmit rifle and accurate as hell. Comfortable to shoot and nice and light for extreme walking if need be... was well worth the work in order to getter built.
 
I own a x-bolt in a .243, shoots great, functions flawlessly, and is nice to hold. I'm not a fan of plastic clips on any gun though. Tikka T3 is also a gun you can't go wrong with.
 
Both nice rifles but I would try to find a Winchester Stainless Classic Featherweight, better rifles in my opinion.
bigbull
 
The .243 is a wonderful cartridge. It has proven to be extremely accurate and flat shooting with minimal recoil and is a good killer when used within it's limitations, which IMHO is on game up to 100 pounds out to 300 yards or so. I would make an exception for caribou which are easy to kill. Although it has been used successfully on mule deer, large whitetail, black bear and even moose I think the varmint-deer monicker that has been applied to the .243 should be in the context of the smaller whitetail found in the American South, and any deviation from that should come with consideration to maximum range, aiming point and target angle. On these larger species of game the .243 clearly fails to meat the criteria of having a reasonable expectation of killing the game with a single shot from any angle within the maximum range of the cartridge and the marksmanship ability of the hunter. It has been said that recent developments related to the construction of premium bullets has been a game changer, and this certainly applies to high velocity small bores. All the same, when a small bore is chosen for big game, I wouldn't assume big bore performance from the bullet from a mouse gun.

So much for the .243, now to the rifles. I don't particularly like the T-3, so my choice between the two would be the Browning. I am a 700 Remington fan though, and if I was to purchase or build a new .243 it would be on a 700 action.
 
I have an X-bolt and an A& both are great guns but I just picked up a 243 in the Win Model 70 Coyote light. I'm not sure why they call it light as it is heavier than the other two but sure fits and handles nice.
 
Other than my Marlin lever gun, my other rifles are either Brownings or Tikkas. I like them both in terms of accuracy, reliability, fit and finish. I think the A7 is also a good alternative.

.243 is very easy to shoot and good for target/varmit/deer not to mention it is very reasonable on ammo cost (assuming your are not reloading). If moose is on your horizon, you may want to think about .270 and .308.

Cheers!
 
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