A friend of mine is looking to begin big game hunting (already hunts for wild turkey) and is debating between a used Tikka T3 and a used Husqvarna from Tradex. The Husqvarnas are less expensive and I've heard lots of great things about them. My concern is the age of the firearms and possible issues with replacement parts. I have three Tikkas in my own rifle safe so I am comfortable recommending them to him. Any thoughts appreciated - I want to provide him with the best advice.
Advice for a friend - used Tikka T3 or used Husqvarna?
- Thread starter buckchaser
- Start date
I would pick a used Husky and day of the week over a Tikka. Pay close attention to the condition if buying online. Parts aren't really a problem for the ones based on the Mauser 98, and there's not much that can go wrong with them in any case.
Bustercluck
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fort McMurray
i think huskys are for a select group of people that can appreciate the action for being something you can't buy new without spending a lot of money. If he knows what control round feed is and doesn't mind having a bit of a beater, I'd buy the husky. If it were me I'd look for a good action, rebarrel it and drop it in a new stock.
Most of the guys I know would opt for the tikka, just because it's new and looks nice.
Most of the guys I know would opt for the tikka, just because it's new and looks nice.
A gun nut will buy something that appeals him and accept trigger, bedding, extensive load development and potential rebarrelling without batting an eye. He knows that the chances of a used gun having something wrong with it are quite high, and secretly hopes there something wrong with this one so he figure it out. In many ways it's a sport
for the insane, or at least deranged.
Not everyone is a gun nut. Luckily they make new rifles everyday. A beginner is better off buying something new that he can afford, and defer playing gun detective for a few years. Put the effort and money into
Learning to shoot.
for the insane, or at least deranged.
Not everyone is a gun nut. Luckily they make new rifles everyday. A beginner is better off buying something new that he can afford, and defer playing gun detective for a few years. Put the effort and money into
Learning to shoot.
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
+1 for a new shooter note this ..... A rifle is only as good as it weakest link, if you want to shoot accurately buy good components ie) scope, rings, bases and mount them carefully. Nothing worse than a nice accurate rifle with a $40.00 pos scope mounted on it that won't hold zero or becomes so blurred out you can't see your target at 8x
A new shooter starting out hunting could not do any better than to buy him/herself a Husqvarna off of Tradex and spend the difference of paying $1000.00 + for a new Tikka, Remmington, Winchester, Browning, blah blah whaterver on decent optics and some ammo to get the ball rolling.
Given my limited, but very negative experience with the T3, I'd have to recommend the Husqvarna '06. I have one and they are fine rifles, but I recommend a trip to a qualified person to have the rifle bedded, a good recoil pad installed and drilled and tapped properly for mounts. Then put a Leupold 2.5-8 or 3-9 on it as low as possible and go sight 'er in.
The other really nice thing about the Husqvarna is the 24" tube which lends itself to upgrading this rifle to a 300 WM down the road for minimal trouble and cost, if the owner so wishes.
The other really nice thing about the Husqvarna is the 24" tube which lends itself to upgrading this rifle to a 300 WM down the road for minimal trouble and cost, if the owner so wishes.
