Seems i have rifle ADD. Thinking of selling my Browning X bolt stainless stalker, carbon fibre finish with fluted barrel and buying a Tikka T3 stainless superlite with fluted barrel. Figure i might eventually put an after market stock, bolt shroud, bolt handle etc on it. Any opinion how the two rifles will compare, in stock configuration...well, except for an improved recoil pad on the Tikka. Thanks!
Am i crazy?
- Thread starter YukonBrett
- Start date
You're not crazy at all. Do it ad put a B&C stock on it, change the bolt shroud, and don't worry about the bolt handle. One of my buddies did it and it is a hell of a nice gun. I have had an X-Bolt, but IMO, there is nothing about it that is better than what you are proposing. Do it.
Thanks! The B&C was just what i was thinking. Sortbof a poor mans custom rifle. Good call on bolt handle. I like the factory one. It's one thing on the x bolt I'm not crazy about...the bolt handle is small, oddly shaped and slippery, with no after market ones available.
Nothing wrong with it...bolt handle is one thing I'm not crazy about. Just enjoy the excitement of switching up my setup every couple of years. Also have the excuse of wanting to go from 30 06 to 300 wm. Do you have an opinion on either rifle?
If you consider a catastrophic case failure I think the X Bolt is a superior rifle to the Tikka. The X Bolt is a 3 lug action and the shooter is more protected from debris. Tikka is a 2 lug action and offers no protection behind the extractor at all. I don't understand why they don't. Here is a picture of an older Sako and it demonstrates how important some kind of gas deflector is in a two lug action. (The shooters face was not injured)
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I've owned a T3 223 when they first came out. Liked it, should have kept it. Handled a couple X-Bolts and liked them as well.
One complaint I hear about T3s is they they are quite light and recoil is a bit brisk in a magnum.
Very true, but nothing that a $50 Limbsaver and 5 minutes won't look after
If you consider a catastrophic case failure I think the X Bolt is a superior rifle to the Tikka. The X Bolt is a 3 lug action and the shooter is more protected from debris. Tikka is a 2 lug action and offers no protection behind the extractor at all. I don't understand why they don't. Here is a picture of an older Sako and it demonstrates how important some kind of gas deflector is in a two lug action. (The shooters face was not injured)
I disagree. The designs of the two rifles do not support your assertions.
The X-Bolt has a lug channel at top dead center which is wide open when the bolt is locked. The T3 lug channels are covered at all times, one of the advantages of the small ejection opening.
The T3's small ejection opening also faces away from the shooters face and hand, where the X-Bolt's TDC lug channel aims debris directly back into the shooter's face.
Further, the T3 extractor is buried in the metal when the bolt is locked. This may also be the case with the X-Bolt, but it certainly isn't "unsupported".
Based on these, the T3 should be a *safer* design than the X-Bolt.
Why not look at the sako A7 rough tech? It's stainless, fluted, comes with the aftermarket stock, has 3-locking lugs, they added a steel skeleton in the shroud, mag lips are metal, and if the shroud still doesn't do it for you - the 85 shrouds work on it. Yes they are more money, but factor in the upgraded stock they won't be worlds apart.
Handled one recently. Believe they use a heavier barrel for it...felt a bit heavy. Also can't spring for everything up front. Curiously, i had an A 7 before...while i realize it's very similar to the T3, it wouldn't feed the cartridges reliably. Seemed to jam up for some reason. Got little help from the company, so sold it cheap and moved on.é
Take them both apart and inspect them ... any three lug action has the extractor buried behind a lug abutment when the bolt is closed. Two lug bolts do not 'bury' the extractor behind anything when the bolt is closed. As pictured with the blown Sako 2 lug action... the extractor is free to blow back the raceway if there is no deflector to stop it. All of them are going to let some gas back but projectiles you don't want. There are a few 2 lug actions that are as good as the 3 lug actions in safety but the Tikka isn't one of them. And none of them are as good in 'sealing off' as the original Remington 700 design
Tabacco Brook
Regular
- Location
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I don't think I would get rid of a Browning X-Bolt SS Carbon Fiber Fluted to buy a Tikka,...well,..maybe the Tikka Forest.
If you consider a catastrophic case failure I think the X Bolt is a superior rifle to the Tikka. The X Bolt is a 3 lug action and the shooter is more protected from debris. Tikka is a 2 lug action and offers no protection behind the extractor at all. I don't understand why they don't. Here is a picture of an older Sako and it demonstrates how important some kind of gas deflector is in a two lug action. (The shooters face was not injured)
Is this a real concern if only using factory ammo or is this only something to consider if you load your own?
ok what are on the market now the best actions on the safe side to protect the shooters?
i imagine all the real CRF ones.
