Custom Model 700 vs Tikka t3x

D

Dogwhisperer

New member
Rating - 100%
3   0   1
Need a little help deciding on a new hunting rifle!
Looking at getting a model 700 built on a left hand stiller action or just buying an off the shelf tikka t3x stainless, whichever one I choose will be in 300win mag.
Other than the price is there any reason why u should just go with a tikka rather than a build?

Thanks in advance for the responses!
 
If you know what you want and are going to keep the rifle, then get what you want in the custom.

If you like to flip guns, customs bring a fraction of the cost when selling time comes around, go with the tikka

You can also consider, if you go with the tikka, there are a dozen aftermarket stocks from heavy bench rest style to ultra lightweight hunting stocks, and that could leave more room for a much better scope.

My tikka below:
Superlight ~$1,000
Mcmillan hunters edge stock ~$900
Leupold VX6 ~$1500
Rings, bipod and rail for bipod ~$250
Fluted bolt ~$75

so there you have a middle grade rifle, set up light for hunting, that I have over $3.5k into....

IMG_2310.jpg
 
I've got mixed feelings about building rifles anymore. If you are wanting a long range shooting machine by all
means buy the best of everything, put it together and hope for the best. It'll probably even work, given good loads, good glass and a good shooter.

If you want to just go hunting out to ranges that are teetering on the edge of good judgement, or need something weatherproof, or lightweight, or heavy, pretty or ugly, super reliable or whatever they make all those things and sell them over the counter. Might have change LOP , or you might not. Chances are they'll work just fine given good loads, good glass and a good shooter.
 
The only advantage you could see building on a 700 or 700 clone such as a stiller action is more options for things such as stocks and triggers.
There are a few more stocks available for the Tikka than there were a few years ago, but still far more options for the 700 style platform.
As far as I know the Tikka only has the trigger it comes with, no other option, whereas the 700 has many options.
 
Have yet to see a tikka trigger that wasn't great for any work except if you want a trigger that goes to ounces for benchrest work.

Remingtons on the other hand.......have yet to see there mark x or whatever it's called go down to the advertised 3 pounds. Yea I have only fiddled with half a dozen but still. Clean creep free and heavy. 5 pounds or more adjusted all the way down. One of them would not adjust under 8 pounds on a 1200 dollar rifle............
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
The only advantage you could see building on a 700 or 700 clone such as a stiller action is more options for things such as stocks and triggers.
There are a few more stocks available for the Tikka than there were a few years ago, but still far more options for the 700 style platform.
As far as I know the Tikka only has the trigger it comes with, no other option, whereas the 700 has many options.
Click to expand...

And this advantage is what I love about the 700 platform. I don't see any rifle catching up to it for this angle anytime soon.

Many rag on the 700 today, sometimes it's warranted, often it's not.

I like the Tikka, but the lack of options are a disadvantage to me, hence just sticking with 700's.
 
prairie lover said:
Have yet to see a tikka trigger that wasn't great for any work except if you want a trigger that goes to ounces for benchrest work.

Remingtons on the other hand.......have yet to see there mark x or whatever it's called go down to the advertised 3 pounds. Yea I have only fiddled with half a dozen but still. Clean creep free and heavy. 5 pounds or more adjusted all the way down. One of them would not adjust under 8 pounds on a 1200 dollar rifle............
Click to expand...

The Tikka triggers cannot be adjusted down below about 2.5 lbs, which for many is plenty light. Creep is minimal. The factory Remington triggers are garbage for the most part.
The OP mentioned using a Stiller action, which does not come with a trigger, so he will need to select a trigger and buy it. There are several options then, so personal taste has room to roam.
 
I would go with the Tikka off the shelf find good accurate factory ammo and call it a day - you will lose alot of funds trying to sell your custom rifle down the road since most if not all will not see the same value as you are - I did purchase a T3X (223) 8 twist - going with the optlocks rings/bases and a Leupold Vx3i (2.5-8) that is my set up - not planning on reloading if I can find off the shelf accurate ammo.
 
If my criteria were just slap rings & a scope on it and go .... I'd probably choose the Tikka.

And I agree with ATRS, the Remington triggers suck really bad now. But that's what happens when you get a bunch of hook nosed lawyers involved in some very questionable cases.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
The Tikka triggers cannot be adjusted down below about 2.5 lbs, which for many is plenty light. Creep is minimal. The factory Remington triggers are garbage for the most part.
The OP mentioned using a Stiller action, which does not come with a trigger, so he will need to select a trigger and buy it. There are several options then, so personal taste has room to roam.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ. I have more than a few that all go to 1 and 3/4 pounds. That's with the adjustment screw backed hard into the bolt beind it. I've even seen that bolt modded to allow the adjustment screw to back out even further with 0 trigger issues in 10 years. That trigger is 1 pound and very nice.

I don't think tikka makes a perfect rifle don't get me wrong. The aftermarket is bigger for them than most people think.
 
I've tried most of the aftermarket Remington triggers , from Timney to Huber, and for hunting the tikka with a Yodave spring breaks as light and clean as anything I would use in a hunting rifle.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
The Tikka triggers cannot be adjusted down below about 2.5 lbs, which for many is plenty light. Creep is minimal. The factory Remington triggers are garbage for the most part.
The OP mentioned using a Stiller action, which does not come with a trigger, so he will need to select a trigger and buy it. There are several options then, so personal taste has room to roam.
Click to expand...

Tikka has a set trigger option, Remington does not
 
The Tikka will do anything a rifle costing 5x will do in a hunting scenario. If you are really concerned about bling and flash by all means spend thousands on a custom, nothing wrong with that.
 
I'd go custom. I like the Tikka, but a well thought out custom would trump it in all aspects except price. If you can afford it, go for it. A 300wm can benefit from a longer OAL than a Tikka will allow, and a Stiller action with a floorplate from Pacific Tool will allow to seat out 1/4" longer than a Tikka. This can be important if you plan on shooting some of the heavy for caliber missiles on the market these days (200gr AB, 210 ABLR, 200, 212, 220gr ELDx, 195 208 or 225gr ELD-M, Berger 210, 230, Sierra MK, Barnes 200gr LRX etc).

Drop a Stiller/custom barrel into a McMillan, trigger of your choice and it will be a forever rifle.
 
Thanks for your responses every one I think I'm going to go the custom route! Anyone have recommendations of smiths to contact and discuss the build with? Corlanes?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom