Hunting rifle
- Thread starter holy savior
- Start date
Hard to go wrong with a Tikka. With the current state of imports and tarrifs, they lead the pack for quality and value.
Question tho? Why are you limited (besides our crappy market) since the online space is still alive in Canada, and most stores will ship.
Question tho? Why are you limited (besides our crappy market) since the online space is still alive in Canada, and most stores will ship.
If Tikkas are budget friendly for you, they are a great choice. Ruger American are popular, their model 77 are much nicer, but much more expensive. Weatherby Vanguard and Howa rifles are excellent as well. I would still go with the Tikka. That being said, all but the 77 are push feed. I like controlled feed Mauser type rifles, and there are lots of used ones coming in from Europe, which can be very economical. Unfortunately no new controlled feed rifles with a reasonable price point since Zastava is no longer being imported. Mauser Mod 18 are push feed, and are reasonably priced. They still make the controlled feed 98 sporters, but are priced well outside of my price range.
New Member, a whole lot more context in your question will get you way more feed back.
Like what do you want to hunt?
Where you’d like to hunt?
What’s your level of shooting experience is?
My 2 bits is this;
Tikka’s are great rifles.
As are Savage, Howa(Weatherby), Ruger, Winchester…….
Start small, like a .22 rimfire and grow into a centerfire, for ease of cartridge selection look at 6.5 Creedmoore, .270 Win, .308 Win, 30/06, or 7mm REM Mag, but trust me if you’ve got little to no shooting experience the step from rimfire to centerfire will be a big one, so maybe think about chumming up with someone more experienced and test drive a few different rifles in different loadings.
Like what do you want to hunt?
Where you’d like to hunt?
What’s your level of shooting experience is?
My 2 bits is this;
Tikka’s are great rifles.
As are Savage, Howa(Weatherby), Ruger, Winchester…….
Start small, like a .22 rimfire and grow into a centerfire, for ease of cartridge selection look at 6.5 Creedmoore, .270 Win, .308 Win, 30/06, or 7mm REM Mag, but trust me if you’ve got little to no shooting experience the step from rimfire to centerfire will be a big one, so maybe think about chumming up with someone more experienced and test drive a few different rifles in different loadings.
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BigBuck705
New member
I just got my first hunting hunting rifle. After holding many in the store and researching, I settled with Tikka T3x Roughtech. Definitely worth spending the little extra cash and getting what you want, the last thing I wanted to do is replace it. No other firearms I held in the price range were comparable. The bolt feeds effortlessly, no problems with it whatsoever and consistently shoots under 1” groups. My friend made the same decision and went with tikka, best quality for the price hands down. When it comes to tikkas, you’re mainly paying for the action and barrel, the stock is nothing to write home about, but you can always purchase an aftermarket stock down the road.
I’d suggest you go to your local firearms store and ask to hold all the firearms in ur price range, don’t be afraid to run the bolt. This sold me and my friend on tikka rifles real quick.
I’d suggest you go to your local firearms store and ask to hold all the firearms in ur price range, don’t be afraid to run the bolt. This sold me and my friend on tikka rifles real quick.
Your info shared is pretty limited but to repeat others you can't go wrong with a Tikka as a starter and more rifle. Most important aspect is fit and feel for YOU. Pay next to zero attention to guys behind a gun counter, they are there to SELL, and 80% have limited experience, or many on the firearms forums that are only too happy to tell you what THEY own. Rifle and cartridge are your personal choice and Both should fit You. I own or have owned over the years Savage, Browning, Tikka, Sako, CZ, Remington, Weatherby, Christensen, Cooper, Sauer, Winchester, etc and my opinion of what's right for you is nothing more than an opinion so I won't tell you my faves and which I think are trash. One mans trash is ... Pride of ownership is a biggie too and you don't have a lot of that if the rifle doesn't shoot well or needs constant tweaking and trips to the gunsmith.
Heres as unbiased as I can be. Consider what that rifle will get you in return when you decide to sell or expand upon, and chances are you will. Some rifles appreciate, some Hold their value, and many Depreciate. The old saying "Only Accurate Guns are Interesting" will have more meaning as you progress.
One general opinion: if you set a max price point and say thats $1000. Spend close to or same as that on the glass above. It'll help you and the rifle produce results. IF $1000.00 was your thought, even up to $1250.00 or more you won't find much if any that will win in as many categories as one specific brand. Accuracy out of the box, build quality, trigger, barrel, resaleability, reliability, initial cost, etc, Tikka is the hands down winner bar none. And for the record I'm no Tikka fanboy. I just know what's out there at comparable price points and there isn't much that will rival one. But, fit and feel first always, and shoot, shoot, shoot.
Heres as unbiased as I can be. Consider what that rifle will get you in return when you decide to sell or expand upon, and chances are you will. Some rifles appreciate, some Hold their value, and many Depreciate. The old saying "Only Accurate Guns are Interesting" will have more meaning as you progress.
One general opinion: if you set a max price point and say thats $1000. Spend close to or same as that on the glass above. It'll help you and the rifle produce results. IF $1000.00 was your thought, even up to $1250.00 or more you won't find much if any that will win in as many categories as one specific brand. Accuracy out of the box, build quality, trigger, barrel, resaleability, reliability, initial cost, etc, Tikka is the hands down winner bar none. And for the record I'm no Tikka fanboy. I just know what's out there at comparable price points and there isn't much that will rival one. But, fit and feel first always, and shoot, shoot, shoot.
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I've shot a lot of different rifles cuz it's my thing
I still like tikkas probably the best however I have a Ruger gen 2 that is accurate but is not at all the same for feeding etc I've had excellent results from Weatherby vanguard and Howa try to find what fits best I have1 Savage it's super accurate but is a carbon barreled job so I don't think it counts Cz are accurate most are find what you like and fits fitting is more important than a lot of people think
Cheers
I still like tikkas probably the best however I have a Ruger gen 2 that is accurate but is not at all the same for feeding etc I've had excellent results from Weatherby vanguard and Howa try to find what fits best I have1 Savage it's super accurate but is a carbon barreled job so I don't think it counts Cz are accurate most are find what you like and fits fitting is more important than a lot of people think
Cheers
Limited to the selection and choices in Canada?
Nope, there are more than enough choices in Canada to satisfy the masses.
The guy will prolly never be heard from again.
Tight Groups,
Rob
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This is CANADIAN Gun Nutz, so a majority of the people on this forum are afflicted with the same disease, so to speak.
We're not actually THAT impoverished in terms of hunting rifles, unless you mean semi-autos. The choice in those is... parsimonious.
Go to your local range, LGS and/or gun club. Fondle a few. Shoot them. I can almost guarantee your first rifle will not be your "lifetimer". So save yourself the cash, and don't buy just anything because it has good reviews.
And yes, I'm aware that Tikka has a stellar reputation. But (often) so do Ruger, Weatherby, Howa, and others. Even Savage makes excellent shooters, as BFU as they are.
I guarantee that the deer you bring down will not complain that you shot it with a $500 package rifle rather than a Tikka Battue that costs twice as much, but without glass.
not sure what to tell ya, tried 7 ammos on the same day side by side.
Good for me, because the ruger was $400 less than the T3 (which I sold for +100)
