Looking for some wisdom- x-bolt or tikka t3?
- Thread starter Kgstewie
- Start date
LittleBoyLefty
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
And then there are some gunnutz on here who have/have had/or used all or most rifles made. Guess that's one of the problems with the interweb, hard to tell the posers from the real nutz, heh?
And then there are some gunnutz on here who have/have had/or used all or most rifles made. Guess that's one of the problems with the interweb, hard to tell the posers from the real nutz, heh?
Very true, I sometimes come off like an arse, I just wish more people were honest and objective.... If you ever figure out a foolproof way to weed out the overnight experts, share the knowledge! Lol
One method to use is to look at a persons last 20 posts or so. If the vast majority are not at all related to the topic, and consist of nothing more than personal attacks towards a variety of posters, then it's obvious that there is no point paying any attention to anything that he posts. If the person keeps most of his posts on topic, and relates actual experiences, then his advice could very well be worthwhile.
just my 2 cents dont have any experience with the tikka other then when i held i just before i bought my x bolt. i felt like the tikka was a bit to slender for my liking. i have had the x bolt white gold in 300 wsm for 3 seasons now and she has treated me great. never had any problems and seems to be as accurate as i need.
I have both the XBolt and T3, and I like them both.
They are both accurate but I find the T3s are easier for load development. I have ABolts and XBolts that are very picky on bullet and powder. It took me a while to find the right load for them.
Synthetic and stainless is a good combination for hunting.
My go to meat gun used to be a 300wm and I have moved back to the standard 308 and 270. There is no big game you can’t kill in North America with these calibers.
My suggestion to you is to go to the store and try them out. Pick the one that fits you best. You can’t go wrong with either.
Good luck and have fun!
They are both accurate but I find the T3s are easier for load development. I have ABolts and XBolts that are very picky on bullet and powder. It took me a while to find the right load for them.
Synthetic and stainless is a good combination for hunting.
My go to meat gun used to be a 300wm and I have moved back to the standard 308 and 270. There is no big game you can’t kill in North America with these calibers.
My suggestion to you is to go to the store and try them out. Pick the one that fits you best. You can’t go wrong with either.
Good luck and have fun!
I have not owned an xbolt, but have owned Abolts and T3s. The Tikkas can be greatly improved by adding a Bell & Carlson stock and a metal bolt shroud (the plastic shroud is cheap #### that breaks). By the time you do that, you are in used Sako territory. FWIW though, my last Tikka was freakishly accurate, even with its cheap, flaccid plastic stock.
- Location
- AB foothills
For a man of not many words and very little actual experience, you talk too much. Pretty sure most members who spend time on this section of the board are starting to realize that though...
Well boys,
I just ordered the Tikka T3 SB in 30:06. I like the durability of stainless but not how well it reflects the sunlight so went with blued and wil eventually get it powder coated to help protect it from the elements and keep the shine down. Stayed with 30:06 as I already have a decent inventory of lead and availability and price of ammo is pretty hard to beat. I don't reload. I spent some time at the local gun shop shouldering and fondling both the Tikka and the xbolt. In the end the T3 just fit me better and I couldn't gat past how smooth and quiet the action is. What I preferred on the xbolt is the 60degree throw, the safety and the flush fit magazine. But in the end the action and fit of the Tikka won. At $720.00 the price was hard to beat as well.
I have looked at other LH rifles- Savage andReminton. The only Savages I've owned we're 22's and the one was a fantastic gun. Just don't care for the newer savages but I hear they have a pretty nice trigger. I've also read a lot of complaints from guys buying savages so stayed away from them. I checked out Remington- nothing bad to say about them. They just don't feel that great to me.
Hopefully my Tikka will arrive next week I can put a few rounds through it before the snow starts to fly.
I just ordered the Tikka T3 SB in 30:06. I like the durability of stainless but not how well it reflects the sunlight so went with blued and wil eventually get it powder coated to help protect it from the elements and keep the shine down. Stayed with 30:06 as I already have a decent inventory of lead and availability and price of ammo is pretty hard to beat. I don't reload. I spent some time at the local gun shop shouldering and fondling both the Tikka and the xbolt. In the end the T3 just fit me better and I couldn't gat past how smooth and quiet the action is. What I preferred on the xbolt is the 60degree throw, the safety and the flush fit magazine. But in the end the action and fit of the Tikka won. At $720.00 the price was hard to beat as well.
I have looked at other LH rifles- Savage andReminton. The only Savages I've owned we're 22's and the one was a fantastic gun. Just don't care for the newer savages but I hear they have a pretty nice trigger. I've also read a lot of complaints from guys buying savages so stayed away from them. I checked out Remington- nothing bad to say about them. They just don't feel that great to me.
Hopefully my Tikka will arrive next week I can put a few rounds through it before the snow starts to fly.
Most of us look at the cost of a firearm at the time one wants to buy it...and looking back I went and bought a lot of firearms I did not like because I went cheaper.
I no longer do that. SAKO Finnlight and several custom built rifles all the way now. That is how I get what I want and in the long run it will cost less.
I no longer do that. SAKO Finnlight and several custom built rifles all the way now. That is how I get what I want and in the long run it will cost less.
- Location
- Eastern Edge of the Foothills
I own 2 x-bolts, both with synthetic stocks, and 1 Tikka T3 with the wood stock. All 3 rifles shoot very well. With each of them I've had groups where 3 shots were touching at 100 yards. But that doesn't happen EVERY time with any of them. But they're all very good shooters, and I've taken game with each one.
I don't like the feel of the Tikka T3 synthetic stock. I owned one once. Got it on a trade, but I traded it again to get a push feed Winchester 70 XTR Winlite. It has a McMillan stock from the factory. I'm happy with that decision.
The x-bolt synthietic stocks have the Dura-Touch grippy feel. I like that a lot. But the wood stocks for these guns just aren't appealing to my eye. Just a preference thing, but I don't like the X-bolt's wood stocks. They just don't look right to me.
But the Tikka T3 Hunter I like quite a bit. I like how it feels and how it handles, and especially how it shoots. And my shroud did break, and it now has a metal one from Flick, who is a member here at CGN.
If I could find a good deal on a used T3 lite with the stainless barrel and plastic stock, then put on a Bell and Carlson stock, and replace the bolt shroud, then I'd likely be happy with that rifle.
But without all that, for me, the decision between these two brands comes down to whether I wanted a synthetic stocked rifle [X-bolt] or a wood stocked rifle [Tikka].
That's just my opinion, and it's worth about exactly what you paid to hear it.
I don't like the feel of the Tikka T3 synthetic stock. I owned one once. Got it on a trade, but I traded it again to get a push feed Winchester 70 XTR Winlite. It has a McMillan stock from the factory. I'm happy with that decision.
The x-bolt synthietic stocks have the Dura-Touch grippy feel. I like that a lot. But the wood stocks for these guns just aren't appealing to my eye. Just a preference thing, but I don't like the X-bolt's wood stocks. They just don't look right to me.
But the Tikka T3 Hunter I like quite a bit. I like how it feels and how it handles, and especially how it shoots. And my shroud did break, and it now has a metal one from Flick, who is a member here at CGN.
If I could find a good deal on a used T3 lite with the stainless barrel and plastic stock, then put on a Bell and Carlson stock, and replace the bolt shroud, then I'd likely be happy with that rifle.
But without all that, for me, the decision between these two brands comes down to whether I wanted a synthetic stocked rifle [X-bolt] or a wood stocked rifle [Tikka].
That's just my opinion, and it's worth about exactly what you paid to hear it.
I have just purchased the XBolt White Gold Medallion in 7mm WSM, I also recently puchased a Sako A7 in 22-250. I am not sure about the T3 but if the action is anything like the Sako A7 it is beautiful so smooooth. I bought the XBolt because I wanted the 7mmWSM and there are few choices for this round, any way the XBolt is a very nice gun but the action is something else. Mine will be going to a gunsmith for a tuneup. When the bolt is all the way back and you push it forward it feels rough and it binds a bit. Nothing a gunsmith can't cleanup other than that it is a very nice rifle.
If you want a generational gun, (something you can shoot and shoot and pass down to your kids,) I'd go with what you went with, the T3. I own a xbolt, and I love it, but may barrel is almost shot out, and I still have yet to find a 'smith that will rebarrel it.
Where as my roomie has a t3 and he can do a lot more thing with it. There is no doubt in my mind that he'll be capable of passing that down to his future kids.
Either way, if it feels right, it is right.
Where as my roomie has a t3 and he can do a lot more thing with it. There is no doubt in my mind that he'll be capable of passing that down to his future kids.
Either way, if it feels right, it is right.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
I can tell you that I own the 85 Bavarian in 30-06, and it is worth every penny! Accurate, smooth, and beautifully made.
However, my Tikka T3 Sporter in 308 is nearly as well made, has a gorgeous laminate stock, and is a real tack driver -- just a little too heavy for field use. She's more of a range toy.
The only Browning I own has an FN action in it, and it's a keeper as well!
Can't go wrong with either action in my opinion, just go with what fits you best.
