Opinion? T3 lite or Ultimate shadow

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tttkl5

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Looking at purchasing a new rifle in 300wsm or rumsa. Was originally deciding between a finnlight or Kimber 8400. Now thinking that I might go cheaper with a tikka T3 lite or ultimate shadow stainless. Which rifle is better? What would you suggest? Looking for lightweight packing style. I already have a 2.5-8x36 vx-III sitting on my shelf waiting for a rifle.
 
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You won't go wrong with either of these fine rifles. If cost is a factor, go for the cheapest one. Both are ergonomicly perfect if you are of average height and build and actually ballance about the same with a scope and loaded. Don't be afraid of that plastic mag either. The main difference is that the Tikka comes from the factory with a three pound trigger pull. The Winchester that I fondled had at least a 7-10 pound trigger pull. bearhunter
 
Go with the Tikka. I like the Winchester action a lot better than the Tikka. That said, the Tikkas are great fitting, great shooting better quality rifles in my opinion. The Winchesters I have bought over the last 15 years have proven their quality control leaves a lot to be desired. That includes a custom shop 375 H&H that had a split stock behind the recoil lug from the factory!!
 
Go for the Tikka, I love my t3 hunter in .300 WM. People complain about plastic parts, but every manufacturer has synthetic stocks. Plastic = lightweight. My .300 weighs 7.75 lbs with scope. I can carry it all day and not notice, but my buddy's m70 weighs almost 9 lbs...

Slick action, light weight, and 1.5 inch groups at 200 yds !:D

That being said, next time I'll get the stainless/synthetic. Also ,go for the 300wsm, way more ammo available.
 
That is a tough call... I like the Tikka T-3 for value and quality for your money... but if I wanted a three position safety and controlled round push feed I'd take the Winchester. They are both fine indeed...
 
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Thanks for the great replies!!
Money isn't the major concern here, but it is always a concern. Are the Sako's and other upper end rifles worth double out of one's pocket?
 
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I don't have a tikka but I do have an ultimate shadow 300wsm. Haven't shot it much since its still pretty new.

First impressions are that the metal finish is pretty good. There was a small burr in the feed ramp that I had to smooth out but the other metal finish and machining seemed alright. The controled feed for the short fat little WSM is the reason I bought it. The cases do have a slight scratch on them when ejecting, seems to be coming from inside the chamber right at the back of the case. The stock is the downfall, The barrel channel fit is not great, barrel is off to one side a bit. Seems to be a common problem with the ultimate shadows. The floorplate fits very tight in the stock as do the sides of the action. The forend is fairly flexible to boot. I'm not sure how good the tikka synthetic stocks are?

I broke the barrel in and took it to the range. The first 3 shot group was 1/2 inch after getting it on paper. That seems all and good but I took it to the range a few days later and fired the same ammo through it again and was getting 2 to 2 1/2 inch groups from it. I am now in the middle of bedding it. I can't explain why it varied the group so much?????? I can only guess maybe poor stock fit???

Winchester says that they are 6.75 lbs but mine weights in a 7 lbs even.
For the money I would buy the Tikka, you'll end up with a no fuss rifle. It seems that every winchester I own always needs some tweeking to get it to shoot consistantly. A definite consideration in buying a new rifle.
All that said I still like my rifle.

Good luck

Brambles
 
Is it true?

Is it true that the T3 wsm actaully use the same action size as the rest of that line? No shorter action for weight reduction? If this is true why would a person buy a short action caliber in this rifle?
 
the t3 uses one action and different bolt stops for different lenth cartrige. this keeps cost down. i have two t3's both in short cartridges. at 6lb 4 oz in 7 08 and 6llb 6 oz in 300 short they don't need to be lighter. the 300 has a 24 3/8 inch barrel not a short one like my rem seven short was.
 
chappy said:
the t3 uses one action and different bolt stops for different lenth cartrige. this keeps cost down. i have two t3's both in short cartridges. at 6lb 4 oz in 7 08 and 6llb 6 oz in 300 short they don't need to be lighter. the 300 has a 24 3/8 inch barrel not a short one like my rem seven short was.
Click to expand...
Exactly... the beauty of the T-3 is it's light-weight and although a shorter action is desireable for speed and accuracy it is not an issue with the Tikka's.
The bolt stop allows for fast cycling and there is nothing comparable that will outshoot a T-3 out of the box, they are guaranteed to shoot an inch and they do that and then some.:cool:
 
i have found the win short to be more acurate than my old 300. with the 1 in 11 rifleing my tikka will shoot 150 to 180 grn in under an inch. my old 300 wasn't happy with anything lighter than 180 grn. it shot almost anything 180 and over very well, the lighter stuff was hit and miss. besides i like the short fat case it has a cool factor.
 
.300WSM meets or exceeds anything a regular .300 will do. And if you reload, the WSM uses less powder, so it will save you a few bucks as you progress.
I would recommend the T3 lite stainless in .300WSM. I had my reservations before I bought mine, but now I am very impressed with the rifle in every aspect. smooth functioning, very accurate. It is my favorite rifle of the bunch i have. If i want to show someone the rifle I am most proud of owning... out comes the Tikka.
 
I have 2 T3 LS rifles - 270 WSM, sweet shooters. My buddy bought the same before Xmas in a 300WSM. The new camo T3 SS looks pretty good. I dont care for the plastic clip myself, but for the price and the great shooting rifle you get, its an ok trade off. IF not go with the Sako in a greywolf with the gunmetal grey Leupold VX3 scope. You definately wont be dissappointed in that rifle.
 
well its been said 10folds here over and over the T3 is a proven shooter , and after invading texada Island last fall with mine I will never have to buy another critter gitter , as Foxer can attest it didnt matter what distance and offhand Vs resting all the deer we shot were doa before they hit the ground and those little deer in the ferns and coastal willows arent the easiest of targets , I average 1/2" @ 100 all day long exept when using federal ammo loaded with barnes bullets they dont shoot worth a crap, but the new speer fusions ..well there accurate for factory and make a deer hit the dirt before his brains do ;)
 
I'm trying to make the same purchase decision. Practicality aside, I just like the looks of the model 70. The T3 may be a better gun out of the box, but if you're going to spend a lot of time with something,(or some one for that matter) finding it ( or them) atractive is important!
 
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