Remington 700 or Tikka T3x?

Rem 700 and variants are my favorite rifle to build off of. But, the Tikka stands a much higher probability of simply being an out of the box winner, and a good choice if you want to just buy it and shoot. I modify the heck out of my rifles, but my hunting rifle is a bone stock Sako A7, which is basically a variant of the T3, which I previously had.
 
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I'll come on here to support all the Remington lovers. If you can find any of the actual VS (actual fiberglass stock), VLS (wood laminate stock) or LTR (harder to find) models you won't go wrong. Real short actions in stocks that will do exactly what you are asking. Stay away from any of the late plastic (SPS and fake Varmint) or Hogue stocked ones unless you can shoot it first. There are lot on EE or the other site for reasonable prices. I've had dozens of them over the years from 17 Fireball to 308 and they were all hammers. More so if you bedded and triggerworked them (some will debate the trigger, use your brain and proceed from there).
I've shot Tikkas, never owned one, don't like the trigger or the bolt throw.
 
I've owned a few Tikka over the years, and honestly took a while to warm up to them. It was a T1x that got me to commit. Still not the biggest fan of their "lite" rifles, but the Varmint, CTR and UPR are excellent.
 
AB.boy said:
My vote would be T3X in a Varmint or CTR configuration. Great rifles, lots of aftermarket items an available if you want to upgrade anything, and they just shoot well. Can't go wrong with the Tikka. I have a CTR and it is my favorite rifle.
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Precisely how I would have answered this question.
 
Thank you for all of the real world experience with these two rifles. I ended up taking home a Tikka T3x CTR 20" .223 this past week.

Bolted on an optic and a bipod and went to the range on Wednesday. Zeroed in and so far am not remotely disappointed with my choice.

Edited to include barrel length & chamber
 
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Lots of guys want to show off their 700’s at the range and go on about how they are the best rifle available, so I look and see, aftermarket barrel, aftermarket trigger, custom aftermarket stock, and a bunch of gunsmith machining to square everything up. I roll my eyes and out shoot them with one of my out of the box Tikka’s or Howa’s. I just can’t get exited about the made in the U.S. marketing.
 
Nice part of the CTR, you can always screw on a Varmint, or a heavier yet barrel, when just shooting paper. Put a Yo Dave trigger spring in it, you don't really need anything much else except the the stuff to make it prettier, if that is what you decide turns your crank, down the road.
Nice part of Tikka vs 700 is it won't need the balance and blueprint BS, you don't HAVE to buy a different trigger, and Tikka are far less likely to need a different barrel. Tikka could possibly benefit from bedding it, but far less likely to need than a Remington.
 
PixInTheSix said:
Thank you for all of the real world experience with these two rifles. I ended up taking home a Tikka T3x CTR 20" .223 this past week.

Bolted on an optic and a bipod and went to the range on Wednesday. Zeroed in and so far am not remotely disappointed with my choice.

Edited to include barrel length & chamber
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Congrats on your new CTR. As mentioned order a Yo Dave trigger spring will lighten up that trigger and you won't even think about a after market trigger.

The mags are expensive. Just keep your eyes open when Tikka stuff go on sale and scoop up a few.
 
If its shot off a bench and not offhand or from field positions I'd go with the tikka varmint or CTR as well.


Never had a Remington with an issue so no real bias against them either. I just find the Tikka is a better/nicer rifle.
 
I am on my second 20" T3 1/8 Lite stainless, with 40-69gr they would not group as well as 1/12 CZ or Remmy. Even Hakan Spuhr asked me if I was happy with the accuracy as he had issues with the 1/8 twist 223 T3. Issues..... as in we couldn't get it to group below 6mm or so. The T3's seem to stick at 1/2" with say 9mm groups in-between. The CZ and Remmy managed the 6mm area much easier with the lighter bullets. Later I checked the chamber and at what COL the 75gr A-Max would touch. It was as if the chamber was made for the 75 A-Max (close to 75 ELDM). Boat tail start at shoulder junction being 0.3mm off the lands. She started to shoot very nice although we concentrated on longer ranges less on 100m groupings.
69gr Nos custom Match was second best and 68gr Hornady BTHP close third. The 75gr loaded to suit the chamber one needs a longer mag. I like the MDT 10 shot AICS mags. Now knowing this now I prefer the T3 over a Remmy.

T3 Lite 223 magazine with 75 A-Max loaded close to the lands on 1/8 twist T3.
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50gr UMC, 69gr, 75gr A-Max
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edi
 
For what it’s worth, the new Remingtons are scary accurate. At least the 2 I own. One in 6.5 and another in 223.
The 6.5 shoots lights out with factory blue box 140gr powershoks, and load development was a one trip affair.
The 223 took a little more to figure out what grain/powder combo but they’re now both shooting ragged holes at 100 all day every day.
I took both out to 500m at my range and if I do my part and suppress my inner retardation , I ring the 6” plate most times I pull the trigger.
I’ve owned tikka varmints and CTRs. They shoot. They’re smooth.
I personally feel there’s some gumption missing in their rifles. Maybe too elegant. Who knows.
I’m an idiot
 
The canadian army picked Tikka as their first choice during the selection of the C-19 Rangers service rifle. Remind you that the Rangers can operate in the harshest environments. It’s a pretty awesome rifle, I shot at 300 yards with the iron sights pretty easily.
 
umik said:
The canadian army picked Tikka as their first choice during the selection of the C-19 Rangers service rifle. Remind you that the Rangers can operate in the harshest environments. It’s a pretty awesome rifle, I shot at 300 yards with the iron sights pretty easily.
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Did you scrub the red dye off your hands afterward?
 
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