I am looking to purchase a 308 win calibre rifle once my PAL arrives. I plan to use the rifle for target shooting and also for small game and deer, maybe a moose too. After doing some research I am looking at Tikka's T3 Super Varmint Stainless and the Varmint Stainless both in 308 Win. Is there a major preformance difference between the two rifles? Unfortunately my budget is $1500 including a scope, not sure if this will be a big hinderance. If anyone out there has shot both of these rifles and knows of their preformance I sure would like to hear about it.
Ruger and Tikka
- Thread starter johnny rotten
- Start date
Between the two, the Tikka is by far the superior choice. If I were you, though, I'd look at the Remington VS SF and other remington varmint guns with the HS Precision stock, and I also have a soft spot in my heart for the Savage 10's and 12's as well.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
go with savage buddy
cheaper and likely more accurate than both your options
cheaper and likely more accurate than both your optionsI checked out the remington model 700's, and some of them sound impressive. I have heard mixed things about remington quality though.
I will have to check up on products from savage arms though, heard their accuracy is quite good out of the box.
I will have to check up on products from savage arms though, heard their accuracy is quite good out of the box.
I've read pro's and con's of the 'accutrigger' system, something to consider. I'm thinking of getting a Tikka due to a less complex trigger mechanism. I would like a thumbhole stock and on another thread someone mentioned thumbhole stocks may soon be available for the Tikka's.
ssssssss
I just bought a couple of new savages, one 116 fcsak in .338 and an all new american classic in .308, both rifles are far better than any of my previous rugers or remingtons, I think they were a bargain really, check them out, the more people who believe in savage and try them, the more will buy them......wouldnt trade mine for anything
HH
I just bought a couple of new savages, one 116 fcsak in .338 and an all new american classic in .308, both rifles are far better than any of my previous rugers or remingtons, I think they were a bargain really, check them out, the more people who believe in savage and try them, the more will buy them......wouldnt trade mine for anything
HH
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
hunterhenderson said:
I'm selling my Savage and buying a 4th Tikka T3. Savage is just too crappy and unreliable for me.
As far as the topic starters question....
You will find the T3 far more accurate than the Ruger but on the other hand for hunting, they don't really come more durable and reliable than Ruger.
troutseeker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Prince George, BC
Between the two, the Ruger is by far the superior choice. Remington's are also nice. The Savage's shoot tight groups and don't cost an arm and a leg...
Oh, and I should mention that the trigger on the ruger was extremely nasty when I got it - heavy, rough, and lots of creep. A little polishing and a replacement spring kit from Wolff and it cleaned up nicely.
The trigger on my stevens (the pre-accutrigger Savage trigger) was also somewhat nasty, but was adjustable for pull, tension and overtravel. So a few minutes with a stone and some quick tweaks with a screwdriver, and it's quite tolerable.
The trigger on my stevens (the pre-accutrigger Savage trigger) was also somewhat nasty, but was adjustable for pull, tension and overtravel. So a few minutes with a stone and some quick tweaks with a screwdriver, and it's quite tolerable.
I have owned a number of Tactical/varmint Remingtons and 4 Tikka's T3's and Id go to a Remington any day. The quality of stock with the HS Precison kicks the butt of that cheap plastic feel of my Tikkas. Remington triggers are fully adjustable (hard at times but adjsutable)
Remington is so easy to find parts for and you have the option of doing alot of mods to the rifle for a resonable price.
Ive found that all my heavy barrel Remingtons great shooters all shoot MOA but are somewhat picky as to what they like.
Don't get me wrong I do like my Tikkas but would sooner shoot a Remington. Savages on the other hand feel real cheap and have loose sloppy bolts.
Cheers!!
Remington is so easy to find parts for and you have the option of doing alot of mods to the rifle for a resonable price.
Ive found that all my heavy barrel Remingtons great shooters all shoot MOA but are somewhat picky as to what they like.
Don't get me wrong I do like my Tikkas but would sooner shoot a Remington. Savages on the other hand feel real cheap and have loose sloppy bolts.
Cheers!!
So much to choose from!! Accuracy out of the box is a big requirement for me, not looking to replace a stock after I buy a rifle. As for price $1500 is my max including rifle, scope, mounts, sling, maybe an extra mag and bipod. Remington does have some rifles that interest me, and it's great to hear good things about them. Maybe people with bad experiences with remingtons just got the one in a thousand rifle or something. What about ruger, they have some nice rifles too, and within my budget range? As a point of interest, I am currently on leave in Halifax. Is there a good gun shop in town that would actually spend some time with a rookie like me and perhaps let me handle a few models? Keep the answers coming, it's great having so many helpful suggestions. Thanks guys!
I had to send my remington back for a factory repair, due to a poorly machined and fitted bolt. Will take about 6mo to come back, so I'm a bit sour on remington at the moment, although I would certainly be willing to give them a second try.
If it were my money, I'd be looking at a remington 700p or pss
If it were my money, I'd be looking at a remington 700p or pss
After checking Remington's webpage, the model 700 SPS stainless really caught my eye. It sure looks beautiful, it's in 308 win, has a stainless barrel in case I'm in the middle of nowhere for how long, internal mag so nothing to get lost, and sounds accurate. Best of all it won't break my bank, so I can afford a nice scope and sling. My only question is on the synthetic stock, how do remington's synthetic stocks feel comfort wise and do they affect accuracy? The model 700 VSF HS stock sounded nicer, but it's too much for my wallet.
johnny rotten said:
I had an SPS (blued) in a .270 and it was a good shooter 1'' groups. The Stock on the SPS is nothing like the HS Precision but its alright. You can always have the action bedded if you think the stock is giving you some problems.
If I were you Id go to the local gun shop and pick up a Remington, Tikka, Savage, even a Weatherby Vanguard and see how they fit you. You may not like the Remington at all and take a Savage or Tikka, its all about what you like.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Upfront, any stock aficiando is not going to like ANY modern injection molded stock from any company. They are plastic, they can flex, they go klunk when you hit them, yada, yada, yada. However, they do function for their intended use and will stand up to hunting conditions.
For stock fit, I found the Savage line to fit me very well. Their recoil pads in general are horrid so expect to swap in a better one like a Hogue or Limbsaver (Rem come with limbsavers for the most part). Almost all of these stocks have some molding lines which can be quite rough. Five minutes with a sharp razor blade and problem solved.
What I do like is the very nice rounding of these stocks. They fit the hand (my hand) well. Some come with checkering, others with rubber inserts. All good stuff to try and make handling nicer. I have to say for a dirt cheap product, alot of thought goes into making them as best they can. new gen stocks are way stiffer too.
Do you need to swap out the stock? NOPE. I use a few in their orig state, foreends opened up to ensure no contact, bedded properly, shoot 1/4 to 3/8MOA all day long and sub MOA at 1000m. That is as much as I can ask any sporter stock to do from any manf on a factory rifle.
Will a $500 composite stock make that rifle shoot better, NOPE. Will it make you feel better - could very well do that. For sure, they can be quite a bit lighter. I am waiting for Ian or SSS to come up with a nice light comp stock for the new center feed Savage actions and I will be right in line to buy one. Saving 1lb just in stock weight is important to me.
For a factory trigger, the Accutrigger is a darling. I know the Tikkas can be adjusted well but the cost is higher to start with. Rem's these days are getting annoying. The trigger groups used to be gems when adjusted properly but nowadays, that is not easily done - big negative.
The SPS I have handled felt very gritty like the paint was dirty when applied. Everyting just felt rough. Yep, the exterior finish looks like paint. Not a very nice bluing at all IF that was what was done. The Savage come with some of the nicest polished bluing I have seen in a while. Bizarre since most will want to turn it matte - oh well.
A common complaint with the Savage is the bolt lift. Almost two stage with the second up needing quite a bit of force. Also, you can feel the parts grate on each other during the initial lift. Definitely not custom rifle smooth.
However, solution is super easy. The bolt hammer groove needs to be smoothed and contour changed slightly (some call this timing the bolt - why, don't know?). The top of the trigger can be polished so the sear glides over it (this is not on every rifle due to clearance- got clearance, no problem). A bit of grease and the bolt runs superbly.
That little extra work is why the Savage is so much less money.
Anti bind on the bolt that really does work (not sure how it can be considered sloppy). With the new center feed mag, my 10FCNS runs as smoothly as an AI I played with (this I consider the smoothest feeding 308 I have ever run). Once you clean up the bolt lift/ trigger drag, all runs as smooth as silk.
Some of the Savage mag lips retain the burr from manf. use very fine sandpaper and polish the INSIDE of these lips. As good as any mag now.
The Accutrigger is a very SIMPLE set up. No brainer to adjust and truly works as well as any top triggers I have used when set to 2lbs. I think many don't feel comfy with the Glockish dual trigger pull. After a bit of use, you can call it a two stage trigger. That first safety stage takes very little pressure to compress, then you squeeze on the real trigger for a very nice crisp break w/no overtravel.
Although not 'safe', that first stage trigger block can be removed so you have a conventional trigger pull. Maybe not as safe but is a possibility.
I consider Savage to be the best buy in a factory rifle right now. The looks, function, flexibility, accuracy, handling are all top notch and for 1/3 less money. But they do need a few tweaks here and there (BED THE ACTIONS)
Don't want to do any fiddling - go Tikka. It's all done with style except you still should bed the action.
Ruger to me is hit and miss. I have played with nice ones and ones that well... You need to tweak them every bit as much as a Savage and they don't give me the flexibility for future changes. Built very tough and certainly no shortage of praise as a hunting rifle.
But the Savage can be so much more...
Jerry
For stock fit, I found the Savage line to fit me very well. Their recoil pads in general are horrid so expect to swap in a better one like a Hogue or Limbsaver (Rem come with limbsavers for the most part). Almost all of these stocks have some molding lines which can be quite rough. Five minutes with a sharp razor blade and problem solved.
What I do like is the very nice rounding of these stocks. They fit the hand (my hand) well. Some come with checkering, others with rubber inserts. All good stuff to try and make handling nicer. I have to say for a dirt cheap product, alot of thought goes into making them as best they can. new gen stocks are way stiffer too.
Do you need to swap out the stock? NOPE. I use a few in their orig state, foreends opened up to ensure no contact, bedded properly, shoot 1/4 to 3/8MOA all day long and sub MOA at 1000m. That is as much as I can ask any sporter stock to do from any manf on a factory rifle.
Will a $500 composite stock make that rifle shoot better, NOPE. Will it make you feel better - could very well do that. For sure, they can be quite a bit lighter. I am waiting for Ian or SSS to come up with a nice light comp stock for the new center feed Savage actions and I will be right in line to buy one. Saving 1lb just in stock weight is important to me.
For a factory trigger, the Accutrigger is a darling. I know the Tikkas can be adjusted well but the cost is higher to start with. Rem's these days are getting annoying. The trigger groups used to be gems when adjusted properly but nowadays, that is not easily done - big negative.
The SPS I have handled felt very gritty like the paint was dirty when applied. Everyting just felt rough. Yep, the exterior finish looks like paint. Not a very nice bluing at all IF that was what was done. The Savage come with some of the nicest polished bluing I have seen in a while. Bizarre since most will want to turn it matte - oh well.
A common complaint with the Savage is the bolt lift. Almost two stage with the second up needing quite a bit of force. Also, you can feel the parts grate on each other during the initial lift. Definitely not custom rifle smooth.
However, solution is super easy. The bolt hammer groove needs to be smoothed and contour changed slightly (some call this timing the bolt - why, don't know?). The top of the trigger can be polished so the sear glides over it (this is not on every rifle due to clearance- got clearance, no problem). A bit of grease and the bolt runs superbly.
That little extra work is why the Savage is so much less money.
Anti bind on the bolt that really does work (not sure how it can be considered sloppy). With the new center feed mag, my 10FCNS runs as smoothly as an AI I played with (this I consider the smoothest feeding 308 I have ever run). Once you clean up the bolt lift/ trigger drag, all runs as smooth as silk.
Some of the Savage mag lips retain the burr from manf. use very fine sandpaper and polish the INSIDE of these lips. As good as any mag now.
The Accutrigger is a very SIMPLE set up. No brainer to adjust and truly works as well as any top triggers I have used when set to 2lbs. I think many don't feel comfy with the Glockish dual trigger pull. After a bit of use, you can call it a two stage trigger. That first safety stage takes very little pressure to compress, then you squeeze on the real trigger for a very nice crisp break w/no overtravel.
Although not 'safe', that first stage trigger block can be removed so you have a conventional trigger pull. Maybe not as safe but is a possibility.
I consider Savage to be the best buy in a factory rifle right now. The looks, function, flexibility, accuracy, handling are all top notch and for 1/3 less money. But they do need a few tweaks here and there (BED THE ACTIONS)
Don't want to do any fiddling - go Tikka. It's all done with style except you still should bed the action.
Ruger to me is hit and miss. I have played with nice ones and ones that well... You need to tweak them every bit as much as a Savage and they don't give me the flexibility for future changes. Built very tough and certainly no shortage of praise as a hunting rifle.
But the Savage can be so much more...
Jerry
