Another for the Tikka.
It's a higher quality firearm. The TRG22 magazines with modified end plate that the Tac A1 uses is excellent. I would prefer AIC just for cost and ease of buying but the Tikka magazine is excellent. The barrel is a Sako and many have stated it's the same as on the TRG22. I really like the action and how they manage to get a 70 degree bolt throw with the two lug design. The action is really very good and above the others in this price category. Also the safety has a nice positive click and works very nicely along with the excellent mag release setup. The chassis is decent. I like it. The only negatives are how it can rub when folded and that it folds to the left instead of the right. Also it's adjustment systems are below that of the best. But again minor. I also happen to like the two stage tactical trigger that the tac A1 comes with.. It's a great medium priced tactical precision rifle.
The negatives with the Tikka tac A1 are the 0 moa rail and possibly the magazines although I like them. The Ruger takes the SR25 mags and the AIC. So it can take the standard AR308 and the standard bolt 308 mags. That's pretty slick. The Tikka takes a version of the Sako TRG 22 mag with a different bottom plate. Excellent mags but more expensive and harder to get.
I don't want to paint the Ruger in a negative light. It was the first to really capitalize on the chassis tactical rifle and affordable entry rifle. Three lug bolt, adjustable chassis, takes the most common mags and not just one type. Good trigger (although I'm not a huge fan of the blade types) etc etc. The Tikka is just more refined and higher quality. You're also getting a lot of Sako, TRG experience and in some cases parts with the Tikka.
When I was trying to decide between the Ruger and the Tikka I came to the decision that the Tikka was the nicer overall firearm and had many things that I preferred over the Ruger. The barrel, two stage trigger and action/refinement. But more interestingly as evident in this thread, all the reviews I read where people had both... They preferred the Tikka. That right there made the decision exceptionally easy for me. That and a really good sale on the Tikka tac A1.
If you don't mind 308 instead of 6.5 CM then another really good option for a chassis tactical precision rifle is a Remington 5R milspec gen1 in a Cadex competition chassis. I picked up a gen1 action a number of years ago for $700 and recently a Cadex competition chassis for $1200 with Arca rail. The 5R is really the only Remington I can recommend. The others are hit/miss with some shooting very well and others not so. The 5R I have shot a lot of and they were all easily sub .5 moa rifles. The action while a two lug and not as nice as the Tikka, does do the job. That barrel on the 5R is excellent. I would even argue slightly better than the Tikka. This setup takes AIC mags. With the MDT 12 round mags it's pretty nice. MDT chassis are also another alternative. I like the MDT ESS, but I still prefer the Cadex. If you can find a gen2 in 6.5 CM and sell the HS stock ,this might also be a viable option to stay in the 6.5 CM calibre.
One last thought on this. It's unfortunate that Sig never got it together to put out a factory chassis system at a decent price point paired with their SSG 3000. I'm fortunate enough to have both an original German one with the McMillan stock and a current American one that came with the polymer stock, that I swapped into a GRS bolthorn chassis. The Bolthorn chassis is a bit different, kind of odd looking but it works really well with the SSG 3000. Price is the main issue along with lack of availability of the SSG 3000. Great tactical precision rifle and could have been another option that is up a level from the Tikka. If you do see one for sale, consider it as well. Not a turn key setup like the Tikka, but in a Mcmillian or GRS bolthorn chassis it's also a heck of a rifle. Even though there were export barriers I still believe Sig firmly dropped the ball with this one.
If you're looking at a specific type of competition then there are lots of other, probably better options. A CTR in a KRG stock etc etc. Custom etc. You name it. You will want whatever is competitive. 6.5 CM, KrG stock or full custom etc. Lots of posters on here that can direct you to what is best for the particular competition.
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