Savage 111FCNS or Tikka T3 Lite?

[604hunter]

Hi,

I need some advise on purchasing my first hunting rifle.

When I started off looking at hunting rifles I only planned on spending roughly $400 as I knew that the weakest part of the whole equation was going to be my own ability. Being knew to firearms and never going out hunting before I didn't want to break the bank when my lack of skill would far out weigh any difference between a top of the line rifle vs an entry model. As I started to look at different rifle I also started to rethink my spending budget and this is where I need some advise...

My friend is looking at the Ruger American so I wanted something different but I liked the reviews on it. I was reading about the Salvage Axis but after a few reviews, I started looking at the Salvage 111 FCNS as most people said the upgrades are worth the extra money. After many hours/days more of ready I started looking at the Tikka T3 Lite which is a little bit more $$$ and closer to double my original budget.

Which lead me to the following questions...

1. Should I buy a cheap first gun then upgrade to a new rifle as my abilities improve?
or
2. Should I buy the best I can afford as you will have a gun for a long time?

3. Would you recommend a Savage 111FCNS or Tikka T3 Lite? and why?

I want to stay away from the caliber of the rifle as I feel that has been well talked about on here and many other places. I live in BC and will be hunting deer primarily.

Thanks for any advice and suggestions you can pass along.

Cheers,

 

[AWOL]

Tikka

Much smoother bolt and all round, better quality workmanship. Both are accurate but aside from price, Tikka is as good or better in every other respect.

 

[StevieK]

Buy what you want the first time and don't ever look back...That being said, don't worry about the price tag and don't think that more $$$ will necessarily get you a gun that you like better. More money spent gets you (usually) nicer fit and finish, lighter weight, better looks (nice wood or polished bluing), or more conveniences, or some combination of the above. From cheap economic options to $2000 guns they will all have better accuracy than you can shoot. Look at what kind of hunting you will be doing and what the terrain is that you hunt...Is a drop magazine an important factor for you? will you be carrying the rifle much, is weight important? Is stainless steel something you want? Can you live with a cheap plastic stock or do you prefer carbon fibre or wood? Do you want a compact gun for bushy areas?...The list goes on. There are many different attributes that you can want in a rifle. If I were you I'd pick out everything that is a MUST for your gun, then make a list of the "would be nice". Don't compromise on the musts and try to get a gun that has as many of the "would be nice" as possible and see what's available. If possible try the gun out before you buy to make sure the stock fits and you like it. I have probably owned more guns that I have sold before I even shot them, than guns that I have shot. I am picky and have bought on whim and quickly decided that it wasn't what I wanted, even if the price was right. Not that I'm complaining about that, as I've now handled almost all varieties of modern bolt guns and have a great idea of what kind of guns I like now. Have fun with it and don't rush you've got a LONG time til next year's deer hunt

 

[m102404]

I bought a Tikka T3 Lite (blued/synthetic) in .223 for groundhogs. Light for carrying around throughout a long day, no worries if it gets wet (drying out afterwards otherwise), excellent accuracy, decent price. It does all that very well. Tikka/Sako have a thing where it's got to shoot sub MOA before it leaves the factory. And this one did with multiple different brands of factory ammo. Kind of boring in the sense that there wasn't much fiddling around with a new setup. Setup the scope, bore sight zero, zero...shoot groups. Go through 4-5 brands of ammo and choose the smallest groups (half MOA). All done and ready to go. Very decent finish inside the bore, smooth action, nice trigger break, mags seat/fit nicely. TBH...it didn't seem to need to have the bore broken in/fire lapped/etc...shot just fine getting right to it and didn't pick up undue copper traces.

Liked it enough I bought a T3 lite in 30-06 (same thing just bigger action and longer barrel). For the same reasons...got the same results. Every factory load shot MOA (or close enough so as not to matter) and Federal Premium Nosler 180 shot half MOA (or just under, I didn't bother with the measurement it was so nicely tight). Big downside...the T3 Lite is light. The recoil from stiff rounds ends up right on your shoulder. Not bad with a sissy pad or jacket...not nice with a t-shirt off the bench. Seems to copper foul a bit more noticeably than the .223...but not bad at all. I sort of wish I had bought a wood stock version for a bit more weight. Light to carry around all day though.

I'd be tempted with a Savage in 22-250 for my next one...but only because I have these Tikka's already and want something a bit different. Or get a tikka in a nice wooden stock.

 

[604hunter]

Thanks for the advice so far!

As for making a list of needs and wants for a rifle I kinda did that before but being a new shooter I didn't have too many "needs" on my list. The only two things that were on my list of "needs" were a drop in mag and adjustable trigger.

Would any more experienced shooters mind sharing what items are on their "needs" list for a deer hunting gun for someone in rainy BC.

Also what would the advantage of a stainless steel barrel vs blued one be?

Cheers

Thanks again