Tikka T-3 Stainless or Winchester featherweight in 7-08?

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Going to do a major firearm purge here soon as we are moving to a much smaller home soon. I have a Rem Model 760 pump that I had rebarrelled to a 7-08 and love the rifle, so looking to get a bolt action in 7-08 and sell the rest that don't have any sentimental value, but can't decide between the T-3 and featherweight? I have had both rifles in the past and love the detachable mag and 70 degree bolt lift of the t-3, but hate the recoil pad so would have to change that to limbsaver, not a big deal but pisses me off they can't put a decent pad on they're rifle. Never had a firearm fit me as well as the featherweight but don't like the drop hinge mag, they are a bit heavier as well and the featherweights are a fair chunk more $.

Leaning towards the tikka, found one at a really good price, so don't want to wait too long as the low canadian dollar is putting new firearms through the roof?

What do all you think?
 
north pro has a good price the stainless T3 right now.......almost enough savings to pay for a bell and carlson stock................
 
You will be hard pressed to find a rifle that will shoot as good as the Tikka at double the price. They are reasonably priced so you could still afford an aftermarket stock or just put a recoil pad of your choice on the Tikka stock.
 
LittleBoyLefty said:
I've owned both... M70 FW. No contest.
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What he said. These two rifles aren't even in the same class. You've got one of the best economy rifles (they used to be $500-600, and at that price make sense) replete with plastic parts lined up against the best standard rifle. Now that they sell for close to the same price point a good few of us struggle to grasp the allure of a Tikka.

You'll give your grandson your Model 70 and he'd be grateful to receive it. The Tikka... Well. Yea.
 
Ardent said:
What he said. These two rifles aren't even in the same class. You've got one of the best economy rifles (they used to be $500-600, and at that price make sense) replete with plastic parts lined up against the best standard rifle. Now that they sell for close to the same price point a good few of us struggle to grasp the allure of a Tikka.

You'll give your grandson your Model 70 and he'd be grateful to receive it. The Tikka... Well. Yea.
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The allure of the Tikka is excellent accuracy, smooth action, excellent trigger, and very light weight for $300 less than the Featherweight. Or for a Super Lite for less than the featherweight and you get a rifle as light or lighter than a Kimber Montana 84L for a little more than 1/2 the price. With the M70 FWT you get a FWT barrel profile on a rifle that weighs 7lbs. To me that makes little sense.

This:
T3%20Superlight_zps4zw7cno6.jpg


plus this:
b8b6920f-879f-499a-b145-4f20566536c3_zpsqv8zi6tu.jpg


For $1000 (stainless, synthetic, fluted version) = a pretty darn good deal.


Edit to add: if you are looking for wood/blued and weight doesn't matter then I agree the M70 is a nicer choice. Especially in the short action, where the M70 actually comes with a s/a.
 
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My Tikkas may never be family heirlooms, but my experience thus far has shown them to be great hunting rifles. I have handled the M70s as well - they are heavier, I don't like the 3 position safety, and I didn't like the way the stock carried - personal preference obviously.
 
Not much of a surprise of course for an injection moulded plastic deal. :) On factory specs the T3 Lite is a 1/2lb heavier than an 84L Montana, and full pound heavier than an 84M- those are big numbers in my eyes! And you're going to injection moulded from a proper stock, and all steel, that justifies the price difference by my rationalization.

But! We're getting away from the Model 70 vs T3 fight. The Model 70 Featherweight weighs 6lbs 10ozs in 7mm-08 with a walnut(!) stock, real metal floor plate and all steel to the T3's Lite's 6lbs 2ozs. Same half a pound that separates the 84L Montana and the T3 Lite, but a lot more rifle there. I enjoy these threads, we need one about once a week! ;) In my eyes, Tikka's only slightly less for a whole hell of a lot less rifle, at least from a craftsmanship and construction perspective. I've shot one and can concede they shoot well, but so do Model 70s... :)
 
Without a doubt, the M70 is a better rifle and well worth a few extra bucks... when you pick up the M70, you won't be sorry that you spent the money, the Tikka??? Well...


JMO
 
Both are accurate. There ends the similarities. A budget rifle vs a great non budget rifle. Ardent already said it all.

Now if you had asked Sako vs the Mod 70.... You might have a competition and valid arguments either way. I would still vote for the winny though.
 
Every Tikka I have weighed weighs less than advertised. My T3 in .338 WM with Talley's and 2.5x Leupold M8 weighed 6.25lbs. A Kimber Montana in a magnum chambering would weigh 1lb more. As you can see from my picture, the T3 Super Lite weighs in at 5lbs 12oz. so only 2oz more than a Montana in the same chambering. Is the Montana a nicer rifle? Absolutely. But not everyone can afford to drop an extra $800 or so on the rifle. So I think the T3 does offer a nice, reasonably priced option in that particular category. Again, I agree that wood/blued the M70 is a better choice.
 
The M70 is the nicer looking rifle, though I've never understood the walnut/stainless thing. Either make it impervious to bad weather or make it fancy, not try a blend of both, it doesn't work.

The trigger on the Tikka is better, at least the ones I had.

Personally, I don't really like either. Save your money and buy a Sako Finnlight. ;)
 
I was going to say the same as 1899, the t3 magnum weighs less than the kimber magnum even from listed specs. Here the comparisons with the kimber stop.


My t3 .338 weights a couple hundred grams less than listed and wears a receiver sight. It is great for climbing around in alpine forests all day and sports a MPBR that takes the guess work out of longer iron sights shots. If a second shot is required it has a slick bolt and effortless feeding with the push feed and single stack mag.

I never saw the need for a rifle so light until things got seriously vertical, a steep grade and elevation seems to make things weigh a whole lot more.

The t3 is a great machine. A modern "ultra lite" rifle in long action that is super accurate and mine has an amazing trigger as well. The stock is hollow and looks a little cheap but balances so well that I don't think about it. What I thought of as ugly checkering is actually a useful grip pattern.

It has plastic yes, like an airplane, computer or car has "plastic". I was keen on replacing the plastic parts until I actually used them in rough weather and terrain.

If I wanted a short action though, I would buy a true one. m70's are awesome rifles, I think they belong in wood and blue.


T3 may be a "budget rifle" but compare a European loaf of bread to a Canadian one. Both cheap and utilitarian but only one is made for quality first and it's price point second...
 
I don't really consider the plastic to be a negative to be honest. The polymer magazines are pretty much indestructible and don't rust. The plastic bolt shroud and trigger guard are purely cosmetic and you'll look hard to find people who have had an issue with them.

It's not a rifle for traditionalists, but if you want a tough rifle proven to shoot the lights out I don't think you can do better for the price - and a lot more frankly. I know of several hunters out west who have put years of very hard use (backpack trips, horseback hunts, etc.) on their Tikkas without complaint - in fact it is the first rifle they recommend for those conditions unless you have an unlimited budget. If the Tikka's "plastic" nature were a failing, I can guarantee those guys would have sold them long ago.

As for the M70, it is "yesterday's gun" for me. I've handled them and they simply don't work for me. Fair enough - many like them.
 
I think the return of the Canadian dollar to its natural value against the US is going to change the discussion of value proposition pretty drastically.

Non US, directly imported firearms are going to be pretty attractive price wise in the near future.

Will the Portuguese M70s be sold to us in Euros or US Greenbacks?

Is everyone ready for $1500 Ruger M77s? $900 Ruger Americans?

Kimbers, which I think are fantastic, are going to be a *lot* of money compared to my beloved Tikkas, which seem to be coming in without a US Dolllar middle-man gouge.

This will happen with Weatherby Vanguards soon. It's going to cost us an extra $400 for that weatherby roll mark.

I think you guys are being unduly mean to my beloved Tikka. Be as unkind as you want to Stoeger. :)

What we need is a Canadian budget rifle manufacturer.

Wow. Rambling post! :)
 
Bartledan said:
What we need is a Canadian budget rifle manufacturer.

Wow. Rambling post! :)
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You mean you want Cooey? We already have Savage Rimfires but they apparently go straight to the US first then get sent back here for sale.

I cant really add too much here other than I have a T3 Hunter and my Father has a M70 FWT Carolina production. Both purchased last spring; the prices were under $200 difference.

I compared them both brand new side by side and I got buyers remorse. I even went as far as sourcing another matching M70 (at a really good price $899) but did not go through with it because I still like some of the features of the tikka - Short bolt lift, nicer barrel contour/crown, and detach mag and most of all I did not want to carry the same gun as my dad.

As far as the fit and finish the M70 is way better, the floated barrel channel on my Tikka is a hideous eaves trough of carved wood compared to the Fwt's bedded masterpiece.

I still like both rifles, I am currently thinking of getting a shooter for my kids to use when they are ready, I am still wavering between a well priced T3 Compact in .243 or waiting a bit longer for a FWT compact in .243. The only problem is that the price gap is widening...
 
T3's work, I'll never try and argue they kill an animal more poorly than a better / more expensive / more traditional / you name the factor option.

They embody the modern way, injection folded plastic, cheap to make, fine tolerances. That way just rubs me wrong when it's 80%+ of the price of a rifle that contains far, far more machining and manufacturing operations and higher quality materials. Nobody in their right mind with argue the super simplified T3 action is superior to the CRF Model 70 either, and at half the price, as we may soon be again I could rationalize the T3. Any gun I own I want to be a fine example of craftsmanship, as I like to hobby smith my own rifles making stocks etc, so I have an appreciation what goes into a quality rifle. The T3 with it's severely cost minimized production techniques just straight rubs me the wrong way, no matter how well it's made. But they do bloody well kill animals just swell!

A Model 70 is a higher quality choice, for barely more cost right now. Get on it before they run $1800 off the shelf, they're worth it.
 
The accuracy thing is a moot point. Back when Tikka had the best trigger by far for a normal rifle they were considered very accurate for the money and a good deal. Now all rifles have good triggers and you will be hard pressed to find a rifle that won't shoot as well. Priced at $900+ they are not really a great deal for the dollar. Tikka has the smoothest bolt for the money but I think that's where the advantages end. Cheap stocks, Mickey mouse bedding system, plastic parts galore, triggers that rust incredibly easy. Model 70 is a much better rifle for not much more money and sometimes the same. I think most guys that glamorize t3'S don't have experience with anything else. Now the 595, 695 series with wood is when Tikka made quality rifles. Much closer to a model 70 but still not quite.
 
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