Tikka vs winchester 70

sprucegoose

sprucegoose

New member
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Hi all,

Tikka T3 vs winchester 70 in 30-06 used for hunting medium game and just good old target fun at the farm and range.

Thoughts?

I'm more into the Win 70 thou the guy at the gun store was pushing T3 for floating barrel , stainless barrel saying rust resisit and cools faster.

Is he just blowing smoke or is T3 comparable or better than Win 70?

Thanks gun nutz
 
sprucegoose said:
Hi all,

Tikka T3 vs winchester 70 in 30-06 used for hunting medium game and just good old target fun at the farm and range.

Thoughts?

I'm more into the Win 70 thou the guy at the gun store was pushing T3 for floating barrel , stainless barrel saying rust resisit and cools faster.

Is he just blowing smoke or is T3 comparable or better than Win 70?

Thanks gun nutz
Click to expand...

It all depends if modern composites being used in a rifle bothers you or not? The Tikka will usually be more accurate out of the box,and does have a detchable clip type magazine. Have you shouldered both?
 
T3 will probably be lighter, but having never shot one I can't comment on the accuracy. If you're thinking about hunting in the mountains a light rifle might suit you better. That said, I tend to like the M70 more than others. Hard to argue that one would be "better" than the other though.
 
Which one fits you better.I have both accuracy is about equal.Can't go wrong either way.Detachable mag is nice if you are in and out of vehicals dropping people off for bush pushing etc.............Harold
 
I have both and the M70's are about to go on sale. I really like them but just can't stand not having a Detachable Mag, that may not make any difference for you. I also like the 70 degree bolt lift on the Tikka instead of the 90 degree lift of the M70, little extra thumb room next the scope.

I haven't had either shoot poorly but the T3 is generally more accurate right out of the box and personally I prefer the T3 trigger.

If you go with the T3 you will want to have a Limbsaver recoil pad put on it though as the stock pad is too firm.
 
While I have somewhat limited experience with old Tikka & T-3 Lites, but I can't really imagine anything out there that comes close to them for accuracy! Of the 5 or so I played with or helped get set up none shot worse than 3/4" if the shooter did their job & with nothing more than 3x9 power scopes.
The plastic(polymer:cool:) & & Stainless barrel is a matter of preference.
Personally I use my guns, they go in & out of cases on atvs, up & down ladder stands etc. That plastic stock & Stainless barrel stands up to weather & resists scratchs better than blueing & wood. I would never buy a blued-wood gun again for hunting purposes.

A Win 70 feather-weight is a beautiful gun :) but in a matter of a couple yrs would show it's age much quicker.
 
sprucegoose said:
Hi all,

Tikka T3 vs winchester 70 in 30-06 used for hunting medium game and just good old target fun at the farm and range.

Thoughts?

I'm more into the Win 70 thou the guy at the gun store was pushing T3 for floating barrel , stainless barrel saying rust resisit and cools faster.

Is he just blowing smoke or is T3 comparable or better than Win 70?

Thanks gun nutz
Click to expand...

The new Winchesters have free floating barrels. I like the fit and feel of the winchesters a little more, but they're somewhat on the heavy side.
 
I've always liked Winchesters, and the Tikkas haven't done much for me, Nothing but work, shoot like customs.:(

The new production M70s are put together nice, and feel like a rifle is supposed to. I've bought a .458 that shoots like a varmint rifle, and a 30-06 Supergrade that I had to take back yesterday because it was the worst shooting new bolt action that I've stumbled onto. (replaced with a Sako:ninja:)

I don't want to like the Tikka, but I have to. I really want to like the Winchesters, but sometimes they make it hard to.
 
I have had two new m70s. One featherweight that didn't feed properly and I was unable to take the bolt out because I couldn't depress the bolt release enough. The EW has gauges in the chamber, on the feed ramp and tool marks in the barrel 1" in from the crown. I really wanted the new m70s to be all the hype says and I really wanted a m70, the riflemans rifle but I won't touch them after those two experiences. Tikka on the other hand are good to go.
 
I bought a M70 EW last spring. There were a couple minor tool marks, but I could overlook those. The rifle didn't fit me like I wanted, and I never got groups I was happy with in 3 different trips to the range. So I sold it at a loss, but I was able to buy an X-bolt Carbon Fiber SS with the money I sold the M70 for, so I was happy with that.

The X-bolt is lighter to carry, shoots excellent, and I took a bull elk with it last week.
 
powder burner said:
probably more m70s on the shelf to sell than t3s..
Click to expand...

That would be my guess why there pushing for the Winchester.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with Winchester but my opinion will be a bit biased as I own a T3 in 300WM. The main deal breaker for me would be the detach mag. I hunt from a quad and have it makes it a lot easier to me. Also as meantioned before, I too use my rifle. All my guns are "work" gun minus my '49 303 LongBranch(safe queen:D). I don't want a gun in the bush that I need to worry about getting hit or scratched, hell my Tikka never got cleaned up from last years hunting trip to this years (other than the barrel). Although I have a blued/synthetic I would recommend the stainless. That was my first option but when I found this rifle, the deal was too good to pass up. By far the smoothest action I've handled from a factory rifle. So nice that I've converted two of my hunting buddies from Remmy to Tikkas.
 
I have had a t3 and an new m70. I sold the t3, still have the m70. The only bad things about the t3 I can say is my "stainless barrel" didnt resist rust as I hoped it would. Probably more my fault than the guns though. I would say handle both and see which one feels best.
 
I'd never buy a T3 compared to a M70. T3's used ot be a good deal at one point, though. About $450 for a decent "starter" rifle. Now they are $800+ for a tupperware stock and plastic bits.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom