Torn between Two Rifles, Remington 700 5r and Tikka T3X Ctr

HenryKrinkle

HenryKrinkle

Member
Rating - 100%
45   0   0
Location
Lanark
I am looking to build a new target rifle in .223

Most of my shooting is done from 50-300yrds.

Both rifles are basically the same money, and have 20" threaded barrel, the 700 is 1:9 vs the 1:8 twist on the tikka.

I would love a T3X varmint, however I can't seem to find anyone that carries one with the 20" barrel.


Any advise or recommendations between the two?
 
For 55 to 70 grain bullets the 1 in 12 is fine Rem 1in9 will shoot anything although most of rems 1 in 12 or 1in14
 
Tikka has a few advantages in my opinion:

1/8 gives you much greater flexibility in bullet choice
Much smoother bolt operation
Bolt lift does not interfere with scope and knuckles
Arguably a stronger action design with less need for bedding
Excellent reputation for accuracy
Excellent out of the box trigger
Very good aftermarket support (obviously not as good as the 700 but close enough that it almost doesn’t matter anymore)

PS ... I’ve owned several Tikkas including 3 presently in different calibers. I have yet to be disappointed by one. I have also owned one Remington 700 and have used others. They are nice rifles but Tikkas are nicer.
 
Tikka all the way, Just get a standard T3x and get a B&C stock, Mountain Tactical bottom metal for AICS mags instead. CTR mags are stupid expensive for no good reason.
 
Thanks for all of your input!

I ended up at my local Sail to touch and feel one today. Well they didn't have a Ctr, but they had a varmint in 6.5. similar stock. Then handled a couple of 700s. Tikka felt way nicer.

So I ordered the Tikka CTR from their site.

I figured with the 700 I would want to swap out the trigger, add a bottom metal and it would need a rail. By the time I did all that I could buy bought the Tikka and a Scope.

So Tikka on order, got home and jumped on sfrc and ordered a vortex diamondback tactical 4-16x44 MOA reticle with the 15% off coupon. Great deal.

Now the waiting game.
 
Great choice with the Tikka CTR, HenryKrinckle! My buddy just got one in 308 with the 20” barrel, beautiful rifle, smooth as silk action, shoots like a laser beam.

This is his second Tikka, as well I’m on my second one too. Ditto on the Mountain Tactical Bottom Metal, I’ve got it on my Tiktac in 300wm, was the only drop in option to take AI mags, looked at a chassis, tons for the short action, long action for 300wm only two options were MDT and use their custom sized mags or Cadex with Tikka single stack mags....

Was disappointed with the 700 and the upgrades it would need to get close to the Tikka T3x out of the box. My two biggest beefs with the 700’s out of the box are the mediocre trigger and having to “two finger” the bolt handle past the scope. (It was a 5R in 308, left me wanting...IMHO)
 
If you like fiddling with your rifles and trying out different setups (stocks, triggers, etc) the Rem 700 is unmatched in the accessories world. All my Tikka and Sako rifles have been great out of the box without much need to modify. They remain my favourite factory non-match trigger. Availability of accessories seems to be improving with Tikka which is great but still not at the same level as 700’s.

Both will shoot pretty similarly well from the factory at a given price point, though Tikka seems to be ahead of Remington with their barrel twist to support more modern heavy match projectiles.

Enjoy your new CTR!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom