Thanks, appreciate the input.
Update, I bought one. Browning AB3, Winchester XPR or Tikka T3?
- Thread starter Lyallpeder
- Start date
Thanks. I really appreciate the real world input. I find it hard to pay that 1/3 more for the tikka on a one week a year deer rifle.
Thanks, I do appreciate your opinion. As you have shot them both do you have a general idea of the accuracy advantage of the tikka? If everything else was the same?
You mean if I manage to kill a deer every year with a 1975 model 99 and a 1980’s scope now, I won’t kill them more better if I spend more on a new rifle? Lol
I guess there is buying something nice (Winchester) or buying something really nice (tikka)!
Thanks man, appreciate the input.
120 grain is my plan for now. Like I said it’s a deer only rifle. If I decide I want something else later I still have 2 308s.
I have yet to handle an XPR but would like to. If the prices were close between the tikka and AB3 I would pick the tikka of the three.
If from the comments the XPR is basically an AB3 with an improved trigger i would take the XPR over the AB3 so i would rank them:
First pick if costs weren't much of a consideration is the Tikka, second XPR and third AB3.
One thing to keep in mind is that while the 7mm-08 isn't a super hard recoiling round the inflex recoil pads browning uses on the AB3 and XPR are great, they really work well to cut down the felt recoil in a side by side test.
The tikkas buttstocks are known for being kind of stiff and crappy and i ended up swapping it out for a limbsaver so there might be a bit of extra cost with the tikka if you don't like the factory buttpad.
All in all you really can't go wrong with any of the three and i would likely go with whatever i found the best deal on for black friday this week.
If from the comments the XPR is basically an AB3 with an improved trigger i would take the XPR over the AB3 so i would rank them:
First pick if costs weren't much of a consideration is the Tikka, second XPR and third AB3.
One thing to keep in mind is that while the 7mm-08 isn't a super hard recoiling round the inflex recoil pads browning uses on the AB3 and XPR are great, they really work well to cut down the felt recoil in a side by side test.
The tikkas buttstocks are known for being kind of stiff and crappy and i ended up swapping it out for a limbsaver so there might be a bit of extra cost with the tikka if you don't like the factory buttpad.
All in all you really can't go wrong with any of the three and i would likely go with whatever i found the best deal on for black friday this week.
That is a possibility I guess, thanks. Years ago I thought about getting a new deer rifle when they were 6-800 new. Sigh….
That'll work just fine on lots bigger than deer
If you think about it, a 160gr bullet that sheds 25% of its weight ends up at 120 grains And thats most lead cored hunting bullets right there. The heavies have a very high sectional density....until they hit the animal and a bunch of em breaks off lol.That does turn into fragmentation and do more damage comparatively, but the 120gr kills stuff plenty.
Lyallpeder said:
They sure won't be any deader! But ya just might see better haha
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I like the magazine on the AB3 better, Google pictures of each magazine you'll see the differences
I’m thinking I can get one that add a scope and it’s ready. No after market pad or stock adding to the price. I’m leaning to the XPR.
That'll work just fine on lots bigger than deer
That does turn into fragmentation and do more damage comparatively, but the 120gr kills stuff plenty.
I agree 100 with what you’re saying about the larger bullet ending up a 120 grain anyway. I have 2 recovered 150gr 308 bullets and although I trim around the bullet path I ask the question where did that material go? I’m not worried about the toxicity of lead bullets more just I would like to experiment with solid, and while I’m at it, why not a whole new rig.That'll work just fine on lots bigger than deer
That does turn into fragmentation and do more damage comparatively, but the 120gr kills stuff plenty.
They sure won't be any deader! But ya just might see better haha
Had a couple AB3, 270 synthetic, 308 walnut, liked them both, good guns, properly threaded and head spaced barrels, no Savage nuts, actual recoil lug on them, they come bedded from the factory, best synthetic stocks I've seen on a budget rifle, so a couple pluses over the XPR and Tikka offerings. They shoulder real well too.
My brother talked me out of the 270 a few years ago, traded me a Win 70 FW push feed in 7x57, he hunted for many years with that Winchester, never saw anything to shoot with it. The AB3 270 he got his biggest deer that fall, first moose year after, biggest deer rack year after that, and just dropped a nice 10 last week.
Might be the luckiest gun ever made lol.
Still have the 308 in walnut, it's just nice and light to carry, has nice wood too, actual short action (Tikka dig there), shoots great, my brother wants that one too, but I don't think he's getting it.
My brother talked me out of the 270 a few years ago, traded me a Win 70 FW push feed in 7x57, he hunted for many years with that Winchester, never saw anything to shoot with it. The AB3 270 he got his biggest deer that fall, first moose year after, biggest deer rack year after that, and just dropped a nice 10 last week.
Might be the luckiest gun ever made lol.
Still have the 308 in walnut, it's just nice and light to carry, has nice wood too, actual short action (Tikka dig there), shoots great, my brother wants that one too, but I don't think he's getting it.
byronick87
New member
- Location
- Cowtown, AB
I’ve owned all 3. I sold the AB3. The trigger was sub par compared to the other 2
Winchester has a nice fit and finish relative to the price. Tikka is a step above all as expected price reflective.
accuracy wise, tikka gave me the least grief. It shoots Remington corelokts into a tight clover leaf pattern all day every day. It will dot he same with federal fusions.
Winchester and browning were equally picky but not overly terrible. 7-08 is a great calibre
All of my rifles had walnut stocks as well
The one thing I did like about the AB3 was the tang safety.
Winchester has the 3 position, tikka has 2
I believe the tikka has the nicest trigger
Lots of after market parts for tikka
I believe the XPR is the best bang for buck. Identical to the aBolt but a nicer trigger but I did not like the lines of the stock.
It all boils down to how it feels in your hands.
If I were you, I’d buy an XPR and put the money saved towards a nice scope. You can find an XPR for $550-$600 new from time to time
best of luck
Winchester has a nice fit and finish relative to the price. Tikka is a step above all as expected price reflective.
accuracy wise, tikka gave me the least grief. It shoots Remington corelokts into a tight clover leaf pattern all day every day. It will dot he same with federal fusions.
Winchester and browning were equally picky but not overly terrible. 7-08 is a great calibre
All of my rifles had walnut stocks as well
The one thing I did like about the AB3 was the tang safety.
Winchester has the 3 position, tikka has 2
I believe the tikka has the nicest trigger
Lots of after market parts for tikka
I believe the XPR is the best bang for buck. Identical to the aBolt but a nicer trigger but I did not like the lines of the stock.
It all boils down to how it feels in your hands.
If I were you, I’d buy an XPR and put the money saved towards a nice scope. You can find an XPR for $550-$600 new from time to time
best of luck
Thanks for the input. What do you mean the Winchester has a 3 position safety? You mean 2 position, right?
