Xbolt hells canyon vs Tikka T3X veil wideland
- Thread starter jonyork
- Start date
my thoughts behind the brake was more that I wanted the threaded muzzle more than the brake.
A guy can hope for silencers one day in this country
Spend yer $$ then.
Awl dizz fancy schmancy chit fur ahhh ker-pow.
Yewse the sirplus fer gooder awpticks.
Better ergos, probably won’t be much lighter but plastics stocks are crap, they are not as accurate, flimsy, not as durable.
Other. Take a hard look at the Kimber Hunter. Same barreled action in a plastic stock. All the reviews I have read about this particular model have been enthusiastically positive and the stock is supposed to be pretty good, much better than the run of the mill manufacturers stuff.
I have 3 x bolts - 308, 30-06 and .223. I haven't had in issue with any of them. They are very very light rifles. To be frank an xbolt in 300wm probably would be uncomfortable to shoot off the bench. I have also owned some Tikka's, don't have any right now, they were awesome as well, my only complaint with them was a slightly heavy trigger.
The Tikka trigger is easy to adjust to around 2-1/2lbs. Many X-bolt triggers will not adjust to below around 3-1/2lbs.
Interesting, I can't get my T3x trigger below 3 lbs. The adjustment screw hits the trigger mount screw and will not come out far enough. My last X bolt adjusted nicely down to just under 3 IIRC. Much prefer the Browning adjustment than the Tikka at this point.
X bolt, any x bolt. I have a micro composite for hunting in thick stuff and a hells canyon speed for open ground. Both shoot good groups with factory stuff (Hornady precision hunter) or handloads, and I didn’t both going crazy on load development. Both of mine will do 3/4” 3 shot or 1” 5 shot with factory ammo and 3/4” 5 shot groups with handloads, and I’m not that great of a group shooter. Cold bore shots at 430 yards (the furthest I commonly shoot, topography dictates my distances, haha) for both are always bang on, it’s not even a challenge. I love x bolt ergonomics and controls, for myself. I’ve got 300-400 rounds through each of mine and have zero issues. Both of my triggers only went down to 3.5-4 pounds, but broke like glass. I replaced the springs, down to 2.75 and 3 now, even better. Not much aftermarket for browning, but they’re pretty well good to go out of the box: buy rifle, insert ammo, knock stuff down.
I’m with others that think brakes are dumb. Both of mine are threaded, but just wear the protector caps, brakes gather dust. If I did it again I’d go for a stainless synthetic over the fancy finishes.
Tikka’s are very good as well. I don’t like where the safety is, I don’t like that their short action is a long action and I don’t like their 3 round mag. More aftermarket for Tikka’s. More yet for Remington and Savage, if that matters to you (it doesn’t to me).
I would say shoulder each, work the action, work the safety, see which YOU prefer. If you can, have the store throw a scope on each and check cheek weld / eye alignment as well.
Happy hunting, let us know what you go with!
I’m with others that think brakes are dumb. Both of mine are threaded, but just wear the protector caps, brakes gather dust. If I did it again I’d go for a stainless synthetic over the fancy finishes.
Tikka’s are very good as well. I don’t like where the safety is, I don’t like that their short action is a long action and I don’t like their 3 round mag. More aftermarket for Tikka’s. More yet for Remington and Savage, if that matters to you (it doesn’t to me).
I would say shoulder each, work the action, work the safety, see which YOU prefer. If you can, have the store throw a scope on each and check cheek weld / eye alignment as well.
Happy hunting, let us know what you go with!
Nice read. Thanks!
thatmikeguy
Regular
- Location
- Steinbach, Manitoba
I voted other because the basic T3 is awesome. My only complaint would be the 3 round mag but bigger mags are available.
Browning_300wsm
Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
Just sold my Xbolt last weekend. I liked the gun. But in my opinion it doesn't compare to a Tikka. The bolt isn't as near as smooth and the trigger isn't as nice. Loved the look of the gun, and it shot extremely accurately for the few rounds I put through it.
But I have wanted a T3x laminate stainless for a long time now. Finally picked one up yesterday in .308 Win. Go to a store and shoulder both of them, see which one fits and go from there. You can always improve the Xbolt's trigger with one of those springs. But honestly I bet once you cycle the bolt of the T3x, that will be the one you walk out with. Just my two cents.
But I have wanted a T3x laminate stainless for a long time now. Finally picked one up yesterday in .308 Win. Go to a store and shoulder both of them, see which one fits and go from there. You can always improve the Xbolt's trigger with one of those springs. But honestly I bet once you cycle the bolt of the T3x, that will be the one you walk out with. Just my two cents.
thatmikeguy
Regular
- Location
- Steinbach, Manitoba
Just sold my Xbolt last weekend. I liked the gun. But in my opinion it doesn't compare to a Tikka. The bolt isn't as near as smooth and the trigger isn't as nice. Loved the look of the gun, and it shot extremely accurately for the few rounds I put through it.
But I have wanted a T3x laminate stainless for a long time now. Finally picked one up yesterday in .308 Win. Go to a store and shoulder both of them, see which one fits and go from there. You can always improve the Xbolt's trigger with one of those springs. But honestly I bet once you cycle the bolt of the T3x, that will be the one you walk out with. Just my two cents.
That's how I bought my first Tikka. I still own and love Tikka.
Why do you need a larger magazine for a hunting rifle?
thatmikeguy
Regular
- Location
- Steinbach, Manitoba
I've never needed a larger magazine. I just like it. I think rifles should hold 5. Seems like a good number.
I have an X-Bolt and a Tikka and both those rifles have their pros and cons.
- People have complained about the Tikka bolts, some have said they fall apart but I don't know how and have never had it happen to mine.
- The x-bolt trigger is a little more difficult to fine tune but I replaced the spring and cleaned it up and now have it down to about 2.75lbs without any issues.
- The Tikka action/mag may hinder your OAL and bullet seating a bit in the .300WM.
- The X-bolt mags are 100x better than the Tikka mags which are prone to being too loose and popping rounds out, especially if dropped
- The Browning has a better extractor, many gunsmiths say the Sako/Tikka extractors are a bad design as they are short and upon failure can wedge/jam into the steel of the receiver. The browning X-bolt is similar to an M-16 which is supposed to be the best out there.
- The previous comment/complaint about X-Bolt requiring you to push a button to open the action is ridiculous. This is only required if you have the safety on and is a design feature which allows the action to be opened/cycled with the safety still on, like the Sako 85 rifles. The Tikka bolt is locked closed with safety on and safety must be switched off to open the bolt, many prefer the option to keep safety on while opening the action.
- My X-bolt was super easy to develop a load for and is far more accurate than my Tikka which has given me nothing but grief when it comes to acceptable accuracy and load development. I'm now on my 4th or 5th bullet option and have had everything checked by a gunsmith and bedded into a new custom stock with still no luck.
- X-bolt is bedded into the stock from the factory, tikkas are not
- X-bolt stock is more rigid than factory Tikka stock
- The softtouch coating on X-bolt stocks has had durability issues but is grippy in wet weather
- Not necessarily a consideration in your case but X-bolt has at least 3 different action sizes to accommodate the specific cartridges where as the Tikka is a 1-size fits all which is excessively long for standard short and .223 action sizes
- Tikka recoil pad is a hockey puck and needs to be replaced from the get go. X-bolt is one of, if not the nicest factory recoil pads out there.
- X-bolt has a shorter, 60° bolt throw instead of the 90° Tikka.
- Tikka action is one of the smoothest out there
- X-bolt mag is flush and cleaner looking than the Tikka which sticks down (bigger deal to some who carry their rifles a lot)
- Supposedly the X-bolts can be harder to get the barrels off of and can be prone to galling or something but I've never tried myself. I've heard the Tikka barrels can be really torqued on hard too from the factory though so could be a toss up.
- X-bolt ejection port is larger and easier to get rounds in and out of, I find the Tikka more difficult to top load single rounds, especially without a mag in (I often do this at the range for sight in and load development etc)
- I believe the X-bolt has more cartridge/chambering options than the Tikka (again not an issue if you're set on .300WM, in my personal opinion, both these rifles are too light for .300winmag)
- More after market products for Tikkas
All I can think of off the top of my head.
Long story short, I'm considering purchasing another X-Bolt and don't think I'd consider another Tikka, especially when I think about all the frustration I've had trying to get mine to shoot. Getting to the point that I may flog it or rebarrel it.
- People have complained about the Tikka bolts, some have said they fall apart but I don't know how and have never had it happen to mine.
- The x-bolt trigger is a little more difficult to fine tune but I replaced the spring and cleaned it up and now have it down to about 2.75lbs without any issues.
- The Tikka action/mag may hinder your OAL and bullet seating a bit in the .300WM.
- The X-bolt mags are 100x better than the Tikka mags which are prone to being too loose and popping rounds out, especially if dropped
- The Browning has a better extractor, many gunsmiths say the Sako/Tikka extractors are a bad design as they are short and upon failure can wedge/jam into the steel of the receiver. The browning X-bolt is similar to an M-16 which is supposed to be the best out there.
- The previous comment/complaint about X-Bolt requiring you to push a button to open the action is ridiculous. This is only required if you have the safety on and is a design feature which allows the action to be opened/cycled with the safety still on, like the Sako 85 rifles. The Tikka bolt is locked closed with safety on and safety must be switched off to open the bolt, many prefer the option to keep safety on while opening the action.
- My X-bolt was super easy to develop a load for and is far more accurate than my Tikka which has given me nothing but grief when it comes to acceptable accuracy and load development. I'm now on my 4th or 5th bullet option and have had everything checked by a gunsmith and bedded into a new custom stock with still no luck.
- X-bolt is bedded into the stock from the factory, tikkas are not
- X-bolt stock is more rigid than factory Tikka stock
- The softtouch coating on X-bolt stocks has had durability issues but is grippy in wet weather
- Not necessarily a consideration in your case but X-bolt has at least 3 different action sizes to accommodate the specific cartridges where as the Tikka is a 1-size fits all which is excessively long for standard short and .223 action sizes
- Tikka recoil pad is a hockey puck and needs to be replaced from the get go. X-bolt is one of, if not the nicest factory recoil pads out there.
- X-bolt has a shorter, 60° bolt throw instead of the 90° Tikka.
- Tikka action is one of the smoothest out there
- X-bolt mag is flush and cleaner looking than the Tikka which sticks down (bigger deal to some who carry their rifles a lot)
- Supposedly the X-bolts can be harder to get the barrels off of and can be prone to galling or something but I've never tried myself. I've heard the Tikka barrels can be really torqued on hard too from the factory though so could be a toss up.
- X-bolt ejection port is larger and easier to get rounds in and out of, I find the Tikka more difficult to top load single rounds, especially without a mag in (I often do this at the range for sight in and load development etc)
- I believe the X-bolt has more cartridge/chambering options than the Tikka (again not an issue if you're set on .300WM, in my personal opinion, both these rifles are too light for .300winmag)
- More after market products for Tikkas
All I can think of off the top of my head.
Long story short, I'm considering purchasing another X-Bolt and don't think I'd consider another Tikka, especially when I think about all the frustration I've had trying to get mine to shoot. Getting to the point that I may flog it or rebarrel it.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
The 60 degree bolt throw, tang safety and having a true short action is the deciding factor for me. I'm just not a fan of the plastica.
