Xbolt or tikka t3x

I considered both for my daughter (.308 WIN). I think you can't go wrong with either.

As for me, I finally went with Tikka and the major selling points for me was (a) the silky smooth bolt and (b) the aftermarket parts availability (at some point in the future, I plan to replace the factory stock with a Wildcat stock and the factory barrel with a Proof Research prefit barrel).
 
Buckmastr said:
No McMillan factory offerings on the Tikka page. Plastic galore.
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That's true. Depends what the OP is looking for I suppose. I'm more of a wood or laminated guy so a non-issue for me. Both are great rifles and match up very well head-to-head. I'm more of a Tikka guy but there are several X-bolts in my hunt camp and they all perform flawlessly as well.
 
Just 2 cents from an old guy, who doesn't hunt any more. Look at savage as well. With the right ammo which is the thing to figure out with every rifle, they are very accurate A good scope, and just as important don't buy cheap scope mounts. They are crucial to accuracy, and durability. I know! I won't name brand but I had the run of the mill rings on a riffle, bumped a tree on first hunt one year after sight in, and out it all went. Then I paid up a few $hundred and bought "near" custom mounts, and it all stayed spot on for 10 years of bush and field use with more bumps, till I gave the gun to my kid.
 
If it wasn't for the trigger on the Browning the browning would have it all over the Tikka. I like the tang safety and the 60 degree bolt lift on the browning and the stock design is better imo. I also like the fact that the X-bolt and A-bolt have a standard and short action length. I'm sure the Plastica is a nice rifle, just dont leave it to close to the woodstove.:)
 
dmcdam said:
Wouldn't it be the opposite, because the Tikka's are all long actions but spaced to fit the short calibers?
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For reloaders mostly, the Tikka long action isn't long enough for some cartridges. For example, in .300 WM, max mag length is pretty much standard COAL, so there's no room to load long. You won't be coming anywhere near the lands unless you use a Mountain Tactical mag. For 7mmRM, same mag, you can load relatively longer and get closer to the lands, bit still won't touch.

For short action calibers, especially using Med+ mags, you can reach the lands with pretty much any caliber.
 
I really like my xbolts but I am disappointed in the rotary magazines. I have found in cold weather the cartridges tend to stick in the mags. Noticed this with standard and long action magazines.
 
theshootist said:
I really like my xbolts but I am disappointed in the rotary magazines. I have found in cold weather the cartridges tend to stick in the mags. Noticed this with standard and long action magazines.
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Check Browning recall with faulty mags, you might me affected
 
RangerPark said:
For reloaders mostly, the Tikka long action isn't long enough for some cartridges. For example, in .300 WM, max mag length is pretty much standard COAL, so there's no room to load long. You won't be coming anywhere near the lands unless you use a Mountain Tactical mag. For 7mmRM, same mag, you can load relatively longer and get closer to the lands, bit still won't touch.

For short action calibers, especially using Med+ mags, you can reach the lands with pretty much any caliber.
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Ah - gotcha. Factory ammo guy here so didn't think about that.
 
I owned Tikka rifles all the way up until I got an X-Bolt (2 T3 and 4 T3X), now I have 3 Brownings and 0 Tikkas.

As stated, the triggers are fine if you understand how they work and how to work on them. The stocks are much nicer, the mags are nicer, the finish is better, and mine are a wash on accuracy compared to my T3 and T3X rifles.

Aftermarket though, Tikka has a ton of options over Browning for sure.
 
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