Help me pick a lightweight rifle

[larueminati]

According to my kitchen scales it weighs 7lb 11oz with a Leupold scope base, warne rings, and a Nikon buck master 4.5-14x40.

Thanks for taking the time to weigh it, I appreciate it.

 

[NWPilgrim]

Of the three mentioned, I only have experience with the Tikka T3 (Hunter, with wood stock) in 6.5x55 and a Sako A7 in 30.06. These are great rifles. Super smooth bolt action, light crisp trigger, and very consistent accuracy, and I mean after lots of shooting at the range, not just the first couple of rounds. For me the stock of the A7 is absolutely perfect and comes to my shoulder as if it was custom fit for me. The Tikka synthetic stock is slightly different (friend has one) but pretty good, but I prefer the wood Hunter stock over the T3 Lite synthetic. No matter what model you buy they all have superb barrels.

I was considering a Kimber 84 or a Winchester Featherweight, but I happened across the A7 first and although never heard of Sako or Tikka before, it was the perfect rifle and I stopped looking. The others could be just as good but I didn't get that far.

 

[joed]

Im looking to pick up a lightweight rifle and have narrowed my choices down to 3 but need some help deciding.

The 3 I have narrowed it down to are

Kimber 84M hunter
Savage lightweight hunter
Tikka t3 lite

Give me your choice and reasoning as to why

Thanks

I've owned Remington, Savage and Winchester rifles. My favorites are Remington and Winchester. I have to ask, why haven't you considered a Winchester Featherweight? It isn't the lightest but it has a good balance. I have one in .243 and think it's great.

 

[Bartojc]

I've owned Remington, Savage and Winchester rifles. My favorites are Remington and Winchester. I have to ask, why haven't you considered a Winchester Featherweight? It isn't the lightest but it has a good balance. I have one in .243 and think it's great.

I was just going to ask the same question. I love my M70 Featherweight. Of the ones the OP mentioned I'd probably choose the Tikka. Never heard anything bad about one.

-Jeff

 

[Dr T]

Tikka.

BTW, the T/C Venture may be a bit heavier, but you may want to look at it.

Both the Tikka and T/C tend to be tackdrivers.

 

[Offfhand]

Really? Isn't it kind of obvious based on the list below that @glockky had a budget that didn't allow for a $3,500 rifle and a two year wait! Heck, you could have a scoped version of each of the OP's suggestions and still be under the cost of one NULA rifle.

Kimber 84M hunter
Savage lightweight hunter
Tikka t3 lite

What you say about the NULA is true, and I agree with your comparisons. But on the other hand consider this: the NULA will be considerably more accurate than any of the brands/models you list regardless of whatever scope you put on them. And at the end of the final hunting seasons, whenever that comes, and it's time to sell, the NULA will be more valuable, and sell for more than all the rifles-and scopes- you list...combined!

 

[CoalTrain49]

I have a Howa Mini that shoots pretty well. You can get them in 6.5 Grendel I believe and the weight will be under 6 lbs. with a #1 barrel. If you don't like the standard plastic stock buy the barreled action from Brownells and put something else on it.

Or just buy a Tikka.

 

[Newtosavage]

Or just buy a Tikka

 

[old heeler]

What you say about the NULA is true, and I agree with your comparisons. But on the other hand consider this: the NULA will be considerably more accurate than any of the brands/models you list regardless of whatever scope you put on them. And at the end of the final hunting seasons, whenever that comes, and it's time to sell, the NULA will be more valuable, and sell for more than all the rifles-and scopes- you list...combined!

I have model 24 build 1989 and all he did was redesign Rem short action smaller in size,.open magazine well to handle 30-06 case. He used same action model 20 and look at picture model 20 http://empty-cases.com/blog/heavy-rifles/

I got friend with Tikka 300WSM and I load for that and I had barrel replaced on the 24 with Kreiger. When I got mine his big seller was model 20 in 284. I'm not selling 24, it's my non spec 280AI.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I don't own a Tikka but my friend has a 308 he bought a few years ago. I've shot it some and it's a really nice rifle. I considered buying one but ended up buying another Howa. People stear clear of Howa's because they aren't well know and they don't advertise very much. Out of the box accuracy is as good as any Savage or Tikka tho. Both of mine are 1 MOA with my ammo. I was shooting with a guy last week with a Howa Mini #2 in a chassis and he was probably 1/2 MOA when he got it dialed in. 6.5 Grendel hand loads.

When I saw that I immediately wanted to put my HBAR in a chassis but I probably can't shoot that well with any rifle. There's always a point of diminishing return.

 

[Newtosavage]

I don't own a Tikka but my friend has a 308 he bought a few years ago. I've shot it some and it's a really nice rifle. I considered buying one but ended up buying another Howa. People stear clear of Howa's because they aren't well know and they don't advertise very much. Out of the box accuracy is as good as any Savage or Tikka tho. Both of mine are 1 MOA with my ammo. I was shooting with a guy last week with a Howa Mini #2 in a chassis and he was probably 1/2 MOA when he got it dialed in. 6.5 Grendel hand loads.

When I saw that I immediately wanted to put my HBAR in a chassis but I probably can't shoot that well with any rifle. There's always a point of diminishing return.

I've heard that about Howa's too. They are very appealing, especially the barreled actions you can buy for a reasonable price. I think there may be a 6.5 Grendel Howa Mini in my future. The only issue I have with them is the magazine protrudes below the stock, right where I would want to carry the rifle.

I know Randy Newberg has promoted Howa's on his show. I've never seen any program promote Tikka's but then these days I think the cat is out of the bag and they operate just fine on word of mouth. Anytime a Tikka hits the used rack at the local Cabelas, they only last a few days, if that.

 

[glockky]

howa’s don’t all have mags protruding from the bottom.
Here’s my howa 1500 in 308

 

[Newtosavage]

Yea, I meant the Mini. If I were to get a Howa, it would be for the 6.5 Grendel.

 

[larueminati]

II think there may be a 6.5 Grendel Howa Mini in my future.

I know Randy Newberg has promoted Howa's on his show.

Until you start looking for stocks for it, VERY limited and nothing lightweight. I've looked.

Randy uses the alpine mountain, very nice but it's a steep price for an japanese gun thats just assembled here. I know howa has a great rep but that feels chinsy to me, esp. to spend almost a grand on.

 

[jonc]

I really like my 2 Kimber hunters. My 243 is very accurate ands it's super light. Way lighter than my m70 featherweight (which I love as well). When I backpack up to hunt I'll be taking my hunter for sure.

 

[larueminati]

99% sure i'm going with the savage 11/LWH in 308, I want the wood stock not a tupperware. I'll report back with what I think about it, buds has them in stock.

If it was a gun I planed on bench shooting alot i'd get the tikka and sacrifice the extra weight that comes with it, the tikka actions are super nice. This is strictly a hunting rifle.

 

[Newtosavage]

99% sure i'm going with the savage 11/LWH in 308, I want the wood stock not a tupperware. I'll report back with what I think about it, buds has them in stock.

If it was a gun I planed on bench shooting the gun alot i'd get the tikka and sacrifice the extra weight that comes with it, actions are super nice. This is strictly hunting rifle.

I don't think you can go wrong with the wood stocked LWH in .308. That's a lifetime gun in my opinion.

 

[DM~]

I have model 24 build 1989 and all he did was redesign Rem short action smaller in size,.open magazine well to handle 30-06 case.

It sounds as if you are saying the ULA is nothing more than an expensive Remington...

You forgot about the PRECISION he puts into those actions, The BEST trigger in the business.. The PREMIUM bbls he uses, in your choice of stainless or not, and what ever weight you want...

AND how about his "patented" carbon fiber Kevlar stock that he designed?? They also come with STRONG lightweight rings that Melvin also designed, and a hard case...

Also, Mel will chamber just about ANY cartridge you want...

All far ahead of a production gun like the three discussed in this thread and yes you do have to pay for all that precision and choices......

DM

 

[CoalTrain49]

Yea, I meant the Mini. If I were to get a Howa, it would be for the 6.5 Grendel.

The only issue I have with my mini is the mag. The release is in front of the mag and like you say, that's where most people carry a rifle. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've brushed that mag release and the mag fell out. I suppose in time I'll get used to it but it's still a PIA. It really is a very light rifle with a #1 barrel. I'm not sure anyone makes a lighter rifle.

I bought it on a whim when Cabelas closed them out. I would tell you how much I paid for it but you probably wouldn't believe it.

 

[MCMXI]

What you say about the NULA is true, and I agree with your comparisons. But on the other hand consider this: the NULA will be considerably more accurate than any of the brands/models you list regardless of whatever scope you put on them. And at the end of the final hunting seasons, whenever that comes, and it's time to sell, the NULA will be more valuable, and sell for more than all the rifles-and scopes- you list...combined!

First off, that's the OP's list, not mine (see his first post). Second, many will doubt your assumption that a NULA rifle will "be considerably more accurate" than a Tikka. Third, the OP had a budget that didn't allow for a $3,500 rifle so why are we still talking about this?

 

[DM~]

the OP had a budget that didn't allow for a $3,500 rifle so why are we still talking about this?

Because, sometimes folks think about what the "extra money" will buy them and save longer, to buy quality instead... Me included, when Mel "showed me" he could build me the 22 rifle I had always dreamed of owning...



And he did exactly what he said he would do...

DM

 

[MCMXI]

Because, sometimes folks think about what the "extra money" will buy them and save longer, to buy quality instead... Me included

I like quality products too, but $3,500 (starting price) and a two year wait is a far cry from a $600 to $800 Tikka, Kimber or Savage. I understand your earlier point that NULA rifles are custom built whereas Tikka, Savage and Kimber rifles aren't, but how many hunters are going to run the rifle hard enough to see the benefits of all that extra cost or justify the time spent waiting for the rifle. I would buy a readily available Montana over a NULA and fix any issues that bother me and still be a long way under the cost of a NULA with very similar real-world performance. But that's just me and I don't expect everyone to see it the same way.

 

[AABEN]

Savage all the way they are very good and Savage stand behind them you can adj there trigger to what you like!!

 

[GooseGestapo]

Don’t overlook the new Barrett FieldCraft.
It’s a licensed copy of the NULA. Essentially the production line “Forbes” rifle that NULA recently discontinued. Price is about half of the NULA. Built by Barrett, of course!

I’ve got a Colt Lt. Rifle which is a previous licensed copy of the NULA made by SACO of Houlton,ME and marketed by Colt.

It doesn’t have the nice stock of the NULA, and has a copy of the post ‘64 Winchester M70 trigger. I’ve amply freefloated the barrel, and tweaked the trigger to 2.75lbs.
The barrel is turned from a Douglas XX blank, and is the second most accurate rifle I own. (.30/06). With a Leupold VX1 3-9x 40mm mounted with provided Talley base/rings (same as NULA) it weighs just under 7lbs with a 24”bbl.

It’ll shoot 5 Sierra ProHunter 180’s over 55.0gr IMR4350 into 0.7”.
It’s made two trips to Colorado and one to Wyoming, but the elk won’t cooperate.

 

[Newtosavage]

OP asks Kimber, Savage or Tikka and we have a debate about NULA's. LOL

Ahh, the internet.