Need help deciding what rifle

What is best for my situation

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James_J

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I just turned 18 and looking into bolt action precision rifles. I don't have any experience so I need some advice. Atm I have these three guns in mind and what info I got about them so far.
Tikka T3x: lighter than bergara, better trigger than browning
Browning x bolt: better stock than tikka, lighter than bergara
Bergara b14: better stock than tikka, better trigger than browning
I'm having a tough time deciding. All of them are really accurate. They are all in the same price range. One catch, however, is that I do not want to replace parts. Only buy a scope and a bipod at most. This means that the Tikka and Browning will be used with factory stock and trigger respectively. Due to college I won't have enough time to learn how to and go hunting. So this will be more of a range gun. If I need a tie breaker, I like the looks of the BMP and Tact A1. Imo the look of a tactical grip and a "modern" chassis looks nice.
Thanks for the help everyone!
 
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Just to be fair I tend to default to Browning almost instantly, and not look to hard at the newer tikkas.

I haven't owned or even spent much time behind an xbolt, but I've shot more than a few t3s and t3xs, and owned a bergara. I liked the xbolts, and my b14 better than any of the Tikkas I've shot, but that me.

Honestly I don't think you can make a functionally bad choice between them.
If you like the look and feel of the HMR, or BMP, get one of those.....or what ever you happen to like best.

And welcome to THR, and rifles!
 
If you ever want to upgrade anything and/or rebarrel easily (prefit barrel) the Tikka is your best option.

The Browning is more of a hunting rifle with little aftermarket support and had a rather light barrel profile for range use.

Replacing the barrel on the Bergara means a trip to a smith or back to Bergara.

You can get shouldered prefit barrels for the Tikka from places like Patriot Valley Arms or Straight Jacket Armory and change it yourself.

Here's my Tikka CTR:
preview.jpg
 
Maybe I can’t read but what’s your intended purpose? Hunting? Target shooting?

Go to the store and shoulder them all to see which fits best and then try to
find a range that lets you rent and shoot so that you can get a feel for them. Unlike @LoonWulf I like the Tikkas for hunting purposes.
 
I'm not going to comment on the Browning. No 1st hand experience.

But between Bergara and Tikka I'd pick Tikka 10 times out of 10. Bergara does a good job of making a nice "LOOKING" stock, but the Tikka stock is a much better stock.

A Tikka CTR is a good compromise target/hunting rifle. Street prices are about $1000-$1,100. The biggest disadvantage is $100 replacement/spare magazines.

I'm going to confuse you further. For an 18 year old with limited funds I'd go this way.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleHunter/specSheets/26993.html

26983.jpg

I had a Bergara Ridge that I just never could get to shoot up to my standards. Finally gave up on it and traded it for one of these. I've had VERY good luck with the Ruger Predators. They've recently came out with this version with a Magpul stock on it and a heavier barrel. It is a bit heavier than the Tikka and just as accurate. Magazines are easier to find and priced $30-$40. Street price is about $650. I traded my Bergara and $120 for mine.

You don't mention cartridge. I'm heavily invested in 308, so my Tikka CTR and Ruger are in 308. But I also own and have shot enough 6.5 Creedmoor that I'd advise a new shooter to go that way. The 308 is good, the 6.5 CM does everything better.
 
As asked, what are you going to use it for and at what yardages? Have you picked a caliber and why? Hard to beat a Remington 700 in the right configuration. Bed the action, float the barrel and change triggers and you can be shooting pretty precisely.

Bob
 
I don’t have any Browning rifles but do have Tikkas and Bergaras. I really like my Bergaras, but I’ve got the “Premium” line which’s more expensive. I can second JMR’s statement about developing a load for the Bergaras. They can be finicky but once I’ve found a load it’s outstanding.

I’ve got 2 friends that have Tikka Tac A1s and they are great rifles. These days the support for Tikka is outstanding and will only get better. If I was after a chassis rifle I’d get the Tikka and never look back.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I'm going for 6.5 Creedmoor as it will be a range gun. It seems the answer is "each one is a good choice". I feared that would be the answer. Lol. I guess then its just down to looks and price. Thanks.
 
jmr40 said:
I'm not going to comment on the Browning. No 1st hand experience.

But between Bergara and Tikka I'd pick Tikka 10 times out of 10. Bergara does a good job of making a nice "LOOKING" stock, but the Tikka stock is a much better stock.

A Tikka CTR is a good compromise target/hunting rifle. Street prices are about $1000-$1,100. The biggest disadvantage is $100 replacement/spare magazines.

I'm going to confuse you further. For an 18 year old with limited funds I'd go this way.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleHunter/specSheets/26993.html

View attachment 931924

I had a Bergara Ridge that I just never could get to shoot up to my standards. Finally gave up on it and traded it for one of these. I've had VERY good luck with the Ruger Predators. They've recently came out with this version with a Magpul stock on it and a heavier barrel. It is a bit heavier than the Tikka and just as accurate. Magazines are easier to find and priced $30-$40. Street price is about $650. I traded my Bergara and $120 for mine.

You don't mention cartridge. I'm heavily invested in 308, so my Tikka CTR and Ruger are in 308. But I also own and have shot enough 6.5 Creedmoor that I'd advise a new shooter to go that way. The 308 is good, the 6.5 CM does everything better.
Click to expand...
How much heavier than a Pred, are the barrels on the Hunter versions?
 
Browning doesn’t own Winchester. Both of them are subsidiaries of FN.

OP, quality of the three rifles you are considering is the same IMO. There is also no absolute guarantee as to which one will be the most accurate as evidenced by the context of a number of posts in this thread.

I believe you said you wanted a precision rifle. If that’s the case then weight is your friend.

My preference is Bergara though I’d be happy with any of them.
 
I’d throw Browning out right off the bat if you are looking for a “target/range rifle”. They build fine hunting rifles, but most of their stock will not have a heavy enough barrel and after-market support is not nearly as strong for Browning as it is for the other two.

Between the Tikka and Bergara you can flip a coin. I chose Bergara simply because they patterned after the Remington 700 and there is not a bolt gun in the world with more after-market support than the Remington 700. I bought a Ridgeback in 300 WM and a HMR Wilderness in 6.5 CM. Both will shoot 1/2 MOA three shot groups out to 500 yards w/ factory ammo. I’d suspect Tikka will do the same if the shooter is capable.
 
rkittine said:
As asked, what are you going to use it for and at what yardages? Have you picked a caliber and why? Hard to beat a Remington 700 in the right configuration. Bed the action, float the barrel and change triggers and you can be shooting pretty precisely.

Bob
Click to expand...
Or buy a Bergara B-14 and not do anything but shoot it. I have a B-14, a 700, and have shot the A-Bolt and the Tikka. Nothing wrong with any of them. Another one to consider is the Mauser M18. I could live with any of these.
 
I like the Remington 700 footprint of the Bergara. You may not want to replace parts now, but the Bergara action will support any tinkering you want to do later.
 
Garandimal said:
Mine says:
"- WINCHESTER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF OLIN CORPORATION -"
"-- Imported by BACO Inc., Morgan, Utah -- Made in Portugal by Browning Viana --"
BACO is Browning Arms Company



Apology accepted.

:D




GR
Click to expand...
Do some research, what I said is true. And when I say FN I’m referring to FNH, or the Herstal group to be exact.
Apology accepted.
 
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cdb1 said:
Do some research, what I said is true. And when I say FN I’m referring to FNH, or the Herstal group to be exact.
Apology accepted.
Click to expand...

What you said was obtuse and irrelevant.

Of Course FN runs Winchester.

That is common knowledge.


But that is neither the issue nor the point.

The Winchester M70 EW/SS... is a Browning Rifle.

That, my friend, is the issue and the point.

Carry on.




GR
 
I'd go with the B-14 bmp.
And you can get "cheap" magpul AI style magazines for it.

I ended up with cheap yardsale Bmp Bergara chassis and stuffed a 308 700 in her.

Works fair enough. Feeds from the mag.
 
700 LV SS.JPG

I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm a Remington guy from many moons ago and they do what I ask of them and don't have to beg. That doesn't mean that I don't do a little tinkering on any rifle I own, usually for better accuracy. I've found that it's best in the long run to stick with what you're familiar with, as long as it shoots extremely well.

Yesterday, I took my .223 Rem Light Varmint to my private range and shot some of my newer reloads, and after sighting-in with my newest scope, proceeded to hit what I was aiming at with almost boring regularity. Trigger was outstanding and couldn't have been happier with the results...and people here know that I'm darned fussy!!!

I hope you choose wisely and get something that works well for YOU!
 
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