Not sure I made the right choice .308 hunting rifle

[chickenfried]

Well I broke down and bought a hunting rifle. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=182835

After some research ended up buying a new tikka lite stainless in .308. I had a really hard time making up my mind between the new(ugly) tikka and a used Kimber 84M with a beautiful walnut stock in the same caliber. They were basically the same price.

Usually I'd be all over the beautiful walnut stock and blued steel, kimber. But this time I decided to try and ignore aesthetics. But I've been second guessing my purchase since I started the paperwork. Especially since the kimber was a good price and shot little. Might as well see what you guys think.

pro tikka
Excelllent reviews from owners
accuracy guarantee
ugly plastic stock might be tougher and more reliable in bad weather compared with wood
very few people complaining about problems

cons tikka
ugly
short action caliber in a long action. I didn't see any reason why this should matter to me.
3 round capacity, I should be able to get the job done with three shots, right?
$60 magazines
some plastic parts

Pro Kimber
Beautiful!!
Looks like an american hunting rifle should
made in the USA
5 round capacity
no plastic

Con Kimber
more reported problems
no accuracy guarantee
Used rifle, might be buying someone else's problem rifle.
wood stock might be less durable in the field or affected by the weather.

 

[Waywatcher]

In the Tikka's defence, the capacity is 4 rounds. (3+1) It is also lighter than the Kimber.

I love my Tikka, it's my favorite gun period. I think you made the right choice.

P.S. Mine is wood/blue 30-06.

 

[Vitamin G]

No worries...

I do the same thing all the time...

Then I shoot it.



My friend basically had to threaten me, call me names, and generally question the size of my anatomical gifts to coax me into plunking down the money on a barely shot "rack" grade garand, with all-original parts but horrid stock.
Shot it, and never looked back. Thats what friends are for.


And i'm sure i'll be doing the same to him when the remorse factor starts to kick in after he lays down his cash for a .44mag desert eagle with a tag of $750 locally...

Buyers remorse. Its a killer, but it passes.

 

[000Buck]

I would have bought the Tikka. Good choice.

 

[JMusic]

Good choices on both. My money would have went to the Kimber.

Jim

 

[bowfin]

The biggest factor in hunting deer is your patience and persistence, followed by knowing the quarry, followed by knowing the area, followed by your skill with the rifle. Only cartridge selection is (in my opinion) less important than which make and model of rifle for deer hunting.

You couldn't hardly make a wrong choice between the two mentioned. Put a good scope on whichever one your intuition tells you to have, and go get a good start on wearing out the barrel.

 

[DogBonz]

I think that you chose wisely

I think that the Tika is the better rifle. The have the same barrels as their more expensive brother the Sako. They have nice triggers and are pretty light. The kimber is nice, but you bought a hunting rifle, not a safe queen, right?

 

[countryrebel]

You made the right choice.Just wait till it gets rained on or bumped hard on the stock.No worries.I was going to buy a tikka t3 in 300 win mag but my 700 sps fit my budget better.

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

how about some pics.

 

[Shoney]

In my 50 years of hunting, I have seen many beautiful used rifles for sale that looked brand new, but were horribly abused. There are a lot of shooters who will load over max, way over max, destroying the action and/or throat.

Cassual inspection will not reveal these defects. Only a "mike job" by a competent gunsmith, and shooting the former owners "accuracy loads" will reveal them.

Also consider, the previous owner may have fired 3000 - 4000 rounds thru the weapon, and it may only have 500-2000 accurate shots left in it. Competent gunsmiths can give you an idea of rounds, but it is still a "crap shoot" (pardon the pun).

You not only made the right decision, but a good one as well.

 

[sb350hp]

Sounds like maybe some purchasers remorse? Are you not happy with the Tikka? Does the Kimber now seem like the better choice?
No one can tell you that you made the right choice, that is your decision to make.

On a side note:
If you paid a premium for the Tikka and are second guessing maybe a mdl 70 or 700 w/ a custom stock would have been a better choice:

 

[chickenfried]

Thanks for the replies. I still have to wait a few more days before pickup day. Already got a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40, warne rings, and a limbsaver waiting for it.

I'm just a VERY indecisive buyer. I think I made the right choice. But I was sorting through my email and saw the pics of the kimber the seller sent me. One side of the stock has the tiger striping I love, overall just a beautiful piece of walnut. Made me second guess my purchase. Especially since aesthetics usually play a part in my gun purchases.

It didn't pay a premium for the tikka, got a good price. But the kimber was priced to go at $600.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Well, the Tikka is a very practical hunting rifle. While it may not have the charm of a more traditional hunting rifle, it should be up to the challenge. I've shot a T3 as well as a 595 and they've both been very accurate with nice triggers. You'll know whether or not you made the right choice after you go on a hunt with the rifle. Until then, I wouldn't worry about it unless a problem arises.

BTW, I kinda went thru the same issue when I bought my first centerfire hunting rifle last year. A friend who hunts recommended a stainless steel synthetic stocked rifle for practicality but I ended up buying a nice old Sako safe-queen instead. Everything worked out for me as the Sako shoots great and I harvested a wild boar with it last month (my first hunt). However, I already accepted that if I carry a rifle into the field, I can't expect to keep it looking pristine. I didn't care since I bought the rifle to use.

If you had bought the Kimber mainly because of looks, would you still carry it in the field without hesitation?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

chickenfried,
Save up a little cash and buy a nice Walnut stock for your Tikka. Then sell the plastic one on Ebay and get most of your money back.... Problem solved!!

 

[Sodbuster]

But the kimber was priced to go at $600

I have to wonder if there isn't a reason for that low price. Maybe something related to what Shoney has said. Maybe something legit like the owner needs money. Hard to say. You bought a nice NEW rifle.

 

[aubie515]

It is your opinion that the Tikka's are "ugly", because I happen to prefer synthetic stocks over wood. If you couldn't decide on which rifle to purchase, you should have waited. Nothing worst then someone who whines about a good purchase because he/she cannot make up their mind. I suppose you dislike the Tikka action as well? If you are that unhappy with your purchase, I am sure that you can recoup the money you spent on the rifle when you sell it.

 

[Charles S]

Both rifles are excellent hunting rifles. I agree that the Tikka is not pretty, but I love mine, light weight very accurate, and in an all weather configuration. For a hunter what is not to love. I find that my Tikka has pretty much become my go to gun in foul weather or in a situation where I know I am going to have to do a lot of walking.

If you really like the Kimber (and you can) put it on lay away, there is nothing wrong with having two 308s.

 

[Hokkmike]

As my brother would say, "You done good!"

 

[Browning]

For what it's worth, I think you made the right decision in picking the Tikka over the Kimber.

I personally love a really good looking wood rifle stock, but if that rifles going to end up actually being used very much, that stock is going to get dinged, scratched, knocked around, knocked over, get rained on, have dogs step on it, set in the bed of a truck twenty or thirty times and have all kinds of things happen to it. You may be mourning the fact that wood would look better right now, but in a year or two it might be a different story. Then you'd be wishing you bought the synthetic rifle after the wood is all scratched and dinged up.

Plus the Tikka is just as accurate as the Kimber and IMO, you made a great choice as far as the caliber goes.

Once you actually start to use it, you'll be glad you bought the Tikka.

 

[hounddog]

I love indecisive gun buyers. They end up selling guns more often, and usually cheaper. Find alot of deals on nice guns right after hunting season.

 

[Urbana John]

Good choice in the 308!!

I know we are not talking about Rugers here, but I've got 3 of them.

Had an All Weather one in 30-06, with syn. stock and SS barrel, was a real "pain" to shoot!!
Traded it for the Mark IV (?) in 308, a little heavier with the wood stock, but is a lot more pleasant to shoot.

One thing about the wood stock---it can be re-finished and the syn. stocks will get beat up and dinged just as much and there's no "making them purty" again.

 

[Afy]

The Tikka is an excellent rifle. I am saving my pennies for a Tikka T3...

 

[4fingermick]

I've never owned a Tikka, but they have been on sale here in Australia for 40-50 years and are one of the most popular brands here. I have hunted with lots of guys that shot Tikkas, not one complaint, same as SAKOs (now, I've owned a few of them, good or better than Tikka's, but don't look gawky.

I take it back, the first centrefire (apart from the 303 in cadets) that I fired was a 222/12Ga Tikka. Once again, gawky, but gooddddddddddddddd!

Kimbers are sure purty, but I've had nothing to do with them.

 

[stellarpod]

Waywacher stated:

In the Tikka's defence, the capacity is 4 rounds. (3+1) It is also lighter than the Kimber.

I've got to cry foul on this one.

The Tikka Hunter weighs in at 6lbs 13oz.
The Tikka Lite weighs in at 6lbs 3oz.

The Kimber 84M weighs in at 5lbs 13oz., a full pound less than the Tikka Hunter!

I own a Kimber 84M in .260 Remington. This rifle was designed from the ground up with lightweight specs in mind. It is a dream to carry and it also has a phenominal wooden stock.

I would not question for a minute the value and accuracy of the Tikka lineup. But, likewise, I wouldn't (and haven't) hesitated for a minute taking my beautifully-walnut stocked Kmber into the boonies.

Everytime I look at a scratch or scar on a favorite hunting rifle it takes me back to the time and place it happened - and that's usually a pleasant place to be.

stellarpod

 

[Simple Man]

Personally I think you will like the Tikka. You could always get the T3 Hunter if you dislike the synthetic stock on the Tikka. I have the T3 hunter and love it almost as much as I like CZ rifles. They are very fine rifles that will shoot with the best of them.