Not sure I made the right choice .308 hunting rifle

[Oohrah]

Wow, I would be hard pressed to chose as with a most everything
caliber, I would try for both if possible!

 

[Essex County]

My T3 Lite has exceeded all expectations and it is imensfully practical. And, I'm a fussy old codger....Essex

 

[lanman89]

My Tikka is in the mail. Be here for the weekend. No Remorse for me, I'm all smiles! I think you made the right choice.

 

[chickenfried]

Just picked mine up today . I'll post a pic after I mount the scope. It's what I expected nothing more nothing less. Range trip on Friday , hopefully I get the scope mounted by then.

I can't wait to carry this on my next hunting trip! It's probably even lighter than my 10/22T. The trigger feels pretty sweet fresh out of the box.

 

[silverlance]

Heh - buyer's remorse. see things are different here in CA. if you have buyers remorse too much you wake up one morning to find that all those guns you didn't buy because you were too busy feeling regretful about one silly gun are now... BANNED.

Want me to tell you a quick story? ok.

I have a 4473 going on right now that will have FOUR rifles on it. not a fortune mind you, all together about 1200, but i'm not rich and that's big money to me.

yet i consider a good investment. the truth is that guns tend to retain their value quite well and you will never look in your safe and say, "god, what a lot of junk in here..".

 

[chickenfried]

Actually after looking at it for the past day. I've changed my mind, the rifle's not ugly it's just not pretty . Looking forward to having some fun, hunting with this gun.

 

[bluedsteel]

Your Tikka looks "all business" to me.

I like that look.



bluedsteel

 

[stellarpod]

Chickenfried:

Nice choice on the scope too. As mentioned previously, I opted for the Kimber. But I put the same scope - Zeiss Conquest - on mine. I believe this is one of the best values out there in a 3x9.

I don't think you could have done wrong with either rifle choice.

stellarpod

 

[Caimlas]

I'm not sure what you're saying here. I can not see how a Tikka T3 could cost as much as a Kimber 84M - we're talking $600 max (and thats for a nice wood stock) vs. $600 as a starting price for used, as far as I can see.

I got my Tikka T3 .270 win for $450 a year ago. It is, in my opinion, much more beautiful than any "American made" rifle. Awkward German-derived engineering/aesthetic vs. Swiss aesthetic/engineering? Please! I'll take the Swiss.

$60 magazines? I know they exist, but this hardly seems like a legit criticism: a little froogle search shows $45 5-rounders for the Tikka T3. And I could've sworn I found factory magazines for the T3 for $20 each - can't seem to locate them now.

 

[sansone]

every time I prepare to buy a gun I OVER-research.. then when I finally make the purchase I start fretting over whether or not I bought the right one. to make matters worse I drag my wife into the discussion where she believes me to be insane. it's a beautiful rifle, enjoy it

 

[chickenfried]

sanson1 sounds exactly like what I go through with a purchase .

With shipping and cc surcharge the total for the tikka lite stainless was $580, the used kimber 84m was $600.

The lowest froogle price for a .308 tikka magazine is $56.79 without shipping. cheaper than dirt has them listed ~$45, but they've been out of stock since I've been checking (~a month). I'd appreciate any link to cheap tikka magazines.

 

[fast eddie]

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

I agree with this. A hunting rifle is a tool and it's bound to get dinged a little if it's used; gives it character if you ask me. I don't buy with re-sale in mind so I don't mind a blemish or two (although I cringe when it happens).
I gotta get out more cause I never heard of Tikka (poor man's Sako?). Did a web search and it seems like a fine rifle. I'd definitely consider one if I was in the market; however I don't get how a .308 doesn't have a short action.

 

[chickenfried]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. But short action refers to the length of the action. Longer rounds like the .30-06 need a longer action to fit the round. So you can have a short action caliber in a long action rifle but not vice versa.

Bolt throw is controlled by the bolt stop so it's not increased by having a short action cartridge in a long action rifle.

Advantages to having a short action rifle increased stiffness which might lead to greater accuracyl and lighter weight. But tikka owners rave about the guns accuracy and at ~7 pounds with a scope it's already a pretty light gun so I'm not going to complain about the tiny bit of extra weight.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have old eyes..... which scope did you put on your rifle?

 

[chickenfried]

It's not your eyes, it's my crappy photo . Just took a quick one after I finished mounting the scope and putting on the recoil pad.

It's a Zeiss conquest 3-9x40

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thank you...