Savage vs. Tikka for Out-of-the-Box Accuracy

[dak0ta]

Hey,

So both guns claim that they're both accurate out of the box.

I'm thinking of Savage 14 and the Tikka T3 Hunter, so both walnut versions. I can get the Savage for a cheaper price than Tikkas, but are Tikkas worth the extra money?

How to the actions compare? Stock dimension? Checkering? Magazines? Ease to mount scopes?

 

[jmr40]

Both have reputations and avid fans that brag about their accuracy. I've owned both and my Tikka's are much more accurate. The Savages can be made accurate with tweaking and load development but my Tikka's shoot cheap factory loads amazingly well. When you consider that Tikks's come supplied with rings the price difference is less than you think. In fact I have found the walnut Savages to be more expensive in my area.

 

[627PCFan]

I own both, and I love both. Tikka is much easier on the eyes but that doesn't put food on the table. For the price both are excellent buys.

 

[R.W.Dale]

My take on the two rifles are this.

Both stand an equal chance of being just as accurate as anything. BUT with the tikka there is NO aftermarket support for upgrades, so however accurate the tikka is when you get it is pretty much all you're gonna get.

The Savage on the other hand is the "small block chevy" of bolt action rifles. Buying the rifle only the starting point parts are avalible at great prices to build whatever your imagination can come up with and however accurate your picket book desires

Savage = Chevrolet 350
Tikka = AMC 360

both are great but which one do you want come rebuild time?

 

[TIMC]

either will give you very good accuracy. The Tikka was top of my list when I was looking for a new bolt gun in .223 but I found a Savage mod 11 I just had to have. I say which ever one calls to you the most get, you will be happy with either rifle.

I own both, and I love both. Tikka is much easier on the eyes but that doesn't put food on the table. For the price both are excellent buys.

I would have to disagree. The Savage mod 11 BGTH is sure pleasing to the eye!

 

[dak0ta]

So what do the guns come with?

Savage comes with a lock

Tikka T3 comes with scope rings?

The Tikka has weaver style mounts, is that an advantage or disadvantage?

Also, I'm thinking of .308, does anybody have experience with this calibre in these rifles?

What are the triggers like? Accu vs. Tikka

 

[jmr40]

The Tikka rings are unique to Tikka. They are not Weaver style. Some do not like them but mine have worked fine. I've owned 4 Savages all in .308 and could never get one to shoot under 1" at 100 yards. Have 2 Tikka's, one .308, one 30-06. Both shoot around 1/2", occasionally less at 100. The Savage is more traditional looking and is more pleasing to many. To be honest either is plenty accurate for hunting.

All guns come with a lock now so that is a wash.

Triggers are very subjective, but I personally do not like the accutrigger and if buying Savage would prefer the older trigger. In my opinion the Tikka has the best out of the box trigger made today. I'm sure others will disagree. Go to a gunstore and decide for yourself.

I still think that for "out of the box" accuracy you cannot beat the Tikka. As krochus has said if you want to customize your rifle Savage is definately the most economical way to go. There are many more products available and much of the work can be done with out using a gunsmith.

 

[jerkface11]

A Tikka is accurate with cheap factory ammo? Where does one find cheap factory ammo? Is your Tikka a .22lr?

 

[jmr40]

Good point. Ain't nothing cheap anymore. I was refering to the basic ammo offered by most companies such as Remington core-locks, Winchester powerpoints and the bluebox Federal as opposed to their premium lines. I've shot sub 1" groups using FMJ military surplus as well. Using handloads or the premium ammo groups of 3/8"-1/2" are common. This is what impresses me about the Tikka. I have other rifles that are just as accurate or very close but they require a lot of tweaking and playing around with different loads to shoot well.

 

[627PCFan]

I couldn't stand the amount of play with the Optiloc factory rings. I ordered a Deadnutz 1 peice mount for my 1" scopes and FINALLY found a Leupold Style base for mounting a 30mm tube.

My only complaint is it shouldn't have take me 4 months to find a Leupold base and screws to fit the receiver. The threading on the receiver is very very difficult to work with.

 

[Horsemany]

700. Tikka. Savage in that order.

 

[Float Pilot]

I went looking for a TIkka the other day...since there used to be a few around here. For one of my kids... Nope,,, all sold.

Then I looked at 5 or 6 of the plastic stocked Savages. (lots of them around) Everything was going ok when I noticed that I could push my finger past the soft recoil pad and right into the hollow part of the plastic stock. For some reason that really bothered me...

They also had a Savage with a nice wood stock that looked almost like a Remington 700 stock. So they must have various levels of finish.

The plastic bolt shroud on the Tikkas kinda bothers me....But they sure are accurate. I would still rather have an American made Remington 700.

 

[NvTwist]

I had the same question when I was looking for accuracy out of the box, and it came down to the Savage or Tikka.
I went with the Savage 12fv, I love their triggers. Spent the left over cash on accessories; Scope, bipod & ammo.
Incredible accuracy. I have no regrets.

 

[Shawnee]

I know the Savages and Tikkas are accurate, and some of their models are really nice looking. And I know the Remington 700 is "Ho-Hum" with today's younger crowd. But since Day #1 the 700 has been an excellent rifle and my current 700 - a heavy-barrel, laminate-stocked model - is a good example of that quality and accuracy. However I rarely shoot targets with it except for sighting-in needs. It gets used for deer and coyotes and woodchucks and day-in and day-out, week after week, when I shoot it - something hits the ground. What more could I ask for ?



Phooey. Rereading the above I see it could be taken for being rude. Sorry about that.
I know of and have shot some really wonderfully accurate Savages (and in fact, kinda dote on the Savage Model 40), and I've read scads of glowing reports about the Tikkas. Choosing between the two via any means except subjective means would be practically impossible. Personally, I think I would take the Tikka - just for its' classier look.

 

[rangerruck]

IIrw, savage bought anschutz bbl making specs and older machinery and the like, so I would not think that accuracy would be any prob with a Savage.
Man, I just don't know on this one, Tikka is a nice piece as well, and not everyone's gonna have one either, so it will have a certain amount of built in
cool factor...

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

My personal choice has been Tikka. For those who don't like the rings that come with the Tikka, there's no trouble at all getting fine rings that work very well. Just go to Talley.

900F

 

[dak0ta]

If I throw in Ruger M77 Hawkeye which comes with rings and a nice woodstock, how does this pair up with the other two?

 

[jmr40]

The Hawkeye has all of the features to make it the perfect all American classic rifle in my opinion. They are a little heavier than the Savage or Tikka but not too bad considering they do not use any plastic or aluminum parts. The Hawkeye and Winchester Featherweights are the best looking rifles ever made in my opinion.

Individual rifles vary but the Ruger's tend to be a little less accurate than either the Tikka or Savage. If you want to shoot tiny groups for competition you may be dissapointed in the Ruger. For hunting purposes I have never ran across one that was not accurate enough to get the job done.

 

[dak0ta]

Well I'm considering deer hunting and just target shooting at your generic rifle range. Is the Ruger or Savage both good for these purposes?

Oh and how is the LC6 trigger on the new Rugers? And I hear the action on the Ruger is really bad? How about on the Savage 14?

vs.

 

[Shawnee]

I've used three different Ruger 77s (older versions) and they were perfectly fine for hunting and would also shoot small groups if I felt like doing so.
When the difference in accuracy between two rifles is a fraction of an inch - there is no difference in them for hunting and informal targeting. The shooter will be less accurate than that.
There are characteristics about hunting rifles that are 100 times more important than whether it shoots 1.5" groups or .5" groups off sandbags on a bench.
Target shooting is fine stuff but if a person is going to hunt they need to quit worrying about their rifle and get their sweet self up on their two feet and shoot to determine how accurate THEY are.

 

[cornman]

Savage = AMC
Tikka = Mercedes

 

[farmmer dan]

I have a tikka in 223 and a savage in 308 both are great rifles, both have heavy barrels, both have shot 10 shots under 3/4 moa if I do my part. one or the other you have made a good choice. I will note that the tikka in 223 is more accurate but that is comparing 223 over 308. Get both!!

 

[leadcounsel]

Why not a mil surp for $200?

 

[Float Pilot]

Savage = AMC
Tikka = Mercedes

WHAT???

If you think of the Mercedes as being top end (which the new cars are not)

Then don't box yourself in by topping off at the Tikka, which is a Berretta owned company with rifles being made at the old Sako factory.
There are plenty of older Husqvarna and Sako rifles out there that are MUCH better made than any Tikka ever dreamed about being...

And even those are nothing compared to a hi-grade Dakota rifle, tricked out M-40 Remington or even some of the older hi-grade pre-64 Model 70s, Schultz and Larsons ect ect.......

 

[FSJeeper]

I did a lot of research on this very subject before buying the Tikka in .308.

I have spent several thousand dollars each on 2 custom made rifles based on Winchester Model 70 actions about 10 years ago for a 3 week hunting trip in South Africa. Both rifles performed perfectly. So I know what a fine bolt rifle is all about.

I have recently decided to forcus on common caliber rifles with the main rifles being M1A's and secondary rifles SKS's.

I needed bolt action ultra accurate rifles in .308 to round out my battery and checked them all out. For the money, the Tikka is by far the best value of all of them. And, from the excellent trigger to the accuracy, they are just as good as my customs. I could have spent more money on other rifles, but the Tikka does absolutely everything I need in an accurate bolt action rifle. For me, it is the best value for the money in a bolt rifle.

With Ziess scopes, I get about 1 MOA accuracy with Federal premiums with 150 grain Nosler Ballistic tips. I can not ask for more nor do I need more.

I have 2 issues with the Tikka, the plastic clips are cheesy to me even though they work well. And it is very difficult to load additional rounds in the clip with the bolt open because the ejection port is small.

The eronomics of the Tikka are perfect. Pick one up, hold it, aim it, play with it. It is just perfect.

You can buy better, but your splitting hairs for a whole lot more money.