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

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Yeah well

I vote Tikka.

Also, comparing one example of a particular brand to one example of another brand is about as meaningful as a two shot group. Magazine tests, blah.

EDIT: I should add that I won't buy anything after the 685/585 (no T3s for me).
 
Tikka gets my vote. I own a "lowly" T3 Lite in .223 Rem and it is sub-MOA right out of the box with factory ammo and is not ammo-picky. I would buy it again in any caliber over Savage with Savage's crude stock. Note that I am no benchrest shooter and do not tinker with rifles and the ability to change barrels does not mean anything to me.
 
I am not saying that the Tikka will be picky at all. I just have never had a picky Savage. Now my Weatherby on the other hand. Extremely picky rifle.

I guess the point is that Tikkas and Savages shoot. If you are looking for 1000yard benchrest championship gun, you should take a course that will lead you there, and more than likely, a main strem production action will not take you there. Not with out work, anyway. If you are looking for good accuracy in paper punching, or hunting, or both, either weapon will work well for you. Go to the local gunshop, and feel both rifles up. Pick the one you like better.
 
Jerkface, where are you buying your rifles. The Stevens is $329 here and Savages are running between $400-$600 depending on the model. Tikkas run between $450-$600 and they include rings. An HS Precision is about the cheapest aftermarket stock that is an improvement on a Savage factory stock and they run another $300+.
 
You can get a stevens for around $350 shipped. A bell and carlson stock can be had for about $130. I'd get the stevens over the savage simply because it doesn't have the craputrigger.
 
An HS Precision is about the cheapest aftermarket stock that is an improvement on a Savage factory stock and they run another $300+.
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I'm shooting my groups with a $175 Choate. You can buy a pretty nice laminate for around that price as well. HS precisions are nice but they aren't the Alpha and Omega of gunstocks
 
There would be no better way to scientifically and definitively get to the bottom of which is the correct answer than if you re-did the thread and posted a poll on the subject - obviously! :p


Chinsy or no, the Tikkas do come with the accuracy *guarantee*, which goes a long way toward tempting me to buy one.

Man there are a LOT of turnbolts I want to buy (Sub-MOA Vanguard, T/C Icon, Browning A-bolt, more CZ 550s, more Howas, a Tikka, more Savages, Mossberg 4x4), but yet absolutely no need at all - can't justify it. This really stinks! :( How could I justify more rifles - help me brainstorm, guys - I'm beggin' ya!**

**Here are the turnbolts and other dedicated hunters I have:
Sporterized US 1917 Enfield, .30-'06 spgfld
Savage 110, .270 win
Sporterized Swede 94, 6.5x55
Custom .243 win benchrest gun - Rem barrel, turkish mauser 98 action, Fajen stock
Sporterized No 1 Mk3 Enfield, .303 Brit
CZ 550 FS, 9.3x62mm
Rossi single shot, .243 win
"A few" milsurps in original condition
"A few" rimfire rifles
Rem 1187 sportsmans deer, 12 ga rifled slug gun
Marlin 1895, .45-70
NEF Handi SB2, .45-70
 
HS Precision are definately not the Alpha and Omege of rifle stocks. They are about the bottom rung on the ladder if you are looking to improve your rifles accuracy. Even then I would not promise they would be any better than a Savage or anyone else's factory stock.

If you want a Bell and Carlson or something else just to look better that is fine, but for accuracy I would just as soon keep the factory stock.
 
The Savage in question is the Classic American which has a WALNUT STOCK! All talk about the stocks should be about this one, not the synthetics.

And what about the Browning A Bolt 2
 
Man there are a LOT of turnbolts I want to buy (Sub-MOA Vanguard, T/C Icon, Browning A-bolt, more CZ 550s, more Howas, a Tikka, more Savages, Mossberg 4x4), but yet absolutely no need at all - can't justify it. This really stinks! How could I justify more rifles - help me brainstorm, guys - I'm beggin' ya!**
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I can sympathize with you on this. I always tell myself there are other people with a LOT more guns than me. I also tell myself I may possibly trade something in to acquire a new rifle and that never happens. I also think of car guys and how many guns I can buy to equal 1 corvette.
 
Fella's;

I don't know where some of you are buying your Tikka's, but. I recently, as in a couple of months ago, bought a new left hand bolt Tikka for $399.99 delivered.

900F
 
They are about the bottom rung on the ladder if you are looking to improve your rifles accuracy
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poppycock! Go back a page or two and look at my groups fired using a Choate stock.


In terms of accuracy the Choate Ultimate series will do ANYTHING an HS precision and then some for about half the price. Full length aluminum support, aluminum bedding blocks how exactly does a stock get better? Short of a custom benchrest stock made for specific rests All more money gets you is a neater finish and more doo dads screwed to the outside of the stock.

The B&C mentalists is also a great choice. If you're a diy kinda guy you can buy an EXCELLENT laminated stock from Richards Microfit in everything from mild to wild for less than $200
 
atblis;

In the heat of the moment I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt & presuming he actually meant the small block 350/Tikka is superior to the AMC 360/Savage. As far as the engines go, that's been proven to be the case so many times there's really no doubt about it.

As I stated earlier, got Tikkas, no Savages. Got small block Chevy engines too, no AMC's. Have used mouse motors to great advantage when encountering 360 AMC also. But those are stories for other venues.

900F
 
In the heat of the moment I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt & presuming he actually meant the small block 350/Tikka is superior to the AMC 360/Savage. As far as the engines go, that's been proven to be the case so many times there's really no doubt about it.
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Do what? Did you read my original comment?

The savage is like the SBC in that there is practically unlimited aftermarket support for the smallest amount of $$$

The Tikka is like the AMC/Jeep motor in that there is very little aftermarket support and what little you can buy is hyper expensive
 
Krochus;

Ah, glasshooper, you did not understand! It is not about the aftermarket, it is about which one is percieved to be better.

Now go take the sledgehammer & beat upon the Pacer for 1 hour as penance.

900F
 
Does anybody know if the Savage American Classics 14/114 barrels are free floated?
 
dak0ta,
When you were asking about a Tikka T3 and a Savage M14 I would have chosen the Tikka even though I really like the Savage AccuTrigger. When you added the Ruger M77 Hawkeye It worried me because even though it's a good hunting rifle it's not as accurate as the first 2 you were considering. When the Remington 700 was added to the mix I thought it was probably the better of the 4 especially for the price. The 700's 26" heavy-contour barrel and their new X-Mark Pro Trigger are good factory parts. The new Winchester 70 Featherweight IMO is also a great choice. It's a quality rifle with an all new trigger system and a beautiful Walnut stock. From what I've read about the new Win M70 it also has a jeweled bolt and knurled bolt handle which are high end treatments not usually found in a rifle that costs ~$1,000. Then you added the Browning A Bolt to the discussion. There's another quality rifle line but there are so many in the line it's hard to comment on them because you really didn't specify which you were considering. (I think there's something like 20 variations!! LOL) If you like the Browning A Bolt don't forget to also look at the Browning X Bolt too.

When people are trying to decide which of a few rifles to buy the choices are usually similar. All of the six or seven rifles mentioned in this thread are fairly different so it's really hard suggest which you should buy because all will feel different to you. I would suggest going to a big Retail outlet like Cabela's and look at, hold and inspect all of the rifles you are interested in and choose the one you like best. All will shoot well on a hunt and it will come down to which feels better in your hands and which you like better.

Good luck finding something you really like...
 
Does anyone shoot Hunter Class benchrest? My shooting club has it and I've noticed a few things. The Hunter class guns pretty much have to be bone stock sporter barrel guns allowing a few minor modifications. They also have a 14x scope limit. When it's time for the hunter class to start shooting you'd think we were in Finland because at least 2/3rds of the guns are Tikka's. One of our members won a national event in 2004 with his Tikka in
7mm-08 shooting a 9" group @ 1000yds. Last week I watched a .223 Tikka shoot a group @200yds you could cover with a nickel. The only thing he'd done is have it glass bedded.

Whenever questions of accuracy arise I take note of what the benchrest guys are using. They value accuracy above all else and will do almost anything to get it. I saw no Savages in the hunter class last week.
 
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