Which .243? Savage or Tikka

[xmanpike]

I am going to be buying a new rifle in .243. This will be used for both hunting pigs/yotes as well as being a range gun. I reload and love to shoot for accuracy at distances up to 500 yds.

I have narrowed it down to two rifles that I have never owned either of.

A savage 16 FCSS with the accustock and accutrigger

A tikka T3 lite SS

Price is very close on the two. I know the Tikka comes with a 1" guarantee, dont know if the savage does.

I would appreciate input from people who have experience or own either of these as well as the good AND bad things about the rifle.

Thanks

MC

 

[viking499]

Never had a Savage, but hear that they shoot good. Got a couple Tikkas, and they shoot GREAT.

If you are going to buy and not modify anything, I would say that either would work. The Savage will be a lot easier to modify or buy "aftermarket" parts for.

 

[Picher]

They're both a bit light for considerable range use and, considering the lightness, may be difficult to hold for long shots in the field.

Consider what your main use will be and buy a rifle that will meet that need and still allow other types of use without undue compromise.

The Tikka has a detachable magazine and my older Tikka in .223 doesn't feed singles from the action port very well and so it's not as good a range rifle, IMHO.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Buy American!

 

[LoonWulf]

I dont think youll be displeased with either of them. I would lean towards the savage, but thats because i own one in .243. The Tikka is another gun im familiar with as one of my hunting buddies uses one all the time. Either should be capable of good accuracy, savage may not have a guarantee, but i dont think they need one.

 

[jmr40]

I like the Tikka's I've owned much better than the Savage's I've owned.

 

[sansone]

both are excellent, the Tik Lite would be great in 243 since the recoil is minimal, but I choose the Savage.
Simply because it is US-made, Known great shooter, accutrigger, more aftermarket stuff like stocks, barrels, etc.

 

[rbernie]

The quality and finish of the Tikka are worlds better than the Savage - it's simply no contest. The Tikka has a far better trigger, and will likely prove slightly more accurate. In sum, I think that the Savage is a good gun that's more expensive than it should be and that the Tikka is a great gun that is a lot less expensive than it should be.

IMO, the Tikka is a far better bargain that will be far more satisfying in the long run so long as you don't have a hankering to do a lot of tinkering with it (aftermarket stocks and other such bits).

 

[DIM]

Depends what are you planning to shoot with it, major difference is the barrel twist, Tikka has 1:10 and Savage 1:9.25, so Savage by 0.75 faster twist, so it can handle slightly heavier bullets then Tikka. Also Savage by contrast has more aftermarket parts then Tikka and it would give you ability swapping barrels without gunsmith, so you can upgrade your Savage to 22-250, 260, 7mm-08 or 308. Since 243 is medium action you'll be limited to medium size cartridges. Tikka you buy as is and it stays that way, but when you buy one you'll know that it was tested to shoot 1MOA or less, Savage doesn't test their rifles and if you get a lemon be ready for a long halt like 2 months to get it back.