I have to chime in here.
Chuck Hawks is dead on.
I was shopping for a centerfire and liked the Tikka T3 from what I read. After checking them out, talking to some people and finding out more about the rifle I decided NOT to buy it.
Sure, its a good shooter, however I did not like the cheap feel, plastic parts, and long action receiver. I DO NOT want plastic on my hunting rifle. For me that was a deal breaker.
Now, call me an elitist, rich bastard becasue I don't want cheap plastic on a hunting rifle, in fact I'm a dirt poor. I paying my own way through school, I live off kraft dinner, potatoes and whatever I catch or kill but I appreciate good craftmanship with everything I buy and will gladly pay for it.
I left the shop with a used Marlin 336 in 30-30 becasue that was all I could afford at the time. This little lever gun is bare bones, no frills, but its built like a hunting rifle should be. It's not nearly as accurate as the Tikka but I can drop in down a hill, drag it through dirt, kick it and have no worries about something breaking. Snap to take apart and clean. I used it for almost 2 years until I saved up enough for my dream gun, a CZ 550 fullstock rifle in .308 which I paid almost $1000 for.
Chuck Hawks brings up a very valid point. I'm not arguing that the Tikka's are not good shooters, from everything I've read they certainly are, however they are cheaply built which Hawks rightfully points out.
In 50 years when the plastic mags are lost or broken, the plastic trigger guards have snapped off and the plastic stocks are cracking on the Tikka T3's that old Marlin 336 I bought for $250 bucks will still be the same as it is today.
This might offend some people who buy cheap guns, 2 for 1 burgers, lease cheap cars, buy Made in China Walmart coffee makers and toasters and look for deals above all else. The perfect consumers, buy everything cheap and ultimatly disposable.
Some people however still value good craftmanship. I for one will contiune using my old old Marlin, cherish by CZ 550 and drive my used Japansese car with over 200k miles on it.
When I want something new I'll will save up enough money for a well built product instead of supporting companies and products that have inferior build quality. If that makes me a 'snob' so be it. Maybe if more people did this we'd all be getting a better product instead of the junk out there today.