Tikka T3 vs Win Mod 70 Featherweight

[6.5swede]

Here you go http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_280/products_id/44402

I actually like the Tikka and Winchester rifles a lot, but both are suited for milder calibers. Both are lightweight and more than I'd want in a 300 win mag. I have one of these in 7mm rem mag and they are a great buy in a stainless weatherproof rifle. I did buy a Mcmillan stock for mine.

Yeah, I never warmed up to the Tikka Syn stock. The rifle was very accurate while in that stock...Utilitarian to be polite. I replaced it with a Wild Dog Carbon Fiber stock which is the 2nd from the left (above). They have a good reputation and their stocks are similar in material to Manners. They make a drop in stock, inletted for the Tikka T3....been very pleased with mine.

Another good point about the weight. My tikka's were all milder calibers: 25-06, 6.5x55, 308, and 270 Win. The older model M595/695 were significantly heavier ~ 1 lb more than the T3's. Just something to consider if you're buying a magnum caliber.

 

[FSJeeper]

I own a .308 Tikka T3 and a 1998 era Win. 70 in stainless classic style.

Tikka: Sub MOA with factory ammo. Lighter. Smooth action and perfect trigger. The rifle needs nothng out of the box. I do not like the smallsh charging port and I do not like the crappy magazines. It is a gun you can take into he field and not worry about hurting it. One of the best gun values in the market today I believe.

Win Mod. 70: Stunning stock. Mine has tiger strpe all the way down. Perfect classic looks. Perfect handling. CRF Mauser action with a great safety. The trigger needed work to get it right. It needed to be glass bedded. And it took a long time with handloading to get a load that would do 1.25" MOA consistantly. Factory loads averaged 2.5 to 3 MOA.

Going back to our high school days, the Tikka is like the sexy good looking low class girl you took behind the dance hall late at night and knew with 100% certainty things were going to be alright time after time.

The Winchester Mod. 70 is the one you took home to introduce to mom and married and had kids with. Drop dead gorgeous, Classy, loyal, and is there for you over the long haul.

Either one of them will do well for you.

 

[jmr40]

One other thing. As a rule I have come to suggest the Winchester Featherweight, or Extreme Weather rifles as my default suggestion to anyone looking for a new rifle. I just think they are the best thing going right now at any price.

It sounds like the EW may be out of reach with your budget. That is why I suggested the Howa.

I truly think the FW is the best looking and shooting rifle if you want traditional walnut and blue. But have you actually seen one in a magnum chambering. The longer, thicker barrel looks completely out of place in the trim FW stock. Not to mention the way they carry and balance in that stock. If I were going FW it would be in a non magnum chambering. If I wanted a magnum it would be in another rifle. Just my opinion.

 

[unwise11]

I'd get the Winchester, Unless I knew I was going to be out in the woods, for days at a time, where it will be wet, and I wouldn't be able to get it apart and oiled to clean it.. If I was in that situation, I'd get the Tikka, but over the Tikka, I'd get a 700 Stainless, or a M70 Stainless.

 

[Shoot&Ski]

jmr:

It sounds like the EW may be out of reach with your budget. That is why I suggested the Howa.

I gave the Howa a long hard look. I own a Weatherby Vanguard, and it has been a great rifle. I like that everything, the trigger guard, magazine, and that whole assembly is metal on the Howa/Weatherby. Also, my Weatherby has been extremely accurate. I would get the Howa, but for basically the same money I can get a Tikka which is lighter, I like the trigger better, and has an accuracy guarantee. Not to mention it seems everyone with the Howa replaces the stock adding even more money to the cost. The Howa is a heluva rifle for the money though.
Also, I haven't actually handle an M70 featherweight in a magnum chambering, only non-magnum. Next time I get the chance I will check it out.

I'd get the Winchester, Unless I knew I was going to be out in the woods, for days at a time, where it will be wet, and I wouldn't be able to get it apart and oiled to clean it.. If I was in that situation, I'd get the Tikka, but over the Tikka, I'd get a 700 Stainless, or a M70 Stainless.

This is exactly the situation I was in this hunting season that had me swearing I would never buy another non-stainless rifle. We were out for a few nights in the backcountry, it rained on and off the whole time, and my sweat dripped on the rifle. By the time I got home, it looked bad. Lots of work with oil made it look better, but the experience made me think twice about blued metal.

 

[jmr40]

Sounds like you've really done your homework. I think Tikka's are great rifles if you aren't bothered by the non-traditional looks. They may be a bit too light in 300 mag for my tastes, but I could make it work if I really needed a 300.

I agree with you about the stainless/synthetic. I am down to only 1 walnut/blue bolt gun. It is not a matter of IF, but WHEN the wood will let you down. You rarely have catastrophic failures with wood. It is usually subtle changes that you may never notice. Zero a wood stocked rifle here in Georgia at 500 ft above seal level and take it hunting in Colorado at 7000' and your zero may change by several inches. You may never understand why you missed because when return home and check your zero it will be perfect again.

Most of my serious rifles are stainless, but all of them have quality synthetic stocks. The blue metal holds up better than a lot of guys give it credit for, but I'll never trust a wood stock again. Seen too many failures. If I feel the need to hunt with traditional walnut and blue I still own several leverguns.

 

[unwise11]

The Winchester is the rifle you would want to have in your hands when you're in a blind overlooking an open, fresh cut field, on a sunny day, the Tikka, is the rifle you would want to have when you're in a blind, in the deeps woods, on a rainy, cold, sunless day, but the Tikka would also work fine for the sunny day, just not look as good..
If it were me? I'd get a 700 SPS stainless in 7 Mag, I like 700's, and I like Howa's I don't know about Tikka's, or Winchesters..

If I were you, I'd get a 700 SPS stainless, or Winchester in stainless, I can see owning a varmint profile Tikka, but not a sporter.. I don't know.. Just me thinking.

 

[bailer]

I finished sighting in my t3 sl yesterday. Topped the day off with a .3 inch group, 3 inches above the bullseye. I own prettier rifles, but this one is going deer and elk hunting with me this year.