Tikka T3 vs Winchester Model 70 vs Remington 7400

[nico]

My father and I have been looking for a decent rifle to use for deer hunting (and potentially target shooting) and have pretty much narrowed it down to these three. I've been partial to the Model 70 over the 7400, but the small amount of info that I've been able to find on the Tikka makes it sound like a better deal and a better overall choice than the other two (the out of the box accuracy, adjustable trigger, and the fact that it comes with rings all sound great). I'd like to hear any experience anyone has with these three guns or any reason to buy one over another. We're pretty much trying to decide between an autoloader or bolt action, and then which autoloader or bolt action (we've ruled out the BAR because of the price and the Remington 700 because we handled one at a gun shop and it just felt cheap).
I'd also appreciate any caliber recommendations. My dad has only ever had 30-06 rifles but from reading threads on this site and other people's recommendations, I think .270 win might be a better choice. We won't necessarily end up with the same gun, but having the same caliber would make things more convenient. Also, is there any difference between the T3 hunter and the T3 lite? I would think that they would charge more for a lighter gun but the prices on beretta's website disagree. Finally, is there a significant advantage to having a stainless barrel over a blued one? I prefer the look of a blued barrel, but function is still more important than form as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for reading this essay of a post and for any replies

 

[Brad Johnson]

Looks like you've answered most of your questions already

I've been partial to the Model 70 over the 7400,

Okay, so get one. Go handle a Tikka first, just to make sure you still like the 70 better.

My dad has only ever had 30-06 rifles but from reading threads on this site and other people's recommendations, I think .270 win might be a better choice.

Either is a good choice, but if you feel like .270 might be a better option for you, then go that route.

Finally, is there a significant advantage to having a stainless barrel over a blued one? I prefer the look of a blued barrel, but function is still more important than form as far as I'm concerned.

Okay, and...?


Looks like you're going to get a Winchester Model 70 in Stainless chamber for .270. Congrats on your new gun!

Next question, please....

Brad

 

[Tag]

IMHO, and I've only recently gotten into the rifle game, Tikka is probably the best value. Fit and finish has been reported as excellent, excellent accuracy, and just an all around class act.

Winchester is my rifle of choice, and you will not be disappointed w/ a Model 70.

Remington 700's (not what you were looking at, I know) are slick, but if the ones you looked at felt cheap to you by all means stay away.

Stainless barrels/actions are super low maintenance. My friend has had a Stainless Classic 70 for years and he never really does any PM to it, just shoots it and puts it away. I've also read that Stainless barrels last longer, as they are more resistant to throat erosion.

Handle a bunch of them before you decide.

Caliber wise, the 30-06 or the .270 would both fill the bill, so use whatever your comfortable with. 7mm Rem. Mag. might not be a bad choice.

What kind of scopes are you guys looking at?

 

[Coot]

Have you handled any of the above? Which one feels the best?

I'd advise against the 7400 if you're looking for a rifle for target and hunting.

The M70 is a very nice package with an easily adjustable trigger (I prefer the stainless/synthetic for a woods rifle, but also have a blued high grade which only goes to the range.

For a bit less money you can get a stainless/synthetic Tikka T-3 (I've only shot the T-3 Lite, and am unfamiliar with the specifics). The Tikka and M70 should have comparable accuracy, but on both of my M70s, I've had to spend $ to get them to shoot to their potential (replacing the "hot glue" bedding USRAC uses).

Either of the two calibers you mentioned would be fine for your stated purposes; another one you might also consider is .308Win as it has a bit less recoil than the .30-06, larger bullet selection than the .270, and is very, very common (easy to find once-fired, discarded brass should you consider handloading).

Good luck with your selection.

Coot

 

[Jaywalker]

Truth above...

Well, a couple of things. Your Dad's shot a 30-06 - have you? Are you both comfortable with a fine cartridge, but one which has a significant recoil penalty, especially for deer? If you're both happy, then there's no reason to change. It'll certainly do both jobs, though I'm assuming by "target shooting" you mean "informal," rather than competition, which none of your choices are really set up to do. If you're new at it, you might want to ease into the sport with something a little less authoritative. The .270 will kick a bit less.

Browning BARs cost more than the Remington 7400 because they're worth more.

If the Remington M700, doesn't float your boat, then by all means, buy something else. It's roughly on the same quality level as the Winchester M70, though some people have said its quality lately has been slipping. I doubt that these "slips," if they exist, would be visible from just holding it, however.

I'm looking at lighter weight, lower kicking cartridges after years of the .270. It will certainly kill deer - no question. I might be happier practicing with a lightweight .260 or 7mm-08, I think. YMMV.

I believe Tikka is a good rifle. I've read some rave reviews on various forums, and based on them, I'm looking for a T-3 myself. The basic T-3 uses a walnut stock, and the lighter one a synthetic; maybe that's the price difference.

I purchased a Win M70 a couple of months ago. I like it. It's blue. I would have liked it in stainless, too.

Jaywalker

 

[SirPorl]

Give the CZ a look

If you like the look of a blued gun you might wanna take a look at the CZ. I recently purchased a 550 American in .270 and couldn't be happier. The fit and finish are first rate and it comes with rings. The CZ has a set trigger also. Just another option for ya.


SirPorl

 

[Holden]

HAve the Tikka T3 - I love the weapon and am considering another one...or two very soon.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Get the T3 and don't even bother with the others you've listed.

I'm up to 3 T3's and just got a Sako today----can you tell I'm kinda partial to em???

Difference between the Hunter and the Lite---the Hunter has a wood stock and weighs about a half pound more than the Lite----you're paying more for the wood.

I've never seen a Hunter T3 in stainless either.

 

[stv]

Uh, yeah, what they said. Get the T3 and be happy.



PS: Team Slow owns your entire family.

 

[nico]

thanks for all the replies. I'm pretty set on the T3, now the only problem is finding a place that sells Tikka rifles. The closest place that Beretta's site lists is over an hour away. Does anybody know of a place in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area that might have them? I've also found a few on gunbroker.com that are listed as "new in box" for as little as ~$450. With the ~$50 that it would cost to have it shipped to a FFL dealer, it still seems like a pretty good deal so I'm also considering going that route. But I don't want to buy it before seeing one in person.
lol and stv, we should start a ts militia

 

[Jaywalker]

Loudon county guns in Leesburg carries both Sako and Tikka. They seem to have a "magnum only" rule (an exaggeration) on the rifles they stock, but you can at least check the stock fit.

Jaywalker

 

[Newt]

I own a T3. I would buy another one tomorrow. I will probably end up with more of them. I own a T3 Lite, so I don't know much about the Hunter Model. High quality, excellent fit, well balanced, accurate and available in several cal's. One vote for Tikka.

For target or hunting purposes, I wouldn't reccomend the 7400. There are much more accurate rifles out there. I'd also take a look at the CZ as mentioned above, Browning A-Bolt and Remington Model 7. All good choices.

 

[Series 70]

Are extended capacity magazines available for the T3? I'm specifically interested in the .308 mags. 10-rounds would be much better than the standard 3-round.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

They offer a replacement 5-rounder---but spares for the Tikka are a bit pricey----planning on getting a spare for my .270 though.

The other 2 rifles I'll make do with one unless they get lost or broken.

 

[nico]

thanks for all the replies guys. I think I've decided on the Tikka (and my dad has pretty much decided on the Remmington for himself), now I just have to go handle one to be sure. I just have one other newb question that wasn't worth starting a new thread to ask. The tikka is listed as having a "single stage trigger." What exactly does this mean and how is it different from the "Set trigger" that is listed as optional?

 

[Tag]

I think the Set trigger is refering to how heavy the pull is set to at the factory, and if I'm not mistaken, a Single stage trigger just means it breaks cleanly with no slack, as opposed to a Two stage trigger which has two distinct pull weights before breaking.

 

[Jaywalker]

As Tag mentioned, a "two stage" trigger has some intentional slack in the trigger pull before reaching the (slightly) heavier tension of the trigger release point. It would feel like, "easy, easy, easy, resistance," and pressing past this resistance would fire the rifle. Some people like these, and it is not a fault in a trigger - it is not the same thing as "trigger creep," which is a fault. Creep would feel like "easy, hard, easy, hard, easy, bang." A single stage trigger would feel like, "resistance, bang."

Set triggers allow two distinct pull weights in a single rifle. In a "set trigger" the trigger actuator (you) pushes or pulls something that engages a "hair trigger." (Not a technical term, and we hate its use - used here for demonstration purposes only.) A standard trigger might have a pull weight of three pounds; engaging the "set" might reduce it to a 12-ounce pull weight.

A set trigger rifle may be fired either with or without engaging the set.

Set triggers typically come in two different configuration, "single," and "double." In a single set trigger, you might push the trigger forward to engage the set. In a double set trigger you would pull the rear trigger first to engage the set, then the front trigger to fire the rifle. Set triggers are a way to reduce the trigger pull when precision is needed, while still allowing one's rifle to have a standard trigger pull when extreme precision isn't needed.

Jaywalker

 

[Tag]

ah ha

sorry, wasen't totally sure of my facts on that one nico.