1 premier custom rifle vs 2 custom tikkas - what choice to make?!

[Marbles]

PVA Osprey prefits have a good reputation.

UM bolt hand is a nice upgrade.

Personally I like having a pic rail, but the UM Tikka rings also work well and eliminate a potential failure point.

Hope you enjoy them. $1200 for both is a great deal.

 

[Mish-pop]

I would buy the two tikkas with one trainer and one hunting that are setup the same so as to have fun practicing with the one and the other dialed in and ready to go for the hunt.

 

[SloppyJ]

Here's the deal. If you don't build the "custom" then you'll always wonder about it. Build the custom and then save for a Tikka later. I have no regrets building any of mine and I enjoy the fact I can swap the bolt face.

If you currently do not have any rifles then just buy one Tikka and any upgrades and spend the rest on ammo.

 

[_MountainBum]

They do the same shit. but I’d get a peak 44, micky mountain tracker LR, EH1, or rokstok before a pure precision.

I only names them due to their sale, but after looking into the rokstok being cheaper it might be worth waiting for.

 

[_MountainBum]

Here's the deal. If you don't build the "custom" then you'll always wonder about it. Build the custom and then save for a Tikka later. I have no regrets building any of mine and I enjoy the fact I can swap the bolt face.

If you currently do not have any rifles then just buy one Tikka and any upgrades and spend the rest on ammo.

I’ve built quite a few rifles and have time behind a lot of premier names - if I’m being honest the 700 clone world just doesn’t do it for me.

 

[_MountainBum]

Which cartridges are those 2 chambered for?

.308 win and 6.5 creedmoor

 

[mt100gr.]

.308 win and 6.5 creedmoor

You almost don't need to do anything besides cut and thread! But that isn't as fun this time of year....

I'd nix the 6cm for a while and shoot the piss out of the 6.5.

And turn the .308 into a .284win just because.

Do you handload? Already have suppressor(s)?

 

[_MountainBum]

You almost don't need to do anything besides cut and thread! But that isn't as fun this time of year....

I'd nix the 6cm for a while and shoot the piss out of the 6.5.

And turn the .308 into a .284win just because.

Do you handload? Already have suppressor(s)?

I’ll probably keep the 6.5 barrel but intent was to build on into a 6cm, yes will get a threaded pre fit and run one of my cans on it. Will probably turn other into a 6.5 PRC shooting 156’s

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

This too, Tikka prices have gone up in just the past year and part of my wants to tell people to get a custom, rather than tell them to do what I did myself.

Plenty of people are happy with customs, and as @Article 4 and @Ucsdryder show prefer them. And it is not my money, so I don't think it would be bad to advise people in a way I would not take myself... Though not good either. I've also never had a custom, so.

I’ve had dozens of customs over the years built by the most reputable smiths and dozens of Sakos and Tikkas.

There’s a reason why I only own and use the Sakos and Tikkas anymore. They function better, are more reliable, aren’t picky about factory ammo or hand loads, and their barrels last for very high round counts and very hot use without fussing.

If you can build two semi custom tikkas for the price of one “premium” Remington based custom you’d have to either have your head on backwards or barely shoot the rifle at all to choose the latter.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I think it’s the wrong way of looking at it, comparing a Tikka in one category and a “Premium” in the other.

I sold my “Premium” AnTi X and moved to 2 Tikka’s. Will not be going back. Would have done so even if the Tikka action was double the price.

This is well put.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Why do you need to rebarrel the tikka?

 

[mt100gr.]

I’ll probably keep the 6.5 barrel but intent was to build on into a 6cm, yes will get a threaded pre fit and run one of my cans on it. Will probably turn other into a 6.5 PRC shooting 156’s

Definitely solid choices. Those were just fast-track suggestions. I have 18" 6.5 Creedmoor and an 18" 6.5 SAUM Tikkas. I've been tempted to turn another standard bolt face Tikka into a 6cm but I have 1000s of rounds worth of components for the 6.5s, so I am staying with the .264 barrels for now.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

.308 win and 6.5 creedmoor

Nice man!

I’d cut the .308 down to 16-18” and thread 5/8 and suppress. Shoot the piss out of it you can’t hurt it.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a great cartridge for hunting no need to go all crazy and rebarrel to 6CM. Shoot some heavy high BC bullets in it and watch the long range hits keep on coming.

 

[lukebrowning]

You will eventually want to scratch the itch of a custom rifle, but it’s not necessarily any better than a semi-custom Tikka. My advice is build the custom but buy what you can used or at a discount (Black Friday is a good time). Try to build it so that you can sell without losing much money. You will eventually start thinking utilitarian and build two identical semi-custom tikkas in .223 and .243 to shoot heavy-for-caliber. If you have the self-control then just go straight to 2x tikkas. You will be one of the many to join the custom rifle round trip journey… enjoy!

 

[Jimbee]

Two? Those are rookie numbers.

 

[Catter]

One rifle, two bolts with two barrels, keep the barrels the same conture from the same barrel maker, and I will have the best stock and accessories fitted for either caliber. Of course mine will be built as sporters on 700 LA. 257 Bob Im and a 338-06 AI switch barrel, so need to invest in a second bolt.

Maybe a 22BR and a creed would give you the same option. Spend what you would on two tikas just building one with the top components adding a second barrel for the same or nearly same price. Maybe even do it for less the two factory Tikkas?

 

[Balderdash]

2 is 1
1 is none

And 3's a guarantee.

 

[Balderdash]

PVA Osprey prefits have a good reputation.

UM bolt hand is a nice upgrade.

Personally I like having a pic rail, but the UM Tikka rings also work well and eliminate a potential failure point.

Hope you enjoy them. $1200 for both is a great deal.

I very much like the UM rings and use them whenever they fit a mounting scenario. But, for long or really short tubed scopes and adding inclination, a 1913 rail is the ticket. Allows for getting optimum ER and for max ring spacing to the distal ends of a scope, which is a scope's best friend.

I vote for 2, or more, Tikkas. When I head out to shoot I usually bring 5 or 6 rigs along. I don't care to wait for barrels to cool to keep pulling the trigger. Moreover, I like to SxS compare reticles and differences in stock dimensions, etc.