Building an “optimal” vs a cool rifle

[B_Reynolds_AK]

What stock would you put on the tikka?

Without question, a Rokstok Lite. Make the factory stock work for you for a while until you get one.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I’m in need of an ultralight mountain gun. I’ve settled on a shorty 6.5 creedmoor but there’s two distinct routes I can take.

Option one: The Rokslide Classic
You already know this one, Tikka t3x 6.5cm, chopped barrel to 17”, Rokstok, Trijicon 3-18, suppressor

Option two: The Super Cool Hawkeye
Ruger Hawkeye Ultralight 6.5 cm, barrel chopped to 17”, Ruger compact walnut stock bedded, action and trigger job, Trijicon 3-18, suppressor

My body is telling me option two but my brain is telling me option one. In the end the ruger will probably be lighter but will probably group worse. My dad had Hawkeyes growing up so I have a sentimental attachment to them. And before you say “get both” I am a one gun per purpose type of guy. My plan is to have one ultralight and one thumper rifle, that’s it.

Obvious pros of the Tikka are easy barrel swaps if I ever wanted to get a carbon fiber barrel, a more inherently accurate action, a better stock barrel (I think?), ergonomics with the Rokstok, and no gunsmithing work required to achieve sub MOA.

Any thoughts?

Obviously the Tikka is the easy button, BUT... it doesn't sound like you really want the Tikka. Sounds like you really want the Ruger. I have no experience with the Ruger you're looking at, but I have had this misfortune of buying several items that were the "right" option that I got rid of because they were not what I wanted. Stuffs expensive and life is short. I say get the Ruger if you will like it more and be happy with it, especially if you are a "one gun" guy. If you just want a tool that is practical, get the Tikka.

 

[TN2shot07]

You’re close, one of the Hawkeye Alaskans in 338 win mag. What stock would you put on the tikka?

Gotcha, I don’t want that kind of punishment!

They feel like cheap Tupperware but also shoot just fine in the factory.

Probably one of the peak 44’s if weight was my primary concern, I like the black tooth but if you like a vertical grip nothing wrong with the bastion either. The pure precision looks nice but I don’t have any experience with them.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Rugers are cool, I used to hunt with a guy who had a compact Hawkeye 77 308. He’d shot a lot of animals with that gun. It was sort of heavy and built like a tank with the laminate stock but I always thought it was a cool gun, it was well used and just had character.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Tikkas are the easy button and damn hard to beat. Ease of swapping barrels

This is a joke right?!

By far the hardest factory barrel to remove.

 

[Steve300xcw]

This is a joke right?!

By far the hardest factory barrel to remove.

No joke at all. While I'm sure theres a handfull out there that are pretty bad, I do think a lot of issues with removal can be blamed on tooling or a vise mounted to a less than ideal surface.

Being able to screw on a $100 take off barrel and be good to go. Is pretty cool.

Can you do that with a m77?

 

[Aussie Dan]

Buy the gun that you want, then buy the tikka when you realise you were wrong

Kidding, sort of. It sounds to me like you have a ruger itch that needs scratching and you wont be satisfied until you do, so just do it.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I would never choose a Ruger over a Tikka.

You don’t typically have to do any of that nonsense you are talking about ton a Tikka.

All of mine have all factory parts including the factory stocks and triggers and shoot exceptionally well and are smooth without having to do any gymnastics.


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