Buy a new Tikka or rebarrel existing HOWA?

[Flymost]

I currently have a HOWA in 6.5 prc and really like the rifle, but it’s a 1.25 to 1.5” gun no matter what I load for it. That’ll work for 400 yards or so, but I’ve already got plenty of guns in the safe that’ll do that. So, I was planning on sending it to the smith and sticking at least a grand into it to get it to reach out to 800 yards or so. But…. What about just selling it and buying a tikka for $6-700? Well, a few things come to mind, first I Hate the hassle of selling a gun, second, what if the tikka’s no better, and I end up spending another grand on the tikka to get it where I want it too?

I know the love for tikkas here so I figured if anyone could talk me into it you guys could. So, convince me it’s not a hassle to sell the old rifle, the new tikka will be amazing, or that after a rebarrel it’ll be the gun of my dreams.

 

[General RE LEE]

Buy a Tikka 6.5 PRC T3X stainless from Euro Optic for $679 and spend $100 to get it threaded.

Less than a new barrel and high confidence it will be a shooter.

 

[Foster_65]

This is what I did. Picked it up from ffl and straight to get chopped and threaded. I want to not like tikkas but the ones I have and have been around are no bs and seem to shoot about anything. Although I just wish someone would make a true flush fit mag. Also dispise the 5 round mag they come with.

 

[kkp005]

Buy a Tikka 6.5 PRC T3X stainless from Euro Optic for $679 and spend $100 to get it threaded.

Less than a new barrel and high confidence it will be a shooter.

I did this exact thing and it’s a 1/2” gun

 

[wnelson14]

If you rebarrel the howa you will still get a tikka in the future, ask me how I know.

 

[waspocrew]

I’d just go with the Tikka. I get it, selling is a hassle though.

 

[davsco]

no guarantee your existing rifle will shoot better with a new barrel.

i would put the money into a new tikka. you're pretty much guaranteed sub moa.

maybe keep the existing rifle as a backup.

 

[Ringbill27]

How do you know?

 

[Flymost]

You guys are killing me as expected. Now I need to see what I can get for the HOWA as I’ve already got too many safe queens. Thanks…

 

[TaperPin]

…what if the tikka’s no better, and I end up spending another grand on the tikka to get it where I want it too? …

I spent a lot of years struggling to find good shooting factory rifles, and to get one it often required buying multiple used guns and keeping the best shooting one. If there are a lot of the rifle you like sitting on the rack of every pawn shop and sporting goods store that’s still a hassle, but doable.

Eventually, it seems everyone who appreciates an accurate rifle accepts inexpensive factory rifles will probably need a custom barrel. My vote is to spend the money on a good barrel.

 

[Flymost]

Well, I gave a buddy a great deal on the HOWA, so I’m pretty much RS indoctrinated. I’m getting the stainless 6.5 prc vertical grip and putting my maven on it. Just need a rock stock and a 6um rebarrel for the full indoctrination!

Besides the stock, which I’ll look at later, what accessories should I be looking at?

Oh, and thanks for spending my money!

 

[Flymost]

So here’s the follow up. Got the stainless 6.5 prc, vertical grip, limbsaver, and put the maven on it with backcountry rings. Looks good, feels good, but not a huge fan of the mag, but it’s not bad. Excited to finally get out and shoot it today, and to be totally honest, I just found out I’m a 1.25” shooter no matter what. I could mostly spot my shots with the braked howa, but probably not happening with the tikka without the brake. I only took it out to 300 with a 5 shot group under 3”, but had to drop 100 fps for the dope to line up. All in all to be honest I’m not at all disappointed with the tikka, but must say that for the $450 I got the HOWA for it turns out it was a pretty good gun.

The black and white groups are 10 shots with 147 eldm and 140 burgers from the Tikka. The orange targets are some of my last 6 shot groups with the HOWA. Nothing stood out to me in those groups, but if y’all see anything in them that points to me doing something feel free to let me know.

 

[WhatToHunt]

Thanks for sharing. I just bought the same rifle and hoping to pick it up today from my local FFL. I also got the vertical grip and limbsaver pad to install. Planning to immediately take it to chop and thread then put my Scythe Ti on it and hope it doesn't blow up.

 

[MCS]

You could buy a tikka and it may not shoot good. I'd rebarrel the howa.

 

[Marshfly]

So here’s the follow up. Got the stainless 6.5 prc, vertical grip, limbsaver, and put the maven on it with backcountry rings. Looks good, feels good, but not a huge fan of the mag, but it’s not bad. Excited to finally get out and shoot it today, and to be totally honest, I just found out I’m a 1.25” shooter no matter what. I could mostly spot my shots with the braked howa, but probably not happening with the tikka without the brake. I only took it out to 300 with a 5 shot group under 3”, but had to drop 100 fps for the dope to line up. All in all to be honest I’m not at all disappointed with the tikka, but must say that for the $450 I got the HOWA for it turns out it was a pretty good gun.

The black and white groups are 10 shots with 147 eldm and 140 burgers from the Tikka. The orange targets are some of my last 6 shot groups with the HOWA. Nothing stood out to me in those groups, but if y’all see anything in them that points to me doing something feel free to let me know.

A lot more people are 1.5" shooters than want to admit it if they would ever shoot more than 3 shots and stop discounting fliers.