First SS Rifle

[Spike_Sniper]

Going to get my first SS rifle but I can't make the final choice. Please help...
It's either the Remington 700 SPS SS or the Tikka T3 Lite SS. Also going back and forth on 30-06 or 300 win mag. Prob going with 30-06 since 70% of my hunting is in the east for deer, pigs and black bear. Still...which platform?

Already read some old posts here and didn't see much on the 700 but looks like several people use the Tikka.

 

[rodney482]

Tikka 30-06

ammo is way cheaper

 

[realunlucky]

Rem 700 is a solid platform see a lot on here really like tinka. IMO the 300 is most versatile caliber. That said my only rifle is a rem 700 in 30/06 and has never given cause to want another except when the range started to stretch out there

 

[Shrek]

Tikka in 30-06 is the way I would go with that choice. Remington quality is spotty at best. I would look at 7mm-08 or 308 win also. 7mm rem mag if a Magnum.

 

[Daniel_M]

Deer won't flinch at either caliber. '06 is more readily available.

Good rifle. Just built one for the misses.

 

[bbrown]

I have a couple older Rem 700s in '06 and .243 (Both blued) that are both great rifles but I have heard a lot of bad stories about their recent QC - or lack their of. Its tough because I really like Remington but....
A couple clients have been raving about their Tikkas for the past couple years and thats what they will be bringing again this year.

As far as caliber - I would probably go with the '06 for your uses as its a great all around caliber and will cover you for everything in the lower 48. I shoot both and tend to carry my .300 most often when I toting a rifle (mainly late season cow elk hunts) but I really do not like to shoot it. Actually been thinking about picking up a .308 to make for a smaller, lighter and more friendly mountain rifle.

 

[Whisky]

If planning to leave it stock, I'd probably go Tika...

If wanting to do any upgrades later on, I'd go Remington..

 

[tstowater]

Tikka in 30-06 is the way I would go with that choice. Remington quality is spotty at best. I would look at 7mm-08 or 308 win also. 7mm rem mag if a Magnum.

Shrek, you are too predictable. Curious as to why you chose a M70 for yourself and an advocate for the Tikkas?? I would agree that some of the newer Remingtons are a little more suspect, but that doesn't mean that they are all poorly built. I have limited experience with the Tikka with the only working knowledge is the 270WSM that my son shoots. It's a damn nice gun and shoots well. I have a NIB 700 in a 338 that I should pull out to see how it shoots, but I haven't got around to putting a scope on it or have a present need for the punishment. I would sell it as I have two other 338's and haven't hunted anything with any of them yet. As I would see it, the Tikka is a solid gun without issues. The Remington should be a solid gun, but the company has had some perceived "quality control" issues in recent years. Both should be good guns. Unless you want to shoot the 300 Mag, I would stick with the 30-06. IMO.

 

[Whisky]

Every manufacturer can and does make lemons...Remington sells a shit ton of rifles, so I suspect that is the reason for hearing more about their "QC problems" than anything....They have more rifles in the field.

I've had 3 bone stock Remingtons, all shot very well with proper load development. Never ran any factory crap through them..... I've had a Sako 85, and it shot shit with factory ammo...But did well with reloads. Pretty disappointing for a $1500 rifle if you ask me.

 

[Daniel_M]

I'd opt out of Remington for 2 reasons...

Lack of 3 position safety and, the market lawsuits on safety issues.
Controlled feed.

I have a Remi in 300WM, but, she's gonna be on the market soon.

 

[Shrek]

Tstowater , I bought the m70 for the same reason someone might buy an Italian sports car , it's cool and I like it. The adult in me says I should have bought a model 16 savage in a hinged floorplate wsm and ordered a custom 7mm wsm barrel and a manners stock and be done with it . What fun would that be ?
I can show you a Remington cdl sf that is put together like crap and can introduce you to several others I have met local with the same experience.
To the Op , if you handload , look at the tikka ss lite in 7x64. Great performance range for North America.

 

[Shrek]

I also kept it to the rifle options listed. I would be looking at a Savage model 116 and ordering a semi custom 280 ai nosler barrel for a jack of all trades rifle. But I know how to swap the barrels , bed the action , replace the trigger , and where to polish to make it "mine" . I would still recommend a model 16/116 savage even strait stock but it doesn't have anything on a tikka bone stock.

 

[bbrown]

I will always take quality over quantity so if there are any QC problems I would expect Remington to step up even if its only a small percentage. Like I said I have a couple older 700s and planned to buy another but for now it will either wait or be used and older.

My best day out of my factory .243 is 4 shots just over 1/2" at 100 yards hand held but off a bench with factory ammo - so I know what they can be capable of. In my experience the older ones shoot better than I am capable of (for the most part anyways) and I don't hand load or customize much of anything on any of my rifles so I expect it to be "real world" good from the get go.

 

[Moe.JKU]

If i had that option I would go tikka. However mentioned above i have a savage 116 weather warrior. Its a tack driver with any federal bullets ive shot out of it. I live on the wet coast so i needed something weather proof, and something lite for mountain hunts.
And stated above as well every gun manufacturer makes lemons.

 

[30-338mag]

I reload for my varmint partner's T-3 in 300WSM and it's very accurate rifle. I much prefer rifle without a removable magazine in fact none of my elk/deer or antelope rifles have one.

 

[Spike_Sniper]

Thanks for the good info. I seem to be leaning to the Tikka. I have shot both and they both feel good and both cost about the same. I plan on leaving it stock.

 

[Spike_Sniper]

Going with the 30-06 too. I don't have anything in that and would like to fill that void. For a bigger round I am going to look at 300wm or 338 at a later time since I would not use that one much.

 

[Spike_Sniper]

Can I use a Talley one piece low with the T3 with Leupold vx2 3x9x40?

 

[realunlucky]

Shot this three shell group at 200 yards using a rem 700 in 30/06 while working up a load for my le hunt. Impressive for a sportster bdl

 

[Daniel_M]

Can I use a Talley one piece low with the T3 with Leupold vx2 3x9x40?

That shouldn't be an issue what so ever. I mounted a 33mm last night on lows with plenty of clearance for a 40mm lens