Looking for a new factory rifle: Your thoughts?

[Q_Sertorius]

A sawsall

Instructions unclear. Where to apply sawsall?

 

[KenLee]

Instructions unclear. Where to apply sawsall?

Stock length

 

[Speaks]

I should have said "like a 30-06 in a well made rifle". Y'all are delirious. I have a 6 pound 4 oz x-bolt 300wsm that kicks no more than a plain Jane t3x 270

I have not shot an x-bolt but I do know my tikka 6.5cm kicks noticeably less than my m70 270.

If factory stocks they do kick a little more than some rifles though.

 

[General RE LEE]

Tikka T3x

 

[NevadaMike]

The Tikka will do everything you described with ease without changing anything. I love Tikka's just as they come and I have several. If your budget allows the Seekins will be close to a custom rifle with stupid good accuracy and good support. I have a few seekins now and they are my go to. I have never owned a Christiansen but I do not hear good things about them.

 

[Billy Goat]

Man, I'd go .243 in just about anything for 3-350 in eastern hardwoods.

18", can, I think you will prefer it.


Not what you asked for, but if you haven't considered it, you should.

 

[Johnboy041586]

The only one of the listed rifles you mentioned I have owned are x-bolts. But I like both hells canyon ones I have (300wm & 7mm-08). I don't know if the hells canyon editions shoot better, but they sure look lol.

 

[peaceful_ruler]

Factory Sauer 100 is equivalent(or better) in every way to a factory Tikka T3X except for the action and bolt smoothness of operation…and it does that pretty well too.

$450 for a threaded 6.5 CM is a no brainer

 

[Macintosh]

It has to have something to do with their cheap stocks. I have shot a tikka next to an x-bolt in similar weights and same ammo and cartridge and the felt recoil to me seemed noticeably higher in the Tikka. I thought it was weird and am just speculating as to the why.

I dont disagree depending on exactly what you are comparing to. I just think the hyperbolic characterization of it that Ive seen a few times recently is very inaccurate. Just pointing out that when comparing apples to apples the difference is demonstrably minor, and there are just as many similar or even worse stocks in other brands, and maybe a few that are noticeably better, but at a $price. If you start comparing to aftermarket stocks, significantly heavier guns, etc then sure, theres a much more noticeable difference. But making a general sweeping characterization as was done earlier in this thread is simply misleading.
Of the three guns the OP mentioned, the Tikka out of the box has the worst stock simply by virtue of being plastic, with a slightly lower comb that doesnt help with recoil. But its within 1/8” in comb height of the others, ie its not a night and day difference, and yes I have shot all three rifles in several different cartridges. The tikka is also is several hundred dollars cheaper, and a quarter pound lighter than both. Given the budget, it’s nothing at all to throw that Tikka in a carbon fiber stock and have something that is objectively at least the equal of either of the other two guns. If people want an out of the box solution I won’t fault anyone for that. I don’t even necessarily think any one of them is so much better than the others. I just don’t agree with the characterization of the Tikka having wildly more recoil than the other two. Ime the difference is there but minor, and easily resolved within the budget. I noted that the OP seemed concerned about aftermarket support, which made me think that an out of the box solution was not necessarily a criteria.