Should I go the cheap route or not

[B100DHOUND]

Looking to buy my first rifle, would you guys recommend going cheap like a tikka or Bergara b14. Or go the higher end way and spend a little more and get a fierce or bergara b-14 crest carbon. I’m looking for a 7 prc or 6.5 prc.


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[Q_Sertorius]

Between those two: Tikka in 6.5 PRC all the way. EuroOptic has a great sale on them.

Tikka T3x Lite 6.5 PRC 24" 1:8" Bbl Synthetic/Blued Rifle JRTXE319 For Sale - EuroOptic

Tikka T3x Lite 6.5 PRC 24" 1:8" Bbl Synthetic/Blued Rifle JRTXE319 For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

Edit - also consider the Sauer 100. With a 4" muzzle forward can like the OG 6.5 or Airlock Zero Gravity 6.5, that could be a really sweet rifle.

https://www.eurooptic.com/sauer-100-classic-xt-65-prc-24-1-8-1-2-x28-bbl-rifle-s1s65pt

All their Tikkas and Sauers: https://www.eurooptic.com/bolt-acti...lPTEmX2ZiXz1TYXVlciZfZmJfPVRpa2thJl9zcF89YXNj

Edit #2 - I'd definitely consider the smaller bore and cartridge the better choice for your first rifle. My personal opinion is that, between the two, the 6.5 PRC is the better choice by far for most hunters and shooters. The 6.5 PRC is very similar to the .270 Winchester, which is more than enough rifle to put any North American big game in the cooking pot. You might consider an even smaller bore and cartridge - I think a .243 is all the rifle you need to hunt anywhere. But I won't get into the merits of which caliber and headstamp is best. There are loads of threads full of data to answer that question.

 

[CRJR45]

Seekins PH2 for the win !

 

[Samson7x]

If I spend more than tikka money, it certainly would NOT be on a fierce or bergara.

 

[bnewt3]

Tikka or Bergara are definitely not the "cheap" route, both in value and price. Both are great guns. But there are cheaper options, some are very good options.

edit: seeing the price of a tikka on Europtic, its not far from a cheap price. Thats a great rifle $570 for blued/$650 for stainless.
edit2: those 2 prices are for last year's models without threaded barrel, not a thing wrong with them, but if you want a suppressor or brake, I would go for one already threaded

In my opinion a basic Tikka Lite is a great action/barrel/trigger with a lightweight but subpar stock. It works, but thats all. So I think of that as a way to get a solid barreled action and get a stock/chassis of your choosing to put it in.

You say its your first gun, can I ask how you arrived at 6.5 or 7 PRC? What is the primary purpose of the rifle?

 

[Jdeck09]

Personally, I am a big Bergara fan. I'd consider the Ridge Wilderness in the moderate price range, Highlander in the semi-moderate range, and then the Crest.

My Highlander is sub moa all day as is my Ridge.

 

[Johnwell]

I’d go tikka in 6.5 prc. (Or smaller; fast twist 22-250? If whitetail deer are all you’re targeting I’d go small. 6.5 PRC would be good if you hunt elk)

Get a good RELIABLE scope; Trijicon, SWFA, Nightforce, or S&B.

If your budget/state allows, get a suppressor.

Buy as much ammo as you can and shoot as often as you can at different distances until you’re competent.

Reload if you can/are interested in it.

 

[TheCougar]

Buy a Tikka, swap out the stock, get some UM rings and a good scope (NF, Maven RS 1.2, Trij Credo/TenMile, or LRHS), buy a metric butt-ton of practice ammo. Depending on the scope, that's going to run you $2500-3000 plus ammo. Not cheap by any stretch. I have all Tikkas in Rokstoks with the above scopes, and they all shoot under 1.2 MOA 10-15 shot groups with factory ammo. They have cured me for the desire for anything more expensive.

 

[B100DHOUND]

Personally, I am a big Bergara fan. I'd consider the Ridge Wilderness in the moderate price range, Highlander in the semi-moderate range, and then the Crest.

My Highlander is sub moa all day as is my Ridge.

I’m really looking at the carbon ridge wilderness


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[Hydra6]

I would go new Tikka with threaded barrel or new Seekins PH3 or used Seekins PH2

 

[B100DHOUND]

I’d go tikka in 6.5 prc. (Or smaller; fast twist 22-250? If whitetail deer are all you’re targeting I’d go small. 6.5 PRC would be good if you hunt elk)

Get a good RELIABLE scope; Trijicon, SWFA, Nightforce, or S&B.

If your budget/state allows, get a suppressor.

Buy as much ammo as you can and shoot as often as you can at different distances until you’re competent.

Reload if you can/are interested in it.

I’m looking for something for elk, bear, mule and white tail. Would 6.5 be good for elk?

 

[Hydra6]

I’m looking for something for elk, bear, mule and white tail. Would 6.5 be good for elk?

There are multiple threads on "which caliber" for elk/deer

 

[Jdeck09]

I’m really looking at the carbon ridge wilderness


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Ive seen good things but I personally haven't shot any of their carbon barrels.

 

[Johnwell]

I’m looking for something for elk, bear, mule and white tail. Would 6.5 be good for elk?

I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for elk. I’m a little hypocritical though as I built a 300wsm for bear and if I ever draw an elk tag.. but plenty of guys are using a 6.5 prc for elk. It’ll definitely do the job if you put a bullet in the vitals.

 

[Chris in TN]

If I'm spending more than a Tikka costs new, I'm building a custom rifle. I've done both, I'd do both again, and I simply can not grasp why people spend that $1000 to $3000 budget range on mass-produced rifles.

You can still get an action for $1000, have a quality barrel spun onto it for $800, a trigger and bottom metal for $300 to $400, a $700 to $800 stock, and have something built how you wanted it. Would I do that for a first rifle? No. Not at all.

I think the slot above what a new Tikka costs and below what an honest basic custom job costs.......is an absolute waste. YMMV, a whole lot.

ETA: Also, going 6.5PRC or 7PRC for your first rifle is a mistake, pure and simple. Go smaller. Yes, for elk.

 

[keystone112]

In my book, Tikka isn’t cheap, it’s mid-grade. The basic Tikka is very good. It does everything well. I don’t regret any of my Tikka rifles.

If I can’t get it done with one of my Tikka’s, I probably just can’t get it done.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I’m looking for something for elk, bear, mule and white tail. Would 6.5 be good for elk?

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Dec 17, 2021

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...

• woods89
• Replies: 1,824
• Forum: Firearms

• 

Get a tikka or sauer. Best deal going right now is the euro optic Sauer 100 in 6.5 creed.

 

[cowdisciple]

Tikkas are great. Of the two, 6.5. There are many good reasons to get a .223 first, though.

I would definitely prioritize a quality scope, suppressor and as much ammo as possible before spending more than Tikka money on the rifle.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

FYI - This forum is heavily loaded with Tikka fans.
Always the same story - buy a tikka and change x, y, z components.
I’d look hard at Seekins and Fierce.
I own a Fierce and, contrary to the inflow of some opinion, it’s an absolute tack driver and very well made.
I’ve also owned Browning and it shot fantastic. I wouldn’t skip them in your search.

 

[Mike D Texas]

A Tikka is perfectly usable out of the box. I’ve taken my 300 WSM Tikka to a mile changing nothing but adding the vertical grip module.


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