Tikka T3X or new Savage 110 Ultralight?

[Newtosavage]

The lesson learned: do not open emails before going to the gun shop. The two things that matter the most are not much and very little.

Tikka’s are a boring as 30-06’s, and a 30-06 Tikka is like watching paint dry.

It matters more on the internet.

As someone whose first Tikka was a brand new T3x in 30-06, I cannot disagree with what you said. But, some folks find boring as a positive. As in, get ammo anywhere, boring reliability, boring accuracy. So there is a strong boring following out there when it comes to hunting rifles...

 

[Newtosavage]

FWIW, I own a Savage ...and wish I would have bought the Tikka.

My screen name is based on owning Savages, but I still have my Tikka and I currently own "0" Savages. LOL

 

[JeffRaines]

I brought up(I think in another thread) wondering who is actually cutting the chambers. Does anyone know yet? If its Savage themselves I'm iffy about about, but if its Proof cutting the chambers and Savage just putting the pre-fit barrel onto their action and headspacing it I wouldn't see a reason to snub the rifle over a Tikka as long as your budget allows. In that case I'd argue you'd be getting a better rifle over the Tikka. The action itself would leave a little to be desired, but if its the same stock I'm thinking of its not far off the Tikka... better twist rates, heavier barrel contour, scaled action size vs fixed.

As far as the "buy a tikka and replace everything" comment, I hope you realize that in doing so you're looking at $2400-$2600 when its all said and done. Replacing the stock, barrel(smithing, etc) will end up putting the OP quite a bit more expensive. While I know he mentioned he was okay with the price difference, I doubt 1200-1400 more is what he had in mind(at least thats how I'd feel).

edit - I've now seen a few websites(not the ones already mentioned) trying to offer these up for above MSRP. For the record, at MSRP and above I don't think the rifle is worth it. Above MSRP - at that price I'd take someones advice, buy a Tikka and have a carbon barrel fitted onto it(keeping the Tikka stock)... or just buy a CA.If these other websites keep them at 1150 though its a damn good deal.

 

[renagde]

I brought up(I think in another thread) wondering who is actually cutting the chambers. Does anyone know yet? If its Savage themselves I'm iffy about about, but if its Proof cutting the chambers and Savage just putting the pre-fit barrel onto their action and headspacing it I wouldn't see a reason to snub the rifle over a Tikka as long as your budget allows. In that case I'd argue you'd be getting a better rifle over the Tikka. The action itself would leave a little to be desired, but if its the same stock I'm thinking of its not far off the Tikka... better twist rates, heavier barrel contour, scaled action size vs fixed.

As far as the "buy a tikka and replace everything" comment, I hope you realize that in doing so you're looking at $2400-$2600 when its all said and done. Replacing the stock, barrel(smithing, etc) will end up putting the OP quite a bit more expensive. While I know he mentioned he was okay with the price difference, I doubt 1200-1400 more is what he had in mind(at least thats how I'd feel).

edit - I've now seen a few websites(not the ones already mentioned) trying to offer these up for above MSRP. For the record, at MSRP and above I don't think the rifle is worth it. Above MSRP - at that price I'd take someones advice, buy a Tikka and have a carbon barrel fitted onto it(keeping the Tikka stock)... or just buy a CA.If these other websites keep them at 1150 though its a damn good deal.

Not sure why you're so against replacing the components on the Tikka. He asked for opinions on the better firearm. He said price difference doesn't matter, he wants the better firearm. A stock Tikka T3x compared to the stock Savage 110 Ultralight will probably shoot just as good-all at 5-600$ less. Also, prefit barrels do not need to be chambered and with the proper tools can be done at home. If not, a gunsmith will usually swap out a barrel for around $75.

I'll still hold to my comment that a $500 Tikka + a $800 prefit barrel will be better than this Savage. You get the smoother action, better trigger, and most likely more accurate gun for around the same money. And after all that, you have all kinds of options to customize if you don't like the stock.

 

[JeffRaines]

Not sure why you're so against replacing the components on the Tikka. He asked for opinions on the better firearm. He said price difference doesn't matter, he wants the better firearm. A stock Tikka T3x compared to the stock Savage 110 Ultralight will probably shoot just as good-all at 5-600$ less. Also, prefit barrels do not need to be chambered and with the proper tools can be done at home. If not, a gunsmith will usually swap out a barrel for around $75.

I'll still hold to my comment that a $500 Tikka + a $800 prefit barrel will be better than this Savage. You get the smoother action, better trigger, and most likely more accurate gun for around the same money. And after all that, you have all kinds of options to customize if you don't like the stock.

Honestly I didn't realize they were making prefit barrels similar to savage for Tikka. That changes a bit - I figured to get a barrel for a tikka it would be 800+whatever the smith charges to chamber, thread, true and hang it. I may end up going that route - its too bad proof doesn't offer a 280AI option.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I only have one savage, it’s a lightweight hunter with a kuiu stock, it is literally my truck gun....it sits behind the seat of my Tacoma year round. This new savage looks cool but I was actually thinking that I could just put a proof barrel on my tikka 6.5creed and be good to go.

I don’t care much about stocks, I have mcmillans, I have B&Cs and I also have lots of plastic stocks, as time goes by I have started liking the plastic stocks more and more, they work well and I don’t worry about singing them, I honestly don’t think I’d like an aftermarket stock on my tikka. In fact my current favorite rifle in my stable (a 385hh) has a basic plastic stock.