Trying to decide....Model 70 EW, Tikka T3x or Sako A7

[Leatherneck]

Looking to pickup another rifle and have narrowed it down to the Winchester Model 70 EW, Tikka T3x or the Sako A7. Ideally would like to get a .30-06, but may buy another .308 as I heard the A7 and Model 70 EW might feel better in short action. Which one would you pick? NOT using for bears, but I know there's still a preference for CRF in big bear territory. Would any of you be ok with running an A7 or T3x in Alaska/BC/Yukon?

 

[CCH]

I have been running a BACO 70 Featherweight for some time, and love it. My son has an EW, and it is excellent. Two of my closest friends are using New Haven 70 Featherweights on their Alaskan Dall Sheep hunt in September. All are .308s, and they are all we hunt with. All but the EW are now in McMillan stocks. Not knocking Tikka/Sakos, but I don't think you can go wrong with a model 70.

 

[MTElk1987]

I have an EW 300 Win Mag. Have been using it for several years now and love it. Shot great right out of the box. I don't have any experience with the other guns as I have only shot model 70's my whole life.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve had an EW 30-06 for about 3 years now, it’s an awesome rifle, probably one of my favorite rifles that I own. It’s been my go to for moose since I got it. In my opinion, the EW 30-06 is pretty much the ultimate “all around” rifle.

 

[howl]

All are good. Handle them and get whichever you like best for whatever reason. I'd go the TIKKA just because I like the way it runs better than the others.

 

[TwoTikkas]

T3X. Single stack will always out feed a staggered magazine. Claw or no claw. I've been shooting and hand loading for over 40 years and never experienced an extraction failure. Push feed or controlled.

I do love a short action rifle for short rounds,but that didn't stop me from buying a 22/250, 243, and 300 WSM In the Tikka. No complaints.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I thought I’d chime in a bit more, I was in a hurry when I posted here about my EW 30-06. I have a tikka t3x superlite as well, it’s a cool gun but I haven’t exactly fallen in love with it yet, I like it but since I’ve had it I’ve gone through half a dozen scope/ring/base combinations trying to figure out what I like, hopefully the Sportsmatch rings and the SWFA 3-9 will be what I’ve been looking for, my biggest complaint is the 24” barrel is just too long, I’ll probably have it cut back to 21” soon. I’m hoping to get it set up the way I like it and be done with it.

My friend has the sako A7 roughneck and it’s like the tikka and the EW had a lovechild, it’s basically a tikka with a stock similar to the EW. It’s ok, I think of the 3 guns mentioned it’s my least favorite.

 

[fightthenoise]

Another vote for EW in 30-06. I love mine. I also have 3 T3x’s and they are great guns that shoot well, but the EW shoots just as well and feels much nicer in the hand. Also Winchester twists their barrels properly @ 1:10. Sako/Tikka can’t seem to get away from 1:11. Probably won’t make a difference but there is some merit to 30-06 slinging Berger 210’s.

The only con is I can’t justify buying another rifle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wrench]

They're all great. It's going to be asthetics and ergonomics that close the deal. The tikka stock is repulsive to me, but the weight is awesome. The winchester has the most bombproof safety and a trigger that can't fail if it were dropped in concrete.

I had a terrible experience with sako customer service so that's all I can say there.

 

[Wirrex]

I have an ultimate shadow SS 3006 that I dropped in a B&C stock. I love the thing.

 

[hodgeman]

\. Would any of you be ok with running an A7 or T3x in Alaska/BC/Yukon?

I've used a T3 and my son still does, CRF is nice, but in the modern era..overblown. Any of those three rifles would do a good job.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Would any of you be ok with running an A7 or T3x in Alaska/BC/Yukon?

Absolutely.

 

[deerkiller]

I thought I’d chime in a bit more, I was in a hurry when I posted here about my EW 30-06. I have a tikka t3x superlite as well, it’s a cool gun but I haven’t exactly fallen in love with it yet, I like it but since I’ve had it I’ve gone through half a dozen scope/ring/base combinations trying to figure out what I like, hopefully the Sportsmatch rings and the SWFA 3-9 will be what I’ve been looking for, my biggest complaint is the 24” barrel is just too long, I’ll probably have it cut back to 21” soon. I’m hoping to get it set up the way I like it and be done with it.

My friend has the sako A7 roughneck and it’s like the tikka and the EW had a lovechild, it’s basically a tikka with a stock similar to the EW. It’s ok, I think of the 3 guns mentioned it’s my least favorite.

I'm sitting here looking at my Tikka T3x 338/06 AI that started out as an '06 and it has a 22 3/8" barrel, don't believe they made any 24 3/8" barrel standard chamberings ?
I love model 70's AND Kimber actions but I sincerely doubt you will ever find any action that feeds any smoother or more reliably than a Tikka

 

[deerkiller]

Absolutely.

of those 2 IMO the A-7 magazine drop sequence is too cumbersome with that slight "push" feature - I've spent hour upon hour, day after day with Tikkas (and partners with Tikkas) and never have heard of or witnessed an accidental dropped out magazine or a feed malfunction

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I'm sitting here looking at my Tikka T3x 338/06 AI that started out as an '06 and it has a 22 3/8" barrel, don't believe they made any 24 3/8" barrel standard chamberings ?
I love model 70's AND Kimber actions but I sincerely doubt you will ever find any action that feeds any smoother or more reliably than a Tikka

Not sure what you mean by “standard chambering a” but they make the 6.5cm with a 24” barrel for sure...I have one.

 

[deerkiller]

Not sure what you mean by “standard chambering a” but they make the 6.5cm with a 24” barrel for sure...I have one.

"standard" as opposed to magnum or WSM - the CM is the only one I know of that comes in more than one barrel length - I've had, now have and have procured for quite a few others T3 and T3x in 30.06, all 22 3/8" in length, do they or have they done a 24 3/8" barrel too ? I thought they only did 300 win mag and 7mm rem mag in those ?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

"standard" as opposed to magnum or WSM - the CM is the only one I know of that comes in more than one barrel length - I've had, now have and have procured for quite a few others T3 and T3x in 30.06, all 22 3/8" in length, do they or have they done a 24 3/8" barrel too ? I thought they only did 300 win mag and 7mm rem mag in those ?

I’m not sure I only have this one t3x 6.5cm, I had a blues 270 t3 lite back in ~ 2010 but don’t have it any more.

 

[Capt_Craig]

I have had all three rifles, two EWs (270 WSM and 300 WSM), an early A7 Tecomate in 270 WSM, and multiple Tikkas (both Lites and Superlites). This is what I liked/disliked about each:

Tikka-light, still relatively cheap, normally very accurate, great trigger, more and more aftermarket support each day, little to tinker with as they normally shoot so well out of the box. Some folks don’t like the plasticky-ness (if thats a word) stock, mags, bottom metal, but that doesn’t really bother me much. They are very common and mostly soul-less, which is why I think so many mod them. For me, Tikkas are a tool rifle to go shoot and not worry about. They just work.

A7-not as light as the Tikka possibly much heavier depending on the configuration and stock, more expensive overall, shoot just as well as Tikkas as they share the same barrels, slightly less plasticky, magazines stupidly expensive, very limited aftermarket support. Multiple action legths compared to one action size on the Tikka if that matters. Mine was the early Tecomate version with the green B&C stock. I wasn’t thrilled with the chunkiness of the stock, overall weight, or expense of buying extra mags. It also has a three lug bolt, which is very smooth to work like the Tikka, but has a much harder bolt lift compared with two lug actions. Also there is the possibility of ejection issues similar to the Sako 85 long actions (my WSM length action was fine) with brass hitting your scope and falling back into the action. Slightly less soulless than the Tikka, but for the cost and tradeoffs, I’d take the Tikka every time. My A7 was sold a long time ago.

Winchester Mod 70/EW-Potentially the most expensive of the three, All metal construction, CRF, significantly heavier, potentially as accurate but not always, MOA trigger (which some like, some despise) easily adjustable and lightened with Earnie’s spring, early ones made in USA (BACO SC), later in Portugal, decent aftermarket support due to longevity of Winchester model,production. Comes with a B&C stock which is what it is, heavier than necessary, chunky (especially earlier plain black models -newer black/gray speckeld ones reported to be slimmer), stock feel changes depending on short/WSM/long action with the long action forearm being significantly longer, overall rifle weight generally the heaviest of the three (similar to the A7 Long Range in weight), not as smooth action as Tikka and A7. Much more prone to have a soul. Personally I much prefer the feel of the wooden featherweight stock on the FW compared with the B&C on the EW. One of my EWs I gave to my Dad, who shot it, sold it, and bought a FW. The other EW was sold a while back. Personally, I’m done hunting with a heavier rifle than necessary (currently prefer Kimbers, which sometimes have their own issues, Tikkas, and Fieldcrafts) and my last Win is a BACO SC US made Stainless Featherweight in 30-06 which is likely going up for sale shortly on the 24 Hour Campfire site as I just don’t use it. I still have way many more people ask me about that rifle than any of my others, as it just has soul.

Hope this helps and let us know what you decide.

Craig

 

[CCH]

T3X. Single stack will always out feed a staggered magazine. Claw or no claw. I've been shooting and hand loading for over 40 years and never experienced an extraction failure. Push feed or controlled.

I do love a short action rifle for short rounds,but that didn't stop me from buying a 22/250, 243, and 300 WSM In the Tikka. No complaints.

Out feed? That implies staggered magazines have a problem feeding. In general, not true, especially regarding bolt actions with non-DBMs.

 

[Mike 338]

I had a Winchester 70 EW in 338 Win Mag. Fairly inaccurate rifle and constantly failed to extract. The spent case would either weakly dribble out or spin around and face the wrong direction instead of extracting. Called Winchester and they said to expect 1.5 to 2 MOA with that cartridge. Sent it back to the factory for the extraction problem and got a big "nothing" for my trouble. Barrel was very skinny with a muzzle diameter of .570". Mag box was the same dumb story. To short to take advantage of being a reloader and a massive jump to the rifling. At the time, it was one of the more expensive factory guns you could buy but putting your money down on a factory rifle means almost nothing unless you go with one of those Northern European rifle manufacturers. They have a pretty good reputation for meeting their customers expectations the first time out.