Wanting a new "Everything cartridge/Rifle under $1500"...Thoughts?

[EzMoney22824]

Do you want a rifle that you buy off the shelf and leave it as is or will you want to upgrade it and change stocks? Suppressor? Muzzle brake?

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So I got the itch to buy a new rifle. Looking for a Do all or more of a big game like elk and bear but can also use on small Texas whitetail. I've been eyeing a 7mm-08 but cant find a decent ultralight rifle available. Other round I've been considering is the .308 or possibly 7prc. If you were looking for a new do all rifle under $1500 what caliber and rifle would you

So I got the itch to buy a new rifle. Looking for a Do all or more of a big game like elk and bear but can also use on small Texas whitetail. I've been eyeing a 7mm-08 but cant find a decent ultralight rifle available. Other round I've been considering is the .308 or possibly 7prc. If you were looking for a new do all rifle under $1500 what caliber and rifle would you choose?

Keep it simple. In my opinion the best bang for the buck pun intended, would be a Tikka T3x good old 30-06. I'd get a good aftermarket stock Something like a Bell and Carlson, I'd get a Trijicon Huron. With modern powders and bullets you can get impressive performance from a 30-06.

 

[Turkeytider]

The premier series are a different animal compared to their imports

“ Different animal “ in a good or bad way ?

 

[Turkeytider]

Keep it simple. In my opinion the best bang for the buck pun intended, would be a Tikka T3x good old 30-06. I'd get a good aftermarket stock Something like a Bell and Carlson, I'd get a Trijicon Huron. With modern powders and bullets you can get impressive performance from a 30-06.

Based on what I read on the internet concerning Tikkas, there must be a landfill worth of Tikka OEM stocks out there! Almost seems like a requirement to buy a Tikka that one MUST jerk the barreled action out of the factory stock and drop it into some aftermarket set up.

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

“ Different animal “ in a good or bad way ?

Good way . They are close to custom.

 

[grfox92]

Add suppressor eventually. Mostly stock.

In typical Rosklide fashion the OPs wants have been ignored and almost every single person has suggested a Tikka and to change out the factory stock.

OP wants a stock rifle that he can add a suppressor to. Its almost as if we have gone under some type of Hypnosis to believe Tikka is the only option for everything all the time. There are other good rifles out there.

@TexanHunter if you want a factory rifle in the $1500 range I would look at Browning X Bolts in 7mm08 (too many options to list) or I would look at a Seekins in 6.5 PRC for around $1850 at Scheels. Both are phenomenal rifles. Browning X Bolts have zero chronic issues or history of having issues out of the box.

If you are more open to customizing a rifle, Tikka is your best option, you can get a basic Tikka, have it cut down a threaded for a supressor, buy an aftermarket stock and drop it in, adjust the trigger and you have close to a custom rifle for a fraction of the price. Not everyone wants to do all of the that. If you don't, then the other 2 rifles I listed are the move.

EDIT; before I put my foot in my mouth, was there an X Bolt 2 reviewed here that did in fact have issue out of the box?

Edit to my edit, I just went back and no, I was mixing it up with the Howa Ultralite disaster.

 

[Bets]

7mm PRC for the new age. 270 for the classic. Don't need a 300 win mag for moose, but doesn't hurt.

 

[eric1115]

Based on what I read on the internet concerning Tikkas, there must be a landfill worth of Tikka OEM stocks out there! Almost seems like a requirement to buy a Tikka that one MUST jerk the barreled action out of the factory stock and drop it into some aftermarket set up.

Would you stop with this nonsense? It's not true no matter how many times you say it. The factory stock is fine. Better than the factory stocks on most other $700 rifles. I am happy that Tikka doesn't spend half of the T3x's budget on a mid-level stock. The point is, a $700 Tikka is better than any other $700 rifle and most $1k+ rifles.

Put a $600 stock on it and you're done, in for $1300 on a rifle that I would take over any Bergara, Christensen, Fierce, etc. the same can't be said for a Ruger American, Savage, entry level Bergara, etc. they are mediocre at best no matter what fancy stock you put them in.

That's why I super glad they offer the T3 with an inexpensive (but still perfectly usable) stock. Very high quality action, barrel, and trigger ready to drop into MY choice of stock. Better that than what most other manufacturers do (lower quality action, barrel, trigger to free up room in the budget for a more expensive stock like the Roughtech that still doesn't end up being quite what I want. But that doesn't make replacement mandatory (and definitely doesn't make a different $700 rifle a better gun).

 

[grfox92]

Would you stop with this nonsense? It's not true no matter how many times you say it. The factory stock is fine. Better than the factory stocks on most other $700 rifles. I am happy that Tikka doesn't spend half of the T3x's budget on a mid-level stock. The point is, a $700 Tikka is better than any other $700 rifle and most $1k+ rifles.

Put a $600 stock on it and you're done, in for $1300 on a rifle that I would take over any Bergara, Christensen, Fierce, etc. the same can't be said for a Ruger American, Savage, entry level Bergara, etc. they are mediocre at best no matter what fancy stock you put them in.

That's why I super glad they offer the T3 with an inexpensive (but still perfectly usable) stock. Very high quality action, barrel, and trigger ready to drop into MY choice of stock. Better that than what most other manufacturers do (lower quality action, barrel, trigger to free up room in the budget for a more expensive stock like the Roughtech that still doesn't end up being quite what I want. But that doesn't make replacement mandatory (and definitely doesn't make a different $700 rifle a better gun).

I agree with most of what you are saying but the annoying part is their "higher end" models like the veil or the Roughtech. They are giving the people exactly what they dont want for an extra $600. They could easily just take a T3x Light stainless or even blued, thread it, and put it in some type of good vertical grip stock and then you would have the absolute best factory option on earth. I have 2 sons who are lefty. I want a left handed basic Tikka. Everything available right now is the higher end models that I refuse to pay an extra $300 to $600 for, thats the budget for the stock. I dont care about the heavier barrel or a painted stock.

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[Q_Sertorius]

I agree with most of what you are saying but the annoying part is their "higher end" models like the veil or the Roughtech. They are giving the people exactly what they dont want for an extra $600. They could easily just take a T3x Light stainless or even blued, thread it, and put it in some type of good vertical grip stock and then you would have the absolute best factory option on earth. I have 2 sons who are lefty. I want a left handed basic Tikka. Everything available right now is the higher end models that I refuse to pay an extra $300 to $600 for, thats the budget for the stock. I dont care about the heavier barrel or a painted stock.

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Yeah, but that’s exactly the kind of thing my older brother and his son like. It doesn’t make sense to me either, but there are a ton of folks who go for those marked up extras that aren’t quite perfect.

I feel for you on the left handed thing. That’s a rough situation in the shooting world.

The reason I recommend the basic Tikka T3X or Sauer 100 over other rifles - apart from the fact that I own them and they work very well for me - is that whenever I look at a more expensive rifle, all I see are the things it comes with that I don’t want, need, or like. And when I start doing the math, I am just not willing to pay extra for stuff like a pretty wooden Monte Carlo stock or schnabel fore end or whatever. Not when I can get a more effective pretty wooden RokStok. And the same goes for any other feature on a rifle. The core of the rifle - action, trigger, barrel - has to be better before I start to get interested.

 

[MeatMissile]

At least Tikka factory stocks aren’t one of those abominations you see on many rifles these days. I thought thumbhole stocks were ugly, but all the manufacturers said “hold muh beer!” and make stocks that make people think they can shoot far.

I much prefer an open grip than a vertical grip. Most shots here are going to be quick and mostly off-hand. Handling qualities like a shotgun are what I prefer in those situations.

 

[Turkeytider]

Would you stop with this nonsense? It's not true no matter how many times you say it. The factory stock is fine. Better than the factory stocks on most other $700 rifles. I am happy that Tikka doesn't spend half of the T3x's budget on a mid-level stock. The point is, a $700 Tikka is better than any other $700 rifle and most $1k+ rifles.

Put a $600 stock on it and you're done, in for $1300 on a rifle that I would take over any Bergara, Christensen, Fierce, etc. the same can't be said for a Ruger American, Savage, entry level Bergara, etc. they are mediocre at best no matter what fancy stock you put them in.

That's why I super glad they offer the T3 with an inexpensive (but still perfectly usable) stock. Very high quality action, barrel, and trigger ready to drop into MY choice of stock. Better that than what most other manufacturers do (lower quality action, barrel, trigger to free up room in the budget for a more expensive stock like the Roughtech that still doesn't end up being quite what I want. But that doesn't make replacement mandatory (and definitely doesn't make a different $700 rifle a better gun).

Hey, I’m not saying the OEM Tikka stocks aren’t good, I have no idea. I’m just commenting that there appears to be a lot of folks who don’t think so, if the volume of shooters who apparently feel the necessity to switch them out is any indication. Sorry if I hit a nerve, wasn’t my intention.

 

[sndmn11]

These are threaded 1/2-28 if Tikka don't do it for you.

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/weatherby-vanguard-compact-hunter-tungsten-cerakote-bolt-action-rifle-308-winchester-20in/p/1799523

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/weatherby-vanguard-compact-hunter-tungsten-cerakote-bolt-action-rifle-7mm-08-remington-20in/p/1799522?srsltid=AfmBOoo74PV3wpCefnpP26eilnP-WBuSHIKVJ1a2FV3EF-uv_9Q1MX_M

One would have to search around for the 7-08 version.

Its not hard to find an aftermarket stock and still be under budget.

 

[eric1115]

Hey, I’m not saying the OEM Tikka stocks aren’t good, I have no idea.

Do you have any interest in finding out? Or do you want to just keep posting the same tired trolling snark every time someone mentions Tikka rifles?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Hey, I’m not saying the OEM Tikka stocks aren’t good, I have no idea. I’m just commenting that there appears to be a lot of folks who don’t think so, if the volume of shooters who apparently feel the necessity to switch them out is any indication.

Most folks on RokSlide are gear junkies who spend most of their time convincing each other to buy more stuff. That’s true of most firearm or hunting forums. The redeeming thing here is that most also encourage each other to practice shooting a lot and be honest about their abilities. That makes this a rather atypical community.

There are plenty of hunters out there who will use their vanilla rifle without ever modifying it. And that’s true no matter the brand name on the gear.

 

[eric1115]

I agree with most of what you are saying but the annoying part is their "higher end" models like the veil or the Roughtech. They are giving the people exactly what they dont want for an extra $600. They could easily just take a T3x Light stainless or even blued, thread it, and put it in some type of good vertical grip stock and then you would have the absolute best factory option on earth. I have 2 sons who are lefty. I want a left handed basic Tikka. Everything available right now is the higher end models that I refuse to pay an extra $300 to $600 for, thats the budget for the stock. I dont care about the heavier barrel or a painted stock.

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I agree 100%, and if they made a smart geometry update in the stock I would be the first one to sing praises. The quality of the stock is actually really good compared to most of the Tupperware stocks out there that I've handled/owned/shot.

Big picture though, I'm super happy that they don't do an economized action/barrel/trigger to get to the entry level price point (like Savage with the Axis, Ruger with the American, etc) with enough left to paint the stock, do a cerakote job and maybe flute the barrel, and add a cheek piece that's 3" above the recoil pad.

If you had to get to the Roughtech/veil/ember/super varmint level to get a real T3x action/trigger/barrel, they wouldn't be the go-to here the way they are now.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Nothing wrong with the tikka stock, it’s really not bad for factory polymer most guys here just tinker and upgrade stuff, hence the love affair with stuff you can tinker with easily. Heck even the Oem tikka stock can be modified with a butt pad and vertical grip for like 60 bucks