Howa 1500 HCR Vs Tikka T3x Tac A1 in 6.5 creedmoor

E

EddieE

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 20, 2017
682
144
#1
Anyone have thoughts on these two rifles? Pros/cons of each? Which would have a smoother action, accuracy, etc. Accurate Mag makes the chassis for the Howa, not sure who makes it for the Tikka...would one be much better than the other?

I know brownells sells barreled howa actions pretty inexpensively, which chassis would be a good choice if I went this way instead of the Tikka?

thanks
 
#2
Look into the bergara hmr, bmp, or lrp. They are in this same quality/price range. One major advantage is the Bergara accepts remington 700 triggers, scope bases and stocks. Plus a few other killer features. Good luck. Either of your choices would be g2g imo.
 
#5
I bought a 308 varmint from them. Manners put it in an EH1 for me. Just beautiful.
Went to put a scope base on and anxious to shoot this beauty. Scope base no go. Reciever way cockeyed. It is " hand polished".
OK, two piece MK IV bases and Z rings.
Awsome.
One case of FGMM 175's and off to the range.
Stuvk cases, 4 for 10.
Call to LSI and: you can only shoot Hornady in these. Thanks.
Local Gunsmith cleans it and fires three. Sends it back. # 4 sticks.
Off to well known smith and "its junk". Pay up again.
Called LSI again and told them who looked at it and would not bother with it and was told to finally send it in.
It came back in the same condition. I called and was told Hornady baloney. "I fix these by the pallet" "I know better than those smiths".

had enough yet?
I could be shooting a TRG by freeking now.
 
#6
SporterII said:
I bought a 308 varmint from them. Manners put it in an EH1 for me. Just beautiful.
Went to put a scope base on and anxious to shoot this beauty. Scope base no go. Reciever way cockeyed. It is " hand polished".
OK, two piece MK IV bases and Z rings.
Awsome.
One case of FGMM 175's and off to the range.
Stuvk cases, 4 for 10.
Call to LSI and: you can only shoot Hornady in these. Thanks.
Local Gunsmith cleans it and fires three. Sends it back. # 4 sticks.
Off to well known smith and "its junk". Pay up again.
Called LSI again and told them who looked at it and would not bother with it and was told to finally send it in.
It came back in the same condition. I called and was told Hornady baloney. "I fix these by the pallet" "I know better than those smiths".

had enough yet?
I could be shooting a TRG by freeking now.
Click to expand...

That is tough.
 
#7
Sporter 2- sorry to hear that- my experience has been somewhat different with my 6.5 CM. I purchased a barreled action from Brownells and threw it in a MDT chassis. The first group out of it was sub 1/2 moa at 100yds with factory 140 ELDMs. Subsequent groups were similar. The gun absolutely hates Prime ammo- I couldn't get it to group lower than 2". With some load development with the Berger 130 Hybrids/H4350 it produced sub 1/4 inch groups. The only gunsmithing I had done was threading the muzzle and a cerakote job.
 

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#9
Dpack23 said:
Sporter 2- sorry to hear that- my experience has been somewhat different with my 6.5 CM. I purchased a barreled action from Brownells and threw it in a MDT chassis. The first group out of it was sub 1/2 moa at 100yds with factory 140 ELDMs. Subsequent groups were similar. The gun absolutely hates Prime ammo- I couldn't get it to group lower than 2". With some load development with the Berger 130 Hybrids/H4350 it produced sub 1/4 inch groups. The only gunsmithing I had done was threading the muzzle and a cerakote job.
Click to expand...

Nice shooting. I guess its luck of the draw? You got a good action...sporter didn't?
 
#10
Eddie-
That might be the case- Any factory purchase is dependent on their quality control and how well they maintain the tooling. It's kinda discouraging hearing that LSI didn't back their product! I purchased based off my local gunsmith's recommendation for a low cost option. He made this recommendation based on his experiences with Howas. He is not a dealer or anything. I fully intended to rebarrel but after I got those results, I decided to keep it and shoot it out. I also put a Timney trigger in B/C the Hact trigger sucks do to excessive creep and over travel issues even after adjustment. Pretty good results for sub $ 1000 Gun (chassis, trigger, barreled action). Good luck with your selection
 
#11
Tikka T3 X Tac A1 it's almost unobtainable at this time but If I could get it I choose one over the Howa with my eyes closed, but I'm a Tikka fan.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

 
#12
dannySH said:
Tikka T3 X Tac A1 it's almost unobtainable at this time but If I could get it I choose one over the Howa with my eyes closed, but I'm a Tikka fan.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I need to handle some of these guns. But I doubt the LGS will stock any of these long range guns. Would handling any tikka T3 action give me a good idea of how the Tac A1 would cycle? I really need to have a smooth cycling rifle. If I have to wait and save for a custom gun I will.
 
#14
I guess it's a hit or miss with the Howa 1500. But I have been also lucky with my last two Howa purchase. Just recently picked a Howa HCR 6.5 creedmoor threaded barrel here from BlackTidesArmament. It shoot lights out with a factory Hornady 140gr ELD. The fit and finish is great and the 2 stage trigger breaks clean but it was still a little too heavy for me, but after doing a trigger job work (cutting trigger spring per YouTube video) now it's set a 1.5lb pull.

Look up BlackTidesArmament if if you're taking the Howa route.

Also have couple friends that have Tikka T3X (not the A1) and they are excellent rifle as well. Action smooth as butter and very accurate factory barrel.

Good luck, bud!
 
Last edited:
#15
SporterII said:
I bought a 308 varmint from them. Manners put it in an EH1 for me. Just beautiful.
Went to put a scope base on and anxious to shoot this beauty. Scope base no go. Reciever way cockeyed. It is " hand polished".
OK, two piece MK IV bases and Z rings.
Awsome.
One case of FGMM 175's and off to the range.
Stuvk cases, 4 for 10.
Call to LSI and: you can only shoot Hornady in these. Thanks.
Local Gunsmith cleans it and fires three. Sends it back. # 4 sticks.
Off to well known smith and "its junk". Pay up again.
Called LSI again and told them who looked at it and would not bother with it and was told to finally send it in.
It came back in the same condition. I called and was told Hornady baloney. "I fix these by the pallet" "I know better than those smiths".

had enough yet?
I could be shooting a TRG by freeking now.
Click to expand...

Im sorry you were having issues with your .308. Ive never heard of our receivers being hand polished. Our barreled actions work with any type of brass out there. We mainly accuracy test our rifles with Hornad, we recommend it, but its certainly not the only ammo that will work in Howas. We certainly dont get pallets of returns on Howa's, this may be an anomaly. If you still have this rifle, wed be glad to take a look at this issue and make sure you are taken care of. 775-828-0555
 
#16
Howa Rifles purchased from 2017 onward will have a sub-moa guarantee and lifetime warranty to the original purchaser, this is honored by Legacy Sports International.
 
#17
I own and have owned several Tikka's including the Tac A1 in 6.5 CM. Everyone of them have been shooters. Since this thread is about the Tac A1 I will talk about it. I purchased it this summer and it has not failed to please. After some load development at 100 yards I took it to 600 yrds, the longest I have in my afrea. I was able to record a 5 shot 2.43 in group the first time out. It has shot some very good groups with Factory Hornady ammo also.
 
#19
Oliver75 said:
I guess it's a hit or miss with the Howa 1500. But I have been also lucky with my last two Howa purchase. Just recently picked a Howa HCR 6.5 creedmoor threaded barrel here from BlackTidesArmament. It shoot lights out with a factory Hornady 140gr ELD. The fit and finish is great and the 2 stage trigger breaks clean but it was still a little too heavy for me, but after doing a trigger job work (cutting trigger spring per YouTube video) now it's set a 1.5lb pull.

Look up BlackTidesArmament if if you're taking the Howa route.

Also have couple friends that have Tikka T3X (not the A1) and they are excellent rifle as well. Action smooth as butter and very accurate factory barrel.

Good luck, bud!
Click to expand...
What are you using for a muzzle break?
 
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