T3x CTR vs Howa Vs Lithgow..UK help!

[ojj317]

Hello, Sorry yet another what rifle thread.

I am looking for my first precision based rifle in 308 (its an easier round to get in the UK than say 6.5M).

I own a Lee Enfield in 303 and a Yugo Mauser non scoped as my bigger rifles. It will be all range shooting atm too. The dilema is this.....

At around the £1k mark I can get the following:

Tikka T3x CTR in 20 inch in either blue or stainless. The Varmint in 24 is also in the same bracket. It would have to remain in its current stock for a good while too.

Howa 1500 Heavy Barrel in 24 inch but at the 1k mark I can get it into a B&C Medallist.

Lithgow LA102 which I like the look of but its very niche. Doesnt have any of the aftermarket availability of the others.

Everyone always talks about the Howa value for money but this will be a longterm rifle that I will tweak slowly over the years. All will be accurate but are any of them particularly better in build or funtction? If I got the Howa would I always look at the smoother actions of the others 2 and wish? Would I regret going niche on a Lithgow due to parts etc?

For example I looked at a Rem 700 P and thats £1.5k so as you can see UK prices are crazy.

Can anyone help??

 

[Novak77]

I'm a huge Tikka fan. Everyone I've ever owned or shot was a tack driver. The actions are smooth and the triggers are one of the best out of the box triggers out there IMO.

 

[jpspeeddemon]

I think you'll really enjoy the Tikka. They have great actions, triggers, magazines, and barrels. I have about 500 rounds thru my CTR in 6.5cm and its been flawless. I had a Howa HCR that I liked a lot too, but the Tikka action is just faster to run and I like the 70 degree throw.

 

[mgrs]

I think you'll really enjoy the Tikka. They have great actions, triggers, magazines, and barrels. I have about 500 rounds thru my CTR in 6.5cm and its been flawless. I had a Howa HCR that I liked a lot too, but the Tikka action is just faster to run and I like the 70 degree throw.

This. They both shot about the same when I had them, but the Tikka felt like more than it was. There is probably a reason there is an 80+ page sticky about them.

 

[ojj317]

So even though I cant get the Howa in a far better stock for the same price the Tikka is still the recommended? wow must be some action!

 

[Redmist]

Tikka is the better action in IMO ive made numerous custom rifles on both:


Bolt cyling easier on Tikka - some Howas have notchy lift on primary extraction.

Tikka action will allow you to alternate long or short action cartridge (if you ever wanted a 30-06 / 6.5 x 284 for example) all you need to do is swap bottom metal and bolt stop

Both actions allow the use of AICS Mags with appropriate bottom metal

Both actions have very good triggers - the howa is just as good as the Tikka once its been polished and ajusted

Howa has integral recoil lug, Tikka notch lug (doesnt affect how either shoots)

Howa allows bolt lock when safety applied

At the end of the day its personal preference - both will do the same job you ask


One caveat - if you ask me which will sell quicker should you decide to part with it - the Tikka will be a heap easier and hold value more (which is a factor to me)

 

[ojj317]

Yeah I had heard the Howa can be a bit clunky then other times its smooth as anything. Never hear that about the Tikka....its always perfect.

I assumed the better stock on the Howa would make a bigger difference to the options but clearly not. I always keep coming back the to Tikka but keep trying to be different. Suppose theres a reason they are so popular!

 

[patriot07]

The Howa is a good option, but the Tikka is better IMHO.

Most of us here have upgraded our stocks, so the stock that comes with a factory rifle isn't of nearly as much importance as the action/trigger/barrel/etc.

 

[stello1001]

I have a Howa and it works very very well for me. You mentioned going with a Howa and maybe later down the road wishing you had gone with a Tikka. Idk if that's truly how you'll feel. Everyone is different. I do wish I had a Tikka but not because my Howa is bad, because it's not. I just want to have and try out every other rifle out there lol. I want to have a seekins havak, a Tikka, a sako etc. But see, that's just how I am in general. With scopes, I had a weaver tactical 3-15x50, then got a 6-30x56, then got a sig, then a Bushnell, etc. If you're not like me, and you become satisfied once you know you have a good quality product in your hands, you probably won't wish you had bought the Tikka. Everyone else on here says how smooth their Howa is. Mine is dead accurate and the trigger is a great quality trigger. In the end, both will work best for you. Good luck on your decision.

 

[Krazy_jim]

Personally I dont find the stock on my Tikka to be a negative against it. Yes it is Tupperware,but dorsbt hold me back from shooting sub moa groupings. Even my wife with limited experience behind a rifle, only taken her out twice, can shoot sub moa with it.

That's a T3x lite in .308 with a PST 4-16. So not anything special, but very capable still.

I would like to try a Howa as well, but the tikka action is hard to beat in terms of being smooth right out of the box.

 

[ojj317]

The reason the HOWA appeals is once I get this all sorted I wont be in a position to upgrade the stock for a long time. The fact the I could afford an upgrade from the off with the Howa as what really appealed.

 

[SwiftScope]

Another vote for Tikka here, However, don't think you can really go wrong with any of those choices.

 

[patriot07]

The reason the HOWA appeals is once I get this all sorted I wont be in a position to upgrade the stock for a long time. The fact the I could afford an upgrade from the off with the Howa as what really appealed.

I get that. I was in the same boat. Waited a little over a year before I bought a Manners T4A for $600-ish. Never once wished I had a Howa with a better stock.

Bottom line - neither are bad options. But I bet there are way more Howa owners looking at buying Tikka rifles than Tikka owners looking to buy Howa rifles.

 

[ojj317]

Only real wildcard I can get hold of is a Savage FCP SR..