Help pick
- Thread starter bobby1954
- Start date
Neither of those get this Tikka T3x CTR 6.5 Creedmoor
If I had to pick, I'd go with the RPR. Seems to be a nice platform with more customization available. Plus you have a few companies (LRI, PVA) making barrels and accessories for the RPR.
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Yup. I bought one a few months ago and it will eat the Savage for breakfast.
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+1 on the Tikka CTR, my shooting group started out shooting Rugers and Savages, and now everyone is running CTRs in 6.5 Creedmoor, both 20" and 24". For the money you pay it's the most refined platform in my opinion. Smoothest bolt, best trigger, doublestack mags, good aftermarket options now, and very tight shooting rifles.
I've played a good bit with the ruger and it is a solid performer. My son has one now. I've played with the savage and I think they rushed it and I don't like it near as well as the ruger. But if throwing the tikka in there I would take a very serious look at them. Same Barrel as sako smoother action. Ruger better for mags but tikka is more traditional bolt throw. Ruger is innatural for me and I have to dry fire a few times each time I shoot it. To get use to the trigger. Let us know what you decide
- Feb 16, 2017
- 478
- 427
I would agree with this but I'd get it from 802Traders. Add to cart for the price.
https://www.802traders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Z-GJRTXC382
Good choice! Did you go with 802 Traders, Euro Optic, or elsewhere out of curiousity?
Not sure. I just told my guy to try 802 traders or anyone to get one in asap.
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I'm wondering if that's the first time anyone has ever said those words on the Hide. Usually guys start off asking about a Savage and end up buying a Surgeon. I have a T3 Varmint in an XLR chassis and positively love it. If the T3x CTR is half as good as I've heard, you're going to be a very happy man (with so,Electra money for optics and ammo)
+1 for the tikka CTR over the RPR or savage.
I would also probably take this in addition to the tikka over the RPR or savage. MPA looking chassis, remage style barrel nut, R700 clone action with upgraded extractor, well known barrel maker.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...Bergara+Rifles+B14S452+B-14+BMP+6.5+Creedmoor
I would also probably take this in addition to the tikka over the RPR or savage. MPA looking chassis, remage style barrel nut, R700 clone action with upgraded extractor, well known barrel maker.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...Bergara+Rifles+B14S452+B-14+BMP+6.5+Creedmoor
Savage 10 FCP-SR in 6.5 Creedmoor is a nice little tac driver. You can find them online for $610 with free shipping and a $75 rebate from savage. My buddy bought one and after shooting it I bought one. If mine shoots like his, I'll sell my custom in a heartbeat..
I was never impressed with my Savage 10FP ejection or the entire extractor assembly. There is more to a good rifle than "shooting bugholes" and I would rather shoot 1MOA groups with no reliability issues than bugholes in a rifle that I don't trust to function correctly.
I sold my Savage and don't miss it.
It isnt "bugholes", it IS bugholes lol. Cant say Ive had any feed/ejection issues. And ive shot mine a shit ton. Shot out a 308 barrel in 1 summer if that tells you anything. Very satisfied with my model 10. The ONLY issue I had was with my model 112. It had a weak firing pin spring. Changed it out and hasnt missed a beat since. What is your current "go to" rifle?
My friend has had a lot of light primer strikes on both his 270Win and 338LM Savages. His extractor has flown off never to be found as well on his 270. I am just not a fan after owning one myself and hearing/seeing his issues as well. Between his issues and the fact that they change their actions constantly I just got tired of having to hunt for everything from bottom metals to stocks and bases trying to make sure I got the right one for my flavor of Model 10 action.
The T3 action is the same for all (except for the bolt stop I believe) so that makes it very easy to find parts. It has a shorter bolt throw and is much, much smoother and has much better tolerances than the Savage actions do.
I am just not a fan of Savage anymore but it is fine that you like yours as do many others. I really wanted to like mine as they are kind of like the AR of the bolt gun world.
I only own 2 bolt action rifles right now. I like them both but would probably keep the Tikka if I could only afford to keep one as it will do everything I ever need it to and only weighs 11lbs with the bipod.
Tikka T3 CTR w/ T3x stock on it:
AI AT:
Either you are on on the savage bandwagon or you aren't, being known as a cheap rifle isn't what I would pick for a precision rifle. Yes some of their rifles are accurate but some aren't.
I've owned a Savage 10BA and still own a 10PC. They both shoot great but when it comes to feeding, extraction and especially single feeding quickly the leave a bunch to be desired. I currently own a RPR and it also shoots great but the feeding, extraction and single feeding is silky smooth and reliable. When I 1st got the rifle I checked the chamber many times thinking that I short stroked the bolt. Every time it was loaded but it felt that smooth. After running through 9 matches it never malfunctioned or even hiccupped while feeding. I wish I could say the same thing about my custom with a Stiller action at 3 times the cost.
I currently run a Savage 12 LRP and RPR in 6.5 (along with some others) and both are what I'd call acceptably smooth for factory guns and totally reliable. Accuracy is almost always .5 - .7 MOA with most factory ammo for both of these rifles - I may just be lucky. Hand loads equal or slightly better that performance. About 50% of my groups are .25 to .30 MOA on good days. I have friends that absolutely hate one or the other or both of these brands - although, they don't badmouth my particular guns. I have not seen any Tiikkas that "run circles" around this kind of accuracy but I've also not seen any Tikka haters either. So, maybe their quality control is much better. Factory guns are steadily approaching custom guns as far as accuracy. Maybe not everything you want but accuracy is getting there. I've seen custom rifles - lately - that won't shoot .5. I saw the same thing when I was shooting IPSC - 15 years ago guys were paying $3000+ for a custom built 1911 and a couple of years later factory guns, at less than half that price, had all the upgrades and were actually better. Another .02...
Lots of Savage haters. Lol! I guess we got lucky but my wife's 10/110 Predator in 6.5CM shoots in the 5s with several factory loads in 130gr and 140gr. We've had it for 3 years and killed all sorts of animals with it as-is out to 400yds. All bang-flops. I just started load development last weekend and I had some groups in the 1s & 2s. It's the only Savage we own besides an old 300 Savage lever action I inherited; but I'd have ZERO hesitation buying or recommending another Savage for a out of the box shooter.
That said, I'd buy a RPR before I'd buy the Savage 10 BA, for 1 reason - the stock! A "precision" bolt rifle with a AR stock is retarded, IMO. At least the RPR has a stock built with a proper cheek weld in mind. Sure, you could put a Magpul PRS on the Savage; but that adds $250+, adds more weight and probably effects balance negatively.
Great choice! I have an older CTR in .260 with a 20" barrel and it's an incredible shooter that's very easy to load for. Consistently shoots in the upper 3s with a load I came up with very quickly - I'm sure more work and I could get it in the 2s. It's still 100% stock. I don't much care for the stock and don't care for beavertail forends at all. I'll bet a stock upgrade and skim bed would do wonders. It's buttery smooth and 100% reliable. I make my living guiding and shooting critters so it's gotten a workout in some very harsh conditions. I'm sure you're going to love yours. It would have been my first choice for you.
I'm a traditionalist and prefer a stock over a chassis with the tacticool look; although I've never shot one either. They look heavy and most of the groups I see folks posting with them don't impress me as being any better than rifles in a more traditional stock. JMO. Different strokes for different folks.
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That said, I'd buy a RPR before I'd buy the Savage 10 BA, for 1 reason - the stock! A "precision" bolt rifle with a AR stock is retarded, IMO. At least the RPR has a stock built with a proper cheek weld in mind. Sure, you could put a Magpul PRS on the Savage; but that adds $250+, adds more weight and probably effects balance negatively.
Great choice! I have an older CTR in .260 with a 20" barrel and it's an incredible shooter that's very easy to load for. Consistently shoots in the upper 3s with a load I came up with very quickly - I'm sure more work and I could get it in the 2s. It's still 100% stock. I don't much care for the stock and don't care for beavertail forends at all. I'll bet a stock upgrade and skim bed would do wonders. It's buttery smooth and 100% reliable. I make my living guiding and shooting critters so it's gotten a workout in some very harsh conditions. I'm sure you're going to love yours. It would have been my first choice for you.
I'm a traditionalist and prefer a stock over a chassis with the tacticool look; although I've never shot one either. They look heavy and most of the groups I see folks posting with them don't impress me as being any better than rifles in a more traditional stock. JMO. Different strokes for different folks.
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If you like them, that's great. I won't try to talk you out of something that works for you. My beef with savage isn't in the way that they group. They're well-known to shoot well. What they don't do well, though, is literally everything else. Feeding: unreliable. Ejection: limp, if it ejects at all. Bolt lift: more like rifle lift. Gritty actions, poor tolerances, poor design over-all. They keep changing the specs on their flagship models so that there's no backwards- or cross-compatibility. The action screws are in the wrong place, and inherently introduce stress/warp into the action.
It depends on what you want out of the rifle. If you want an inexpensive rifle that shoots good groups, go for it. If you want a precision system designed from the ground up to run better and be more consistent, look elsewhere. I understand that people like their Savages, but you can build a custom Tikka for pretty similar money, and from top to bottom it's a better system.
Damn, all that eh? Id better check my barrel nut before I shoot next time or my barrel will probably fall off.
I've owned both and they both great rifles. If had to do it again,I'd try the tika if I was on a budget. I don't have anything bad to say about them, it's all a learning process. They both will shoot one hole groups if you do your part. I'd lean towards recommending the RPR because it doesn't need much in the way of upgrades, it already has a chasis. If you can get one around a $1000 don't hesitate.
IanHusaberg out
IanHusaberg out
I will humbly submit that you re-read what I posted. Talk to most people that get paid to work on rifles, and you'll find they agree with me. I'm not trying to make it personal, I'm just saying that the Savage platform has some pretty well-documented inherent problems, and that there are better options out there for similar money. If it works for you, I'm honestly glad. Don't take it personally. You asked why and I responded.
Well, that was some laundry list. Most people who work on rifles, also like to sell their customs. Cheap factory rifles that shoot good, doesnt sell as many customs. This forum is incredibly anti-Savage lol more so than any other forum Ive ever come across.
It is amazing how they (Savage) have stayed in business all these years by producing firearms that will barely go "bang" and nothing else, according to some. I dont take it personal. I just find it hilarious. Still gonna check that barrel nut. Dont want my barrel falling off after I shoot. Hell, if the damn thing will even go "bang! Fingers crossed. And even if I do get lucky and it fires, ill have a rod close by to punch out the empty case. Lol How long until my action warps? How many rounds? Just curious. Will it cause accuracy issues? Shoot good one day, and not the next? Tell me more about the action screws causing stress/warp into the action and the cons that I can look for.
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Snarks, I'm impressed with your diplomacy. Lol. 308220 that was some serious hostility for not taking it personal. From a guy who owns and loves Savage rifles, they have their flaws. Will they shoot well? Likely. Are they functional? Likely. Do they have the smooth bolt throw, easy bolt lift, and added features for increased reliability that customs (or tikkas for that matter) have. Hell no! They are good budget rifles. Some wind up being hard to destroy. Others, kinda finicky and fragile. All brands produce a turd every now and then. But it's the frequency of those turds that gives savage the name it has. That and the inconsistent designs. I don't know what you drive but look at it like this. No one is saying that you shouldn't enjoy your Honda civic . If you like it, fantastic! But please don't compare it to a Maserati, Aston Martin, or Jaguar. Civics are nice, except when the air bag malfunctions. It's a known flaw. But if yours is GTG, enjoy it!!
