Hunting & Fishing help with rifle selection T/C or Tikka

[NY700]

I'm looking for a new hunting rifle and I came across these two. Both NIB similar price point between $450-$550. Would be primarily for deer hunting in michigan so heavy wooded, cold weather hunting but I want the flexibility to use it for other hunts if they presented themselves. I shoot my rifles so pleany of ammo is going down range during the off season and may use it in a local sihoutte comp here and there for practice.
T/C venture .308
Tikka T3 lite stainless in .270

I reload typically so ammo isn't an issue both very pleantiful if I need factury obviously the target ammo in .308 is better.
Any real pro or cons of the two
Anyone have any specs on the barrel of the tikka, never really had a light profile barrel.
The T/C is basically a remy clone so upgrades woul be easy but I'm thinking I would keep it fairly stock. Anyone know if the T3 tactical tock would fit the T3 lite action?
Thanks
A

 

[hamr56]

Re: help with rifle selection T/C or Tikka

I don't have any experience with the T/C rifles, but I do own a Tikka and a Sako A7 (cousin to the T3). What I have found with the two I have is that they are both very accurate. I have shot some light weight custom rifles that don't shoot as good as these.

The lite has a lite barrel, so not the best if you really want to throw lead down range. I would probably buy a heavy barreled Tikka Tactical, or Savage if you want to do that. However for hunting they are hard to beat. I think the 270 will work great for what you want to do. However I think if you really like the 270, I would go with the 270WSM. Or even a 308 in the Tikka as I would feel more comfortable if you ever wanted to hunt elk out west with one of these. Good luck with your purchase!

 

[trigger time]

Re: help with rifle selection T/C or Tikka

I've yet to see a T3 that didn't shoot, and yes the tactical stock will fit the lite.

 

[Chopperguy]

Re: help with rifle selection T/C or Tikka

I just put together a T3 stainless lightweight in .308 for myself.

This thing REALLY shoots. I did have the barrel cut down to 20", metal Cerakoted, added the Aussie bolt handle and metal bolt shroud and painted the stock. It has also been bedded.

It took all of 6 shots to get a perfect 100 yard zero. Then during barrel break in it was giving me 1/2" 5 shot groups with a selection of various cartridges.

Started out to be a "truck" gun for myself, but turned out to be a very handy, light weight and accurate package.

I can highly recommend the Tikka rifles. Especially if you are going to hunt with it, carrying it a lot and shooting it less.

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: help with rifle selection T/C or Tikka

I have no experience with the TC's at all but my buddy has the Tikka T3 lite in .270 Win. That thing shoots lights out and I have never felt an action smoother than a T3. He hand loads for it and it will routinely shoot .25-.5 MOA at 100 yrs. He has the Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 BDC scope on it and has no problem shooting 5" or less at 500 yards. I was stunned to see how close the little circles really are.

We recently had a long range shooting match and he was the only one there, out of 16 shooters, with a sporting rifle. Everyone else had custom target/benchrest/tactical style rifles and most guys there had $2,000-$8,000 in their rigs. He has less than $900 total in his rifle. Targets were from 200 yds to 887 yds and ranged from 2" to 24" in size. All shots were fired prone. He didn't finish first but he didn't finish last either and had no problems ringing steel at 887. Everyone was extremely suprised by both, that he was shooting a .270, and it was a stock light weight sporter rifle.

I have been so impressed with his Tikka and the reviews I have seen and read, that I am picking up a T3 in .270 this weekend. Actually, Rifle Shooter magazine did an entire artical on the T3 Lite Stainless in 7mm Rem Mag this month. They had great things to say about it. With 6 or 7 types of factory ammo only two groups averaged over an inch at 100yds and those were both 1.1 inches. The best averaged .4 inches. That is impressive from a stock rifle shooting factory ammo, especially in a magnum caliber.

BTW, you asked about barrels on the T3. The barrels are made by Sako. The Tikka T3 is a budget version of the Sako 85 (like Weatherby-Vanguard or Savage-Stevens). Sako has a reputation for being the closest thing you can get to a custom rifle out-of-the-box. They are amazing and so are the Tikkas.

 

[aussiem1a]

Re: help with rifle selection T/C or Tikka

I have a t/c icon in 7-08 and wouldn't trade it for anything. I know it's a bit more
expensive then the venture. I love the 60 degree bolt throw and the mags are great. If I hadn't had got this one a would have got a venture. Since I hunt in the rain alot I wanted the laminate stock and the weather shield finish. I can get 1/4 groups if I do my part