this is a question asked just to amp up my thinking. looking to get another 6.5 cm. howa 1500 26" HB hs prec stock vs tikka t3x ctr 24". i own and have owned both brands with no complaints about either. price point is v. close but on the edge for me-$900 range . both,to me,have +/- things going on. just asking so maybe something brought up will pop an issue i don't see. thanks for any replies.
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howa vs tikka
- Thread starter mosin46
- Start date
If you've had both and liked both, without some other info (i.e., I've already got several Howas/Tikkas and want something the same/different, etc.) it's pretty much just up to you to make a call at this point man. What do you eventually want to do with it?
I'd go Howa in most situations, but that's just because of my personal opinions, not because Howas are "better" by any means.
I'd go Howa in most situations, but that's just because of my personal opinions, not because Howas are "better" by any means.
This thread caught my eye. I just put together a Howa 1500 6mm Creedmoor for my son who is getting interested in shooting with me. I bought barreled action from Brownell’s, Archangel Stock, Harris Bipod, and a Cabela’s Covenant 7 Scope that I picked up nearly free with points. I have less than $1k in the complete package.
I’ve put a total of 40 rounds through it to break it in and sight in the scope. The attached image was shots 31-35. Shooting at 100 yards, and needless to say I was a bit surprised. I didn’t expect much going out that day, but the series before this made me focus a bit more on this series. I measured a 1/3 MOA. Not bad
I’ve put a total of 40 rounds through it to break it in and sight in the scope. The attached image was shots 31-35. Shooting at 100 yards, and needless to say I was a bit surprised. I didn’t expect much going out that day, but the series before this made me focus a bit more on this series. I measured a 1/3 MOA. Not bad
Attachments
thanks. longer rang paper punching. i know i have to make the call and am leaning howa. just seeing what others have experienced. build mentioned is a good idea,but prices i saw put chassis and action/barrel at about $900. am i looking in the wrong places?
I bought my barreled action at Brownell's for $459.99. It was on sale at the time. I bought the #6 24" Threaded Barrel w/ 7.5" twist. Picked up the Archangel stock/chassis from Midway USA for $298.99. The integral bipod sucks, so I took that out and installed an adapter that works like a champ for a retrofit into the chassis to run a Harris Bipod in it. Found the guy on YouTube, Gwinner's Gunworks. Ordered it through paypal and had it in less than a week. I think it was $35, but totally worth it to not have to use the integral bipod.
I am a firm believer in my howa 1500. I have a 308 that started as a Brownell's Barreled Action. I have produced 3 shot groups from 1/3 to 1/2 an inch. With that being said, after now trying to upgrade my rifle, I would have gone the 700 action route. I am not complaining about the accuracy nor anything else about the rifle. My complaint is the lack of aftermarket parts and familiarity across the board with the 1500 action. Your upgrades are severely limited in comparison to the 700 clones. Thus, Id recommend the Howa, but drop the bug in you ear to try to find a 700 style action.
well,i already have a 1500 in 308. it is currently being bartlein rebarreled,blue printed=looong wait. so gonna do some CM shooting. got a line on a 1500 hb at a good price,so likely going that way. love tikka.. my hunting rifle is older T3 308. but the howa has a few features that i happen to prefer,although an integral rail is not present.
I am also in the mix of deciding between Howa and Tikka. My decision is between the HCR 26" .300 win mag and a Tac A1 in .260 Remington. Anyone have an opinion on these two??
Sorry OP, if I am intruding on your thread. I just didn't want to make a new post about the same thing.
Sorry OP, if I am intruding on your thread. I just didn't want to make a new post about the same thing.
Well for starters, I’m not sure if your experience level but 300 wm and 260 are very different calibers. If you’re a newer shooter, I’d look for different calibers. If you’re experienced, I’m sure you know what your doing. Sorry to assume, but you left us with very little background.
Further, without knowing your experience level, you also may want to look which rifle has aftermarket support geared toward your interest or goals for the rifle. With my Howa, without a DIY trigger job, my other options aren’t much more than Timney.
Now assuming you’ve already looked into it accepted these differences for the platforms. Frank has reviewed both rifles on YouTube. I’d say it’s hard to go wrong with either.
As I mentioned above, I do really enjoy my Howa. However, I wish I’d considered a 700 clone, possibly a Bergara, while I was looking for a rifle. I would really like to take advantage of the aftermarket support that lacks the Howa. Although, it seems to be increasing lately. So the inner me is telling you to buy a Howa to help us advocate for more Howa triggers and some stocks readily available from greyboe and McMillian.
The aftermarket is better for the HCR than the Tac 1. LSI is doing a decent job of drumming up support for it. I have already sourced a 50 m0a rail for it and LSI offers the extra mags thru their wholesalers. They even offer an oversized bolt handle. 
The Tikka is very close in support but by my research, not quite there.
As far as I am concerned, I am not up to the level of some here but am not new to the shooting sports.
The Tikka is very close in support but by my research, not quite there.As far as I am concerned, I am not up to the level of some here but am not new to the shooting sports.
Both the Howa and Tikka are fine rifles.
The Howa is more robust and the Tikka has a better trigger and factory dBm.
For most applications I would go with the Howa.
The Howa is more robust and the Tikka has a better trigger and factory dBm.
For most applications I would go with the Howa.
The aftermarket is better for the HCR than the Tac 1. LSI is doing a decent job of drumming up support for it. I have already sourced a 50 m0a rail for it and LSI offers the extra mags thru their wholesalers. They even offer an oversized bolt handle.
As far as I am concerned, I am not up to the level of some here but am not new to the shooting sports.
Was 50 moa rail a typo? Never really heard about those. The oversized bolt handle is a nice feature. I’ve got one and like it however, it did not stay snug enough so I opted to just have the bolt threaded. By the sounds of it, it seems you’ve already made up your mind on the Howa.
No typo. It is a custom rail. The highest cant I found listed was an EGW 40moa.
I chatted with Cameron Murphy of Murphy Precision and he said he would make whatever can't I wanted.....for a price.
I am 95% on the Howa and was looking for opinions between the two before pulling the trigger on either.
Next time a knob won't stay tight, put some JB Weld inside the 2 halves before the install. It will fill any slop and make it fit tight and stay in place.
No issue at all.....stainless only on high cant rails and I was quoted $150. I thought that was a fair price and not too much over their normal prices. Cannot expect bargain prices for 1 off products.
Is that without any coatings or is it the same as their other rails but in 50 MOA?
Better yet, I’d love to hear your plans for the Howa with a 50 moa rail. That’s crazy
The Howa has more metal and less plastic on the action/bolt
Also the action itself has a bit more meat.
I own several tikkas and like them, but they aren’t overly strong
Also the action itself has a bit more meat.
I own several tikkas and like them, but they aren’t overly strong
Didn't ask about coatings. No matter, it can get coated with the brake after it is fitted and tapered.
Plans are simple. It looks tacticool
Didn't ask about coatings. No matter, it can get coated with the brake after it is fitted and tapered.
Plans are simple. It looks tacticool
I was more wondering if you had a yardage mark to hit or something. Lots of scopes now days would be plum out of adjustment with a 50 moa base. What scope are you running? What caliber?
Hopes and dreams are the mile. Starting with .300 WM and Athlon Ares etr. Will end up with a .300 NM and who knows what glass. The Howa will be to play with while my Sako gets built. Time and money and time and money........
The only thing plastic on the t3x is the bolt knob on a ctr. AI uses a nylon/plastic bolt knob as well does that mean the Howa is tougher than an AI?
More meat? More meat does nothing when comparing the “toughness” of these rifles.
Howa is great. I have a .308 Howa that is never leaving my possession. It really is a wonderful gun.
Bergara is also a very good option that will leave a lot more open on the aftermarket if you want a more robust upgrade path compatible with Reminton 700 parts.. If at any point in the future you decide to rebarrel or change calibers, not every smith wants to swap gearing on their lathe to metric to cut threads on a Howa.
Some things to consider.
Bergara is also a very good option that will leave a lot more open on the aftermarket if you want a more robust upgrade path compatible with Reminton 700 parts.. If at any point in the future you decide to rebarrel or change calibers, not every smith wants to swap gearing on their lathe to metric to cut threads on a Howa.
Some things to consider.
From my personal experience and not what I've read, a howa is rolling the dice and a tikka is almost a sure thing. I've don3 load development on 5 howas and 8 tikkas. 3 out of the 5 howas wouldn't shoot all of the tikkas shot ok or good, at least half moa or better. Rolls barrels are slow and the stocks aren't great but they shoot and the actions are very smooth and make a good budget custom
I have both. My tikka much more refined and nicely machined. Calibers are different with the Tikka being an inherently more accurate round so I’m not going to make the comparison. The howa seems to shoot well but still developing the load for it. I had issues with feeding with the howa in my KRG bravo. I flared the mag lips and ground a little notch in the feed ramp and the issues have been completely resolved. My mags have no binder plates so take that into consideration. That being said the howa is an accurate and robust rifle value And a great value for the barreled action.
Shilen, Criterion, McGowan, and Preferred all sell shoulder less barrels and barrel nuts for the 1500 short and long actions. Some also have them for the 1500 mini.
No reason to deal with a gunsmith.
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