Opinions on 2 rifles. Tikka vs Browning

[champ198]

Looking to get something new and a little better than what I have now.
Looking at a 6.5 PRC
The two rifles I am looking at getting are a Tikka T3x Lite or a Browning XBolt Speed.
Both are pretty much the same specs 24" threaded barrel etc.

If you all were in the same situation which rifle would you go with and why?
Both of these will be hunting rifles. I have a Leupold VX-6 firedot sitting in the safe that needs a new home.

 

[spife7980]

Tikka because browning is shit

 

[kilizyrag]

Tikka, because shouldered prefits are available.

 

[hafejd30]

Tikka

I was between several including browning and tikka. Went tikka T3 Lite Alpine. Lightweight, awesome action and very nice trigger. Shoots very well. Mines 300 WM

 

[Harman117]

Tikka or save more and just go custom
(Mack Bros Element)

 

[kthomas]

Tikka.

More aftermarket support.

Or go with something like an Origin.

 

[Turkeytider]

Pm sent.

 

[Darryle]

Tikka because browning is shit

Horseshit, find a Tikka for this price and weight

Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter 6.5 PRC 24" Barrel 3-Rounds

The Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter is a high-performance bolt-action rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC, designed for precision and durability. Featuring a 24" barrel and a 3+1 round capacity, this rifle offers exceptional performance. With its matte blued finish and synthetic stock, the X-Bolt...

grabagun.com

Save a 1/2lb and stick it in a McMillan Hunters Edge Sendero Carbon

 

[spife7980]

Horseshit, find a Tikka for this price and weight

Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter 6.5 PRC 24" Barrel 3-Rounds

The Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter is a high-performance bolt-action rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC, designed for precision and durability. Featuring a 24" barrel and a 3+1 round capacity, this rifle offers exceptional performance. With its matte blued finish and synthetic stock, the X-Bolt...

grabagun.com

Save a 1/2lb and stick it in a McMillan Hunters Edge Sendero Carbon

View attachment 8526794

Im wasnt arguing either of those factors in my statement.

 

[stello1001]

Horseshit, find a Tikka for this price and weight

Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter 6.5 PRC 24" Barrel 3-Rounds

The Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter is a high-performance bolt-action rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC, designed for precision and durability. Featuring a 24" barrel and a 3+1 round capacity, this rifle offers exceptional performance. With its matte blued finish and synthetic stock, the X-Bolt...

grabagun.com

Save a 1/2lb and stick it in a McMillan Hunters Edge Sendero Carbon

View attachment 8526794

So then you're basically saying they are cheaper rifles lol. You're basically proving their point.

 

[tacoman69]

Horseshit, find a Tikka for this price and weight

Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter 6.5 PRC 24" Barrel 3-Rounds

The Browning X-Bolt Composite Hunter is a high-performance bolt-action rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC, designed for precision and durability. Featuring a 24" barrel and a 3+1 round capacity, this rifle offers exceptional performance. With its matte blued finish and synthetic stock, the X-Bolt...

grabagun.com

Save a 1/2lb and stick it in a McMillan Hunters Edge Sendero Carbon

View attachment 8526794

It's still a browning

 

[moosemeat]

Browning have near zero aftermarket support. Don't make the mistakes I did and get a rifle that has aftermarket support or never plan to modify it at all.

 

[trob]

Tikka…..primarily because you know it’ll shoot. Also, aftermarket.
I’d be hard pressed to buy anything other than a tikka.

 

[Darryle]

So then you're basically saying they are cheaper rifles lol. You're basically proving their point.

Read the OPs post, he wants a hunting rifle.

Browning is heavily discounting the original X-Bolt for the new 2 series, doesn't change the fact that the Browning is a better deal and most likely a better shooter with a 7 twist barrel than the Tikka in 6.5 PRC. No issue seating 156gr Berger EOL bullets in the factory magazine. But y'all go ahead and argue. Browning has only produced the X-Bolt since 2008.

If we were talking 700 footprint actions against either one, I will agree there are better choices.

Hunting rifle = Browning, need aftermarket support = Tikka

Also if you look, there is aftermarket support for the Browning, carbon stocks, triggers, picatinny rails, bottom metal

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Brownings are better rifles out of the box depending on what model you get. The stocks range from good to great, the xbolt 2 stocks are excellent as well as the McMillan versions. The Tikka stocks are absolute trash, aftermarket support is better for them because they need it. I also don’t like their safety design whereas the browings is great. The Brownings also have much better and more reliable magazines. Browning also has the SPR model which is more friendly for suppressor use.

Outside of that the build quality on the barreled action on both are about equal, trigger is about equal, and you will most likely get a very good shooting gun from either of them.

 

[Turkeytider]

Brownings are better rifles out of the box depending on what model you get. The stocks range from good to great, the xbolt 2 stocks are excellent as well as the McMillan versions. The Tikka stocks are absolute trash, aftermarket support is better for them because they need it. I also don’t like their safety design whereas the browings is great. The Brownings also have much better and more reliable magazines. Browning also has the SPR model which is more friendly for suppressor use.

Outside of that the build quality on the barreled action on both are about equal, trigger is about equal, and you will most likely get a very good shooting gun from either of them.

Not in any way saying that Browning rifles aren’t fine rifles. I’m personally not qualified to evaluate them, either on their own or in comparison to another brand because I’ve never owned, handled or shot one. Having said that, I am more than satisfied with my Tikka Super Varmint. While far from an expert on comparisons when it comes to stocks, the one on mine certainly seems substantial enough. Can’t speak to the other Tikka models. So far the magazine has done what magazines are supposed to do. Also, sub MOA at 500 yards has actually been easy, but with it being chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor it should be unless I screw up the shot.

 

[FWoo45]

Have an late model a bolt 25-06 that I chase kali blacktails with and a CTR. The x bolts I've fondled have felt cheaper than my a bolt. It's a pretty gun and has sentimental value but I wouldn't buy it again.

 

[tacoman69]

Read the OPs post, he wants a hunting rifle.

Browning is heavily discounting the original X-Bolt for the new 2 series, doesn't change the fact that the Browning is a better deal and most likely a better shooter with a 7 twist barrel than the Tikka in 6.5 PRC. No issue seating 156gr Berger EOL bullets in the factory magazine. But y'all go ahead and argue. Browning has only produced the X-Bolt since 2008.

If we were talking 700 footprint actions against either one, I will agree there are better choices.

Hunting rifle = Browning, need aftermarket support = Tikka

Also if you look, there is aftermarket support for the Browning, carbon stocks, triggers, picatinny rails, bottom metal


View attachment 8527037

The one made for hunting russians is the better option out of the box every time. the stock is better with the vertical gripand they have more aftermarket support bc they sell so many and have become so popular. the safety system is better and unless you are running reloading something unique or the extended 223 mags their magazines run flawless. Browning had to come out with a new x bolt bc the old one sucked and nobody bought it anymore. the new x bolt 2 is promising and would be a much better comparison (esp if looking at 7prc/cut short n threaded) but that's not what op asked for.

 

[davsco]

i have an older a-bolt in 30-06 and four t3x's in various hunting calibers. they're all moa or better. the edge with the tikka is all the aftermarket stuff. prefit barrels, lots of stock options etc.

 

[Darryle]

The one made for hunting russians is the better option out of the box every time. the stock is better with the vertical gripand they have more aftermarket support bc they sell so many and have become so popular. the safety system is better and unless you are running reloading something unique or the extended 223 mags their magazines run flawless. Browning had to come out with a new x bolt bc the old one sucked and nobody bought it anymore. the new x bolt 2 is promising and would be a much better comparison (esp if looking at 7prc/cut short n threaded) but that's not what op asked for.

10 rds of Lapua 69gr Scenars out of an 8 twist 223 X-Bolt, Tikka T3 Stainless Superlite couldn't manage MOA with the same ammo or 69gr FGMM.

 

[tacoman69]

10 rds of Lapua 69gr Scenars out of an 8 twist 223 X-Bolt, Tikka T3 Stainless Superlite couldn't manage MOA with the same ammo or 69gr FGMM.


View attachment 8527579

nice shooting

 

[ggmanning]

I've worked a load up for 2 Tikka CTR's for friends. Both proved very accurate with good accuracy nodes. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if i was looking for a factory rifle. No experience with Brownings so can't comment.