Tikka vs Savage vs Howa 223

[Jmccracken1214]

Recently got a tikka 6.5 and love it, best factory rifle I’ve ever had. Has got me wanting a 223 bolt gun to shoot closer to home, shorter ranges for cheaper... looking at a tikka varmint 223 at basically $900, and put it in my old CTR stock and change bottom metal for AI mags, to me, seems like a lot of money for a basic 223 rifle...

mother option is a savage 12fv or hog hunter for under $500, drop it in a chassis and be done.

I know there’s a lot of love for tikka here and I get it now that I have one but in 223, is it worth the extra few hundred over a savage?

 

[Northernjets]

I know there’s a lot of love for tikka here and I get it now that I have one but in 223, is it worth the extra few hundred over a savage?

At the end of the day, only you can really answer that for yourself but if money isn't an issue, I'd choose Tikka any day of the week over a Savage if it's going to be something I shoot often. I started down a similar road of thinking "it's just a 223" and eventually ended up with an ARC Nucleus build after finding out how enjoyable it is to shoot. I got it for the same reasons you want one, and you'll probably eventually end up shooting it more than your 6.5 if you're looking to save money shooting at a limited range. Might as well make your main squeeze a nice squeeze.

Unless you need to keep it as light as possible, I'd probably drop the Tikka into a Bravo/Oryx if you're going to be changing to an AI bottom metal anyway. It's a pretty big quality of life improvement over factory. Also, don't forget about the used market as well. You might be able to find a turnkey set up at a good price on the Px here.

 

[Newbie2020]

I’m in the same boat. I’m aR700 fan but would love a Tikka. But I’m also a fan of having a common platform so I have three R700 clones and building a 4th. Just not ready to step off into the Tikka world yet. Buy once cry once. The Tikka will be amazing and will hold its value. If you love your current Tikka you’ll love the new one. If you don’t love it the Hide will gobble it up the day you post it in the PX.

 

[RFutch]

A 223 bolt gun is about as much fun as you can have with your pants on. No amount of money is too much.

 

[Jmccracken1214]

At the end of the day, only you can really answer that for yourself but if money isn't an issue, I'd choose Tikka any day of the week over a Savage if it's going to be something I shoot often. I started down a similar road of thinking "it's just a 223" and eventually ended up with an ARC Nucleus build after finding out how enjoyable it is to shoot. I got it for the same reasons you want one, and you'll probably eventually end up shooting it more than your 6.5 if you're looking to save money shooting at a limited range. Might as well make your main squeeze a nice squeeze.

Unless you need to keep it as light as possible, I'd probably drop the Tikka into a Bravo/Oryx if you're going to be changing to an AI bottom metal anyway. It's a pretty big quality of life improvement over factory. Also, don't forget about the used market as well. You might be able to find a turnkey set up at a good price on the Px here.

I believe you are correct. I will most likely go with the Tikka. It has an almost 24 inch heavy barrel though. Wondering if I should leave it alone or cut it down to 20 and thread it for a break

 

[Northernjets]

I believe you are correct. I will most likely go with the Tikka. It has an almost 24 inch heavy barrel though. Wondering if I should leave it alone or cut it down to 20 and thread it for a break

It's just a 223. I didn't run a brake on my 24" Tikka varmint and I don't run a brake on my 20" Nuke. Recoil is more than manageable. Leave it alone for the time being. As range rifle, the extra velocity is bonus with no draw backs. If you decide later on you'd like a rifle that's a little more handy in the field for varmint control, cut it down and you'll be good to go.

 

[hereinaz]

Don't thread a .223 unless you have a suppressor, IMO.

 

[Northernjets]

Don't thread a .223 unless you have a suppressor, IMO.

This. Forgot ya'll can run suppressors down there and I'm definitely trying to hide my jealousy now.

 

[Huskerhunter]

" Don't thread a .223 unless you have a suppressor, IMO." Exactly what I thought when read the thread....

 

[waspocrew]

I just picked up a CTR in .223 with 20” barrel. I prefer the 20” over 24” because I use an 8” suppressor. Could always split the difference and go 22”.

I have a Savage 22-250 AI that I enjoy, but there are times I wish I would have built off a Tikka.

 

[Jmccracken1214]

I just picked up a CTR in .223 with 20” barrel. I prefer the 20” over 24” because I use an 8” suppressor. Could always split the difference and go 22”.

I have a Savage 22-250 AI that I enjoy, but there are times I wish I would have built off a Tikka.

Glad you chimed in! What’s up with the mags for that? I saw the rifles online but couldn’t find any “ctr” mags in stock for 223, and what I did find said it was discontinued

 

[waspocrew]

Glad you chimed in! What’s up with the mags for that? I saw the rifles online but couldn’t find any “ctr” mags in stock for 223, and what I did find said it was discontinued

The CTR will come with one 10 round mag. If you want more, they can be found here:

Tikka T3x Tac A1/Compact Tactical Rifle Magazine .223 – 10rd

Tikka T3x Tac A1/Compact Tactical Rifle Magazine – 10rd - .223/5.56MM

www.berettausa.com

For my rifle, I tossed it into a KRG Bravo chassis. The bravo has two flavors-one compatible with the factory CTR mags (which I went with) or one compatible with AICS mags.

 

[kentuckyMarksman]

I'm also a fan of R700 rifles. I went with the Tikka Varmint 223 for my bolt action 223. Awesome rifle. Mine lives in a MDT ACC Chassis.

 

[Jmccracken1214]

$99 for the mag will sting! I got my ctr 308 mags for $68

 

[HodotheFrobbit]

A 223 bolt gun is about as much fun as you can have with your pants on. No amount of money is too much.

Cracking reply

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

Savage. Save the money for ammunition if you can find any.

VooDoo

 

[Jmccracken1214]

Let me throw another wrench into the works here!

howa 1500varmint ?? Had a howa grendel and action was butter and trigger wasn’t bad either.

could get it and a krg bravo for less than the tikka varmint

 

[RFutch]

Really anything but a savage, really.

 

[FarmBoy87]

I have a .223 Howa 1500 and love it...slick action and good trigger and dead accurate. My favorite truck gun.

 

[MarinePMI]

Hmmm...well, I have a savage 223, a Tikka 223 and have had four Howa 223's.


BLUF: Get the Tikka.

The Howas shoot, often very well. The Savage rifles are inexpensive and function reasonably well. But, with an AICS mag, in a chassis (an MPA BA comp in my case), the Tikkas are just silky smooth. Toss in a Sterk bolt handle and a threaded muzzle for a suppressor and you'd be hard pressed to find a more reliable, smooth and silky platform.

The Tikka bolts are smooth and silky enough, that sitting, shooting off a tripod, I've cleaned four prairie dogs off a mound at 350 yds in short order. Bolt was smooth enough to stay on target as they ran around trying to get back down the hole and I cycled ammo from the mag. The bolts are that smooth.

Maybe I got lucky, but IME, the Tikka Varmint is hard to beat.

 

[Jmccracken1214]

Went ahead and ordered the varmint. Figured threaded barrel isn’t needed now, my smith charges $75 for it, so no biggie. I have the take off bolt handle and rail from my 6.5 CTR that will go on the varmint, and I’ll just shoot it for a bit then buy a krg bravo for it. Hoping I can seat my rounds out long enough in the varmint mag

 

[Jabot]

A 223 bolt gun is about as much fun as you can have with your pants on. No amount of money is too much.

Tried shooting it with your pants off ,might be even more fun! Let us no how it goes

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

Savage. Oh no...wait.

VooDoo

 

[Fxdwgpig]

Have a Howa 1500 APC with 26" HB T/C #6, .308. Shoots ragged holes. 4 inches at 1000 yds. Shot both the TIkka, Savage and RPR. Like the Howa better than the other 3.