300 WSM Tikka versus Savage!

[Flewis]

CEH, take your time and pick what is the best for you. I have several of both so like them both, but they are different rifles. Good luck.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Looked at the Tikka T3x and Ultra Lite and Savage 110 models AGAIN today in .308. Nothing like beating a dead camel? LOL Anyway, I brought my tape measure with me and surprisingly, BOTH the Tikka models and Savages have 14" LOP? The Tikka recoil pad is now 1" thick from the thinner pad I have seen before in photos and read reviews about. The Savage has a newer forward magazine release with a spring loaded push button versus the hard plastic "claw" that is on my 110 model from just six months ago. I looked at Savage's 110 VSX model in .308. 20" fluted and threaded barrel. Barrel and action are cerakoted in a grayish SS look. Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 mounted on a Picatinny rail. Camo synthetic stock which I'm not crazy about, but seems overall a great value at $819.00. The Tikka T3x blued at $750 or stainless at $880 with 22.4" unthreaded barrels or scope/mounts. The Ultra Lite seems "overly" light to me with regards to recoil and is $1019. Both the Savage and Tikka actions were very smooth with no binding or "sloppy" functioning of the bolt. Out of the blue, the older gentlemen sales guy told me he really liked the Tikka, but the chamber is "tight" and not ANY margin for bullets seated longer than factory OAL? Maybe not an issue, but I don't know? Remember, I'm looking for a 300 yd. MAX range rifle for hunting. I'm still debating the merits and value of both brands. That's all of the useless chatter I have on this for tonight. LOL

@CoElkHunter
Go the Savage mate you already have one and are familiar with it.
The extra couple of hundred dollars for the Tikka could be used on ammo instead.
Simples mate simples.
Bob

 

[Inline6]

Tight chamber or a short throat? Their is a difference in the meaning.

Short throat is not a bad thing, it fits spec ammo and is one of the reasons they shoot as tight as they do.

Where you able to dry fire them? That to me tells me more of what I would want to know. My .02

 

[AZDAVE]

For a little more you might want to consider a model 70 featherweight.

 

[shootist~]

Based on measuring fired Vs new brass (cartridge shoulder headspace), both my T3X Tikkas have tight chambers. Not excessively, but not much room for margin.

Neither have short throats - in fact, just the opposite. I can and do seat bullets on the long side.

A friend's Ruger Americans in same calibers (30-06 & 6.5CM) have similar chamber measurements (fired case shoulders). His 6.5 also has a short throat - my 130 grain reloads jam in his rifles throat.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Tight chamber or a short throat? Their is a difference in the meaning.

Short throat is not a bad thing, it fits spec ammo and is one of the reasons they shoot as tight as they do.

Where you able to dry fire them? That to me tells me more of what I would want to know. My .02

My bad, short throat I believe. The gentleman said he had handloaded some 7mmRM a little long and they wouldn't work? And, not being a long range shooter, I find this short throat concept for accuracy interesting? Weatherby chambers/chambered their rifles with almost "excessive" freebore for "accuracy" and I guess speed? Maybe I'm mixing up chamber and throat terms?

 

[CoElkHunter]

For a little more you might want to consider a model 70 featherweight.

Yeah, if I could find one? They seem to be like unicorns recently. Must have tight chambers and short throats? LOL

 

[Ragman]

Looked at the Tikka T3x and Ultra Lite and Savage 110 models AGAIN today in .308. Nothing like beating a dead camel? LOL Anyway, I brought my tape measure with me and surprisingly, BOTH the Tikka models and Savages have 14" LOP? The Tikka recoil pad is now 1" thick from the thinner pad I have seen before in photos and read reviews about. The Savage has a newer forward magazine release with a spring loaded push button versus the hard plastic "claw" that is on my 110 model from just six months ago. I looked at Savage's 110 VSX model in .308. 20" fluted and threaded barrel. Barrel and action are cerakoted in a grayish SS look. Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 mounted on a Picatinny rail. Camo synthetic stock which I'm not crazy about, but seems overall a great value at $819.00. The Tikka T3x blued at $750 or stainless at $880 with 22.4" unthreaded barrels or scope/mounts. The Ultra Lite seems "overly" light to me with regards to recoil and is $1019. Both the Savage and Tikka actions were very smooth with no binding or "sloppy" functioning of the bolt. Out of the blue, the older gentlemen sales guy told me he really liked the Tikka, but the chamber is "tight" and not ANY margin for bullets seated longer than factory OAL? Maybe not an issue, but I don't know? Remember, I'm looking for a 300 yd. MAX range rifle for hunting. I'm still debating the merits and value of both brands. That's all of the useless chatter I have on this for tonight. LOL

I’ve nothing against Savage, I think they make great rifles. I would bet that the Axis makes up quite a large percentage of hunting rifles around here although I’d prefer a 110 or nicer. But I have a Tikka T3 and I’d pick that over a Savage every time. They are fantastic.

 

[Inline6]

My bad, short throat I believe. The gentleman said he had handloaded some 7mmRM a little long and they wouldn't work? And, not being a long range shooter, I find this short throat concept for accuracy interesting? Weatherby chambers/chambered their rifles with almost "excessive" freebore for "accuracy" and I guess speed? Maybe I'm mixing up chamber and throat terms?

So, longer throats will allow you to seat the bullet out further. That allows more powder in the case and in turn leads to more velocity. As long as your mag can handle it.

Most reloaders want to find the lands and seat bullets just off of it. That helps achieve better accuracy, you can also jump bullets. That usually requires a little leg work on finding the right load.

I have cut chamber that were tight, it was basically like bumping the shoulder on a once fired case .002"-.003". Again that was me cutting the chamber to achieve what I wanted out of factory ammo. Factory rifles can really afford to do that. They need play for the specs in the ammo (factory ammo).

 

[CoElkHunter]

So, longer throats will allow you to seat the bullet out further. That allows more powder in the case and in turn leads to more velocity. As long as your mag can handle it.

Most reloaders want to find the lands and seat bullets just off of it. That helps achieve better accuracy, you can also jump bullets. That usually requires a little leg work on finding the right load.

I have cut chamber that were tight, it was basically like bumping the shoulder on a once fired case .002"-.003". Again that was me cutting the chamber to achieve what I wanted out of factory ammo. Factory rifles can really afford to do that. They need play for the specs in the ammo (factory ammo).

YOU are just another reason to be a member here on AH and learn from an expert like you! I truly mean that as I, and many others, know SOME things but LEARN from guys with advanced knowledge of the details from you and others here that we know little about. Thank you!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Looked at the Tikka T3x and Ultra Lite and Savage 110 models AGAIN today in .308. Nothing like beating a dead camel? LOL Anyway, I brought my tape measure with me and surprisingly, BOTH the Tikka models and Savages have 14" LOP? The Tikka recoil pad is now 1" thick from the thinner pad I have seen before in photos and read reviews about. The Savage has a newer forward magazine release with a spring loaded push button versus the hard plastic "claw" that is on my 110 model from just six months ago. I looked at Savage's 110 VSX model in .308. 20" fluted and threaded barrel. Barrel and action are cerakoted in a grayish SS look. Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 mounted on a Picatinny rail. Camo synthetic stock which I'm not crazy about, but seems overall a great value at $819.00. The Tikka T3x blued at $750 or stainless at $880 with 22.4" unthreaded barrels or scope/mounts. The Ultra Lite seems "overly" light to me with regards to recoil and is $1019. Both the Savage and Tikka actions were very smooth with no binding or "sloppy" functioning of the bolt. Out of the blue, the older gentlemen sales guy told me he really liked the Tikka, but the chamber is "tight" and not ANY margin for bullets seated longer than factory OAL? Maybe not an issue, but I don't know? Remember, I'm looking for a 300 yd. MAX range rifle for hunting. I'm still debating the merits and value of both brands. That's all of the useless chatter I have on this for tonight. LOL

I’d suggest looking at the 110 Ultralite in 300WSM if that’s the caliber you’re set on. I know 2 people with it in 300WSM and they love them. Both are 1/2 MOA guns with factory ammo. They feel light because of the proof carbon barrel. If .308 is an option and you want a shorter barrel, try the new 110 Carbon Predator. That Berger Group I posted last week, was out of that gun. It’s for 18” proof barrel. I swapped the bases for integrated Talley Rings/Bases and mounted a 3-15x44 Leupold VX5 I had sitting at the house. Need to chrono it with and without a can, and work up some data on longer engagements.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I've been now looking at a Howa in .308 with a carbon fiber stock and 22" threaded barrel. 6.2lbs @$900us. Also looking at a Savage 110 with a VSX stock. 20" fluted and threaded barrel and scoped with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x44 @ 8.2lbs for $819us. My feeble mind is becoming fluted and almost threaded (shredded?) and I can't decide. LOL

 

[mdwest]

I’ve been very impressed with the 308 howa 1500 we picked up earlier this year… slick action, accurate, very fair price, etc…

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’ve been very impressed with the 308 howa 1500 we picked up earlier this year… slick action, accurate, very fair price, etc…

The carbon fiber stocked model I looked at is really LIGHT. Very smooth action. Enough LOP for me too. I'm thinking Howa is really underrated within the price point?

 

[mdwest]

Definitely not the fanciest or prettiest thing on the market… but for the money I’m thinking it’s one of the best values out there right now…

The howa 308 we’ve got will shoot just as accurately and just as reliably as the kimber 308 we have thst literally cost 4x as much, and the remington and Ruger 308’s that are more than 2x the cost..

 

[CoElkHunter]

Definitely not the fanciest or prettiest thing on the market… but for the money I’m thinking it’s one of the best values out there right now…

The howa 308 we’ve got will shoot just as accurately and just as reliably as the kimber 308 we have thst literally cost 4x as much, and the remington and Ruger 308’s that are more than 2x the cost..

From Howa's website: "Cold hammer forged barrels are symmetrically at center of axis, bolt faces true and square to the camber, M16 style ejector and extractor, etc."

 

[CBH Australia]

I've been now looking at a Howa in .308 with a carbon fiber stock and 22" threaded barrel. 6.2lbs @$900us. Also looking at a Savage 110 with a VSX stock. 20" fluted and threaded barrel and scoped with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x44 @ 8.2lbs for $819us. My feeble mind is becoming fluted and almost threaded (shredded?) and I can't decide. LOL

Howa are tried and proven in Australia. I think they have been available in different configurations for at least 40 years. Also can be found as a Weatherby Vangaurd or Smith and Wesson 1500.

I thought I saw an ad for the latest carbon fibre ultralight Howa coming in around 2.3 kg bare. That's around 5 pounds.

For the money if it's just a tool to do a task it's a reliable tool. If you want something different or special then possibilities are endless. A Howa will still fill the freezer, reliably.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Howa are tried and proven in Australia. I think they have been available in different configurations for at least 40 years. Also can be found as a Weatherby Vangaurd or Smith and Wesson 1500.

I thought I saw an ad for the latest carbon fibre ultralight Howa coming in around 2.3 kg bare. That's around 5 pounds.

For the money if it's just a tool to do a task it's a reliable tool. If you want something different or special then possibilities are endless. A Howa will still fill the freezer, reliably.

You know, I looked at a Howa with a "carbon wrapped" barrel. Supposedly, it ads rigidity to the barrel, but it was heavier than a standard barrel. What's the point of that for a hunting rifle? I can see a carbon stock which greatly reduces the weight of the rifle, but a carbon wrapped barrel?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I've been now looking at a Howa in .308 with a carbon fiber stock and 22" threaded barrel. 6.2lbs @$900us. Also looking at a Savage 110 with a VSX stock. 20" fluted and threaded barrel and scoped with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x44 @ 8.2lbs for $819us. My feeble mind is becoming fluted and almost threaded (shredded?) and I can't decide. LOL

@CoElkHunter
I will confuse you even more.
My son has a Howa 308, wonderfully accurate and light.
I have a Savage action Whelen, wonderfully accurate.
Both great rifle and accurate to boot.
Boils down to what you want, light weight and accurate or a bit heavier and accurate.
Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

@CoElkHunter
I will confuse you even more.
My son has a Howa 308, wonderfully accurate and light.
I have a Savage action Whelen, wonderfully accurate.
Both great rifle and accurate to boot.
Boils down to what you want, light weight and accurate or a bit heavier and accurate.
Bob

Yes, Savage, even Stevens, Howa or Tikka. Even Mossbergs and Ruger Americans. They are ALL fine rifles at their price points. We're at the point where these economy brands of yore have really become top notch rifles for the price due to CNC machining and stock availabilities. Sure, they're not CZs, Winchesters or Brownings with walnut stocks, but for a non DG hunting rifle, they are and will continue to be hard to beat at their price points.