Sako - Tikka delima. Don't know what to do.

[Silvertp]

Here's my delima.  I inherited a 7mm Mag Tikka when my brother-in-law passed away.  It was a new gun that he bought as he planned to come visit in Idaho and go elk hunting with me, but he passed away the fall he was planning on coming out.  Ive been using this gun for several years now and it is a tack-driver and has much sentimental value to me.

I also have a Sako L61R 7mm Mag., w/ kevlar stock.  Its got an amazingly smooth action but not quite as accurate as the Tikka.

Ive also got this bill I have to pay off, yes, I bought another gun.  My financial advisor (wife) sez I have to sell a gun to pay my bill.

Arrggg...what to do.  I am contemplating selling the L61R but I love that smooth action.  Soooo....what if I were to swap the Sako action to my Tikka barrel then sell the Tikka action w/ the Sako bbl w/ the Kevlar stock?  Way I see it is I would have a great action, the best shooting bbl of the two, and enough of the "inherited" gun to maintain the sentimental value.    Maybe Im just making this too complicated?  Plus, it may cost me enough more to swap the barrels than I would  would not be able to cover my bills.

What do folks think?  Should I leave well enough alone and keep hunting with the Tikka and sell the Sako?  Should I do the action swap...?  Would it be that much better than the Tikka action?  Don't tell me to send my wife packing...she's a keeper.

A Baffeled Silvertp in Idaho??

[ms]

I would sell the tikka. Or ask a friend or someone to loan you the money let them hold the rifle until you pay it back.

[longwinters]

That is a tough one.  If I kept the Tikka it would be for sentimental value.  I have had both and kept the Sako's.  Tikka's are nice rifles and good shooters but they are not a Sako even if the barrels are made in the same place.  Doing the rebuld etc... might not be cheap.  So if money were the issue I'd figure out my priorities and, if I could not afford all three, I'd sell one of em.  Maybe the one you just bought should be on the block? 

Long

[Old English]

The problem here seems to be the wife. Solution, change the wife and keep the rifles, easy! Do yourself a favor, buy a gun safe and keep the combination secret, this eliminates the problem.

[Big Blue]

I don't think I'd swap the barrels around. You might end up with two rifles that don't shoot worth a darn. At least now you know what you have. If the Tikka shoots better and has sentimental value then I'd sell the Sako. You can always buy another Sako when the time comes that you have more money. You can't buy back sentimental value.
Don