3 Rifles, 1 Caliber

[iunderpressure]

I've desided on a .308 rifle, but I'm just not sure which rifle.  I wonder what you all think.  The choices are TC Icon, Savage, or Tikka T3 Lite.  Here is what I think of them.

Icon (i'm looking at the weathershield version):  Heavy which I don't like, has built in bases, great stock and finish, read were it has the same POI between different loads.

Savage:  good bang for the buck, very accurate, nothing fancy, simple

Tikka:  Very Lite ( great for hunting), The one thing I don't like is how they use a 30-06 actions for short action rifles (i guess they still do this).

It's goin to be a hunting rifle.  I will also shoot paper.  It will wear at least for now a Burris FFII 3-9x40.  Tell me what you think good or bad.   

[jdickey]

Tikka by far!  Although they are owned/made by Sako, a 90 year old company in Finalnd; and, they are part of the Beretta family now!  Very, very smooth action, very accurate, and comes with scope rings!  That FF II will fit just nice on top also!

Sako/Tikka are legendary for their accuracy.  We have not had one single complaint about the Tikkas that we have sold at our store!

The other two in your selection are also good rifles, but my personal preference would be the TIKKA.

[trotterlg]

Icon, same POI between loads?  B.S. physics is physics no way to make this work.  You really have the full price range represented here, you could probably get two Savages for one Icon and a Savage and a Stevens for a Tikka.  If you are going hunting then it only depends on what you want to spend.  Larry

[diggler1833]

I agree with the same POI being impossible.

Your best bet is to pull up a chair, grab some coffee and spend a night or two researching your choices on the 'net.  The best person to tell you what you are going to like is you yourself.

All three of those choices will kill an animal as long as you can place the shot where you want to.

[mannyrock]

    Well, it appears that you have listed three totally different types (grades) of rifles.  How can we give you any advice, if you have no idea what you want?  It is as if you have said, "I really want an SUV, and I've narrowed it down to a Lincoln Navigator, a Ford Explorer, and a Honda CRV." 

    Based on what you've listed, one can only say:
 
    Savage:  Most accurate and cheapest rifle you can buy.  Most folks think the plastic stock is pretty bad (although certainly rugged enough).

    Tikka:  A flawless performer and very accurate, but with a long action and a detachable magazine (you either like that, or not).

     T/C Encore:  A beautiful rifle with beautiful wood, but rather Euro looking; and are you willing to scratch and bang it up by taking it to the woods and hunting hard?

     Analysis over.

Regards, Mannyrock

   

[SHOOTALL]

Why only those 3 ?

[mcwoodduck]

I agree why only those three?
there are a bunch of other rifles out there that are great.
Ruger Mk II                  WWW.ruger.com
Ruger MK II Hawkeye.
Sako 85   www.sakousa.com
Remington. 700 and the Mauser series from them  (do not know website off top of my head someone else will be happy to provide)
Howa (weatherby vanguard) www.legacysports.com
CZ 550 www.cz-usa.com

I have two 308's now and am looking to add one more bolt action. 
I have a Ruger M77 R in 308 with Iron sights as my east coast deer rifle. (although latley I have been using Dad's Sako Deluxe in 308)
And a Rem 700 V wearing a 3-9X50 Leupold VarX II
I want an all weather rifle in 308 with a weight in the 7.5 pounds with a scope that will fit in a horse scabbord.  I too like rifles in caliber sized actions and have cut the CZ 550, a great rifle from my list of 308's  Keep looking at it for a 9.3X62 but not sure what i would use one on that can not be covered by something else I already own.  But I digress.

[iunderpressure]

I've looked at all kinds of rifles.  I just have it narrowed down to these three.  If I got the Icon it would be the weathershield version.  I know it's a personal choice now, but if someone has one of these rifles or 2 of them, they may have something to add that may keep me from wishing I had one of the others later on.

 

[Swampman]

Remington 700

The Icon is very heavy.

[Coyote Hunter]

I agree why only those three?
there are a bunch of other rifles out there that are great.
Ruger Mk II                  WWW.ruger.com
Ruger MK II Hawkeye.
Sako 85   www.sakousa.com
Remington. 700 and the Mauser series from them  (do not know website off top of my head someone else will be happy to provide)
Howa (weatherby vanguard) www.legacysports.com
CZ 550 www.cz-usa.com
....

I agree, why only those three?  Seems to me that someone that has come down to that list really doesn't know what they want.

For a hunting rifle, I think it is really hard to beat a Ruger for value. I've had two Savage rifles (110 and 111) and two Remingington M700s and have to say I prefer the Rugers for a number of reasons.

[hunt-m-up]

I wouldn't limit myself to those 3.
I just picked up a Weatherby Vanguard carbine version in .308, 20" barrel, fluted bolt,hinged floorplate and IMO the tupperware stock is better than the Savage version. You'll never leave the hinged floorplate laying on the kitchen table or the truck seat. Also have a .270 VG, they're not light, but seem balanced to me.

Of those you listed, I would go with the Tikka.
FWIW

[iunderpressure]

Rugers - I feel are hit or miss as far as how they shoot.  I read that everywhere I go online and my uncle had one that didn't group all that great.  To be honest I don't know all that much about Ruger.  They never did very much for me.  I know they use a lot of cast frames.  Feel me in on why you like your Rugers.

Remingtons - Everyone works on them, and you can get parts everywhere for everything.  But looking at some of their high end guns.  They seemed cheap to me.  I don't know if it's just me but they are making cheaper rifles over time.  I would be interested in a Remington LTR 20", but that's probably not the best gun for hunting.

CZ and Howa are real heavy.  I didn't see a CZ in stainless on their website.

I really like the Tikkas for carry guns because they are so light, but I don't like the one size fits all action.  If the rifle is a full length action anyway, would you choose a 270 or 30-06 over the 308?

I really like holding the Icon.  I liked the Hogue stock and built in scope bases.  The rifle is still new so there isn't a lot of feed back yet.  It is kind of heavy. 

[mcwoodduck]

I like the Rugers as they are a good Strong action, at a reasonable price.
The early batches of Ruger rifles used other than thier barrels and for some reason they would not shoot military ball ammo, or even the civilian stuff with the FMJ bullets well.
I have two early Ruger rifles. One in 308 and the other in 30-06. ( it was a friend that need $ so I bought it)
Both are tack drivers with any commercial hunting ammo but will not shoot the FMJ stuff any where near each other.
Later models have thier arrels and they are fine with the cheap target ammo.
My M700 V will shoot the FMJ stuff fine as did a 700 BDL I had in 06.
I also like the new three position wing safety.  The positive lock up as well as the firing pin hold to unload.
The older tang safety was / is fast for stalking or still hunting.  I know a bunch of guys out here in the west that are ready hunt and do not use the safety in the rifle at all.  But I like a safety that will lock the bolt (most brands do) for when I am moving through brush or other thickets.  In the past i have had thorns open the rifle.

[Zachary]

Everybody knows that I love Tikkas, but the biggest thing that i don't like about them is the "one size fits all" action, meaning that, if you want a .308, the T3's receiver is still a long action.  Does it make a difference in quality, performance, etc.? No, but, for whatever reason, I just won't buy a Tikka in a short action cartridge.  However, if you don't have a problem with it, then you should definitely get it.

Another suggestion that I would make is the Kimber.  I have a Montana in .300WSM and I love it.  Yes, it is more expensive (about $1,000) but, in my opinion, it is worth it.

Of course, you really can't go wrong with getting a Remington, and just have a gunsmith do some relatively minor mods to it to customize it for you...if you want.

Zachary

[Coyote Hunter]

Rugers - I feel are hit or miss as far as how they shoot.  I read that everywhere I go online and my uncle had one that didn't group all that great.  To be honest I don't know all that much about Ruger.  They never did very much for me.  I know they use a lot of cast frames.  Feel me in on why you like your Rugers.
...

A reasonable request so here goes, in no particular order...

1.   The Ruger bolt is one piece.  Never heard of one coming apart.
2.   Controlled Round Feed (CRF).  Don’t really need it as I don’t hunt Africa or in Big Bear country, but I like it at the range – draw the bolt back slowly and extract the brass, all with one hand.
3.   Mauser style ejector - massive, strong, never heard of one breaking.
4.   Fixed blade ejector – simple, strong, never heard of one breaking.
5.   Integral scope mounts and the rings come with the scope.  Strongest scope mounting system available.  A mule, a log and two broken ribs convinced me of that.
6.   Ruger service.  Second to none in my experience (based my my buddy and I both sending back revolvers we purchased second hand – his for the free safety upgrade, mine because someone had bent the base pin, the thing that goes through the cylinder.  No charge in either case.  From what I hear that’s pretty typical.
7.   Accuracy.  As mcwoodduck pointed out, early Ruger barrels were from outside sources and were mixed in quality.  Ruger long since purchased a hammer forging machine and makes their own barrels.  All of mine shoot great.
8.   The Ruger rifles are known for their strength.
9.   The trigger is easy to polish up (the older and new styles).

Here’s a few samples:

.257 Roberts, 3 shots:


7mm RM – 10 shots in gusting 40mph crosswind:


.30-06 – 10 shots in gusting 40mph crosswind:


Same .30-06 on a calmer day, with a quick sight check:


.300 WM – 1st shot froma clean/oiled bore:


No pictures, but my heavy barrel MKII VT in .22-250 had put 4 shots in to ½” at 200 yards.

[iunderpressure]

I do like the M77 Hawkeye Tactical in .308.  It's got the hogue stock and a two stage trigger, but boy is it heavy at 8 3/4 lbs.

[Coyote Hunter]

I do like the M77 Hawkeye Tactical in .308.  It's got the hogue stock and a two stage trigger, but boy is it heavy at 8 3/4 lbs.

Its a "Tactical".  It is SUPPOSED to be heavy.  Unless a lot of long range or competitive work is in the offing, I'd get a sporter weight instead.

[SHOOTALL]

I like the hawkeye with a 18 inch bbl and full stock .

[iunderpressure]

The search is over.  I ordered a T/C Icon WeatherShield in .308 for $760.  Bass Pro is pretty proud of theirs, $900 something for it.