Just wondering if anyone has any helpful information in helping me choose the right rifle. Basically i'm looking for a rifle in .243 which must be left handed, this kind of limits my options i know. I've been to my local gun store and felt both the T3 hunter and the browning, both felt very nice and both had a similar price tag. Are brownings generally an accurate rifle?
Pro's and Cons for the T3 hunter would be great if anyone has dealt with them, cheers.
kimber do one as well i think mate just gotta be prepared to hand over a fair whack of shrapnel for one. The tikkas are nice and have the accuracy guarantee, triggers are easily lightened at home and they dont cost the earth. Spend a bit on a good 4-16 power scope for it and you will have a nice combo.
Im a lefty and was thinking of changing to a left handed rifle, but my howa 1500 outshoots me already, plus I have learnt since the first days i ever shot a rifle to use right handers. Doesnt bother me now. Im going to get a left handed thumbhole for the howa though just so you have to be a real weird shooter to get the hang of it. Having a right hand 22lr is great when shooting off bags, one hand on the trigger, the other cycling the bolt as quick as possible
I've owned both an A-BoltII and Tikka T-3; the Tikka in .300WSM and A-Bolt in 30/06. I liked both, but would purchase the Browning over the Tikka, if given the choice. The T-3 is a fine rifle and uses the SAME barrel as the much more expensive Sako 75/85 models which are built in the same plant. The T-3 is however only produced in a full sized action, there is no short action version, part of the reason they can make it less expensively. I simply prefer a short action rifle for shooting a short action caliber. Both rifles are of very good quality though, and if the little additional length of the Tikka is of no concern and you like it better, go with it.... it is a fine rifle.
Thanks guys, my local gunshop is having a 'show' over the weekend so it's another opportunity to have a feel and decide what to go with. Personally the browning did feel like a bit better but i've since found that the hunter in L/H doesn't come in .243. Next up is a .270 i think.
What is the wood work like on the t3 hunters? anybody know?
I'd also love to look at the Kimbers but $$$ is a problem there! Cheers every one, your help is appreciated!
The Tikka T-3 has 2 wooden stocks, one a standard walnut and the other on a SS action is a laminate(what I owned). Either one, to my eye is a good looking rifle. I also used to own a Tikka 695 in 25/06, but the blue/fiberglass was not attractive at all, and I wished I had gotten a bl/wal version instead.
I thought i may as well post that i decided to buy the Tikka Hunter, blued and in left hand. I went in to the shop yesterday and just held it and thought it was the one. It felt great and the action was like silk...couldn't pass it up. Now i just have to wait to get it ordered in, damn .308, none in stock lol.
I also got the leupold vx-1 3-9x40 in matte....very happy with the buy, hopefully i'm as happy with the shooting. It's a bit of a step up from my savage .22 and winchester 44/40.
Any helpful info left to know about my new precious?
Dont know if this helps but my Browning stainless stalker in 30-06 shoots about 1 1/2 groups at 100yards while my Sako .270 will touch each hole.I still use both for hunting-Depending on weather and conditions.
Calaper,If you are going to use the rifle for hunting and dusk and dawn are some of the situations you will be hunting in-Reconsider scope choice.I started with that scope on my Sako and it worked well for several years then wanted to upgrade so I got the Nikon 3x10x50 Monark with illuminated reticale-I was sorley dissapointed in its low light performance and bad glare-It was like a cheap scope with a high price tag.That scope is currently on my 10/22 converted into a 17m2 and works well on the rimfire in normal conditions.On top of my Sako now sits the new Leupold VX-L 3x10x56.I now use this rifle again with great success in most any condition.Just trying to say get the best scope you can afford-It cost me dearly to find this out.By the same token my A-Bolt has the old vari-x 3 which is awsome as well.The winchester 300 wsm that I use sometimes has the 4x12x50 vx-2 Leupold and has fair to good performance.The larger magnification has resulted in small deer looking big-But has made great tablefare.
Last edited by TomAnsley; 03-18-2008 at 08:53 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Tom, thanks for the comment. I will be waiting approx 6 weeks till i get my new tikka. Hopefully worth the wait. I have upgraded the scope to the vx-1 4-12X40. I will mainly be hunting pigs which will generally be in normal conditions so i'm hoping the scope does ok. Also i may shoot targets occassionaly but again that will be in normal conditions.
