A buddy's looking for a new 7mm Mag deer rifle- Tikka T3, or Remington 700?

[longstevo]

Short and sweet.  Input?

[mountainman]

Either..or both!

This will be a predictable topic lol 

[bobcat]

Neither of those. The Tikka is light, and the 7 Mag has a good amount of recoil. Too much for a lightweight  rifle such as the Tikka, in my opinion. And the Remington 700, I've been hearing of too many issues lately. I'd go with a Savage 110, Ruger 77, or possibly a Weatherby Vanguard.

[pcal]

Cascade Loan & Sporting Goods in Auburn has one listed on Armslist for $389. Now I don't think that is too shabby of a deal.You'll have to put a scope on it and it's got a synthetic stock on it but seems to be a good deal. If you go on armslist and put in Remington you can look at the pictures and details.

[goosegetter79]

Neither of those. The Tikka is light, and the 7 Mag has a good amount of recoil. Too much for a lightweight  rifle such as the Tikka, in my opinion. And the Remington 700, I've been hearing of too many issues lately. I'd go with a Savage 110, Ruger 77, or possibly a Weatherby Vanguard.

   got the savage last year in 7 mag and right out of box with included scope it was shooting 1" groups at just over 100 yards. Was pretty impressed.

[Dan-o]

 .   


Go for accuracy.

Go for Savage 110.       

[j_h_nimrod]

+1 on the Weatherby Vanguard.

Can't stand Savage or Remington and Bobcat is right about the felt recoil with Tikka. I like them but will rattle your teeth compared to other guns of the same caliber and not necessarily because of the light weight.

[RadSav]

Put a Sims pad on a Tikka and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about.  My wife even enjoys shooting it and she hates dang near every 308 I own.  Want to reduce recoil even more?  Load it up with Barnes 120TTSX and you'll think you are shooting a 7-08.

[huntnphool]

Another vote for the Ruger M77, I own a couple and both are great guns.

[mountainman]

Put a Sims pad on a Tikka and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about.  My wife even enjoys shooting it and she hates dang near every 308 I own.  Want to reduce recoil even more?  Load it up with Barnes 120TTSX and you'll think you are shooting a 7-08.

amazing what a limdsaver  will do! My first Tikka was a 338 Winchester. I'm not overley timid to recoil like some that need big, blocky brakes on guns, but this one kicked like a horse until I put a Simms on it. /

[matt345]

I just bought a Tikka T3 300 Win Mag. With a Limbsaver it is reasonable. I also have a bipod attached which helps add a little weight to this lightweight gun.

[Dhoey07]

Weatherby vanguard.  Solid, simple gun. 

[fishngamereaper]

I own 3 remi's, various calibers and no problems. And there is so much you can do with them aftermarket, With that said I do love my Ruger 77 in 7mag. 

[Bob33]

If you’re looking strictly for “out of box” accuracy, I would favor the Tikka T3 between the two you have asked about. An interesting test would be to take ten out-of-box T3s, ten out-of-box 700s and run an accuracy test between them. I believe the Tikkas would have a slight edge. I’ve not known of a Tikka T3 that didn’t shoot well out of the box.

That said, no custom rifle makers that I’m aware of uses Tikka actions. Many, if not a majority use 700 actions. With work, a 700 can usually become as or more accurate than any other actioned rifle.

As far as aesthetics go, the Tikkas generally don’t score well - some believe they look and feel cheap. If that bothers you, get a 700 or expand your search to some of the other makes mentioned.

[mountainman]

If you’re looking strictly for “out of box” accuracy, I would favor the Tikka T3 between the two you have asked about. An interesting test would be to take ten out-of-box T3s, ten out-of-box 700s and run an accuracy test between them. I believe the Tikkas would have a slight edge. I’ve not known of a Tikka T3 that didn’t shoot well out of the box.

That said, no custom rifle makers that I’m aware of uses Tikka actions. Many, if not a majority use 700 actions. With work, a 700 can usually become as or more accurate than any other actioned rifle.

As far as aesthetics go, the Tikkas generally don’t score well - some believe they look and feel cheap. If that bothers you, get a 700 or expand your search to some of the other makes mentioned.

would be revealing I bet. There will be guys that have Remingtons that shoot good out of the box, and most do. You never see people putting pics of the bad groups they've shot though...As for aesthetics,  beauty is as beauty does.except for Chevy's. No beauty, Lol