Ruger Hawkeye SS or Tikka T3 30-06

[sticky]

Looking to buy an 06 and I have narrowed it down to the Ruger and the Tikka.  I need a left handed gun and these are the only two stainless models in my price range.  The Ruger stock is laminate as they do not offer a ss rifle with a synthetic stock.  The other option would be a Remington 700 SPS.  It is about $100 less, but is not statinless.  Your choice?  Thanks.

[Bob33]

Of all my rifles, my Tikka T3 in 30-06 is my "go to" gun.  Light, accurate, reliable.  What more could I ask?

[MADMAX]

If you are flexible on calibers
look at this gun in 7Mag

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=184913700

[Bob33]

The Tikka is quite light: 6 lbs 3 ounces.  You may or may not want a rifle that light.

[sticky]

Max:  That is a good deal.  Would prefer an 06, but I still have a little time.  Another $100 might be in the budget to get an XCR.

Bob:  The weight is the one concern I have with the Tikka.  I like to shoot a lot and don't want to pound my shoulder into mush.  Of course I could always go with a lighter load for target.  Still not sure.

Thanks for the input.

[ribka]

I have 2 Tikkas and am buying a third this year. I put on a Simms recoil pad. I have Remingtons 700's too.

 I really like the Tikka triggers. Very accurate gun out-of-the box

[ing]

Ruger all the way. I have had many of them and they shoot great. I grew up shooting an older style M77 with the tang safety in 30-06 and still have it. Now I have a Hawkeye in 35 Whelen and prefer it over the older ruger rifles. Buy a Ruger, you wont be dissapointed.

[sako223]

Ruger may be reliable but not refined like a Tikka. Tikka is smooth, quiet, and a nice trigger that adjusts in a minute.
You will be hard pressed to find bad press about Tikka.
Too bad you don't want a .223 I have one NIB to sell.

[carpsniperg2]

i really like tikkas and that is what i would go with. also because i am a sako buff, but we have a t3 lite in 270win and it has been a fantastic gun. my brother deer rifle, and my wife used it new zealand last year as well. i just got my first centerfire ruger and it has been a very nice gun so far as well. but it is a bit hefty and not as smooth to run as the tikka.

[270Shooter]

I would like the rugers as I think they are good rifles, but I hate their stocks, just feel awkard to me and the kick the poop out of me. The tikkas seem good too, never felt one though.

[Bulldozer]

I bought my wife a stainless laminated Hawkeye lefty in 25-06 last year. Very nice rifle and accurate. I own several Ruger rifles and have never had a problem except for one had an extremely heavy trigger. Put in a Timney and all is great now. Tikka are nice also but i do not like the plastic trigger guard and detachable mag.

[Missing]

I was all set to buy a Tikka T3 lite until I looked up how much a new clip was...........The cheapest I found one was $120 each. I bought a TC Icon instead.

[uplandhunter870]

cant offer advice specifically to the 30.06 caliber but i have a hawkeye in 243 and my buddy has a t3 in 300wsm. my hawkeye has performed flawlessly shot one ragged 5 shot hole right out of the box and has shot every bullet ive tried out perfectly.  ive also shot my buddy's t3 alot and really like it. bolt is really smooth and the felt recoil is a lot less than i expected from a 300wsm and i like the detachable mag, not real keen on the plastic trigger guard though. the only thing that i do not really like about my hawkeye is the wobble that comes with a mauser style bolt when the bolt is completely opened it makes a fast reload for a follow up shot a little difficult until you get used to it.

i highly doubt you can go wrong  with either rifle, i would suggest going with which ever on feels better to you

[sako223]

I was all set to buy a Tikka T3 lite until I looked up how much a new clip was...........The cheapest I found one was $120 each. I bought a TC Icon instead.

Tikka mags are expensive but not $120, they are available many places from $55-72.

http://www.google.com/search?q=tikka+t3+magazine&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[ing]

Ruger Ruger Ruger!!!

[carpsniperg2]

yeah i have said that in many other discussions, that the clip price is crazy. when i looked into geting a spare to take to new zealand for my wife it was like 85.00. its pretty crazy for a plastic clip that costs them probaly 10.00 to make 6 clips or a new gun

[Bob33]

Just curious: what does an extra magazine for a Ruger Hawkeye cost?

[ing]

Just curious: what does an extra magazine for a Ruger Hawkeye cost?

[nontypical176]

I have the Tikka 300 short mag.  Good gun, but the safety isn't all that great.  The gun is nice and lite for sure, but doesn't kick half as hard as my old mans Ruger 300 mag.  The clip is kinda disapointing, the darn bullets rattle inside both my origional and spare.

[sticky]

Well, my quest for a new 06 took an unexpected turn Saturday when I purchased a used Savage 111 at a pawn shop in town.  I was in the shop looking for a spare video camera when I saw the left handed black rifle in the rack.  The dealer is an old friend from high school and he said the owner had pawned it for $75 in April and never came back.  It is in very good condition, with no rust spots and a nice clean bore. The gun has the accutrigger, which was a must if I was to get a Savage. It looks like it might have fired a couple of boxes of shells at the most.  Oh yeah, the price... $240.  I figured with a price like that I can't go wrong.  My buddy even told me I could return it if I don't like how it shoots.

I am going to slap on a new Nitrex 3x9 I have been saving and see how she shoots this weekend.  Good deal or not?

[JackOfAllTrades]

I think you will find that it was a very good deal.

-Steve

[509er]

I am or was a Ruger guy, have more than a few in the safe.  But after my last Ruger rifle, a .204, and having some accuracy issues with it, I called them. While talking to them I found out that their quality standard is a 2" group at 50 yards, I actually laughed at the guy on the phone.  I told him that that may be sufficient back east, out here we shoot 300 to 400 yards regularly and it would be difficult to hit a coyote with a spread like that.  Well I recently bought a Tikka in 7mm rem mag, It shoots pretty much anything but Berger bullets well under 1 inch and my last 2 groups have been .541" and .470".  Needless to say I have not regretted it and will probably not buy another Ruger.  Plus my stainless Tikka was $570 new.  My vote is for Tikka.   

[509er]

I bought three extra new clips online for $25 to $30 each.   

[high country]

after my bullchit run in with sako/beretta, all of berettas holdins can eat a fatty. their customer service is a joke. at least the savage was a good price and will most likely shoot well.

[Lincoln4]

You will likely be very happy.  My experience with Savage Firearm has been quite nice.  Does your buddy have another gently used 06 Savage for that price?  I'm looking to build a .338-06.

[carpsniperg2]

tikka all the way

[sako223]

Sako customer service may not be the best for everyone but they met all my requests including reimbursing me for shipping/insurance on a rifle. 

[Bob33]

I have to agree with the criticism of Beretta customer service.  My friend bought a Sako A7 270 WSM last year.  After just a couple months he put a Harris bipod on and test fired it.  The stock disintegrated at the front swivel stud.  He contacted Beretta customer service and they told him tough luck: the gun was not designed to shoot off a bipod.  They did graciously offer to sell him a new stock for $670.  I'll never buy a Beretta product after hearing how they treated him.

[high country]

I have to agree with the criticism of Beretta customer service.  My friend bought a Sako A7 270 WSM last year.  After just a couple months he put a Harris bipod on and test fired it.  The stock disintegrated at the front swivel stud.  He contacted Beretta customer service and they told him tough luck: the gun was not designed to shoot off a bipod.  They did graciously offer to sell him a new stock for $670.  I'll never buy a Beretta product after hearing how they treated him.

they kicked me in the nutz even harder.....had me send a rifle in for warranty work then told me I was out of warranty and owed better then a c-note to get my gun back......they can keep that POS

[huntandjeep]

buy the ruger you will love it

[robmill70]

I have had rugers and Tikkas.......TIKKA!   Only ruger I ever really liked was a No 1V in 223, that thing was a tack driver.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Tikka is a joy to carry and shoot in .30-06!

[Phantom Gobbler]

I have to agree that the Tikka safety is a bit too easy to slip off.  I would not recommend a Tikka T3 for a young hunter for that reason.  Need to be aware of the safety at all times.  However you will see my Tikka going up the hill again this Fall!  

[wastickslinger]

I have both. I like my Rugers. I was a bit uncertain about buying a Tikka. But holy crap, after the groups that 509er and I are shooting I am sold. They gurantee 1" out of the box and they mean it. With the right load these 7mm mags are 1/2" guns, no joke. Also saw 509er bust the center out of a milk jug on his second shot the other day. The first one would have but we misread the wind, make a quick adjustment and smoked the center of it. We should be breaking milk jugs at 800 yards in no time. Guys spend alot of money to have a gun perform like that and for way more money that $600.

I will buy another one.