Help Me Decide! Tikka T3 vs. Browning A-Bolt

[swanny]

I just can't decide which rifle to go with. I probably wont be purchasing it for about a month, but I would like to know which one I'm getting when the time comes to go buy it. I will be getting the rifle in .30-06 and both of them would be the Hunter version with the walnut stock. Prices are super comparable, A-Bolt is $600 at Cabelas right now and Kesselrings has the Tikka for $609. Can anyone provide any insight on if one is a better choice over the other? From every post I have read about either, they both seem to be great rifles...which makes it a lot more difficult to make my decision.

Thank you for any input you provide 

[270Shooter]

That seems like a real good deal on the A-bolt, and not a very good deal on the tikka, price wise. Go with the browning.

[Bob33]

I own both.  The Browning is nicer but I like the Tikka better.   

[BallisticsNut]

That seems like a real good deal on the A-bolt, and not a very good deal on the tikka, price wise. Go with the browning.

I disagree.

Check out the other forum discussion Tikka3's and see who is happy or not.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,68257.0.html

[Bofire]

  I do not like the A bolt magazine deal, I'd buy the Tikka. but I have a Tikka hunter (wood stock) with an extra mag, in nearly perfect condidtion I'll sell you for 500. I am serious. Maybe a box of ammo too.
Carl

[swanny]

Any salesman I have spoke with hasn't really given me a reason not to go with either rifle and from all the talk on here...it seems like either will be a fine choice to go with.

I own both.  The Browning is nicer but I like the Tikka better.   

Well that helps alot 

I do not like the A bolt magazine deal, I'd buy the Tikka. but I have a Tikka hunter (wood stock) with an extra mag, in nearly perfect condidtion I'll sell you for 500. I am serious. Maybe a box of ammo too.
Carl

Oh really...what caliber?

[Bob33]

I own both.  The Browning is nicer but I like the Tikka better.   

Well that helps alot 

Sorry about that.  I thought I was replying to another T3/Browning post where I'd already made more comments.  There are several going right now.

I like the Tikka better just because everything about it seems perfect to me.  The gun is light, very accurate, very reliable, has a very smooth action, and a trigger that can be adjusted down to 2 pounds if you want.  The Browning has a nice fit/finish.  I think it probably uses higher quality components.  However, the trigger is not as good in that in cannot be adjusted to less than about 3 1/4 pounds.  That's a problem to me.  I don't think my Browning is as accurate as my Tikka, but that's a premature conclusion.

[superdown]

I have had my A-bolt for six years now and i love it. I personally never think about the magazine i just load and go hunt. I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

[swanny]

I own both.  The Browning is nicer but I like the Tikka better.   

Well that helps alot 

Sorry about that.  I thought I was replying to another T3/Browning post where I'd already made more comments.  There are several going right now.

I like the Tikka better just because everything about it seems perfect to me.  The gun is light, very accurate, very reliable, has a very smooth action, and a trigger that can be adjusted down to 2 pounds if you want.  The Browning has a nice fit/finish.  I think it probably uses higher quality components.  However, the trigger is not as good in that in cannot be adjusted to less than about 3 1/4 pounds.  That's a problem to me.  I don't think my Browning is as accurate as my Tikka, but that's a premature conclusion.

That info helps, thanks! For some reason I feel like I'm leaning towards the Tikka...I like the feel of it, and I also like that they seem to offer a quality gun at a price that nearly anyone can afford.

[Elk-aholic]

I think the Browning is higher quality in general. The "injection molded" hollow stock that Tikka uses really doesn't do much for absorbing felt recoil. The Browning A-Bolt utilizes a Graphite/composite that is much more solid by design and it absorbs recoil much better. Browning makes a quality firearm and if I could find one for a good price I would choose it every time over a Tikka T3. 

[Bob33]

I think the Browning is higher quality in general. The "injection molded" hollow stock that Tikka uses really doesn't do much for absorbing felt recoil. The Browning A-Bolt utilizes a Graphite/composite that is much more solid by design and it absorbs recoil much better. Browning makes a quality firearm and if I could find one for a good price I would choose it every time over a Tikka T3. 

He mentioned that he is getting either in a walnut stock.  I'm not sure about the differences in those models.  I do agree that the Browning synthetic is a higher quality stock than the Tikka synthetic.  As for recoil I have a Tikka in 30-06 and a Browning in 270 WSM, and I can't say that I notice the recoil being significantly worse in the Tikka than the Browning.

[Bofire]

 :)Swanny, the tikka I will sale is a 30/06, wood stock hunter model.
Carl

[C-Money]

The Tikkas seem to be a nice firearm. Browning's to me seem to be a very high quality, extremely well made rifle. Browning has me hooked threw quality and accuracy. I don't have an issue with the A-bolt magazine set up. I doubt you will ever loose a mag in the field since its fastend to the floor plate and the floorplate to the rifle.  I vote Browning, especially if you found one for $600!

[bobcat]

The Browning has a nice fit/finish.  I think it probably uses higher quality components.  However, the trigger is not as good in that in cannot be adjusted to less than about 3 1/4 pounds.  That's a problem to me.

My Browning A Bolt's trigger is at 2 1/4 pounds after replacing the trigger spring with a Timney spring. It's very simple to do and took about 5 minutes. I only paid around $15 but that was several years ago, and I see now they are selling for about $35. Here is the kit available from Brownells:

Browning A-Bolt Trigger Spring Kit

[bobcat]

Here is a better price, only $23 at Mid-South Shooter's Supply:
 
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00078602

[SkookumHntr]

Get the Browning! You will be wishing you did in a year or so if you dont

[Oldtrader3]

I have owned 4 A-bolts (2 composites) since 1997 and each of them has been a very accurate and well made firearm.  The composite stock on the Browning is a better grade of material and stiffness than the Tikka T3.  However, both are good, well made rifles and the Browning is a better deal financially.

[Hungry Horse]

If there is a Bass Pro store in Washington, Browning A bolt II Composite Stalker  Syn stock blue barel are on sale through Aug 21st  $479  30/06  .270 .243. 

[C-Money]

That is a great price! $479.00?? Wow! I piad a bit more than that for mine!

[FALFire]

Bofire's is still a better deal when factor in the tax.

[tsimp1211]

I absolutely love my A-Bolt rifles.  YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG WITH A BROWNING!!!  First off, you can get an A-Bolt hunter for much less than $600.  Browning rifles come free floated and bedded from the factory.  They will not guarantee MOA accuracy, but I have never had one that wouldn't shoot under MOA.  I posted this picture earlier, but it is a three shot group at 100 yards from an A-Bolt in .243 that I picked up off gunbroker for $490 new with scope.  The group is 5/16".  There is actually 3 groups on that target I believe, that I covered up while I was sighting in my rifle. 
The magazine issue is way over rated.  The hinged floorplate drops down and the magazine clips into the floorplate, swing the floorplate up and there you go.  I also have an X-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 7MM-08 that I picked up off Gunbroker for $740.  I absolutely love this gun as well.  I would check out the Stainless Stalker if I was you, it is fantastic!  I hope this helps.

[norsepeak]

Love my Tikka T3.  Lightest rifle, shoots great and good price.  Took mine out today, hadn't shot it in a year, ranged a rock 588 yards, dialed the scope.....smack, smack, smack...dead center three times out of three with factory ammo.  Can't complain.

[Bofire]

This is an OLD post, Swanny bought my Tikka because it is a far better rifle than any Browning and he is quite happy. I mean just look at a globe Finland is far north of Japan..... geeez. LOL
Good Night Sweet Heart!
Hey Gary, I retire in January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carl

[grizzlyadams]

I say Tikka all the way. Have a Tikka T3 Light. Great smooth action and trigger pull. I a no expert but I take mine out to the range and shoot under 1/2 MOA cold barrel and even heated still shoot under 1 MOA. Had several Brownings in the past never performed that well. Mounted a bushnell laser ranger finder scope on top with BDC turret calibrated for my loads. Anything out to 750 yards is a gonner. Could easily shoot farther but I havent had much opprotunity to practice further distances than that, but the Tikka accuracy is definately there to do it. Have had my 300 WM for three years now, no problems whatsoever. Those that say the felt recoil is more with Tikka I do have to agree with. The lighter the rifle the more the felt recoil.