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