[bainey]

hey everyone, I'm looking to buy a new rifle and as you all can see I've narrowed it down to the Remington 700 SPS and the Tikka T3 LS, both 30-06 calibers. I shoot left handed which tikka makes a left handed model. Prices are pretty par. Any feedback on either of the two rifles is much appreciated.

Thanks for your time,
bainey

 

[Dillinger]

What?! Where's captango!? *looking around*

Okay, I am going to be publicly crucified, AGAIN, for this opinion.

But, I personally feel, and have shown in this thread to some of the forum members here, that the Remington action is not the best choice out there.

Remington is made in the US though, and that carries a lot of weight. However, for the money, I think the Tikka is a much better choice.

Now I will turn the floor over to the other forum members so you can hear from them all about the product from the big green R.

JD

 

[Righteous]

Remington cant even compare with a Tikka , it shoot circles around that remington

 

[cpttango30]

I am here Dillianger.

Is this going to be a hunting rifle or a plinking rifle. I love the 30-06 as much as any red blooded American, but it can wear out a shooter quick in a light rifle. If you are going for just some plinking or range shooting and little to no hunting with it I would go with a 223 or 243. If you want to hunt deer sized game and you have to have a 30 cal I would look at the 308 over the 30-06 it offer the same velocity (-5 to 10 fps) it will do what ever the 06 does just in a short action (Stiffer, less weight). I would even look at a 25 cal or 6.5mm cal as both will handle anything from varmints to big game.

You better hold on to your keyboard. I would go with the Tikka T3 over the SPS. I love the Remington 700 but their are other guns out there. For this on I have to pick the Sako made Tikka (I would buy a sako over a Remington any day of the week).

Remington has been going down hill fast since the cherrybus take over. The SPS is junk, the stock is nothing more than recycled playschool toys. They are hollow and the recoil pad really leaves something to be desired.

If you are going to by a Remington don't buy an SPS. The VLS, VSF, VSSFII, ect... are all good rifles that will turn out some superb accuracy. Now that being said my next varmint rifle will be a savage Model 12 Long Range Precision Varminter in 6mm BR.

I would look at a Savage to replace the Remington. You can get a much better rifle for the same price in the savage vs Remington SPS.

the thing I like about the Savage is the fact that you get a stiffer action(This is only in the LRPV) with a right bolt left port action (this aids in reloads as your free hand does the work). The action is not open on the top but on the side with just a loading port cut that along with the single shot action with a solid bottom really makes for an outstanding rifle that will offer superb accuracy. Savage also allows for simple barrel changes with a few tools (Barrel wrench and go no-go gauges).

Savage is also introducing a PALMA rifle this summer.

 

[neal7250]

I have a Rem 700, and a Tikka T3. They are both great rifles, and I'm keeping them both. But I have to give the TIkka the edge. I have mine topped with a Bushnell Elite 3200, and It has that felling of riteousness that we are all looking for. It is so sweet that honey flows off of it. One of the best shooters that I have ever seen.

 

[CA357]

Tikka T3.

 

[JPBeck]

Remington makes left handed models as well. http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/left-Hand/

If your keeping it stock either one would serve you well. If not than 700 is the way to go. How many Smiths do yo know that work on Tikka?

I've got 3 Remington 700's (2 P's and a VSF) they all shot between 1/2 and 1/4 groups out of the box-- so I don't see how someone (especially from someone that is not even of legal age to own one) can say the Tikka will shoot circles around the Remington.

The only criticisms I had on my 700's was the trigger-- thankfully a few tunes of a flat-head fixed that. The new Rems fixed the trigger anyways so the point is moot.

Since your talking SPS-- and the T3 LS-- either way you'll be happy. Warning they both have entry level stocks (although I give the SPS a slightly upper hand in that department).

Now if there is even the slightest possibility of using the action as a jumping off point for a custom stick-- GO REMINGTON!

If you want a rifle you'll never have to up grade, I would suggest a 700VSF (left hand). http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/left-hand/model_700_VSF.asp

$300 more but worth it-- Nice HS stock (that's has a full-length aluminum bedding block), fluted barrel (I take it your hunting based on caliber and choice of models).

Oh yea-- and the Tikka came from where? Didn't they make Machine guns for... never mind.

Let us know what you end up with and give us a range report.

 

[billt]

The biggest complaint I have with the Tikka is the plastic trigger guard. I have to go with Dillinger that the Howa / Weatherby Vanguard line is pretty hard to beat for the price. In the Weatherby configuration you get a test target and an accuracy guarantee, the same as Tikka. The Weatherby / Howa series of rifles are one of the most underrated out there. Especially when you take into account price. Weatherby is now advertising the Vanguard for as little as $399.00 MSRP. If you like fancy you can get it that way as well in the Vanguard Deluxe Model which is difficult to distinguish from a Mark V DeLuxe. Another bolt action I would consider over a Remington or Tikka is the Savage line. They are some of the most accurate out of the box rifles made today. Nothing wrong with the 700's mind you, I own 4 of them. It's just today there are better, more accurate rifles for the price. Bill T.

 

[Dillinger]

How many Smiths do yo know that work on Tikka?

I know of two fine 'smiths and one apprentice that work on Tikka's all the time. We do some fine custom builds for some folks who like that line.

JD

 

[THE_REPUBLICAN]

I have never owned a Remington 700, but I have fired a few that were borrowed from friends and family.But I do own the Tikka T3 LS- and it is a good rifle. It is light, so it is easier to carry around all day when hunting (yes, recoil is a little worse) and it is very accurate ( some people have said groups as tight as 1/3 MOA, though groups around 0.8MOA are more likely) The only thing I dont like about the Tikka, is that it is not made in America- But, I bought a Leupold scope to make up for that. I think that Jp beck is right though, if you are having custom work done, there is a larger amount of gunsmiths doing custom work on Remington rifles than Tikka.

 

[Dillinger]

Well, to be honest here, the Remington 700 is the most prominate, and easiest to build on, rifle action. It's very easy on tooling and there are a ton of drop in parts that don't require a hell of a lot of skill to "custom fit" - so it's going to be much more common than finding a 'smith who builds on pre-'64 Winchesters.

That doesn't make it bad, but it also doesn't make it the best thing going.

Remington's new action, the one submitted to the military for their Sniper Platform Testing, is supposed to be AWESOME though - and if they win the contract, that might be THE long action to get in the coming years ( from a production rifle standpoint ). Rumor has it that if the Long Action takes off, Remington will spend the money to re-tool and offer a short action in the same design mode. If they do that, Remington will have "factory action" bragging rights.

JD

 

[JPBeck]

I know of two fine 'smiths and one apprentice that work on Tikka's all the time. We do some fine custom builds for some folks who like that line.

JD

You know what I mean though.

 

[Dillinger]

You know what I mean though.

Definitely. Tikka is not a popular build action. Neither is the Winchester. I totally agree with you 100%, except I live where I live and spend time in the shop with Brett, so I have to throw out the ther side of the coin.

You're right though - the Remington is a fine build platform. It's easy, it's affordable and there are a ton of people who work on it.

JD

 

[cpttango30]

I think Drunk Monkey's can work or Remmys 700 and AR-15.

I installed the new trigger in my 700 in a matter of 5 minutes. the packaging said it needed to be installed by a proper gunsmith. So does that make me a gunsmith?

The remington 700 is like a harley does a good job looks good while doing it but if you want a real badass then there are tons of parts to put on it and dress it up.

Surgon actions are a copy of the remington 700 with some improvements.

I just wish they made a rem 700 in a right bolt left and right port. That way I can load on the left and eject on the right.

I have also heard grumbling of Remington dropping the 700 BDL next year. I highly doubt this as that is the bread and butter of Remington. If they did I am sure there are many remington fans like myself that would not buy another ever.

 

[Dillinger]

I think Drunk Monkey's can work or Remmys 700 and AR-15.

.

I think I have seen some of their work at gun shows in the past.

I know they have high hopes over this Military Sniper contract. If they get that, or if they produce the short action version of that long action - they won't have any problems getting you back cpt!

I would actually like to see them take a step forward into the 21st Century and give some of the imports a run for their money with this new platform. It sure would make working on them that much more appealing.

JD

 

[JPBeck]

I'm stinking about getting that new .338 700P. I can afford the stick-- just not another S&B to top it off with.

 

[Dillinger]

I'm stinking about getting that new .338 700P. I can afford the stick-- just not another S&B to top it off with.

I didn't get to see the action, but my gunsmith Brett did and he told me this is the action that Remington should have been building 20 years ago. The first two "production" unit ran about $500K each because of all the R & D that went into them. Once they got those up and running, they banged out 30 of them for trials.

It's has three locking lugs, so it's got the short throw bolt handle the military guys wanted, it's got the more positive AR-15 style extractor, the recoil lug is now milled right into the action, so it's a much more stable and beefy platform. Basically they addressed all the *****ing from the aftermarket and made a really, really good action to start with.

I think they are sitting pretty going into the trials because a lot of the other guns are coming in with custom actions that I can't see the Military getting special pricing on. Remington already has the contract for the short action, so it's some paperwork and a couple of briefcases under the table to secure the Long Range magnum application as well.

Here's hoping...

Schmidt & Bender - nothing wrong with your tastes... LOL

JD

 

[cpttango30]

I think I am going to go and plant a bunch of flowers in the shape of a Browning buck mark (LOGO not pistol) in a field then take a picture of it and get a free browning. Not sure what I would go for I think the Cynergy O/U.

 

[JPBeck]

I played with one at SHOT last year-- I'm kind of waiting to see if there are any bugs that need to be worked out. I can always take my SB 3-12 x 50 PMII LP off my 300 WM and put it on the new stick.

 

[xd man]

rem or tikka

not bragging but before i got hurt & became disabbled i owned & tryed more stock rifles then i can name but for the money i don't think any match the tikka t-3, don't have the 30 cal but have the 25-06 which every day will put 3 shots 100yds in 5/16 inch, big difference i think is the tikka uses the same barrels as sako uses pulled off the line at the same time, these barrels have hi praise for accuracy. mine shootswin 120gr pep & i never had a whitetail go over 10yds honestly. thanks