Looking at a Tikka for $550. Anything else in that price range I should consider? Will i be dissapointed in the Tikka? .308
Thank you

"You won't be disappointed" will bet he consensus on THF. You might consider spending another $100 and getting stainless, but that's just me.

X2. I have two, they've been awesome.

I know of nothing in this price range as good as a Tikka. I have 3 and the bolt is smooth, outstanding trigger and they are consistently accurate.

I got the stainless T3 Lite. I wiped down the barrel the other day. It was so grimy that I was ashamed, but I do love the low maintenance aspect.

Yup. I have two, zero complaints.

ruger American in 6.5 creedmoor

Same, and I would spend the extra $$ and get stainless.

Tikka!

Sometimes you find ""benchmark" products that you learn that you can trust to always be what you expected them to be ...I've owned 3 T3's & an older 695...so far, and expect to own some more....and YES, I'd suggest a Stainless too.
Ron

I was considering a Browning X bolt but they are pricey. I was also considering a .270 but am now leaning towards a .308. I have been looking at the Tika's but I had wood and gun blue in mind instead of composite and stainless. Also planning to buy a Vortex to mount at the same time.

my X-Bolt in 7mm-08 is VERY accurate!!, nice gun, well finished. feather trigger is very good at 3.5# you would like it

I own 2 Sako 85's and absolutely love them. their distant cousin...Tikka is a nice gun too for the $$

Savage makes some great wood and blue guns too

I have a Tikka t3 in 270 stainless. Incredibly accurate. Awesome trigger/bolt.

Weatherby

I've never owned or even handled a Tikka, but on the strength of reports from other shooters whose opinions I respect, I'd say that you can't go wrong with a Tikka.

I hear lots of good reports about the Tikka, but the gripes are few and far between.

The one I keep looking at is the Forrester. (Wood and blue)

In the same price range I think the Tikka and Weatherby Vanguard are head and shoulders above the rest and they both come with sub-moa guarantees. They are different animals though. The Tikka's are light rifles and the Vanguards are heavy. I buy Vanguards because I've had three shoulder surgeries and the weight really mitigates recoil. If not for that I would definitely own at least one Tikka. A friend here on THF recently purchased a T3 Lite Stainless 7mm-08 and purchased a suppressor for it. I mounted a scope on it a few weeks ago and we sighted the rifle in. With the suppressor it was a joy to shoot.

Yes, exactly. The Vanguard is very accurate and a quality firearm -- but heavy. Not that big a deal for Texas blind hunting, but not something I'd want to lug around in the mountains.

The X-bolt has both accuracy and light weight and is better quality than the Tikka, but it's in a higher price range. If you can stretch for it, I'd get one.

I have an X Bolt and they are solid rifles. In the same price range as the X Bolt is the Winchester Model 70. I have one of those too and though it'll be heavier (unless you get the Featherweight) it's an EXCELLENT choice as well.

Can't go wrong with the Tika or the X-bolt.

I think Browning has the best out of box trigger.

ThIs pretty well sums it up-if you're going with a higher-recoiling chambering unsuppressed, then I would stick with the Vanguard.

Just buy what you like. Just about every manufacturer is making good firearms today.

I am looking seriously at one of the less popular rifles... The Winchester model 70 Sporter.

It is heavier than the popular Featherweight, and will have a longer, slightly heavier barrel for whatever caliber you prefer. The stock is more substantial and has none of that French-looking Fluer-De-Lis BS on it, just some good old-fashioned wrap-around checkering.

The Sporter in 30-06 for example has a 24" barrel, the Featherweight in 30-06 is 22".

I had a Sporter some years ago chambered for 338 WM and found that the stock fit me perfectly. It was a sweet shooter.

So, in addition to the Howa or the Weatherby Vanguard, the Winchester model 70 Sporter is another good choice if you want something with a little more heft to it.

The more expensive model 70 Super is a Sporter with some nice cosmetic touches if you like fancy.

This

if you're thinking of Tikka; you can't go wrong

I bought a Tikka T3 stainless and a T3 Tactical (20" heavy barrel) in .308
just to try out. I used a standard load of Varget and Nosler 168gr BT
and both shot .5" on average. It was on a day that I was not in my best
behavior and the weather was less than ideal

Just stirring the pot, by I would hand back a free Tikka to pay retail for a Howa...I must prefer the one piece bolt, the integral recoil lug and the Sako type extractor. The Tikka just feels cheap to me, like a Bic lighter that you throw away.