New 308, Tikka T3 or Remington Mountain SS

[COhunter]

Looking to get a new 308 as the title states and am looking at both the Tikka T3X and the Remington Mountain SS. Both have synthetic stocks, both weigh within 4 oz of each other, the tikka has a better factory trigger. So i'm looking for input about why i should go one way or the other, real world experience with each brand, good and bad. Thanks in advance

 

[Rem06]

i set up a T3 SS 308 out to 300yds for a friend for an elk hunt, LOVE IT! out of 6 different boxes of factory ammo , one box of Black Hills i would not use. ALL others could be interchanged.

300yd


under 2" high at 100yds near 200yd zero
@ 7-9" low at 300 under 1MOA

3.5x10x50 leupold , in recommended the 2.5x8 but he got a deal on the other...

 

[rebs]

I would buy the Tikka

 

[Knifeman]

Tikka!!! Great trigger. Smooth action. And Accurate!!!!

 

[FryeGuy]

TIKKA!! I have two currently, and have had 2 others. they shoot great, nothing to do other than lighten trigger and shoot. My son's is a lightweight in 6.5cm. it shoots everything, I load his light for less recoil, and I have also loaded on upper range to hunt with, and it just shoots everything great. My CTR 6.5cm is crazy accurate. I had a 6.5x55 in a hunter that was amazing too. Another youth model I had was a 7-08, it shot well, but recoil was too much for my son. In fact I am waiting on some of the new model Tikka Veil to arrive so I can trade for one, I have a remington I no longer use or need...

 

[hunter67]

Tikka

 

[10XSHOOTER]

You can do more with the 350chevy/Rem700 done the road. Triggers, stocks& barrels.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

down the road. ops!

 

[drover]

You can do more with the 350chevy/Rem700 done the road. Triggers, stocks& barrels.

That is the beauty of the Tikka - it is not really necessary to do anything to them except put a scope on it and go shoot things.
Actually there are a lot of aftermarket items for Tikka if one wants to personalize it but they are not really needed.

Buy the one that feels best to you but as far as the odds of an out of the box accuracy with no drama the Tikka is the choice.

drover

 

[BCBRAD]

To bring a Rem 700 up to the build quality of a Tikka T-3 you will have to replace or rework the trigger, true the action (including bolt face), plan on replacing the barrel with an aftermarket one.
The 700 action is a good design but fails with the loose quality control offered by Rem Arms.
Tikka has a growing aftermarket for stocks , triggers , and associated accessories.
If function and accuracy are important go with the Tikka.

 

[FryeGuy]

I failed to mention in my earlier post, that I have given Remington lightweights a very fair shot. I have owned 4-6 different model 7 rifles over the years, and a couple mtn rifle models. I gave up on them. The only one I was ever able to get decent was a .243 with a laminated stock, model 7. All of the synthetic guns I could not get to shoot well no matter what I tried. (3) shot 1 1/2" to 2" groups just don't cut it for me anymore. I love the weight and balance, but not having confidence in where the bullet hits is an issue. I looked at the new model 7 with HS stock a few months ago, and really liked it, but I sure as heck wasn't willing to pay for it just to hope it might shoot better than all the others over the years. So I bought another Tikka for way less.

 

[STOMP442]

Tikka hands down is the better rifle. Remington is a fine rifle but will take some work to get to shoot half decent. Stock will need to be inlet to float the barrel or just replaced. The trigger will need to be replaced and then the action will need to be bedded and then you can start load development and hope and pray for sub MOA accuracy. The Tikka you can take out of the box and shoot MOA or better without changing a thing. Here is a five shot group out of a plain jane factory Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 I worked up for a guy a couple years ago. No trigger adjustment, No Bedding, nothing. Just took it out of the box, mounted a scope, and headed to the range.

 

[shoot4fun]

T3 all the way, especially for a stock out-of-the-box hunting rifle. Overall consistency of quality is there with Tikka. Not so much with Remington.
If you want to tinker there are still some good products out there for Tikka as well. The big thing is you really won't need them for a Tikka.

 

[krummarine]

I'd have to vote for the Tikka even though I own 9 Remington's.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Tikka, Tikka, Tikka !

 

[jmkasza]

A few years back I bought a Tikka T3 stainless in 308 and this fall will be my fourth deer season with it. It was on sale right before the T3X came out, so not the exact same model, but they're closely related. It's easy to clean, smooth action, good trigger, it shoots well with everything I've fed it so far, and carrying it all day in the woods is quite doable. For my intended use it has been a really great whitetail gun in central Idaho. If I had to find one nitpick with the Tikka it would be that the stock is a little noisy in the brush. The Mountain SS might have the edge with the B&C stock. I have a similar B&C on my 223 and it feels more sturdy and makes less noise than my Tikka.

 

[El Matador]

Between the Tikka and Remington I'd vote for the Tikka. But with the laminate stock. That'll put you over the $1000 mark though (which is about what the Rem 700 goes for with B&C stock). Personally if I'm spending over $1k for a rifle I'd be looking hard at the Christensen Arms Mesa. It comes in around $1150 but you'll get quality components all around. If you can get an aftermarket stock you like for the Tikka for $300-400 that would be a pretty good option as well.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Buy, the Tikka, BUT, SKIP the old, .308 and buy, it IN,.. 6.5 Creed ! Thank me, later !
WHY,..put up with, the recoil and the Bullet's, "Rainbow drop" ??? PLEASE Wait, til' I get my Fire Retardant suit on before, responding, .. Thank you !
Rem .308's are, For Sale in Gun Shops at, a Dime a Dozen and Prices, still, DROPPING ! Just, Reality ! Put some kind of a Cheek Pad / Riser on IT and a Yo Dave Spring in the Trigger, Scope it, and,.. ENJOY ! Like Stomp442 and drover said, about, the Tikka,.. NOTHING else, required ! Even the Military is heading towards, the 6.5 Creed, ask yourself, WHY ? If, I didn't already have, a .243 Win. and a .270 WSM T-3, Tikka, Hunting Rifles, I'd BUY, a Tikka in 6.5 Creed,.. Today !
Ask FryeGuy, how much he likes, the 6.5 Creed !

 

[K22]

I have a Tikka 308, the Hunter Model, with the wooded stock. Tikka's are outstanding rifles in my opinion, I have 4.
The 308 is great cartridge and will handle just about anything in North America.
My only problem with my 308 Tikka is the light weight - under 7 lbs. It a shoulder buster with 165 grain bullets but accurate. It's a great rifle ' cartridge combo to carry but not shoot off the bench.
Since I'm a small guy who is also old, have a spinal condition, and I don't tolerate recoil very well anymore so I load my down with 125 Nosler BT and H4895 which makes the recoil tolerable. At 2,600 f/s it's still an effective deer load out to 200 yards or so.

 

[ckaberna]

The Tikka will be the “new” rem. 700 we have all came to know and love. IF they keep the quality up.
I would pick it. Tikka can’t overtake 50 years of Remington popularity dominance overnight. Look back in 5-8 years....... just my opinion.