Planning on picking up a factory hunting rig.Needs to be left hand, 6.5 Cal barrel. Stock needs to be better than the savage 11. Looking for light as possible. Intend to rechamber to 260 improved & hope to shoot 140 or 142 so a bigger Mag like savage would be advantageous to facilitate a longer AOL. would prefer synthetic and stainless but thats not a deal breaker. Is there any other option besides the Savage 16 & Tika T3? Any opinions about those two?
Tika T3 Vs Savage 16
- Thread starter Lucky
- Start date
No comparison, Tikka all the way. But, if memory serves me correctly I don't think the Tikka is available in a 6.5 that can be rechambered to .260 Ackley. Maybe somebody can correct me if I'm wrong. As to fit and finish there is no comparison between the two. Tikka all the way. Hope this helps. Paul. 8)
www.boltfluting.com
www.boltfluting.com
Have owned various Savage bolts over the years and currently own a T3 in 6.5x55. Much prefer the T3. Very accurate, excellent trigger. Single stack magazine flawless. Plenty of room to properly seat the long Hornady 160 gr RN.
The 6.5 Swede has a larger head diameter than the .308 family of cartridges. To rechamber to .260AI would require setting the barrel back so that the reamer could clean up the rear of the chamber. Then you get into the metric thread problem. Would be a heck of a lot simpler to buy the T3 in 6.5x55 and enjoy the Swede as is.
Or you could go all out and rechamber to the 6.5x55 Imp. But would the effort be worth it? Never done it myself. I will bow to the opinion of Forum members who have improved the Swede.
Good luck in your selection.
Bill
The 6.5 Swede has a larger head diameter than the .308 family of cartridges. To rechamber to .260AI would require setting the barrel back so that the reamer could clean up the rear of the chamber. Then you get into the metric thread problem. Would be a heck of a lot simpler to buy the T3 in 6.5x55 and enjoy the Swede as is.
Or you could go all out and rechamber to the 6.5x55 Imp. But would the effort be worth it? Never done it myself. I will bow to the opinion of Forum members who have improved the Swede.
Good luck in your selection.
Bill
An Ackley Swede is 95% a 6.5-284 with the accompanying poor barrel life (max 1000 @ full throttle).
In a modern action, a std Swede has plenty of performance for the intended use so it wouldn't be stoopid to run with that option but you'd have to do your own loads to take full advantage of the chambering as factory ammo is on the squib side.
I second the T3 as a practical hunting rifle. Very happy with my 7-08 SS
Chris-NZ
In a modern action, a std Swede has plenty of performance for the intended use so it wouldn't be stoopid to run with that option but you'd have to do your own loads to take full advantage of the chambering as factory ammo is on the squib side.
I second the T3 as a practical hunting rifle. Very happy with my 7-08 SS
Chris-NZ
Thanks guys. if i get it right, Tika is offering a left hand model in 260 rem new this year. If that is right it's probably a few months out yet. i'm interested in 260AI because i already have the dies & like the theory of the additional performance , albeit slight, in the short action. While there is no reason to believe the two different rifles would like the same load i still am trying to simplify my arsenal, maybe three or four different calibers. Have never had a Tika so i'm really kinda leanin that way.Thanks for youre input.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Lucky,
I own a 7mm-08 Tikka T3 light and a 22-250 in the model 16 Savage, the savage is a nice little rifle but in no way can it be compared to the Tikka in my opinion. The barreled action of the Tikka is far superior to the 16, they both share a cheap crappy plastic stock. The accutrigger isn't much of a trigger as far as I am concerned The Tikka is crisp and breaks clean, the bolt on the Savage is the typical rough Savage, the Tikka is smooth as glass, as a matter of a fact the smoothest factory action I have used to date, Accuracy was is better and quicker to obtain with the Tikka but that may have been the luck of the draw, the Tikka is far easier to clean. On a negative side on the Tikka the way the action shrouds the bolt, pine needles and other debris can collect and when you open the bolt there is a chance for a problem, I have not had a problem but am aware of the potential problem. On a positive side for Savage it would be no problem to buy a .260 in that model and have it rechambered and you could install the barrel yourself if you wanted to. For me once all the pluses and minuses I would hands down buy the Tikka.
Wayne.
I own a 7mm-08 Tikka T3 light and a 22-250 in the model 16 Savage, the savage is a nice little rifle but in no way can it be compared to the Tikka in my opinion. The barreled action of the Tikka is far superior to the 16, they both share a cheap crappy plastic stock. The accutrigger isn't much of a trigger as far as I am concerned The Tikka is crisp and breaks clean, the bolt on the Savage is the typical rough Savage, the Tikka is smooth as glass, as a matter of a fact the smoothest factory action I have used to date, Accuracy was is better and quicker to obtain with the Tikka but that may have been the luck of the draw, the Tikka is far easier to clean. On a negative side on the Tikka the way the action shrouds the bolt, pine needles and other debris can collect and when you open the bolt there is a chance for a problem, I have not had a problem but am aware of the potential problem. On a positive side for Savage it would be no problem to buy a .260 in that model and have it rechambered and you could install the barrel yourself if you wanted to. For me once all the pluses and minuses I would hands down buy the Tikka.
Wayne.
Thanks Bozo, I have several Savages & i am only marginaly satisfied so far. I really would like to try a Tika but i deffinitly want to end up with a LH action w/6.5 chamber, .260 rem that i could push out to ackley,6.5x284, 6.5x55 etc. Unfortunatly its looking like savage may be the only option in a factory rig, Cant really justify the cost of a custom. Do you have any idea if i could order directly from Tika in Europe some how? Apparently they do produce the T3 in both 260rem & 6.5 x 55 occording to their european website.I doubt its possible to do that. Guess ill just wait awhile to see if something comes up, wont really need the gun for several months but want it right now 
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Lucky,
There isn't a lot of room on a factory tube to rechamber anyway, have you thought about buying used in a action you want and re-barrel with a custom barrel in the .260AI, I think that would be a awesome rifle. I don't no anything about them but Thomson has there Ventures I think there called that they guarantee 1" groups that I have heard are good rifles, and how about the Howa, they have a 1" guarantee on some of there's.
Wayne.
There isn't a lot of room on a factory tube to rechamber anyway, have you thought about buying used in a action you want and re-barrel with a custom barrel in the .260AI, I think that would be a awesome rifle. I don't no anything about them but Thomson has there Ventures I think there called that they guarantee 1" groups that I have heard are good rifles, and how about the Howa, they have a 1" guarantee on some of there's.
Wayne.
yes, i have considered the used action & re-barrel route & would do that in a minute if i could find a good used LH action for a price that would pencil after including the cost of barrel, stock etc. Have not been able to find a used action or rifle thus far. Going to a gun show this weekend. to my knowledge neither Howa or TC offer a LH model.sure appreciate your input & suggestions.
I have a Tikka T3 light in stainless in 243. After removing the pressure point to free float the barrel completely, it shoots very well. Shot a .307" group yestesday at the range.
I really like the rifle, great trigger, smooth as silk action, light weight but good balance and its comes with mounts. I highly recommend it and plan to get a 22 250 at some point.
I really like the rifle, great trigger, smooth as silk action, light weight but good balance and its comes with mounts. I highly recommend it and plan to get a 22 250 at some point.
Last Sept., I decided to purchase a .300WSM factory rifle, so I would have a 'factory platform for some 'testing' against my custom rigs/barrels. Based upon recommendations for the Savage platform, I went to the store set on purchasing a some sort of Savage . . . once there, the Tikkas caught my eye, and, for the money, I could not regain enough control to return to the Savage offerings.
My sole concern with the Tikka was the recoil-lug set-up - it appeared a little lacking - I had the sales guy tear one down so I could scope out the bedding/recoil control aspects - the bedding was stellar: excellent wood-to-metal fit. For $700.00 flat, including 7% sales tax, I came home with a SS, wood stocked, .300WSM chambered T3.
Using Talley one-piece rings, I installed a Valdada 4-14 optic and, for sight-in, loaded up some 'loading manual rounds', using 165 Gr. BT bullets. The initial groups (100 Yd.) proved the box info was not overstatement: per the claim, the rig produced < 1.00" 5-shot groups - not bad for a #3 contour barrel and 5-shots per group. However, all groups displayed more vertical than I considered acceptable, so, "right, wrong, or indifferent", I installed aluminum pillars, dumped the factory recoil lug, and, using JB weld, re-bedded and allowed the 'glue' to form the recoil lug. I also installed a muzzle-brake . . .
The result is most pleasing: 100 Yd. groups of 0.5" or less. As pointed out above, the trigger is very nice - I adjusted it to 15.7 ounces, which I deem close enough to the [Tikka] recommended 1Lb. minimum: I did not want to start going 'back-and-forth', lost in the screw lag. 
Using a Lyman electronic pull-gauge, for 20 pulls, the trigger averaged 15.7 Oz., with a maximum variation of +/- 0.4 Oz, and NO creep - again, a very nice trigger.
For a hunting rig, most all of my modifications were not necessary - some 'tuning' could well have produced acceptable vertical - regardless of cost comparison, the T3 is a LOT of gun. And in a cost comparison, would have to rate near the top. RG
My sole concern with the Tikka was the recoil-lug set-up - it appeared a little lacking - I had the sales guy tear one down so I could scope out the bedding/recoil control aspects - the bedding was stellar: excellent wood-to-metal fit. For $700.00 flat, including 7% sales tax, I came home with a SS, wood stocked, .300WSM chambered T3.
Using Talley one-piece rings, I installed a Valdada 4-14 optic and, for sight-in, loaded up some 'loading manual rounds', using 165 Gr. BT bullets. The initial groups (100 Yd.) proved the box info was not overstatement: per the claim, the rig produced < 1.00" 5-shot groups - not bad for a #3 contour barrel and 5-shots per group. However, all groups displayed more vertical than I considered acceptable, so, "right, wrong, or indifferent", I installed aluminum pillars, dumped the factory recoil lug, and, using JB weld, re-bedded and allowed the 'glue' to form the recoil lug. I also installed a muzzle-brake . . .
The result is most pleasing: 100 Yd. groups of 0.5" or less.
As pointed out above, the trigger is very nice - I adjusted it to 15.7 ounces, which I deem close enough to the [Tikka] recommended 1Lb. minimum: I did not want to start going 'back-and-forth', lost in the screw lag. Using a Lyman electronic pull-gauge, for 20 pulls, the trigger averaged 15.7 Oz., with a maximum variation of +/- 0.4 Oz, and NO creep - again, a very nice trigger.For a hunting rig, most all of my modifications were not necessary - some 'tuning' could well have produced acceptable vertical - regardless of cost comparison, the T3 is a LOT of gun. And in a cost comparison, would have to rate near the top. RG
Good stuff.
I can certainly believe the brake was a worthwhile addition to the rig- that's a hefty chambering for a light rifle. I've seen a few .300WSM T3s for sale round here second hand- "only fired 20 rounds" and I have a fair idea it'd be recoil that is the reason for many of them being up for sale.
My 7-08 Lite was fine (even before the suppressor) but that's wimpy compared to the WSM
Chris-NZ
I can certainly believe the brake was a worthwhile addition to the rig- that's a hefty chambering for a light rifle. I've seen a few .300WSM T3s for sale round here second hand- "only fired 20 rounds" and I have a fair idea it'd be recoil that is the reason for many of them being up for sale.
My 7-08 Lite was fine (even before the suppressor) but that's wimpy compared to the WSM
Chris-NZ
ChrisNZ said:
Yes, Chris, following the initial group testing, I deemed the brake a necessity!
Including the Talley rings, and Valdada scope, but without a sling, and empty magazine, the rifle weighs 8#9.6Oz. - almost 1.5 pounds less than my next lightest WSM platform. RG
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