Savage 111 or Tikka T3

[Bigeclipse]

I am interested in one of these rifles and have read a lot on the savage 111(not the cheaper hunter xp which comes with a scope) and have heard some on the tikka t3. Both will be synthetic. I DO NOT have lots of money so this is basically it and I cannot afford to pay for anything to add to them so whatever I get will be hunted with in it's stock form. I was heavily leaning towards the savage...comes with the accutrigger and Savages seem to have out of the box great accuracy as well but what scares me is it also comes with the Accustock which seems to get mixed reports. The newer accustocks do not have the wedge thing that was causing some accuracy issues in the original accustock. Some say the newer accustock is a great improvement over their flimsy other stocks...others say its simply the old flimsy stock with some flimsy aluminum bedding. I know that either way it wont be as good as a custom stock but are these newer(post 2011) accustocks that bad or are they decent? I am simply looking for a decent hunting rifle that shoots decent groups. I know I probably cant go wrong with either but again...I read some horror stories and it worries me.
The savage 111 I have on hold is 650$ while the tikka is 750$. This is New york so prices are basically set in stone and it's very hard to find anyone to do an FFL transfer so ordering a gun online is out of the question.
I have looked at other rifles such as a remington 700SPS but I wasnt to thrilled with them.

 

[hawk45]

Both great rifles, but there are some things to be aware of, or maybe clarification on exactly which model Savage you are getting. Also, what caliber are you looking at as there are some things to note depending on caliber.

Tikka's are fantastic rifles for the money and have one of the nicer polymer stocks. I also think they have one (if not) the best factory triggers. They shoot lights out from the factory and have a super smooth bolt and nice detachable magazine. Depending on caliber, the DBM can be short if trying to seat heavy bullets out far. If that's not your thing, then you should be fine. But there is a workaround if you tinker and you want to shoot heavies.

Savage's are great shooters, a little less refined but good value. Accutrigger is nice, but the standard one is not as nice as the Tikka IMO. Now the Competition Accutrigger is very nice and right up there with the Tikka. I think only the bench guns and LRP series have the competition accutrigger. The AccuStock is just the regular ol' plastic with an aluminum bedding frame, but it seems to work. I don't think they use the wedge anymore, but all of them seem to shoot with/without. Nothing a little bedding job can't fix. Be aware Savage has two types of detachable bottom metal. One is lower quality with a plastic tab on the magazine to release it and plastic frame. The better, usually on AccuStock models has a metal frame with the latch on the frame, not on the mag. If you are looking at the low end 111s ($400-$550) you are probably getting the cheap bottom metal. If you have the accustock, go on Google Images and search your exact model to make sure you get the good bottom metal for the upgraded price.

Manners and McMillan make drop in stocks for both so if you want to upgrade later, you can do for both.

I really like both. I like how light and simple the Tikka is, yet I like that I can swap barrels on the Savage. So think about that.

Best of luck!

 

[BrentM]

I don't have any experience with the Tikka but I have some experience with Savage. I have 3 Savage rifles would buy another in a heart beat. I have a model 116 from cabelas, stainless steel varmint contour fluted barrel, accutrigger, accustock, and 24" barrel in a 6.5-284.

So far the rifle, for a stock unit, has been very very good. With handloads I have it shooting .25MOA at 200 yards. I will post up a picture in a min. My other savages are just as good. They are not as smooth and purty as others and the stock is not as awesome as custom unit, but can you really beat this for $700.00?

Accutstock- this unit does not have the wedge as well, but I have had no issues with it.

Accutrigger- it is not the quality of the LRP trigger but it smooth, crisp, and for a hunting rifle quite good. I don't have any flyers from trigger jerk and it is on par with my custom ground triggers in my remingtons.

So if you go Savage, your chances are very good you will have no issues.


ALL GOOD POINTS mentioned before me. My rifle has the good mag as well.

 

[Bigeclipse]

Both great rifles, but there are some things to be aware of, or maybe clarification on exactly which model Savage you are getting. Also, what caliber are you looking at as there are some things to note depending on caliber.

Tikka's are fantastic rifles for the money and have one of the nicer polymer stocks. I also think they have one (if not) the best factory triggers. They shoot lights out from the factory and have a super smooth bolt and nice detachable magazine. Depending on caliber, the DBM can be short if trying to seat heavy bullets out far. If that's not your thing, then you should be fine. But there is a workaround if you tinker and you want to shoot heavies.

Savage's are great shooters, a little less refined but good value. Accutrigger is nice, but the standard one is not as nice as the Tikka IMO. Now the Competition Accutrigger is very nice and right up there with the Tikka. I think only the bench guns and LRP series have the competition accutrigger. The AccuStock is just the regular ol' plastic with an aluminum bedding frame, but it seems to work. I don't think they use the wedge anymore, but all of them seem to shoot with/without. Nothing a little bedding job can't fix. Be aware Savage has two types of detachable bottom metal. One is lower quality with a plastic tab on the magazine to release it and plastic frame. The better, usually on AccuStock models has a metal frame with the latch on the frame, not on the mag. If you are looking at the low end 111s ($400-$550) you are probably getting the cheap bottom metal. If you have the accustock, go on Google Images and search your exact model to make sure you get the good bottom metal for the upgraded price.

Manners and McMillan make drop in stocks for both so if you want to upgrade later, you can do for both.

I really like both. I like how light and simple the Tikka is, yet I like that I can swap barrels on the Savage. So think about that.

Best of luck!

I believe it is the higher end 111 with the accustock but will check. so lower end equals plastic tab on magazine where as better one is all metal? from above it sounds like you prefer the tikka? would you pay the extra 100 for it? again money pretty tight so anything I could save would be great. also not sure if this matters but tikka had said their polymer stocks are not free floating. they touch in a spot or two but claim it doesn't matter...hmm decisions decisions...I don't know what to do haha

 

[BrentM]

Do you think you might want to change barrels down the road? Savage makes change barrels a breeze. I figured I would shoot out my 6.5 and go with a custom and I can do it myself if I want etc. Very little need for a smith. It is a neat feature if it matters to you.

If you can save a 100 and use it elsewhere go Savage.

 

[Bigeclipse]

so the tikka for 750 is stainless...their blued version is actually a little cheaper than the savage. it is 620$. they also have a synthetic xbolt for 800but that is really stretching the budget.

 

[Clever]

so the tikka for 750 is stainless...their blued version is actually a little cheaper than the savage. it is 620$. they also have a synthetic xbolt for 800but that is really stretching the budget.

Tikka T3 308 shoots lights out. Change the stock (HS, Bell & Carlson Torqued to proper inch apounds) are Great for eliminating vibration by bolting to your Action (aluminum Bedding Block) and floating the barrel these will keep cost down. And make your Rifle more stable. The Savage? I'm not a fan of, as my brother shoots the 338 Lapua Mag I shoot the TRG 42 338 Lapua Mag. I have nothing bad to say, If it's in your budget go for it.. The Tikka is made by Sako and owned by Beretta. Savage is Savage.. I't probably can do what a Remington 700SPS can. But will never beat it. I shoot circles around my brother, and he has a 10 year jump on me in the. Sako, Tikka, FN, Remington 700.. really look into your choices.. Savage? Good Luck.

 

[LightfootE]

I have 3 Tikkas, a .270wsm laminate/stainless, a .243 t3 lite, and a 25-06 t3 stainless. All of them will shoot five shots inside of an inch easily @ 100. Triggers are great and easily adjustible. Bolt is very smooth. Machining is very precise and operation is slick. The barrels on them are all well free floated.

Pretty much they kick ***. I would take pay the extra $$$ for the tikka. You won't have to do **** to it and it will out shoot most any other factory rifle, even some of the high end stuff.

I just wouldn't recommend getting anything larger than a 30-06 in the lite versions. Any thing above an 06 is going to kick HARD. Even my 25-06 will buck me on the bench a little and I'm 6-3, 220 lbs.

 

[Bigeclipse]

so it looks like the tikka t3 is what everyone prefers...unfortunately they sold the stainless one so they only have a blued version left and the stainless are backordered from Finland until mid November the guy said. They do have some ruger m77s in stainless...man I don't know what to do now.

 

[Clever]

I have 3 Tikkas, a .270wsm laminate/stainless, a .243 t3 lite, and a 25-06 t3 stainless. All of them will shoot five shots inside of an inch easily @ 100. Triggers are great and easily adjustible. Bolt is very smooth. Machining is very precise and operation is slick. The barrels on them are all well free floated.

Pretty much they kick ***. I would take pay the extra $$$ for the tikka. You won't have to do **** to it and it will out shoot most any other factory rifle, even some of the high end stuff.

I just wouldn't recommend getting anything larger than a 30-06 in the lite versions. Any thing above an 06 is going to kick HARD. Even my 25-06 will buck me on the bench a little and I'm 6-3, 220 lbs.

+1!

 

[Clever]

so it looks like the tikka t3 is what everyone prefers...unfortunately they sold the stainless one so they only have a blued version left and the stainless are backordered from Finland until mid November the guy said. They do have some ruger m77s in stainless...man I don't know what to do now.

Wait for the Tikka.. for sure.

 

[Bigeclipse]

Wait for the Tikka.. for sure.

wait for the stainless or go for the blued one?

 

[LightfootE]

so it looks like the tikka t3 is what everyone prefers...unfortunately they sold the stainless one so they only have a blued version left and the stainless are backordered from Finland until mid November the guy said. They do have some ruger m77s in stainless...man I don't know what to do now.

If stainless is what you want, then look around. I know you are in NY but Im in CA and most the shops around here have one or two on the shelf. They don't sell like they should because the average joe who buys a rifle at a gun store has never heard of a Tikka.

 

[Clever]

BudsGuns.. always has them and will ship to your FFL. It's even cheaper if you pay them with cashiers check or money order.. Look into it, you might have one in 7 days or so.