Thread: Browning X-bolt vs Tikka T3

Tikka advantages- standard action length and wide aftermarket parts availability. If you decide to upgrade the stock it will be very easy and you can swap out the grips on the factory stock to customise to your needs. Most of what you are buying is in the barrelled action. The bolt lift isn’t as aggressive as on an x bolt so a smoother bolt lift can be perceived. This will likely suit you better if you value the ability to upgrade your rifle as you go.

X bolt advantages- locking lug arrangement on bolt allows for lower mounting of scopes with a lower chance of the bolt knob conflicting with the eyepiece of your scope. Tang safety is easier to get to with your thumb and also locks the bolt. While this is the same on the tikka, the x bolt has a bolt release button so you can safely remove a cartridge from the chamber with the safety on. Avoid any browning rifles with a dura touch finish.

Caliber choices
223 rem
1:8 twist will prefer heavy pills around the 70 grain mark while a 1:12 will prefer 55 grain. Very cheap to run and capable of taking medium game at close to mid range. Will get blown around by the wind more than heavier calibers and requires good shot placement.

6.5 creedmoor
Great beginner cartridge which excels at medium range but can also be used at longer ranges with good shot placement, almost on par with 308 for ammo availability. Doesn’t like being cut down as it relies on speed and long high bc projectiles to retain energy/ killing power. Highly optimised cartridge with low recoil and good capability.

308win
Classic bush pig caliber which can be cut down to 16” and still be very effective at range when paired with a suppressor. Relies on mass more than speed with subsonic factory loadings also being available which makes it very versatile. - one of if not the most popular hunting calibers in Nz

7 rem mag
Long range hard hitting magnum, one of the top contenders for the most capable/popular long range cartridges. With that stopping power also comes higher recoil. I would not recommend this caliber to someone new to shooting purely for this fact but worth mentioning just for its ability.

These calibers represent a good spread of capability that are different enough from each other while dominating what they excel at.