Thread: Rifle choice: $1600 budget

Son is after a new 243
Talking Tikka. I've no experience of them

What would you consider as comparable or better?

For bare rifle threaded.

If he wanted to save some money, a Howa for around $1k would be a very good. At that budget the Tikka is the obvious choice.

I'm yet to see a tikka that doesn't shoot. Tikkas are great! Howa a good option for the price as well

Bergara, or kimber hunter both nice rifles around those $$. Not sure about 243 caliber availibility though

Tikkas are mint own 3 of them
Howa and mauser m18 are also decent options

Get the tikka . With the right loads it will outshoot most things

Tikka or Bergara would be my options to look at. Both proven shooters and nicely made.

However, both are fairly different types of actions, ammo holding setups, stock designs, etc. So it would be worth going and playing with both before buying to see what fits and suits you best.

Actually this advice applies to any other brands as well.

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2nd hand tikka or a begara are both great options. I own 1 of each and I like both for different reasons.
Lemons will be had everywhere, tikka I would have thought less likely to have a dud. I wouldn't own a howa ever again but a lot of people own them and are happy.

I would choose a Tikka

Had three Tikkas. Now have a Bergara Extreme Hunter.

Both will work. Tikka are a little lighter but kick a lot more. Bergaras seem to give you a lot of value with things like cerakoting and threading thrown in.

tikka or bergara, probably lean towards bergara myself but the tikka is a lighter no thrills rifle that just works

What type of hunting: Bush, bush edges & scrub, open country ?

Bipod or standing and improvised rest ?

Big hands, small hands ?

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

What type of hunting: Bush, bush edges & scrub, open country ?

Bipod or standing and improvised rest ?

Big hands, small hands ?

40 yr old male, solid build, medium large hands. All round hunting with an interest and the eyesight to go longer distance but within capabilities. So as he develops moving out with better optics to 300- 400m but starting out with say a 3-9x40 e.g. Vortex Crossfire II, sticking to sub 220m

Mostly off-hand or whatever's handy, tree, post, etc for close in, bipod or pack rest for further out, maybe sticks.

Originally Posted by Jhon

40 yr old male, solid build, medium large hands. All round hunting with an interest and the eyesight to go longer distance but within capabilities. So as he develops moving out with better optics to 300- 400m but starting out with say a 3-9x40 e.g. Vortex Crossfire II, sticking to sub 220m

Mostly off-hand or whatever's handy, tree, post, etc for close in, bipod or pack rest for further out, maybe sticks.

The T3 stock is a bit skimpy at the pistol grip for mans hands. The fore-stock is flimsy and bears on the barrel so Bipod is out. 243 a bit light for shots at 400 for a beginner.
Howa would be better, a bergara might be better again for fit.
He could get a second hand Weatherby at a good price, but whatever rifle he does get 243 wouldn't be my suggestion for a first rifle

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

The T3 stock is a bit skimpy at the pistol grip for mans hands. The fore-stock is flimsy and bears on the barrel so Bipod is out. 243 a bit light for shots at 400 for a beginner.
Howa would be better, a bergara might be better again for fit.
He could get a second hand Weatherby at a good price, but whatever rifle he does get 243 wouldn't be my suggestion for a first rifle

Really, the Tikka stock has to be the best budget stock by miles, they are full of fiber and remarkably rigid while your low end Howa stocks are shocking and definitely need opening up to give a bipod a chance.