I'm Trying to Decide on a New All Around Rifle.

[2rocky]

As a Ruger shooter...I'd recommend the Tikka

As a guy who does a lot of Horseback hunts I chose a 40 MM objective for less leg bulk in saddle scabbard.

As a one rifle guy, I chose a premium bonded bullet weight for elk and shoot everything with it. If you know your drop, velocity and energy you know your max range to be deadly. Now just practice to be deadly with accuracy to beyond that.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Tikka t3x lite stainless, Sportsmatch or UM rings, and a SWFA 3-9x42 for a bombproof setup.

 

[Chief-V]

Great choice on .270. Most of the new 'fad' calibers were designed to compete with the .270. Yet 270 still one of the best calibers made. Fast, flat, power etc. Kill anything in north america. That being said go with the Tikka. The action itself is worth the buy. Go stainless.

 

[Valley1320]

My begara shoots like a dream

 

[BernieBing]

I’m looking to get a good all-around hunting rifle setup that won’t break the bank. I’m deciding between a Tikka T3x in 270 or a Ruger American Gen II in 270. If you’ve used either one, I’d love to hear your experience with them and which you prefer.

I like the .270 because the ammo is inexpensive and I plan on shooting a lot. I mainly hunt mule deer and elk usually between 50–500 yards. In anything from thick timber to flat desert. I’m also open to other calibers if there’s something better in this price range.

I’d most likely put a Vortex Strike Eagle 3–18×44 on whichever rifle I choose.

What would you recommend for an affordable, accurate all-purpose setup?

I can't weigh in on the 270 caliber, but I've owned a Tikka Superlite for 7 yrs now and I LOVE it. Chambered for 7mm, and this weekend I'm actually getting it threaded to put a can on it. It shoots great, has taken a beating over the years of backcountry hunts, and is... like its name suggests... SUPERLITE! I don't think you can go wrong with the Tikka

 

[Brad]

A thread like this is one reason I like HT so much. On the other forums I visit at least 50% of the answers would be those deriding the 270 as some archaic, pointless cartridge.

For a non-handloader, I don't think the 270 can be beat. $23.99 ammo can be had anywhere. The 6.5 PRC is a "modernized" 270, and would be a cartridge I'd select as a handloader, but as a do-all Western cartridge that doesn't require handloading (of course you can if you want), you'd be hard pressed to use something other than an over-the-counter 270, 6.5 CM or 308 Win.

While I'm a crf snob (it's mostly irrational), when I'm asked about what to buy as a new rifle/cartridge for hunting here in MT, I always suggest the Tikka T3 in 270. Put a BDC scope on top, and you're good.

My "simplicity" rifles are 270 Win's with Leupold 3-9x40's on top with their LRD reticle. Among a few other cartridges, that reticle is designed around the ballistics of the 270/130 combo. Zero a 130 at 250, and the dots index at 350, 450, and 550 yards. How does it work? Works good... KISS.

 

[mtmuley]

A thread like this is one reason I like HT so much. On the other forums I visit at least 50% of the answers would be those deriding the 270 as some archaic, pointless cartridge.

For a non-handloader, I don't think the 270 can be beat. $23.99 ammo can be had anywhere. The 6.5 PRC is a "modernized" 270, and would be a cartridge I'd select as a handloader, but as a do-all Western cartridge that doesn't require handloading (of course you can if you want), you'd be hard pressed to use something other than an over-the-counter 270, 6.5 CM or 308 Win.

While I'm a crf snob (it's mostly irrational), when I'm asked about what to buy as a new rifle/cartridge for hunting here in MT, I always suggest the Tikka T3 in 270. Put a BDC scope on top, and you're good.

My "simplicity" rifles are 270 Win's with Leupold 3-9x40's on top with their LRD reticle. Among a few other cartridges, that reticle is designed around the ballistics of the 270/130 combo. Zero a 130 at 250, and the dots index at 350, 450, and 550 yards. How does it work? Works good... KISS.

I agree. And with today's bullets, ability to twist faster and new powders the .270 is one Hell of a cartridge. New shooters will pass it by because of the PRC and Creed craze. mtmuley

 

[brockel]

The ruger gen 2 isn’t a bad rifle but it’s not near as nice as a tikka

 

[elkduds]

I agree. And with today's bullets, ability to twist faster and new powders the .270 is one Hell of a cartridge. New shooters will pass it by because of the PRC and Creed craze. mtmuley

Indeed. From AI: . Because copper is less dense than lead, copper bullets are longer for their weight, requiring a faster twist to stabilize properly, such as moving from a 1:12 to a 1:8 or 1:9 twist. More AI: Tikka .270 Winchester rifles, including the T3x Lite, Superlite, and Hunter models, standardly use a 1:10" (1 in 10 inches) twist rate. This rate is designed to stabilize standard .270 caliber bullets (typically 130–150 grains) for hunting.

My Stevens 270 is 22 in. 1-10 twist, great for partition and bonded bullets. I'd love to load longer, lighter monos but would want a faster twist. I've had good success on elk with 160 NPs in this rifle. If I had to choose one bullet weight for my particular 270, it would be 140 in whatever construction shot best from my barrel. 270win was and is a genius of efficiency and effectiveness. Bet you love it.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

About three months ago I too decided I wanted another 270 Winchester. It would be my third one. My second 270 bought maybe 25 years ago, was the last time ever I bought a brand-new rifle. It was a CRF Model 70 Featherweight made in New Haven, Connecticut. It shot very well, especially so for lighter rifle, but the production shortcuts, at least 4, as compared to a pre-64 model 70 just really limited my pride of ownership and field comfort. I sold it.

What I wanted was superb workmanship. I scouted the online market, for these three months and found just what I was looking for.

FN, Fabricque National, from Belgium is regarded as one of the finest rifle makers ever. For about 20 years, say from the late 50's
on, they made a "Plain Jane" version of their best rifle model for both Sears Robuck and Montgomery Ward. The stock had simple straight grain walnut and very modest hand checkering, but all the metal work, the bedding and the wood to metal fit, and true CRF Mauser action was of the highest quality.

I just found and bought such a rifle a few weeks ago for $600. Add a $1,000 plus for a full-dress fancy used model. What was also of such high value to me, it has is a sporting version of the foolproof and very expensive Mauser safety which blocks the firing pin, not merely the trigger.

It shoots like a dream, has classic dangerous game total reliability, and of course it has an original Mauser flawless, non-boxed self-cleaning trigger.

New model 70's have compromised that traditional CRF Mauser super reliable feeding and extraction time tested action.

When I lived in Wyoming, I hunted Antelope in the high mountain meadows of Wyoming's Wind River Range, Grizzly country. I used 180 grain Barnes Originals round nosed bullets in my 270 "just in case".

Last point, I bought a used Sako Finnlight in 308 about 20 years ago. It is head and shoulders above any Tika in so many ways. One always gets what you pay for.

 

[kiwi hunter]

About three months ago I too decided I wanted another 270 Winchester. It would be my third one. My second 270 bought maybe 25 years ago, was the last time ever I bought a brand-new rifle. It was a CRF Model 70 Featherweight made in New Haven, Connecticut. It shot very well, especially so for lighter rifle, but the production shortcuts, at least 4, as compared to a pre-64 model 70 just really limited my pride of ownership and field comfort. I sold it.

What I wanted was superb workmanship. I scouted the online market, for these three months and found just what I was looking for.

FN, Fabricque National, from Belgium is regarded as one of the finest rifle makers ever. For about 20 years, say from the late 50's
on, they made a "Plain Jane" version of their best rifle model for both Sears Robuck and Montgomery Ward. The stock had simple straight grain walnut and very modest hand checkering, but all the metal work, the bedding and the wood to metal fit, and true CRF Mauser action was of the highest quality.

I just found and bought such a rifle a few weeks ago for $600. Add a $1,000 plus for a full-dress fancy used model. What was also of such high value to me, it has is a sporting version of the foolproof and very expensive Mauser safety which blocks the firing pin, not merely the trigger.

It shoots like a dream, has classic dangerous game total reliability, and of course it has an original Mauser flawless, non-boxed self-cleaning trigger.

New model 70's have compromised that traditional CRF Mauser super reliable feeding and extraction time tested action.

When I lived in Wyoming, I hunted Antelope in the high mountain meadows of Wyoming's Wind River Range, Grizzly country. I used 180 grain Barnes Originals round nosed bullets in my 270 "just in case".

Last point, I bought a used Sako Finnlight in 308 about 20 years ago. It is head and shoulders above any Tika in so many ways. One always gets what you pay for.

In a moment of madness i did buy a tikka, soon we parted company and i swore never to buy another piece of rubbish like that again. I love my newish mod 70, my sako vixen and a 22 hornet 465

 

[Boarmaster]

Tikka would be my choice between the two. Not that much more $ over the Ruger. 270 is a good choice of chamberings. I have a few different ones and love my 7mm08 as I mostly hunt eastern whitetail but I think of my 270 as my all purpose do anything grab while falling off a cliff rifle.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

In a moment of madness i did buy a tikka, soon we parted company and i swore never to buy another piece of rubbish like that again. I love my newish mod 70, my sako vixen and a 22 hornet 465

I paid $1,400 for a barely used Sako 75 Finnlight Carbine, 20 1/4 " barrel, in 308 with a very expensive scope on it. I sold the scope for $400.

My close friend has a Tikka 308 with a 22-inch barrel. After all our best reloading efforts, my Sako with a tighter match grade shorter 20 inch barrel got over a 100'/sec more velocity than his 22" barrel.

Both shot WAY under one inch at 100 yards with Barnes all copper bullets, but his rifle copper fouled after ten shots, while my Sako match grade barrel was so smooth, it just did not copper foul at all.

Sako has just changed their receivers milled in scope mounting system and gone to picante style scope mounts. YUCCH.
Their old-style system allowed one to switch back and forth from scope to their aperture sights without resighting in. Also, on the used market one could get ultra-low Sako scope mounts. That is the closest any scope use could get to iron sights. SO FAST, SUCH QUICK TARGET AQUISITION. Sako has the lowest-shortest-fastest bolt throw of any rifle ever made.

Sako rifles have a 14 1/4 " length of pull.

All Sako rifles have a Palm Swell in the grip. This offers a real clear lock point for consistency, especially for shooting fast.

Newer Winchester model 70's replaced their time honored simple self-cleaning trigger with a boxed trigger. Boxed triggers can collect dust in a desert sandstorm and have the pull double or triple. That happened to me.

Also in newer model 70's, some parts like that legendary controlled round feed forged steel extractor claw have been replaced by one that is investment cast not hand fitted forged steel

Next, in a true Mauser action, the rounds could not be push fed in from the top like a Remington. They had to come up from the bottom fully controlled. New model 70's have been turned into push-feeds by having more space in the action, thus compromising what made Mauser action so dangerous game reliable.

Lastly, my older pre-64 model 70 and Model 54 have an under-barrel lug that has a set screw that goes into it from the for end.

This allows making adjustments for barrel harmonics for different bullet and powder combinations. Using this set screw allows maximum match winning accuracy.

A friend of mine has had two careers as a shooting tournament winner. One while in the service and then later as a civilian.
He has won 36 national and international tournaments with his match grade vintage model 70 Winchester in 30-06 of course competing against modern rifles.

I have "Zero" interest in any new rifles, and also "Zero" interest in a Tikka compared to a Sako.

With my Sako Finnlight carbine, 20 inch barrel, using AA2520, the Camp Perry Powder designed for the M1A 20 inch 308, i have gotten 3,000'/sec with the Barnes 150 grain TTSXBT and 2,900'/sec with the 165 grain Barnes TTSXBT, both shoot sub-MOA and I did not exceed max by the book loads and had no sign of excess pressure. On principle I backed off 50'/sec with both loads.

This performance is due to the superb quality of the Sako rifle, plus the best brass and match grade primers.

 

[It’s Bucky]

Shooting the same bullet, you can likely get the same, or more, velocity out of a 16” barrel 270Win as you can a 24” 6.5CM. I haven’t chrono’d a short 270 yet, but my sister plans to chop and thread her Tikka 270 at 16” here soon.

 

[GoWyo!]

I’ve been lazer-focused on A-series Sakos for the past 20 years. I just bought a Lipsey’s Ruger 77 ABR in 9.3x62. It will become my foul weather, kill everything carbine. A 1400.00 thunder thumper. Make that 1800. If I give AK Arms some business.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

I’ve been lazer-focused on A-series Sakos for the past 20 years. I just bought a Lipsey’s Ruger 77 ABR in 9.3x62. It will become my foul weather, kill everything carbine. A 1400.00 thunder thumper. Make that 1800. If I give AK Arms some business.

If I were to ever want another 35 Whelen or a 9.3x62 I would simply buy an older Sako 30-06 and have it bored out.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I paid $1,400 for a barely used Sako 75 Finnlight Carbine, 20 1/4 " barrel, in 308 with a very expensive scope on it. I sold the scope for $400.

My close friend has a Tikka 308 with a 22-inch barrel. After all our best reloading efforts, my Sako with a tighter match grade shorter 20 inch barrel got over a 100'/sec more velocity than his 22" barrel.

Both shot WAY under one inch at 100 yards with Barnes all copper bullets, but his rifle copper fouled after ten shots, while my Sako match grade barrel was so smooth, it just did not copper foul at all.

Sako has just changed their receivers milled in scope mounting system and gone to picante style scope mounts. YUCCH.
Their old-style system allowed one to switch back and forth from scope to their aperture sights without resighting in. Also, on the used market one could get ultra-low Sako scope mounts. That is the closest any scope use could get to iron sights. SO FAST, SUCH QUICK TARGET AQUISITION. Sako has the lowest-shortest-fastest bolt throw of any rifle ever made.

Sako rifles have a 14 1/4 " length of pull.

All Sako rifles have a Palm Swell in the grip. This offers a real clear lock point for consistency, especially for shooting fast.

Newer Winchester model 70's replaced their time honored simple self-cleaning trigger with a boxed trigger. Boxed triggers can collect dust in a desert sandstorm and have the pull double or triple. That happened to me.

Also in newer model 70's, some parts like that legendary controlled round feed forged steel extractor claw have been replaced by one that is investment cast not hand fitted forged steel

Next, in a true Mauser action, the rounds could not be push fed in from the top like a Remington. They had to come up from the bottom fully controlled. New model 70's have been turned into push-feeds by having more space in the action, thus compromising what made Mauser action so dangerous game reliable.

Lastly, my older pre-64 model 70 and Model 54 have an under-barrel lug that has a set screw that goes into it from the for end.

This allows making adjustments for barrel harmonics for different bullet and powder combinations. Using this set screw allows maximum match winning accuracy.

A friend of mine has had two careers as a shooting tournament winner. One while in the service and then later as a civilian.
He has won 36 national and international tournaments with his match grade vintage model 70 Winchester in 30-06 of course competing against modern rifles.

I have "Zero" interest in any new rifles, and also "Zero" interest in a Tikka compared to a Sako.

With my Sako Finnlight carbine, 20 inch barrel, using AA2520, the Camp Perry Powder designed for the M1A 20 inch 308, i have gotten 3,000'/sec with the Barnes 150 grain TTSXBT and 2,900'/sec with the 165 grain Barnes TTSXBT, both shoot sub-MOA and I did not exceed max by the book loads and had no sign of excess pressure. On principle I backed off 50'/sec with both loads.

This performance is due to the superb quality of the Sako rifle, plus the best brass and match grade primers.

Not sure what happened in years past but Sako and Tikka barrels have reportedly been made on the same cold hammer forging machines for a while now.

Also, sako is far from the only action that has a 60 degree bolt throw. Weatherby mkV has less than 60 degrees, Browning xbolt and abolt, T/C Icon and venture, Sauer 101 and 202, Ruger american, Steyr scout, SSG, and Prohunter, mauser m12, lithgow, and a slew of custom actions and heavier tactical stuff like AI.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Not sure what happened in years past but Sako and Tikka barrels have reportedly been made on the same cold hammer forging machines for a while now.

Also, sako is far from the only action that has a 60 degree bolt throw. Weatherby mkV has less than 60 degrees, Browning xbolt and abolt, T/C Icon and venture, Sauer 101 and 202, Ruger american, Steyr scout, SSG, and Prohunter, mauser m12, lithgow, and a slew of custom actions and heavier tactical stuff like AI.

I have heard that too. ??? Also read an article on this subject by John Barsness a gun writer who has earned my respect who said the Sako barrel alone was worth an entire Tikka. I have also read that there is an ideal middle in the boring/milling/drilling/rifling process when results are at their best and it is from this window that barrels are selected out for match grade.

Any more info on this would be appreciated. As I described above, my Sako with a 20 inch barrel got over 100'/sec greater velocity than the 22 inch barreled Tikka with identical loads. Are barrels for Sako's finished in any better way.
The rule of economics always applies; we get what we pay for.

Regarding bolt throw and taking advantage of it, I know on of no other brand of rifle that makes ultra-low rings.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I have heard that too. ??? Also read an article on this subject by John Barsness a gun writer who has earned my respect who said the Sako barrel alone was worth an entire Tikka. I have also read that there is an ideal middle in the boring/milling/drilling/rifling process when results are at their best and it is from this window that barrels are selected out for match grade.

Any more info on this would be appreciated. As I described above, my Sako with a 20 inch barrel got over 100'/sec greater velocity than the 22 inch barreled Tikka with identical loads. Are barrels for Sako's finished in any better way.
The rule of economics always applies; we get what we pay for.

This is an interesting factory tour vid showing the hammer forging process. There is no button pulling or cutting rifling process.

Entirely possible they didn’t always use this process for both sako and tikka, I think the companies merged in the 80s. Current Tikka barrels being slow is a real thing, at least in some cases.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

This is an interesting factory tour vid showing the hammer forging process. There is no button pulling or cutting rifling process.

Entirely possible they didn’t always use this process for both sako and tikka, I think the companies merged in the 80s. Current Tikka barrels being slow is a real thing, at least in some cases.

Having read and watched all you sent me, plus doing my own research i have concluded that you are right and the same quality goes into both Tikka and Sako barrels.

Have also read that fluting a barrel,,,,,properly,,,,as done on my Saco finnlight can aid in accuracy. Any thoughts about that ?