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Howa vs tikka

Marty980

Private
Minuteman
Sep 24, 2022
5
0
England
I can’t decide between a Howa or tikka. I would like a stainless barrel not too long and not to short about 22 or 24inch. Want to do a bit of target and hunting if I get a chance and you tell me the pros and cons of each rifle. Thanks
 
For hunting would you go for a tikka t3x super lite then? How much would a barrel and action weigh!
 
If your taking a weight standpoint, I’m pretty sure the t3x is substantially lighter than a howa. Unless your taking the mini action, which I haven’t played with
 
So if I went tikka should I go super lite or varmit! As I have said I like to use for distance target from time to time day 600 to 1000m but also for hunting deer. I like the idea of putting a GRS berserk stock on it?!
 
So if I went tikka should I go super lite or varmit! As I have said I like to use for distance target from time to time day 600 to 1000m but also for hunting deer. I like the idea of putting a GRS berserk stock on it?!
Just how much weight do you want to pack around…. at least that is one of the things I consider in a hunting rifle,,, Google Tikka,, research Tikka … buy a Tikka that fits you!!! Not the rest of us!!!
 
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I had a 6,5x55 Tikka Varmint... and did not like the heavy barrel and sold it.
Now I have an 223 Lite in a McMillan A-3.

Over on Rockslide, they are showing off 10 round fast shot groups, with Tikka Lite barrels, that stay under 1" at 100 yards.
Tikka have good barrels.. same as Sako.
 
After playing with both in the gun shop I'd vote Tikka. I did walk out with the Howa mini because Tikka didn't have anything to compete with the Howa Mini. The Tikka felt smoother. I just wanted to play with the 6.5grendel for my younger kids to shoot deer.
 
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After playing with both in the gun shop I'd vote Tikka. I did walk out with the Howa mini because Tikka didn't have anything to compete with the Howa Mini. The Tikka felt smoother. I just wanted to play with the 6.5grendel for my younger kids to shoot deer.
I did the same thing. The Howa 6.5 Grendel is a tack driver with good hand loads, but I’m waiting on an Oregunsmithing Pre-fit Stock and their BDL style bottom metal.

My biggest grump on the Howas is their proprietary bottom “metal” and magazines. Of course we won the second one in a drawing, so we (my wife) are not out much for it.:D
 
Hands down get the Tikka. If you want even better and light weight, look to Tikkas big brother Sako. Namely the Sako Finnlight.

 
zero experience with Howa. because i own and shoot 2 Tikkas i am very happy with.
223 and 260 remington. old CTR and the 260 the newer t3X

put the 260 in Cadex chassis.
originally put the 223 in a KRG xray but then changed my mind
 
Howa sporter stainless is 22in barrel,

What cal are you thinking ?, what type of stock ?

Have used both & my preference is Howa.
Plenty of both in my circle & its uncommon to see a dud in either.

Brother in law is a Sako man from way back, borrowed his brothers Howa .243 for a hunt a few years ago & loved it.
His other brother is a Tikka die hard.
The 3 brothers all been shooting since childhood
1 vote Sako (loved using his brothers Howa but will likely buy Sako in the same cal as "that" Howa)
1 vote Tikka
1 vote Howa

Also have relo's with older tikka's that prefer them to the newer tikka's.

Go have a look & feel of both, you may just prefer one over the other for no good reason at all.
 
My biggest grump on the Howas is their proprietary bottom “metal” and magazines. Of course we won the second one in a drawing, so we (my wife) are not out much for it.:D
CDI used to make a DMB for Howa that would allow AICS style mags to fit. They worked great.
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Mossberg Vs Howa
Savage Vs Howa
Thompson Vs Howa
Remington Vs Howa
Sure




Bergara Vs Tikka
Seekins Vs Tikka
Semi custom Vs Tikka
Sure.

Nothing bad about a Howa, but Howa Vs Tikka is a non starter.
 
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either or have fun , buy both cause picking only one is just no fun .
 
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I can’t decide between a Howa or tikka. I would like a stainless barrel not too long and not to short about 22 or 24inch. Want to do a bit of target and hunting if I get a chance and you tell me the pros and cons of each rifle. Thanks
IMHO side by side comparisons of guns, to have real credibility, have to be done by shooter/owners who have real life experience with the guns being compared. What one usually encounters are fans of a given brand giving props to their own favorite make.
 
I have both and I tell people Tikka. That being said some things dont work in a Tikka. Ie.long throated long actions and no competition for a mini for a grendel. I have a howa 6cm, and its fine, but my Tikka rifles are great. I built a 6 dasher, 7 saum, and a 6.5 PRC on Tikkas and they are all capable of one hole groups. The howa can do it, but it's harder to run and not as pleasant. The Tikka has a lot more and generally higher quality aftermarket following, and I just like them. I have heard the Howas can become as smooth as Tikkas, but the tikkas generally start that way. Ive tried breaking mine in by just running the bolt a zillion times, sanding the bolt with super fine sand paper and and other things. It has helped, but it still isn't as smooth as my Tikkas were right out of the box.
 
My first rifle was a Howa SS 30-06 in a McMillan stock.
Now I own 3 Tikkas.. in McMillan stocks.

IF the Howa had come with integral mounts machined into action and a little prettier bottom metal release, nearly all my rifles would be a Howas! Their "bones" are great... It just misses on those two important things for me.
 
Mossberg Vs Howa
Savage Vs Howa
Thompson Vs Howa
Remington Vs Howa
Sure




Bergara Vs Tikka
Seekins Vs Tikka
Semi custom Vs Tikka
Sure.

Nothing bad about a Howa, but Howa Vs Tikka is a non starter.

LOL Seekins and semi customs are head and shoulders above a Tikka. Tikkas are great factory rifles but they're the bargain bin brand of Sako so they don't even stack up to a Sako 85.
 
Gonna get my backside in real trouble here but I am going to say it anyway.

Around here asking for any comparison between a Tikka and anything, is like going to the Corvette Show at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky (which is just across the road from the Corvette Assembly Plant) and asking …. “Which is better a Ford Mustang or the Chevrolet Corvette.”

In otherwords, a total waste of time and electrons, assuming one walks out alive.
 
Gonna get my backside in real trouble here but I am going to say it anyway.

Around here asking for any comparison between a Tikka and anything, is like going to the Corvette Show at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky (which is just across the road from the Corvette Assembly Plant) and asking …. “Which is better a Ford Mustang or the Chevrolet Corvette.”

In otherwords, a total waste of time and electrons, assuming one walks out alive.
Tikkas are fine rifles.......but you speak the truth!
 
I can’t decide between a Howa or tikka. I would like a stainless barrel not too long and not to short about 22 or 24inch. Want to do a bit of target and hunting if I get a chance and you tell me the pros and cons of each rifle. Thanks
Tikka is pretty hard to beat if your talking factory rifles.
 
Having had multiples of both and actually using them; I would say performance for me was a wash... If I had to pick one probably Tikka by a hair.

If you're trying to save some money: Howa. If not Tikka. I like to buy Howa barreled actions through Brownells in the $300 range when on sale + coupons.

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I’ve had a few howas, and they were all smooth and had good triggers, but i prefer my tikkas.
I’m not sure what prices on howas are now, but if it was $300+ cheaper than the tikka, I might lean howa
 
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