Looking for some advice on getting my first 308 bolt rifle. This rifle will serve as my hunting rig for deer and hogs down here in South Texas. I don't want some super lite rifle since all my hunting is either from a hunting blind or on a bipod. Looking for 20" barrel and threaded to run a can. Won't be shooting long distance, most of my hunting shots are less than 300 yards. Smooth action with great accuracy and good weight is what I'm after. Will be shooting factory hunting loads as well. I'd like to stay under the $1200 range, the cheaper the better though. Been looking at Tikka T3X and Savage 110 Rifles. Looked at the Remington 700 SPS Tactical as well but not too sure on how well they are. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
- Thread starter PearlWhiteGT
- Start date
Remington has apparently turned the corner.
Of the three you mentioned.
Tikka
Remington
Savage
I would include the howa, it would fall in second place
Of the three you mentioned.
Tikka
Remington
Savage
I would include the howa, it would fall in second place
I'd be looking at a Tikka CTR or Tikka Super Varmint depending on pricing/sales you find.
Have you handled and cycled the rifles you are considering? If you have, that will and should be a big determining factor. Not hard to get an accurate hunting rifle for your needs.
This, easy button and it just makes sense.
You’d be fine with any of the mentioned rifles. Be sure to handle and cycle the actions as Turkeytider said above. That WILL help make a decision.
*edit. Got $20 on Tikka
*edit. Got $20 on Tikka
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The tikka ctr 20" 308 I had was fantastic. Smooth action good factory trigger shot tiny groups. The ruger american predator is a great budget option but the action and trigger aren't in the same league as the tikka. You would get the same use out of it though and they retail for 500 bucks or some other super cheap number.
Here’s a great start for building off of…
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...tte+blued+rec+barrel+ghillie+green+fixed+hogu
Or, if you want an out of the box shooter… I have one of these, and it loves the heavy 210gr. bullets.
www.eurooptic.com
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...tte+blued+rec+barrel+ghillie+green+fixed+hogu
Or, if you want an out of the box shooter… I have one of these, and it loves the heavy 210gr. bullets.
Christensen Arms Modern Precision Rifle .308 Win 16" 1:10" Black 801-03001-00
Flat Rate Shipping on Christensen Arms Modern Precision Rifle .308 Win 16" 1:10" Black 801-03001-00
Have had the Rem 700 SPS, savage 10 and Tikka CTR. Among many others
Tikka CTR hands down. Mines 20” in a krg bravo
Tikka CTR hands down. Mines 20” in a krg bravo
^^^ Winner winner, chicken dinner.
Tikka CTR with the 20" barrel will check all of your boxes and is easily upgradeable if you decide that you want more in the future.
Tikka CTR with the 20" barrel will check all of your boxes and is easily upgradeable if you decide that you want more in the future.
If you can find an FN SPR, they are fantastic rifles. They obviously don't get much love here but the action is butter smooth and an overall reliable rifle. I've linked one down below.
www.snipershide.com 
That is my spr with a south texas hog.
There may be more in the PX if you look.
Outside of FN SPR rifles, i would go with Tikka or Howa 1500.
And this is my howa 1500 with a south texas deer.
So I use my rifles similar to how you want to use yours.
Firearms - FN SPR 308win custom
FN Herstal spr custom barreled bolt action rifle. Near manuf. 20 MOA base. Factory Detachable Mag bottom metal takes original 4 rounders, 20" varmint contour, Rock Creek stainless barrel chambered in 308 Winchester Cerakoted tan - left side chamber area says ‘Embrace Your Rifle’ Barrel work...
www.snipershide.com That is my spr with a south texas hog.
There may be more in the PX if you look.
Outside of FN SPR rifles, i would go with Tikka or Howa 1500.
And this is my howa 1500 with a south texas deer.
So I use my rifles similar to how you want to use yours.
Another plus for the CTR is the 10 round fairly compact magazine. Which is in my gun pictured above
I owned a FN SPR A5 as well. The Tikka trigger is much nicer and adjustable lower with a simple $10 spring. The accuracy of the Tikka is also better than my FN was. If dropped in a bravo chassis the Tikka gets my vote. Otherwise the FN stock is nicer than the factory one on the Tikka
I owned a FN SPR A5 as well. The Tikka trigger is much nicer and adjustable lower with a simple $10 spring. The accuracy of the Tikka is also better than my FN was. If dropped in a bravo chassis the Tikka gets my vote. Otherwise the FN stock is nicer than the factory one on the Tikka
Model 70 Featherweight | Bolt-Action Rifle | Winchester
Light weight bolt-action hunting rifle with classic looks. Checkered satin finish stock with Schnabel forearm, lighter Featherweight barrel profile, controlled round feed, Pachmayr pad.
Or if that is too rich for your blood
X-Bolt Hunter - Bolt-Action Rifle - Browning
Satin walnut checkered grip stock, matte blue barrel and action, detachable rotary magazine, short throw bolt, adjustable trigger, bolt-action
And if money really is an issue
AB3 Hunter - Bolt-Action Rifle - Browning
The Howas are good rifles, install it in a krg bravo, or mdt oryx and you'll have a fine rifle.
The Tikka IS a nicer action.
I would definitely get the Howa. And if you do, you can also jump in on MDT black Friday day sales today and put together a rifle for very cheap.
Where is the MDT on sale at?
Depending on your budget and want to say that you partially built your rifle, then I would go this route, which I have done myself. The Howa barreled actions are nice and never had one shoot over 1 inch moa. There is allot of aftermarket support for them as well now.
As for a chassis for it, I would go with a KRG Bravo, the MDT Oryx is very utilitarian and does not have as many options for the price over the KRG (KRG is cheaper). Tactical Works has bolt on bolt knobs for and a few other accessories for Howa's. With either chassis, you will be able to use AICS style mags, like the plastic ones that Magpul makes.
If you have the budget for a Tikia CTR and KRG Bravo chassis, then I would go this route. The Tikia action is smooth as glass and they shoot really well out of the box, but the stock on them is not the best, and allot of the time they get replaced.
Another option for both actions is the MDT XRS chassis, it's about 150$ more than the KRG Bravo.
I second this FWIW.
I forget which site, but I saw a Solus barreled action in a Bravo chassis in this price range. It would be something you could build on later if you wanted.
That would be PVA, which is a supported vender on the Hide. The post about the sale is in the commercial forums section, which is a good place to get info on the grate deals that are going on with the venders that support the Hide.
I’ll most likely stick with the Tikka T3X CTR and upgrade the chassis later down the road.
I vote Howa barreled action with a stock of choice as well.
I have had my 6.5 CM out to 1,204 yards
-Stan
I have had my 6.5 CM out to 1,204 yards
-Stan
Probably closer to $1500-1600 once you add a trigger.
Certainly a decent option if the budget can be stretched a bit. If not, Tikka CTR.
Where did you find this? I can't find it but I'm in Canada
Is the Howa barreled action a drop in on any chassis or requires skilled work to match them together?
You need to buy a chassis or stock that is inlet for a Howa
It's from MDT's mailing add emails. If you want it, either sign up to their mailing list or PM me and I will forward it to you.
It is a drop in for most modern chassis and stocks nowadays, you just need to buy the chassis/stock with the correct receiver inlet and torque to the manufacture's specs. The only time you have to do bedding or rework, is when you're working with wood, polymer or a semi-finished inlet stock.
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The KRG Bravo chassis is what I’m looking at. Just don’t know if it’s a drop in or requires some skilled work.
The KRG Bravo is available with a Howa inlet.
So it’s an easy install?
Yea, any stock that claims to be inletted for the action should be a drop in, just two action bolts hold it in.
If you get the Howa inlet, yes. Drop in and bolt it up.
Decision decisions… Can do the Howa and Bravo for under $1K or spend about $200 more for the Tikka CTR.
It drops in
Get a Browning or Winchester
Tikka CTR all day long and eventually you can drop it in a Bravo chassis.
Only other factory rifle to consider is an AI.
Only other factory rifle to consider is an AI.
Any particular reason why to go with the CTR mags?
I think they feed smoother than any AICS setup I’ve used. Without any feed lip mods needed.
Biggest reason however is the 10 round double stack center feed mag of the ctr. Much like a AI AW mag. Hold 10 rounds in a mag the size of a 5 round AICS mag. The 10 round AICS mags are much longer
I have a pile of AICS mags. After running my AIAT with AW mags I opted for the CTR mags in my bravo. I would never go back to the AICS if I built another CTR/Bravo combo
Only down side is the cost of the mags. But the ctr comes with one mag and that’s what I use. I don’t need an extra mag for that this gun is used for. If you want 10 extra mags then it will get expensive with the ctr mags
Here’s a 10 round CTR mag next to a 10 round AICS Magpul for reference
Of those options and what you’re doing with it I’d get the SPS tactical threaded with the 16.5” barrel. They’re good rifles aside from the shitty hogue stock but that’s easy enough to remedy with a KRG bravo.
Curious why the SPS versus the other models referenced?
Well the Savage is a POS so just cross that one off.
700 has better aftermarket support than Tikka by far and a factory 16.5” threaded barrel option for hunting from a blind for deer and hogs beats a 20” CTR which would be the closest comparable option.
@redneckbmxer24
Since you are recommending the SPS Tactical for the OP, I'd like to ask what you think of this new production RemArms: LE 700 Police Fluted (available elsewhere) Ticks a lot of the OP's (and my) boxes.
I would 100% buy a new Remington if it fits the bill, the quality on the new ones are great. The SPS tacs can be had for about $750 OTD though so I wouldn’t pay more than $200 or so over what they cost to get the LTR since you’re basically just paying for the stock upgrade. At that point you’d be better off putting it in a KRG or something and getting DBM and such too.
