AZZA'S HJ47 wrote: Ideally it will be used for occasional hunting trips however due to the extremely busy work comitments I'm subject to it will more than likely be used solely as a target gun.
Lets throw another spanner in the works of thoughts.
"Solely as a Target Gun" then I would not be thinking of a light weight sporter / hunter weight / profile barrel as they will heat up very quickly in target use. "Occasional Hunting Trips" then I would be thinking of a Varmint Weight / Profile Barrel and put up with the extra weight for that occasional use. Then again your target thoughts may not be benchrest shooting but one of the other formats that requires a light weight rifle.
The next thought is which ever Tikka or Sako is to add the "Single Set Trigger" option, a few hundred dollars on top of the rifle purchase but gives you the choice of the standard trigger pull weight for hunting but in set mode gives you a light target weight trigger pull. If you want even better for target I know that with a little Gunsmith work changing the main trigger spring that both weights can be reduced much further.
The Tikka T3 .243W / 6.5x47 Lapua Switch Barrel I use for competition benchrest target has it's trigger at about 2ozs in set mode and about 1lb or less in normal mode. It takes a bit of learning but the very light trigger is what you want for target use. Four of my rifles have trigger pull weights at or under 2ozs and they are a dream to use. This is Benchrest Target Shooting I refer to, other modes you will probably need heavier and some forms of target shooting has minimum trigger pull weights of from a guess 1 1/2lbs maybe more.There are so many forms of target shooting.