tikka ctr or tactical

[timetohunt]

G'day people , forgive me i know very well there is a million and 1 of threads about this , but the answers just veer off without a full answer. i am desperately in need of a new rifle and have put my eye on the tikka's (.308 ), original choice was a model 98b .338 but ammunition prices for them are through the roof , what should i go for Ctr or Tactical ? also open to all suggestions and opinions , also any good scope recommendations would be appreciated . will be using for hunting/range , i know the $1000 difference between the 2 is ridiculous but tossing and turning over what to get , hoping to pull a bit of range with it.
thanks in advance for any replies and the time taken .

[AZZA'S HJ47]

G'day people , forgive me i know very well there is a million and 1 of threads about this , but the answers just veer off without a full answer. i am desperately in need of a new rifle and have put my eye on the tikka's (.308 ), original choice was a model 98b .338 but ammunition prices for them are through the roof , what should i go for Ctr or Tactical ? also open to all suggestions and opinions , also any good scope recommendations would be appreciated . will be using for hunting/range , i know the $1000 difference between the 2 is ridiculous but tossing and turning over what to get , hoping to pull a bit of range with it.
thanks in advance for any replies and the time taken .

I haven't really had a look at the tikka tactical I am quite familiar with the CTR range defiantly a quality piece of gear and to tell you the truth I didn't buy the CTR I honestly believe that I will get one either in 223 or 308 in the CTR. End of the day you will have to make the call as to what you are happy with. if you are mostly going to be heading down to the range you cant top feed the Tikka and if you local range is as bizarre as mine the thought of allowing you to have 5 rounds in the mag is enough to have the rangers head explode. trigger shroud is plastic. bolt shroud is plastic however alternative items are radially available. I personally am not a fan of the synthetic stocks and currently as far as I'm aware Boyds don't do stocks for the CTR. like I said have a good hard think and a look at your local dealer. I ended up with a sako 85 varmint cost a bit more but ultimately couldn't be happier

[juststarting]

Well, I don't have any experience with the Tactical but I really like my CTR.

Re: Scope - viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5560 <-- have fun, the conversation went to sh*t few pages down, but... Have fun.

[timetohunt]

Thanks for the replies , AZZA'S HJ47 , very interesting well i was reading up on the ctr specs say aluminium guard and 10 round metal magazine which is what really caught my attention and then theirs that a rifle not able to top load pretty disappointing but passable ,you don't have to tell me about them at the range bit silly to be honest should be able to shoot whatever the legal mag capacity is for the state as-long as you do it in a sensible way and manner ,wouldn't be too keen on changing stock right away i am with you 100% synthetic are not very great in any way other then weight , sako 85 varmint i must say very good gun what do you have set up on it? ,just looking for someone elses opinion and them being made by sako factory makes them quite a sweet deal . thanks for that juststarting gonna have a look at some mentioned would like one that's good for hunting as well as target i was recommended a leupold vx 3 and nikon 4-12-40 but not to convinced on them yet , got any photos of you'r ctr always good to see what people have setup.

[Gwion]

Sako Varmint 308win.

Why? Action to fit cartridge, all steel & timber, can top feed for range work and they just feel good to handle and cycle.

[Gwion]

Ps: once you start looking at the tricked out models from Tikka, you may as well spend that little bit more and get the Sako.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Ps: once you start looking at the tricked out models from Tikka, you may as well spend that little bit more and get the Sako.

Sako Varmint 308win.

Why? Action to fit cartridge, all steel & timber, can top feed for range work and they just feel good to handle and cycle.

Main reason i ended up going for the sako control round feed timber no plastic. By no means am i taking anthing away from the tikka

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Honestly if you compare the two youll probably end up witb the sako just sayin lol

[timetohunt]

hmmm lol really got me thinking now its only $300 difference and option of iron sights , top load , best of all wood ,only thing i can't find anywhere that stock extra mags for them , hows the quality of the cycle ? seen a lot about the tikka cycle being one of the smoothest can only imagine this being better ?

[timetohunt]

just realized having no top load may really get annoying but the 10r mags would be sweet in the field its nsw max limit for mags as you stated earlier could be a problem in the range , and lets all be honest its much easier to go to range nowadays then organise a trip out

[timetohunt]

AZZA'S HJ47 congrats on the sako by the way seen the thread the other day only now just realized it was you

[Gwion]

hmmm lol really got me thinking now its only $300 difference and option of iron sights , top load , best of all wood ,only thing i can't find anywhere that stock extra mags for them , hows the quality of the cycle ? seen a lot about the tikka cycle being one of the smoothest can only imagine this being better ?

Just order extra mag with the rifle.

[Rifle realist]

GDay timetohunt no expirence with Tikkas, so I don't know much about them. I am a fan of the Sakos they do everything as advevertised can't fault mine. I am trading/replacing most in my safe with Sako. Couple of 700s & a # 1 to go.
AZZA'S HJ47 Nice rifle you will enjoy it.

[sandgroperbill]

ooohh... what's the no.1 rr?

[sandgroperbill]

actually, what you got that you're trying to sell. I'm putting in an additional application next week, and though I don't need anything other than what is on there, I may be tempted...

[Rifle realist]

Hi Bill
The Ruger #1 is in 7 mm Rem I have had it nearly 30 years . there is a bloke who has converted it for quite a while, I have to give him first option. I am waiting to see if I can get a 7X64. I try to replace anything I unload with another rifle. Irrational fear of our licencing system I suppose.
Regards
RR

[sandgroperbill]

Nothing irrational about it mate.

And thats ok, totally understand giving a mate first dibs. I'm not really interested in a 7mm or .30 atm, anyway, so all good. Now, had it been a .35 whelan, .375, 416, 458, 9.3 or anything similar, it may have been a different story

Or something really exotic. I dunno why, but i associate no. 1s with exotic and large game cals.

[timetohunt]

thanks for all the replies ,as soon as i pick out the right scope will go put down a order most likely the sako great looking firearm .on another note no.1 is a great firearm very well made would be a shame to get rid of it tho especially after such a attachment to it

[timetohunt]

any thoughts on the leupold vx-3i ? a lot of customization's colour , engraving so on .
VX-3i 1.5-5x20mm
VX-3i 2.5-8x36mm
VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm
VX-3i 3.5-10x50mm
VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm
VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm
VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm (30mm)
VX-3i 6.5-20x50mm (30mm)

4.5-14x50mm seems like it would do pretty well

[Gwion]

I'd go Zeiss HD5 or upwards in the range. 3-15 or 5-25, depending on what you intend being your min hunting and max target range usage for the rifle.

[Yelp]

just realized having no top load may really get annoying

IMO yup.

[timetohunt]

gwion thanks for that will be having a look at them they seem to be good all round range and hunting prices isn't to bad either, Bushnell elite 6500 really surprised me 4.5-30 seem to good to be true at that price , how do you find the eye relief on the zeiss ? just looking for a day off go down to gun shop.

[happyhunter]

any thoughts on the leupold vx-3i ? a lot of customization's colour , engraving so on .
VX-3i 1.5-5x20mm
VX-3i 2.5-8x36mm
VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm
VX-3i 3.5-10x50mm
VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm
VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm
VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm (30mm)
VX-3i 6.5-20x50mm (30mm)

4.5-14x50mm seems like it would do pretty well

Get one of the models that comes with side focus and the BDC and on the turrets to go with the tacticool rifle.. and the 30mm tube. That would a nice optic to own.

[timetohunt]

do not think there available to us yet i tried a few places got in contact with america sent me to someone in Aus but he didn't have any of the vx-3i series so not sure when they will be dropping. would be very nice and im sure they add a sweet price tag they start at $600 in america so theyll start here at about $1500 lol

[happyhunter]

http://www.opticsplanet.com
https://theopticzone.com

[Gwion]

Only looked through HD5 at the shop. Had a go with a guy's Victory at the range at it was just awesome optically and eye relief was no issue. I can't always pick up someone else's rifle and just drop down on the scope for a perfect picture. The HD5 is the scope where you start getting German construction. I'll be putting one on my hunting rig when I can scrape the money together; I put something else on my 7-08 because it was going to be doing mostly range work and I wanted more elevation than the HD5 as well as tact turrets for dialling to 600 and out.

[happyhunter]

These are worth a look. Mate in the states got me on to them, I've got one on a 204 Ruger in 2-12.5x42. Very tough construction and will take a hard knock without loosing zero, spot on tracking. Made by same japanese factory as the Bushnell Elite series, very similar to the 4200.
http://www.clearidgeoptics.com/ultra-xp5-s/1819.htm

[timetohunt]

Gwion very true , also agree Germans have it spot on when it comes to quality ,that's the thing it all comes down to what you use it , happyhunter thanks for those websites they look like they actually post to Australia which is good for a change , they look worth a try still have a while to choose gonna go fill in forms tomorrow see what rifle is available . has anyone seen them new lines of tikka's ? t3x series whats everyones take on them ? im comparing the t3 ctr to the t3x ctr , what they have changed is : can top feed now, metal lug, interchangeable grip,new recoil pad,foam insert for noise reduction,extra screw placement for rails , metal shroud, what does everyone think ? t3 ctr better or tx3 ctr ? whats everyones opinion ?

[happyhunter]

thanks for those websites they look like they actually post to Australia

yeah mate, I've used all three and the service great.

[hughston]

If it's any help, I bought a tikka varmint in 308, it has a 23. something inch barrel or 600mm which is a bit longer than the two in question. As a hunting rifle it's a bit heavy to be carting around all day but at the range with 168gn it'll shoot 15mm groups @ 100m. As for scope I went big with 5-25x50 Zeiss conquest with high DNZ one piece mounts highly recommended scope. the plastic stocks I think are junk so I swapped out mine for a Boyd's laminated one very light not bad not the best. Also swapped the trigger guard with atlasworx alum & bolt handle. Also went the larger 30-06 mag & swapped out the bolt stop release button for long rang oal hand loads. So I ended up changing a lot of stuff as I go the the range more than I do hunt.