First .223 bolt action

[Chronos]

Have you considered a Howa 1500??? Half the price and they sure shoot every bit as good as a Tikka!!!!!

In my opinion (admittedly as a tikka owner) the Howa isn't half the price once you add a DBM, new stock and trigger job. Plus even the short action Howa is heavier than a tikka T3 (why the many haters complaints about tikka's "one length action" I'm not sure)

The best bet for the op is to handle all these guns and compare in person

Chronos

[Fozzy]

I played with the Howa 1500 and the Tikka when I purchased mine as I had come to a decision between the 2 of them...

The Tikka felt like an all round nicer finnished (see what I did there) rifle...

Like anything it will come down to personal preference... Go annoy someone at the LGS and get your fingers on them

[Aussiehunter91]

Tikka for sure. Can't beat that quality for price

[tactice]

I take it yours aren't among the Remington rifles recently recalled for trigger replacement?

Luckily no. Put the serials numbers in the webpage and mine are ok

[RDobber]

Tikka for sure. Can't beat that quality for price

+1

You know you're getting a rifle that will shoot how you want it to straight out of the box.

[Westy]

Hang on, I'm not hanging it on Tikka's as I own 3- 223,6.5x55 and a 308!

All I'm saying is a good friend of mine didn't have the $$$$$'s to buy a second Tikka so he went for the Howa 1500 on special and I was surprized how well a $550-00 223 shot straight outa the box... 3/4" groups @ 100 with cheap Ass 50Grn Factory Ammo!

$60/100 for the Ammo and $550-00 for the rifle $610-00 to shoot 3/4" groups @ 100 lets all be honest none of our Tikka's did that did they

[Lorgar]

$610-00 to shoot 3/4" groups @ 100 lets all be honest none of our Tikka's did that did they

Mine does better.

*cough* for twice the price *cough*

[RDobber]

Hang on, I'm not hanging it on Tikka's as I own 3- 223,6.5x55 and a 308!

Lies! Get the Tikka hater!

[Weepy]

I was surprized how well a $550-00 223 shot straight outa the box

You definitely can't argue with the Howa price (or the performance you get for it).

Maybe they're just the only brand not gouging us here in Aus?

[Chronos]

Love a good tikka v Howa fight to the death.

Truth is lots of guys spend less money than I did on my tikka and their rifles shoot great and do what they need.

But lots of guys spend plenty more, same thing. Is one rifle better than the other?

Yes, my Tikka is better!

Chronos

[Westy]

Mine does better.

*cough* for twice the price *cough*

NOW THAT'S BLOODY FUNNY!!!!!!

[Lorgar]

Well that was like a $1,300 joke so I'm glad you liked it

[RDobber]

Yes, my Tikka is better!

I endorse this statement!

[Warrigul]

You definitely can't argue with the Howa price (or the performance you get for it).

Maybe they're just the only brand not gouging us here in Aus?

Hell, I bought my stainless sporter Howa a couple of years back on special for $549 + $30 post and $20 at this end. It is acceptably accurate(MOA) with everything I put through it but did take a little bit of tweaking to get the best out of it(crows at 200m). Nice trigger, every man and his dog hase used it and the horrible green rubber stock is still in good nick.

Is the Tikka varmint I will (possibly subject to testing a Savage) replace it with $700 worth of better? Who knows but I have had a Tikka in .243 for quite a while and have never owned such a no fuss rifle before. I will miss being able to top load.

Horses for courses, usually a Howa will shoot better than most people and at least the trigger is adjustable for weight and sear engagement. If I had to have something cheaper than a Tikka it would still be a howa, the only reason I am changing is I was pestered to sell it and I use the .17 more and am swinging more to the .223 for casual targets rather than hunting, hence the need for a heavy barrel(should never have sold the .223 Omark).

[handofcod]

I bought a Tikka Hunter in 223 and liked the calibre so much I bought another rifle just for target work at the range. I ended up with a Remington 5R milspec. Shoots under half an inch easily and on good days more like .3" at 100m. Don't need a dbm if you are loading one at a time.