First centerfire - recommendations please

[Newguy85]

Hi all, first time poster. Looking for some advice please.

I'm looking to buy my first centerfire rifle, for mostly target shooting - very occasional scrub trips.

I've been looking at all sorts, but have *sort of* narrowed down to
Lithgow LA102
Tikka T3x
Remington 783 (simply for the price tag)

I'm leaning toward the Lithgow because Australian made, and some good reviews out there.

Calibre I'm tossing up between 223 (cheap rounds) and 6.5mm Creedmore (because accurate).

Also looking to get into reloading in the short to medium term, is it worth reloading 223 for fairly casual target shooting? (looking at reloading because I enjoy that sort of mucking about in the shed!)

Thanks for any input!

Dave

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Hey Dave

I saw the list that you've narrowed things down to
You've gotta great list going on there

However, for my 1st Centrefire rifle

I decided to go for the Howa 1500 in 223
- Amazing price
- Very accurate
- Very reliable
- Lots of people love it
- Lots of great feedback about it
- Japanese technology/quality control is top notch

Id recommend checking out the Howa 1500 before making a final decision

[Ziege]

Buy a .17 Remington and let me know how it goes..... Been thinking of getting one for a while

[Wm.Traynor]

Welcome to the forum, Newguy85
What do you want to hunt on your scrub trips mate? I see that you are interested in two calibres. Are they adequate for the game you will hunt?

[solarpak]

Dave,
like the above posters have already stated - what are you intending to hunt in the scrub??

If you are looking mainly at target shooting (informal plinking) at the range then the 223 will do nicely BUT if you want something that can do target and hunting the scrub ( i assume feral pigs etc...) then a 308 could be a better bet than the creed moor.

Anyway brands - The Howa M1500 is a great platform available in many different barrel profiles and lengths - and for under a grand you can easily pick up one and have enough money for a decent set of scope rings and a good steel picatinny rail.

Lithgow LA102 - i would give it a pass - the rebarrelling fiasco has severely dented their reputation.
Tikka T3X - prices have skyrocketed north of $1500 ......i recall when the basic T3 lite used to cost around $900!!! - great rifle though the T3x but getting very expensive.
Remington 783 - no. no, no.
C.

[marksman]

out of what you have put up definitely the tikka

and as solarpak said Remington 783 = no, no, no

[albat]

Shot a sauer 100 .223 , i own tikka and howa , i prefer the sauer

[SCJ429]

For a new target shooter a 223 will give you better results than a 6.5 Creedmoor. You can easily find a Tikka T3 Varmint secondhand for $1,000. If you don't reload you should be able to find some reasonably accurate ammo and if you do feel inclined, you can make up some really accurate reloads using quality components and shoot 500 metres and beyond. Just sit back and admire your new found marksmanship.

[SCJ429]

I should confess I own a few Tikkas ..... And a few Sakos.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

I agree with what everyone has said.

From your list;
I would select the Tikka also.

However I would choose the Howa over the Tikka.
Because brand new, the Howa is half the price of the Tikka
And you'll achieve similar enough results with the Howa anyway once you find the ammo it likes.

That's just my opinion though

[Khalild]

I'm looking at a 223 for my first c.f. too. Very much leaning towards a howa.ive shot a couple and liked how they shot. Great bang for buck too at around 800 with scope and bag for the 1500 varmint at my lgs. there are heaps of reviews using different ammo.

[SCJ429]

I agree with what everyone has said.

From your list;
I would select the Tikka also.

However I would choose the Howa over the Tikka.
Because brand new, the Howa is half the price of the Tikka
And you'll achieve similar enough results with the Howa anyway once you find the ammo it likes.

That's just my opinion though

I have not seen anyone achieving similar results from a Howa. What sort of groups are you getting from your Howa?

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

SCJ429;
The best group that I achieved with the Howa was 0.7" at 100metres
To me that's accurate enough....
And since the Howa is half the price of the Tikka
I see so much value in Howa
(Value for money)

[SCJ429]

That is excellent from a Howa, you must have got yourself a good one.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

SCJ429;
This guy here achieved a 0.6" group with a Howa also at 100metres away:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3CmQypK8eBo
(Despite quite windy conditions)
There's so much potential in Howa's I reckon
And for $700 only for the Howa varmint version
You just can't go wrong I dont think

[Newguy85]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the responses, it seems the Howa 1500 is a firm favorite around these parts!

In response to the what game question, rabbits, foxes, goats, maybe pigs. But there's always the Adler! And as mentioned, predominantly range target work.

After reading the responses I've gone and looked thru a lot of reviews of the Howa in 223, looks like it might be out in front for my needs.

Disappointing about the Lithhow barrel cracking saga, I would hope they've sorted that out by now??

Cheers

[SCJ429]

There are plenty of Howas at a popular Brisbane fun shop for less than $500, the cheapest is $399.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

That's awesome SCJ429
Even better
In Victoria, they sell for around $700
(From when I last checked)

[SCJ429]

You know you can get them posted to your gunsmith or club armorer. They can do the transfer for you.

[Wm.Traynor]

IMO,
The 6.5 would be better for pigs than a 223,
However
The smallest calibre I have used on them is 308W and a 150 gn pill. That is the minimum for pigs that I would recommend but on standing game that is not spooked, you could get away with something smaller.
Good luck mate

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Yeah I know SCJ429
I got my Henry Youth imported from Queensland couple months ago
Great little rifle that one is too
Love my Henry

[marksman]

dont discount the 223 on pigs although not lMO optimal if you want a rabbit, fox, goat, target and occasional pig rifle
this is a howa 223 that l put together for a young bloke who went rabbit shooting and got a couple of pigs with 55gr osa ammo

[John]

If you can afford it go with the tikka you will never look back a very well made firearm but there are many cheaper options that have had great reviews some I’ve shot and have surprised the hell out of me how good they where 223 is a good start not to big easy to shoot cheap to load can’t go wrong as a starter I don’t think but have a look at the cheaper options and the money saved could go in to a decent scope there something you get what you pay for

[Sergeant Hartman]

With the aud gone down they won't be for 399. But the biggest problem is that it woop be around 100 shipping and 100 for transfer. So nearly the same price.

I have a howa in 223 while i do get routinely under 1" 5shot groups at 100m i look at my friend with his tikka and its just always much better near enough to 0.5". The other friend with his sako is about same but his rifles looks better.... more $$$.

But the best fun is ringing the gong at 500m with the 223 at windy hill.... Actually it's quite easy

[bladeracer]

With the aud gone down they won't be for 399. But the biggest problem is that it woop be around 100 shipping and 100 for transfer. So nearly the same price.

I have a howa in 223 while i do get routinely under 1" 5shot groups at 100m i look at my friend with his tikka and its just always much better near enough to 0.5". The other friend with his sako is about same but his rifles looks better.... more $$$.

But the best fun is ringing the gong at 500m with the 223 at windy hill.... Actually it's quite easy

Shipping a rifle from Brisbane to country Vic is no more than $60, I've bought at least four from up there. One from country SA only cost me $35.
Interstate transfer is $50 tops.

[Ziege]

With the aud gone down they won't be for 399. But the biggest problem is that it woop be around 100 shipping and 100 for transfer. So nearly the same price.

I have a howa in 223 while i do get routinely under 1" 5shot groups at 100m i look at my friend with his tikka and its just always much better near enough to 0.5". The other friend with his sako is about same but his rifles looks better.... more $$$.

But the best fun is ringing the gong at 500m with the 223 at windy hill.... Actually it's quite easy

My howa and my brothers one both shoot sub 0.25moa groups with light handloading and 0.5 with hornady and federal factory pills.

[poid]

I've got a howa, lithgow and a couple of tikkas. All shoot well, the howa isn't quite as accurate or finished as nicely as the tikkas/lithgow. Since the 223 is a nice thing to shoot you'll probably end up keeping it for a long time, so if I was in your shoes I'd be looking more at the tikka or lithgow.

go and handle them all and see which one you like. There isn't a bad choice in that list.

[Oldbloke]

I would get a 223 first. Good for anything up to goats and small pigs. Reload for best results.

Then later get a 308 or similar later if you decide you need it. Much better to have both rather than a compromise.

[Steve-0]

There are definitely more than a few good options for an affordable.223 out there.
I went a Howa for mine. Cheap, so far hasn't missed a beat, and plenty accurate. Sometimes I do wish I went for a .204 tho.

I really like the Lithgows, and if I had the money available to spend, would definitely buy one. So many good reviews, and super accurate.

Do you have any rimfires?

[MJW380]

I bought a tikka .223 for my first centrefire rifle, basic blued lite 1-12 twist, learnt good shooting fundamentals before moving onto bigger kickers. It was super accurate with factory ammo, ridiculously accurate with handloads and the factory trigger was excellent. I actually liked the plastic stock too, lots of people don’t.