adam f Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Just swapped out my 22.250 for a 243 to enable me to be deer legal. But what rifle to go for? I want to buy once and buy right, but saying that I dont have an endless budget. Ive just picked up a Zeiss Duralyt to pop on the top. Currently looking at Tikka T3 vs Howa 1500. Stuck between the practicality of a synthetic stock and a pretty grey laminated stock. Set on a stainless action and barrell. Now a few people have thrown the M595 into the mix! Dont know much about them - did prefer a newer gun, but people seem to highly rate the M595 action? How easy is an aftermarket laminated stock for one of these if I go that way? Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Hi Adam, take a look at this from Neil ..... LINK on same TOPIC (almost) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Buy a new T3 lite if you are going for deer and those are the options, the laminate looks very pretty buy adds a lot to the weight. When you pick one up in a gunshop you need to remember once you add mod sling scope and mounts the whole package can be weighty if you are on foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 I looked at tikkas but ended up buying a new x bolt, shoots lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 The Tikka T3 Lite is an excellent rifle, and I would recommend that you get one. I'm not knocking the Howa 1500 though, as my mate has one in .223 caliber, and it's excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Both rifles are good straight out of the box. I personally am not that keen on the T3 synthetic (not keen on any synthetic) and prefer the Howa's Hogue stock. I have a Howa and can't fault it, but if I was doing any amount of woodland stalking I think I would opt for the T3 as it's a good bit lighter than the Howa. If you do come across an M595 in the right condition at the right price you won't go wrong. Basically, all new rifles are good otherwise they wouldn't sell so it all comes down to picking a few up and see what you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Buy a new T3 lite if you are going for deer and those are the options, the laminate looks very pretty buy adds a lot to the weight. When you pick one up in a gunshop you need to remember once you add mod sling scope and mounts the whole package can be weighty if you are on foot. I agree with the above. My T3 Lite on it's own weighs very little, but by the time the scope, moderator and bipod is added, it certainly makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Now you don't say which way round the stock thing is, however I like Laminate over plastic for its rigidity and ability to take both synthetic bedding better and Pillars way better. A little weight makes a gun steadier in the aim (up to a point). Buying a .243 win I should always buy new out of preference or done in for a re-barrel with something better if the price was good enough. The .243 win have only one real downside and that is if they have done a lot of fast varmint bullets they don't last long in the barrel. I shouldn't worry about finding an older model Tikka as they stopped making the 595 nearly ten years ago and the best of those with the metal bottom iron and mags earlier than that. The chances of finding a real nice 595 in .243 win with a good barrel and all metal will be darn hard. A Stock though can always be changed in time if you allow for it in the cost so I shouldn't over stress about it. My preference is a McMillan or similar composite, failing that a good laminate. On a classic fine weather sporting rifle a bit of real nice Walnut but you have to except the upkeep and damage and without pillars the climatic movement- if it is to be a hard working rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 After having the exact same questions I've got a T3 Lite stainless waiting for me in the shop. The weight difference is quite substantial and having shot a lot of Tikka's I know they are decent guns. The Howa was going to be a punt at something new for me and that put me off. It needed a £100 upgrade to get a detachable mag too. The poll results favoured the Tikka by quite a margin but I think that perhaps shows what a following the Tikka has rather than the lack of quality of the Howa. The laminate stainless Tikka is a beautiful gun. A good mix of stability and looks. But as Al4x said, it does add a bit of weight. That said it is by no means heavy. I never noticed mine to be uncomfortable and I carried it for several hours or even all day on a number of occasions complete with an 8x56 S&B scope and Wildcat P8 mod. Not the lightest of accessories! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Neil, do you regret selling your .243 CZ now? I bought a CMM4 moderator for that very reason of lightness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam f Posted August 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 More thanks. My 22.250 was a Remmy 700 with a DM80 and massive 56mm scope - it weighed a ton! I'm keen on a lighter gun this time - also a bit shorter if I can, the Remmy had 24" barrell, plus 4/5" for the mod. I'll shop around and handle a few next week. I didnt know the M595 was as old as that - it seems many rave about them, but as I only want to buy one gun to last me, it seems new might be the way forward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimmie Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 A good friend has a .243 M595, it's a great rifle !! Very well made I had a T3 and that was good to, but in truth even with its age the 595 felt a better quality. Just my opinion though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Neil, do you regret selling your .243 CZ now? I bought a CMM4 moderator for that very reason of lightness I do to some extent. I think I sold my T3 6.5x55 to get it which was a stupid thing to do. I then bought the .243 for deer which was even more stupid. I then realised I hated it as a deer calibre and sold it for a substantial loss... Stupid! I never considered keeping the gun as I had seen it as my deer rifle and there was no way in hell it was staying with me for that job. I didn't think about keeping it as a foxing gun though which was daft as it would have been great. The only good that came of the situation is that I then bought my M595 in 7-08, which is easily up there with the T3 I sold. The 595 is a very nice action and I agree the whole gun feels better made than the T3 does. Back to the light stalking rifle thing, the Tikka sounds good. It's got a 20" barrel so is fairly short too. I wouldn't worry about chasing the 595 action too much, the T3 is very smooth. Give me a couple of weeks and if you find yourself passing there will be a 595 and a T3 here - you're welcome to compare them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 More thanks. My 22.250 was a Remmy 700 with a DM80 and massive 56mm scope - it weighed a ton! I'm keen on a lighter gun this time - also a bit shorter if I can, the Remmy had 24" barrell, plus 4/5" for the mod. I'll shop around and handle a few next week. I didnt know the M595 was as old as that - it seems many rave about them, but as I only want to buy one gun to last me, it seems new might be the way forward? In .243 win then new is certainly the way forwards, Unless its time for taking the custom route from a donor gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 I've got a Tikka T3 in .22-250 and I cannot recommend this rifle enough.It is Superb!! I looked at the Howa before I bought the T3 and noticed out of the two guns that the T3 is far nicer to cycle the bolt than the Howa!Its super smooth IMO!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tharsus Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Just sold my Howa and they are a great rifle, solidly built and well engineered. They are heavy and the pick of the stocks for me would be the Bell & Carlson version (mine was laminate, then PSE Composite). I looked at the T3 and it seems toy like to me, too much plastic and a poor hollow synthetic stock, its only over here that raves about them, in the states they are a budget gun T3 lite is around $500, so we are getting shafted. A lot is made of the smoother bolt on the T3, how many times will it get worked when stalking/foxing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 And how much is a Howa in the states, a Remmington etc.? Yes we get well and truly done here even in NZ the guns are cheaper pro-rata and the UK is said by many to be the second biggest market for guns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 (edited) The Remington 700 ADL scoped rifle complete kit is $440 on the Cabela's site. The Weatherby Vanguard (Howa) is £550 bare which is the same as the standard blue T3. I would consider the T3 to be at the cheaper end of the market here too. Outclassed by Sako, Sauer, Blazer etc. It's ahead of cheap and naff but nothing to write home about. A mid range gun you might say? The Howa is perhaps the best of the budget and pretty similar in price to the Tikka here too once you've added the mag kit to make them even. Edited August 25, 2013 by njc110381 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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