Looking into buying my first rifle. I want the Tikka Lite Stainless in the .308 which is roughly $600 then add a scope at $200.

I figure I would wait until I have the funds for this and I may never need to buy a rifle again.

Or, should I buy a Remington .270 with a scope which is much cheaper at around $400.

Just thought I would get some feedback from everyone.

Thanks

Save your money for a Tikka.

Get the one you like best. If the Remington is a model 799, it is a good rifle. If it is the 770 or 710, avoid it like the plague. Most of the rifles put out today are fully functional (with the exception of the above named Remington), so it really is a matter of personal preference. Savage, Marlin, Tikka, Winchester, TC, CZ, Browning, etc. all put out rifles that will shoot better than you.

Love my Tikka, but also love my Remington 700s. All in all I fell like the Tikka is a better OUT OF THE BOX rifle (better trigger and smoother action). I think if you shop around and keep an eye out my might get a better deal than $600, or think about a Tikka T3. I personally would try to get a better deal on the rifle and spend the savings on better scope. Just my $0.02

Don't spend all your money on a nice rifle, a decent scope, and then be left in a position you have by buy crappy mounts and rings. Plan on spending $40 or $50 on that too. In fact, saving up to spend around $300 on the scope would probably be a good move if you think you're setting up with a rig to last you a lifetime (and I strongly advocate the Leupold VX-II 3-9x). Nothing ruins a hunt as completely as discovering your scope has taken a big ol' dump, unless it's the sad discovery that you seated bullets on cases without a powder charge. And no, that's not the voice of experience, just my vivid imagination based on some of my other learning experiences!

Save your money for a Tikka or other Stainless Bolt action and do make that your only and last hunting rifle. The 308 is a wise choice.

Guns can be three things:

1. A Tool
2. Mental Illness
3. A substitution for God (religion)

A "tool" is where you wanna be.

Remington would be my choice. That way if I wanted to I could build a really great rifle later on.

I personally like Remington 700's, Tikka or Weatherby would be my second pick.
If you're talking about a new Rem with scope combo it comes with a junk throw away scope, you'll end up buying another one anyway.

Whatever you do don't cheap out on the optics.

I see it all the time, folks spend $400 ~ $2000 on a rifle then slap a $200 scope on it and wonder why their new rifle won't shoot worth beans and why they can't see in low light.

I'd choose the Remington (700) myself. A good solid platform, and a design that has served me well for a really long time. Not taking anything away from the TIKKA, they are fine rifles. I just know the functions of the 700, and would choose accordingly. And for deer hunting, any of the dozens of rounds that fall between the 260rem and 300win mag will do just fine for deer and most other large game.

If you like the Tikka stick with it, they are good rifles. The 308 is also a good choice for hunting, within ranges most game is shot it will work for anything you will encounter legally hunting in the USA for which the hunt doesn't cost a lot more than another rifle would.

Unless choosing a 5R, VTR or CDL from Remington, the choice for me would be another Tikka over the other choices from Remington.

Thanks guys for all the input...seems like it is more a personal preference on the gun....For whatever reason, I can't get my mind of the Tikka....

Sounds like a NO BRAINER to me, YOU have your answer.

"Unless choosing a 5R, VTR or CDL from Remington, the choice for me would be another Tikka over the other choices from Remington."

X2

My father-in-law still uses an LSA-55 in 308 and loves it.

I have a 700 vls and love it with a leupold scope on it. Its a 308 and you can take down just about anything with it...well maybe not an elephant but maybe

They took down elephants with the 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Shoenauer in the old days. I'll bet that the .308 would do an admirable job with the right bullet and in the hands of the right rifleman!

Then it sounds like that's what you should get. I've never heard anything bad about them. A good choice no doubt.

At $400 buy a Weatherby Vanguard aka Howa 1500 in your choice of calibers. Same modified SAKO extractor system as a Tikka that is superior to Remmy's. Excellent hammer forged barrels and subject to the same minor tuning needs similar to a Remmy. With a Vanguard think solid Toyota quality from back in the good ole days....not exciting, not fancy just a solid piece of work and very reliable. I do NOT like the Remmy extractor or ejector systems that get dirty and worn to the point of failures when I was popping 5k of caps a year and have broken the welded bolt handle off of one - the fix is simple- drill two threaded holes in the flat base of the handle and weld the screws in place. Can be Ugly but it works.

Tikka T3's come with floated SAKO barrels - hammer forged and diamond swaged (polished on the inside) by hand with a target type protected crown at the muzzle, single stack drop box magazines that are almost impossible to make them not feed somehow unlike the staggered magazines of the Remmy & Vanguard. Two piece forged bolts fit together in tapered jam fitting. Plus Tikka has Stainless Steel fully adjustable triggers that can be set from inside the magazine well without pulling the rifle out of the stock, and a carbon fiber NOT a fiberglass stock that is lighter and stronger than the Remmy's AND a set of medium height rings that will accept all 3x9x40 scopes on the market using the Tikka rail mount system that allows you to adjust the scope to your eyes anywhere fore and aft. In harder kickers or if recoil is an issue spend $20 and switch to a ready fit factory cut Limbsaver Recoil Pad. Tikka also comes with a factory Warranty of 3 shot MOA accuracy. Only thing to replace for HARD use in a T3 is to put a set of Talley rings on them...but I haven't had a problem with either of mine so far except to replace the ring screws with steel ones 'cause I am picky that way.

I shoot 2 different calibers in a SS Lite and a wood stocked Hunter Grade well under MOA and neither of them has had to have any tuning at all. Tikka's are not a custom grade rifle but simply the best buy for the money on the market today at it's price point. At double the Tikka's $'s I start looking at upper grade Kimbers and double that I am looking at Coopers & Montana Rifle Co & Serengetti's.

If you want to tinker with a rifle go find a 1990's era or earlier Remington 700 BDL and plan on dropping beaucoup bux to customize it starting with a $250 Jewel trigger. The steel used and fit/finish on those older guns is better than what you can buy today except mebbe in the upper grade CDL's or something out of the Remmy Custom shop at $1-2k. Lots of toys for 700's if you want to play with them.

For approx $200 go buy a Burris FF II 3x9x40 and learn how to use the Ballistic Plex system, they also come with a lifetime warranty comparable to a Leo. I am running a Phillipine built FF II that's on it's fourth rifle, and started life with me on a 7lb 300Weatherby 1st Generation Fiberglass, then a 300Wmg Savage, then a older Tikka 695 Series Hunter Grade 270, and it now sits atop a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 and puts the 250 gr Nosler's, 270 gr Speers and 285 gr Privi's all in or close to the same hole & for sure under MOA with a caliber that generates 3500-4000lbs of muzzle energy ...or just a tad less than a 375H&H does in the same approx bullet weights. The Scope has no shake or shimmy in it with over 2000 rounds shot under it over the last 8 years. OBTW the 9.3 is a GREAT WTail rifle! 'cause you can eat up to the entry & exit wounds with no meat damage or bruising anywhere.
I have another 20+ year old Greely Colorado built 1st Generation Burris FF II Duplex on the 6lb 2oz T3 Lite 270 that may be the best standard 3x9x40 I've ever shot...that I bought used and will never sell. JMHO
Ron

Just go with the T3. I have one and also a 700. There is no question which one has the better action and trigger (hint: Tikka).

That's not a lot of money for a scope so I would go with an open box deal like this one: http://www.samplelist.com/Minox-3-9x40-ZA3-Rifle-Scope-DEMO-A-P3104.aspx

Don't skip on rings either, get decent ones.

IMO .308 is a great round but if you're looking for lifetime multipurpose rifle don't count out the 30.06. Has more ammo options from light to heavy grain rounds, and would basically do anything you want. I wish I would've done that, that's the one caliber I still need. Just my opinion no matter what you get enjoy it.

I don't think you can still find them new but a T3 in 6.5x55 would be the best multipurpose round, especially if one reloads. Big enough for anything in North America, small enough for pretty much anything in North America. 30-06 vs .308, in T3 I would go with 30-06 since it's going to be a long action anyways.

I've often wondered how many people even think about this when buying a T3. You are a thinking man.......I like you.


Chupa