Vanguard or Tikka T3 Lite???????????

[locc408]

I am thinking about getting a Weatherby Vanguard or Tikka T3 Lite in .308 or 30-06. I am having trouble deciding. This will be my first step up from a ruger 10/22. I do plan to go hunting with it in the near future. I would like to keep my options open in terms of big game. I will also be taking it to the range to maintain my skills (at least twice a quarter). I appreciate any input anyone decide to make. Also feel free to chime in about other rifles, I am willing to pay up to $700 for a rifle and scope (I'm looking for used rifles).

[Richard Erichsen]

I am thinking about getting a Weatherby Vanguard or Tikka T3 Lite in .308 or 30-06. I am having trouble deciding. This will be my first step up from a ruger 10/22. I do plan to go hunting with it in the near future. I would like to keep my options open in terms of big game. I will also be taking it to the range to maintain my skills (at least twice a quarter). I appreciate any input anyone decide to make. Also feel free to chime in about other rifles, I am willing to pay up to $700 for a rifle and scope (I'm looking for used rifles).

$700 for your whole budget including rifle and scope? If it is the used market you are delving into, then whichever rifle comes up first that fits your budget wins. I would expand your range of what is "acceptable" in the used market and focus on the calibers you want, which are popular and shouldn't be a problem.

I myself detest gun auction boards. Be careful out there. A lot of crooks trying to pass off well worn/neglected weapons as being in "very good condition" and in dire need of repair being passed off as "still shoots great!"

Good luck,

R

[sharxbyte]

He would be able to pull it off if the gun had no magazine (single shot) they retail for slightly above half that of the magazine fed versions IIRC.

[JonS]

I'd go with the tikka. They guarantee moa.

[locc408]

Dang was hoping to keep it under 700... what about 1k....

[goodlookin1]

Tikka. I own a lefty T3 Lite in .30-06 and it's the bees knees for a hunting rifle. If you want more of a target setup, get .308. For mainly hunting, I'd get .30-06 for the heavier bullet selection (if you reload).

308 matches 30-06 in performance up to something like 175 grain pills, but after that, the diminished case capacity causes it to slow down vs the .30-06. Theoretically, however...the 308 should be every so slightly more accurate.

[91 whiskey 209]

I own a tikka t3 lite in .308 and really like it

[JonS]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=589158&highlight=Tikka

Here's one off of the classifieds. Buy this and still have cash leftover for a scope. The nikon pro staff is a really good cheap scope for hunting.

[IVC]

Dang was hoping to keep it under 700... what about 1k....

Upping your budget on a whim is a recipe for disaster (financial).

A much better approach is to look at what's available out there, then create several fictitious setups, from what you would really, really like, to what you can live with. Each setup will have it's price point and you will have a much better understanding of what you can get for what kind of money. This includes playing with different rifles, new vs. used, different scopes, etc.

Once you have competing setups, there are guys in these forums who can really help you with the fine details. The few commenters above who have already posted have some deep knowledge of hunting and rifles in general.

[sholling]

I own a Howa (almost the same as the Weatherby Vanguard) in 308 and a Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06 and I say buy a Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06 if you can afford one but a Vanguard or Howa M1500 will be a lot cheaper. Tikkas have an ultra smooth action, great trigger, and are seriously accurate light weight hunting rifles. I'd buy the Tikka in 30-06 because all Tikkas are long action.

Howa M1500 and Weatherby Vanguards are rock solid and really affordable but it's also about 1lb heavier than the Tikka T3 Lite. If you're in Southern California I'd watch Turners for a sale.

[Richard Erichsen]

Tikka. I own a lefty T3 Lite in .30-06 and it's the bees knees for a hunting rifle. If you want more of a target setup, get .308. For mainly hunting, I'd get .30-06 for the heavier bullet selection (if you reload).

308 matches 30-06 in performance up to something like 175 grain pills, but after that, the diminished case capacity causes it to slow down vs the .30-06. Theoretically, however...the 308 should be every so slightly more accurate.

I agree with everything, except that .30-06 is somehow inherently less accurate. It is not. I'm not even sure how that would be objectively compared in a single rifle. There are far too many variables to generalize, I'd call it a wash. The slightly tapered case is of no consequence.

R

[jmzhwells]

Tikka T3, but everyone loves em and its gonna be hard to find a used one. Here's one on buds. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...+T3+COMBO+3006 Not sure on the price, didn't log in, but probably close to your budget for the combo

[edlacy]

Sports Authority

Check Sports Authority, they had T-3 Lites on sale about three months ago for $449

I have three of them,.223, 243 and 7-08, all with Leupold VX11 3-9X40 with DNZ mounts.
All shoot MOA or less with factory ammo. Even better with handloads.
If I had to empty my safe of all but three rifles, these would be the ones I'd keep.

[toby]

I'd go with the tikka. They guarantee moa.

So does Weatherby .99 or less

[sholling]

So does Weatherby .99 or less

Only if you're paying extra for the sub-MOA version.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/21245/Weatherby+Vanguard+SMOA+SS+30-06