I want to buy a new .308.bolt gun.

[tj3006]

Thinking of the CZ 600 American, or maybe a Tikka T3X light.
  The Ruger American Gen 2 is just to damn ugly. A 77 MK2 might be ok. A bit spendy maybe a Model 70.
  But The Tikka and CZ Both Shoot well and don't break the bank. Various Howa Built or CVA rifles have my attention too.
   Your opinions please?   ...tj

[bigbrowndog]

CZ is a nice gun, but Tikka has longevity behind it, and it’s a damn fine gun as well. A friend had both and the Tikka would be my choice, the wife has a T3/308 and she calls it “magic”. The availability of stainless is just one thing that nudges me towards the Tikka.

Trapr

[dobegrant]

I have the Tikka T3X compact 20” barrel great rifle

[tj3006]

Thanks for the replies.
Tikka is the front runner. I have lots of time,I am leaning towards the T3X light.
Some of the more expensive versions have stocks I like better, but most have threaded barrels. I don't care for that.
I would prefer a hinged floor plate over a detachable mag, but that's no big deal.
Thinking I might scope it with a Leopold VX3 3.5X10.
My old Savage 99 is still a great rifle but brass stretches.
So I shoot factory ammo only through it.
I am wanting to hand load 150 at 2800 and 165 grain bullets. At around 2700 fps.165 gr Ballistic tips for deer and Accubonds for Elk...tj

[bradshaw]

Nov 20, 2024 7:30:49 GMT -5 tj3006 said:

Thanks for the replies.
Tikka is the front runner. I have lots of time,I am leaning towards the T3X light.
Some of the more expensive versions have stocks I like better, but most have threaded barrels. I don't care for that.
I would prefer a hinged floor plate over a detachable mag, but that's no big deal.
Thinking I might scope it with a Leopold VX3 3.5X10.
My old Savage 99 is still a great rifle but brass stretches.
So I shoot factory ammo only through it.
I am wanting to hand load 150 at 2800 and 165 grain bullets. At around 2700 fps.165 gr Ballistic tips for deer and Accubonds for Elk...tj

*****

tj3006.... my limited experience with post-modern bolt rifles favors the Tikka T3x with slim 22” barrel, a light, tight shooter. Excellent trigger. Removable magazine, with single column feed, which probably simplifies reliability from diverse cartridge profiles. A removable mag is convenient for loading/unloading rifle, yet a liability if misplaced. My old fashioned preference runs to hinged floorplate concept, although a blind mag is good, also. Keeping track of magazines is no small matter when it isn’t in the rifle at all times, which negates its convenience. The whereabouts of a magazine is of no concern when its part of the rifle. And, what about availability and price of detachable mags, especially in years to come?

Ruger Americans I’ve shot are a club, with none of the warmth of a proper Ruger M-77 (preference: Bill Ruger’s original tang safety model), Remington M-700, the pre-64 and early USRAC Model 70’s, along with the Beratta made M-70 and some of the Kimbers.

Bolt lift
The cocking piece retracts as the bolt handle is raised on all modern and post-modern bolt actions. On some, the lift is stiff when operating at shoulder, and especially prone. The great Mauser 98, prime example of stiff bolt lift. Winchester changed all that with the Model 70, still the best for silky bolt lift. Stock M-70 bolt lift came in handy when I flopped prone on a running elk, my body stretched downslope, with muzzle angled up to track a target galloping up the other side. The M-70 Classic .338 Win Mag showed why its pre-64 forebears owned the non-service rifle, rapid-fire course in High Power Rifle competition.
David Bradshaw

[tj3006]

I am glad Mr Bradshaw and I are of the same opinion about detachable magazines.
Good ol Elmer said it best when talking about revolvers over semi auto hand guns.
He said he liked the revolver cause when you have some of it, you have all of it. ...tj

[Thunderjet]

Check out Eurooptics. They often run a sale on Tikka rifles. I also believe there is a $75 rebate on them that will end Nov 30.

[hounddogman]

Last few years I have been hunting with a Ruger 77 Hawkeye hunter in 308 with a suppressor, it has been a very serviceable rifle but lately I have been wanting something a bit lighter. I spent a couple of months handling every bolt gun under $2000 and Monday I went and ordered a Tika T3x Lite in 300 WSM. I'll have the barrel cut and treaded and probably get a ultra light stock for it. The after market support for the tika was one of the things that drew me to it. Another nice one though is the Browning X bolt. It also has a detachable mag but it's flush with the stock. My wife has one and it's a pound lighter than my ruger and they are both wood stocked, 20 inch barreled 308s with very similar scopes.

[brant]

Nov 21, 2024 1:04:01 GMT -5 hounddogman said:

Last few years I have been hunting with a Ruger 77 Hawkeye hunter in 308 with a suppressor, it has been a very serviceable rifle but lately I have been wanting something a bit lighter. I spent a couple of months handling every bolt gun under $2000 and Monday I went and ordered a Tika T3x Lite in 300 WSM. I'll have the barrel cut and treaded and probably get an ultra light stock for it. The after market support for the tika was one of the things that drew me to it. Another nice one though is the Browning X bolt. It also has a detachable mag but it's flush with the stock. My wife has one and it's a pound lighter than my ruger and they are both wood stocked, 20 inch barreled 308s with very similar scopes.

There is in fact a tempting sale on Tikas at Euro optics right now!

[parallaxbill]

I just picked up a Ruger American Predator G2 today. I kind of like the looks of it. Got plenty of the classic style rifles but this one looks like a deer getting tool and that's okay with me.
Best of luck with whatever you end up with.😎

[aciera]

Ruger 77 RSI over at 24HC