I would take the Tikka without a moments hesitation over the M700.

 

^^^^
This would be my choice as well.

 

I'd take a tikka as well...awesome rifles. Accurate, and beautiful

 

I have a model 700, 24 inch barrel and it shoots 95 grain ballistics extremely well, sub 1" groups most of the time. However, if I had a choice, Tikka.

I understand Tikka shots sub 1" all the time.

I'll bet the model 700 is much heavier than the Tikka.

 

Out of the two listed, another vote for the Tikka.

 

personally I wouldn't buy anything Remington unless it's about 20yrs old.


That aside, I don't like any 308 based cartridge in a gun with a barrel longer than 20". There isn't enough ballistic advantage to the longer barrels to outweight the added length and weight of the longer barrels.

 

Sorry bandit i took back my like.

(ANY) covers a lot of ground. For a carbine /sporter for hunting, yes. For a benchrest/sniper/competition I might want a bit longer &/or heavier bull bbl. Back to the OP, we can say what we would like, what you would like or shoot best is kind of up to you, especially if you have a fondness for Remington. +1 for the older models. Without YOU shooting both side by side WHO KNOWS.

 

(ANY) covers a lot of ground. For a carbine /sporter for hunting, yes. For a benchrest/sniper/competition I might want a bit longer &/or heavier bull bbl....

the OP is talking about a hunting application and so was I. You need to keep things in context Nacho'.

 

Thanks guys for the opinions. And yes without shooting them both I can't decide. I have a couple 700's and I know how they perform but I have never even picked up a tikka. I know a guy who has one in 270 wsm and loves it. May see if I can shoot it to get a feel for the rifle

 

The Tikka is little different and if your use to Win/Rem that has open bolt the enclosed bolt may be hard to get use to. If that doesn't bother you they are accurate.

 

I would be very surprised if you didn't like the slick Tikka. I have never owned one but have shot and handled a fair few and they were all tack drivers and killin' machines.

 

I'd get a Vanguard S2 (24" I believe). I'm not quite sure, though, that you can pick a bullet for a specific rifle however. I've always figured it to be the rifle telling the owner which bullet it will shoot.

Either way, a plethora of fine bullets in .243 to choose from. I'd look closely at an Accubond as well.

 

I have tried the Accubond and partitions. Both are awesome bullets. I have wanted to try the ballistic tips next as I like my nosler bullets!!! But I agree the rifle will tell you what it likes.. guess I put the barrel length in and bullet type bc it usually gets asked

 

Short cartridge, short barrel. I agree with dmsbandit. Carbines are built for short cartridges...and short cartridges were built for carbines. Lightweight sporters use mid-size cases and full sized rifles start at 25-06.

 

Think outside the box!

A stock or custom short action in 308 say, might have a wide variety of barrel thicknesses, length or stocks available otc, or made to the owners tastes for a sporter/ sniper/ benchrest/ competition/ varmint. Heck they even paint them wild hippie like colors for crying outside. Nothing is written in stone.

 

243

Just my .02 but that 95gr ballistic tip out of my wife's 243 is devastating and caused a lot of meat loss on her deer. I've since switched to the 85 gr barnes but yet to draw blood with it.
Just something to consider if you like venison.

 

No claim to be an expert, but the Savage and the Vanguard outshot all 16 rifles in a magazine test. Since I have a super accurate 06 Vanguard, and 2 super accurate Savages (super = < .5moa) I could be biased.
As to bullets, my experience is somewhat limited, but the Hornady SST is very accurate, and has given me 1 shot kills here and inSA.
Bob

Truth is all of the suggestions you received will probably work just fine.

 

Guess they didn't test a Marlin "X" gun.


Every test I saw that included the "X" gun had it beating the Savage and Vanguard.

 

I like model 70 Winchesters or Ruger rifles the best for the money! Now I once purchased a 7mm-08 and was told the barrel was a 22 inch length. However, it looked shorter to my eyes. Anyway the daughter and I fired it off the back porch that late afternoon as the sun was starting to go down.

HOLY COW!!! The muzzle blast was almost to much for starters. The barrel sort of jumped up at the end about 4 inches and I was really shocked. I went inside the house and got my tape measure, then got a reading on the barrel length. This gun barrel was a mere 20 inches in total length. I then gave this rifle back to the store for a complete refund in spades!!!

I called Winchester and they said it was 22 inches, I told them I would bet my truck against a dozen of their model gun rifles.
I took that rifle back down to the gunstore and had them measure the barrel. They too were surprised when the barrel turned out to be only 20 inch long. Winchester has done things like that in past years, then turn around and say your wrong period.
So I like 24 inch barrels, they don't produce as much muzzle blast and are a bit softer on the ears too.

 

I had one of those model 70s. It was called the model 70 lightweight carbine, and mine was in 308. Shot really well and killed a few deer with it. I sold it to a friend who needed a rifle and he still has it. It's killed truckloads of deer and neither of us ever complained about muzzle blast.


I guess your ears are more sensitive.

 

I have 5 .243 rifles from 18" to 26" and yes the short barrel does bark a little but I only shoot animals with it and carry it a lot so the muzzle blast is OK with me. The longer guns are shot a fair amount and with muffs on I can't tell the difference between a 20" Rem 660 and the 26" long range guns. My Tikka .243 has an AI chamber and it is pretty loud too but again it's a hunting gun so I can deal with it by wearing ear plugs. The Tikka is my favorite with the Rem 660 in second place but they are all great shooting tools.

 

I prefer longer barrels. I don't know why but I seem to be able to steady the crosshairs better with them.
I shoot an old Sako with a 25" Shilen barrels. It's the most accurate rifle I own. I shoot 95 gr Nosler Partitions in it.

 

I hope the OP will actually get a chance to hold a sample of each before making his mind. I swore Tikka's fit me funny.