[cfx90]

I'm looking at getting a rifle in the future, I did like the Browning A-Bolt but that little barrel engraving that says Made in Japan turned me off. What about the Tikkas? Where are they made, quality, ecT?

I'm not one for stainless rifles normally but the Laminated Stainless T3 is a good looking rifle. Also the plain Hunter. How do the laminated stocks hold up in a hunting rifle that will be in cold weather and rain (with care after hunts of course). I've heard they're the poor man's Sako, but what's the price range on them new?

 

[bsn]

The T3 is made in Finland, they are suppsed to have the same barrels as a Sako. Tikka is owned by the Italian owned Berreta Co. The laminated stock will hold up fine. The T3 lite synthetic stock feels cheap when you first handle the rifle, but is well desgned and very stiff, one of the best factory synthetic stocks made. Tikkas usually have very good triggers and are accurate out of the box. As far as the Browning it is an excellent rifle also, Japanese made rifles have a well deserved ruputation as being well made and accurate. Handle both and see what fits you best.

 

[Rubberduck]

If you are not concerned with the gun being made outside of the USA then your best bet is the Browning. In a side by side comparison with the A bolt and a T3 you will really be able to tell that the A bolt is of higher quality. The T3s are very good shooters but they have a cheap feel to them that I personally cant shake. Both guns will have detachable magazines and both are offered with synthetic stocks. Will the T3 out shoot the A bolt? Possibly, but not by much. Go to your nearest gun dealer and as, bsn said, handle both rifles and see which one fits you best. And while youre there pay close attention to the craftsman ship of both rifles. Then, just for giggles of course, ask the salesman to see a new Remington 700 BDL or a Winchester Model 70. They are both made right here in the good ol' USA.

 

[Water-Man]

The T3 is made in Finland, they are suppsed to have the same barrels as a Sako. Tikka is owned by the Italian owned Berreta Co. The laminated stock will hold up fine. The T3 lite synthetic stock feels cheap when you first handle the rifle, but is well desgned and very stiff, one of the best factory synthetic stocks made. Tikkas usually have very good triggers and are accurate out of the box. As far as the Browning it is an excellent rifle also, Japanese made rifles have a well deserved ruputation as being well made and accurate. Handle both and see what fits you best.

I believe you're incorrect in regards to Berreta owning Tikka. Berreta is the USA distributor for Tikka. Tikka is owned by Sako.

 

[Harry Snippe]

If you are not concerned with the gun being made outside of the USA then your best bet is the Browning. In a side by side comparison with the A bolt and a T3 you will really be able to tell that the A bolt is of higher quality. The T3s are very good shooters but they have a cheap feel to them that I personally cant shake. Both guns will have detachable magazines and both are offered with synthetic stocks. Will the T3 out shoot the A bolt? Possibly, but not by much. Go to your nearest gun dealer and as, bsn said, handle both rifles and see which one fits you best. And while youre there pay close attention to the craftsman ship of both rifles. Then, just for giggles of course, ask the salesman to see a new Remington 700 BDL or a Winchester Model 70. They are both made right here in the good ol' USA.

Well having both , I would say the tikka has one up on the browning . The tikka after settling in shoots tighter groups than the browning , plus the tikka trigger with out adjustment made was great, while the browning needed adjustment and would only come close to three pound not under .

Want to buy US then buy a Ruger !!
Being a Canadain it does not factor into it . All our rifles are imports.

 

[MikeG]

I have to laugh about the "not buying a gun because we had a war with _____." Folks, we have wars with most of the countries that make ANYTHING. Can't think of a major gun-producing nation we haven't been to war with outside of Switzerland and Sweden...

Food for thought.

 

[doubs43]

I have to laugh about the "not buying a gun because we had a war with _____." Folks, we have wars with most of the countries that make ANYTHING.

The OP didn't make clear why he won't buy a Japanese-made rifle. It could be the war or even the long held opinion of many people that the Japanese only make cheap junk. I well remember that particular reputation of all things Japanese. It was their optics and cameras that began to turn opinions in the late 1950's.

I personally own a few Japanese made Winchesters. They all exhibit the highest degree of workmanship and quality. All are quite accurate too. Miroku (Browning & Winchester) and Howa both make fine rifles.

Unless the OP has really strong feelings against Japanese guns, I'll add my voice to those who have suggested that he do a comparison. It can't hurt.

 

[cfx90]

Just opinion. Like I'm sure you don't like some rifles that I like and vise versa. I will check 'em out side by side. Like I am not a fan of Rugers. The barrels look cheap and the bolts seem sloppy, judging from the few I've handled and shot. I'm sure some of you love your Rugers. And that's fine. Just my opinion.

 

[bsn]

Beretta also owns Sako.

 

[Harry Snippe]

Cfx90
I think you have your own answer to your question. You could go through some of the past posts and see how the owners of each rifle review the rifles in your quest .
The rifle that fits you the best is really the one you need to buy , then second with enough power to do it's intended Job.
Here your mostly going to get each one's personal favourite like the chev vs ford thing .
Savage too is a good shooter but I have a problem with "cocking on bolt lift"
The tikka's I think have the smoothest bolt lift . The Sako's are fine working and also beauful guns , then too the brownings The Marlin xl7and XS7 too have good features, and are noted for groups .Maybe a good value for the buck but maybe you want something with a mag that pops down and out .
The TC bolt action rifles too have good reviews
All in all if it has to look good you too have spend . If you want something that shoots bullets into nice groups you do not always need to spend lots of $$$

 

[hillestadj]

Tikka is made by Sako (Finland). Sako is owned by Beretta (Italy). Browning and Winchester are owned by FN (Belgium). Some are produced in Japan some in Belgium. Many of the Belgian Brownings say MADE IN BELGIUM with ASSEMBLED IN PORTUGUAL underneath. If you are hung up on buying American then look at Remington,Marlin, Ruger, or Savage/Stevens.

Dont fool yourself into thinking a rifle is better because MADE IN USA is stamped on it. Good luck with your purchase and let us know what you decide.

 

[Kahuner]

The first portion of my reply deals with "made in Japan".

Japanese manufacturing can be "world-class"! The Japanese can hold tolerances, on a mass-produced" basis, day-in and day-out. That seems to be their forte'.

However; when a manufacturer like Browning, specifies "less than desirable" tolerances, such as barrel quality, it no longer is a case of where the rifle is made and being "Japanese manfactured" is out of the equation. It's Browning and Browning alone that stands responsible for quality or lack of it!! IMHO, that ain't good!!

Just some food for thought. Your mileage may vary.

Secondly, if it were me, I'd pick a caliber for the type of game I intend to hunt, bullet weight best suited for that caliber (shooting distance etc) and which of the manufacturer's have the best suited barrel twist in the caliber I need for the type of hunting I intend to do. In the past I have found that the rifle I originally wanted wasn't the best choice for my type of hunting due to barrel twist vs. bullet weight. I'm an accuracy nut.

I have never had a bad experience with Remington or Sako. Between the 2, you should be able to find what you need.

Kahuner

 

[cfx90]

Good points all around thanks y'all.

 

[Water-Man]

Beretta also owns Sako.

I stand corrected.

 

[bruceissippi]

Both sons wanted a .338 Mag for high school graduation - first one got a Win 70 stainless classic, second ( three years later ) got a T3 stainless. Tikka has a better trigger, both shoot sub-moa with handloads and wear the same Nikon scope. Tikka is nearly a pound lighter - easier to handle and carry, more "robust" off the bench.
Overall, I like the Tikka very much and would buy one again - especially a 6.5x55.

 

[bsn]

"The first portion of my reply deals with "made in Japan".

Japanese manufacturing can be "world-class"! The Japanese can hold tolerances, on a mass-produced" basis, day-in and day-out. That seems to be their forte'.

However; when a manufacturer like Browning, specifies "less than desirable" tolerances, such as barrel quality, it no longer is a case of where the rifle is made and being "Japanese manfactured" is out of the equation. It's Browning and Browning alone that stands responsible for quality or lack of it!! IMHO, that ain't good!!


Kahuner"

Where did you get the information that Browning specifies less than desirable tolerences such as barrel quality? My experiences with Browning quality has been very good to excellent.

Chuck Hawks has an article blasting the Tikka T3 http://www.chuckhawks.com/critical_look_T3.htm
Just about every reason he gives as an economy shortcut on the T3 is what makes the T3 so different. The Savage was built to be economical to produce, the floating bolt head and tensioned barrel tend to make them very accurate out of the box-more expensive isn't always better. The bottom line is the T3 works and works very well, the T3's I own have never even had the trigger adjusted they are that good out of the box.
Any of the major manufactures put out a good quality product, its just a matter of what fits you best.
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[doubs43]

Where did you get the information that Browning specifies less than desirable tolerences such as barrel quality?

Excellent question. If any of my Miroku-made Winchester rifles were made to "less than desirable tolerences", I'd sure like to know where that would be.

I often wonder where such "facts" get their start. In a competitive market, why would any company go to the trouble of contracting for a product and then stipulate specs guaranteed to give them a bad name? In general I'm no fan of Browning guns but I won't slam their quality as it's quite high across the board without regard for where the guns are made.

 

[Harry Snippe]

I think a lot of " facts " get repeated from some one who has read some thing or heard some thing from some one else . Maybe it was that a gun did not shoot well.
Sako had a recall on barrels awhile back , but that was covered in a recall which means the other guns not affected by the reciol were good.
The Abolt was made in Japan and is a good product , just as Many guns made in that counrty are . The finns also make a very good product .
Some people just bad mouth any product since the family has shot remingtons for generations or drove Fords since the Model T .

So " facts get repeated from what has been repeated as such . Not from what you actually researched given the trouble to find out yourself.

 

[Kahuner]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/critical_look_T3.htm[/URL]
Just about every reason he gives as an economy shortcut on the T3 is what makes the T3 so different. The Savage was built to be economical to produce, the floating bolt head and tensioned barrel tend to make them very accurate out of the box-more expensive isn't always better. The bottom line is the T3 works and works very well, the T3's I own have never even had the trigger adjusted they are that good out of the box.

You're right; re-reading my reply; I didn't word it correctly. I would like to explain 2 points that I failed to make clear in my original response. My reply had nothing to do with Chuck Hawks.

The first is that I'm not a Browning fan, but that's just me.

Originally I was trying to address the OP's comment on "made in Japan is a turn-off" in so many words.
Having spent 25 yrs in the auto industry (in Detroit) I have many years experience with Japan's quality. And here's my point; I would say there's few countries that could match Japan's mentality towards quality. If the original equip. mfgr (OEM) specifies otherwise (loose tolerances), then the lack of quality falls on the OE's shoulders, not Japan's lack of quality. Make sense?

My respnse had nothing to do with Tikka or Sako. Just using Browning as an example of how OE's dictate tolerances.

 

[Harry Snippe]

Well to quote chuck Hawks on what he thinKs of the t3 can too be said of any rifle .Compare Remington Browning and winchester and Marlin from the fifties and to rifles of present day, and there are indeed many short cuts as well as less actual metal in the units .Think he just picked the tikka as an example Same does for the modern cars . The world is griven by profit , so get used to it .
The cheap made guns from Savage, Marlin's XL7/xs7 to name a few are actually good value for the buck. Check on the other forums and the two companies put out a product that groups in about MOA or under . Then the more expensive weatherby may only shoot 1 1/2 " groups, unless your using weatherby calipiers ,and their own brand of ammo . This has you by the curlys in my book.
So here in Canada you pay 1700. for a Sako , less than half for the cheaper Tikka then five for the Venture from TC, and under 400 for the Marlin and Savage entree bolts .The Marlin may have less metal than the Sako or Browning A bolt , How ever they just might make the same little holes . It is more of what features you really want . Do you want to show your buick or just get to work in the basic Chev?