Opinions on Tikka vs. Remington ?

B

brass shower

New member
I've been toying lately with the idea of a heavy, very accurrate, high powered 'do anything' rifle in 300 win mag. The 2 rifles I've been comparing are the Tikka Master Sporter and Remington PSS. Both are similar in price, both have heavy floated barrels. Does anyone have opinions and experience with both? I'd like to compare action smoothness and ease of use, accuracy, reliability, general ruggedness... comparisons with other rifles such as Savage, Ruger, and Winchester are also welcome.

Thanks in advance.
 
The Tikka is, out of the box, one of the best made, most accurate, smooth-operating guns you will ever buy. They are made by Sako, a firm noted for the quality of their action.

Furthermore, I have recently done a study on the infamous GunTests magazine..... Tikka always got a big thumbs up, especially as regards accuracy, trigger and action.

I am not sure what model exactly you are referring to, the "Master" Sporter.... I know that the manufacturer and the current importer(s) use different nomenclature. The Sporter is the target version. I have shot it (in .308) and I was more than pleased with the feel, smoothness and accuracy. Then there is the Semi-Sporter, with a heavy varmint-style barrel and the adjustable cheekpiece. This rifle is a real tack-driver.

You will be very satisfied with any of the Tikkas.
 
Having owned rifles from both companies (not in the caliber or configuration you are looking at however) I can offer some general observations between the two companies. My rifles were/are a Remington 700 and Tikka Whitetail Hunter both in .223 Remington.

The Tikka outshot the Remington. With good factory ammo, the Tikka never strayed over 1" for five rounds at 100 yards. The Remington rarely went under an inch. With handloads drop both numbers by a quarter inch.

The Tikka was the smoother of the rifles to operate. There was no grit or roughness in operation and the bolt is smooth as silk. The Remington got smoother with time. The Tikka trigger is adjustable and the Remington trigger is fixable or replaceable. A tuned Remington trigger is nicer than the Tikka factory effort.

I can't offer specifics on durability as these rifles were used for walking around varminting and for predator control on my farm but I would give that nod to Remington. The Tikka uses a lot more plastic in their rifles. Rings for the Remington are cheaper but the Tikka rings are better because they mount directly on the receiver and have a plastic insert to prevent scope marring. IIRC the Tikka was the heavier rifle of the two.

Ultimately when it came to making a decision between the two I went with the Tikka primarily because it had a good, reliable detachable magazine. The Remington had a fixed magazine w/floor plate. I like to keep my rifle for predator control unloaded and have a magazine nearby. I used the metal 6 rounders instead of the plastic 3 rounders.

Given the chance to do it all again, I would spend the extra money for a Sako 75 but I'm very happy with my Tikka.
 
I have the Tikka Continental 595 in .308, and it's a great rifle. It's a free floated bull barrel, and sub-MOA groups are so regular it's boring. :) The action is very smooth, and it's also a great looking gun. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed in the Tikka from the ones I've shot and this one that I own.
 
For several months, I had the hots to buy a Tikka Continental in .243. Tikka's website says that the .243 is available in the U.S. I wasted a lot of time finding out that the .243 is not available in the Continental yet.

I went ahead and bought a Rem. VLS in .243. If the Tikka outshoots this ol' Rem., it'll have to be a real shooter. I still might wind up with a Tikka Continental. I've heard varying opinions on Remington's quality control, but never a bad word about Tikkas.
 
walter,
the tikka is available in 25-06.it should be able to do anything the .243 can do just in a longer action.
 
I'm aware of the Tikka in 25-06. I really don't like the long action guns and am currently pretty happy with my .243 VLS. It's already shooting consistent one-hole groups. I've got plenty to play with until Tikka imports the Continental in .243.

(There's just something about a 55gr. bullet at 4200 fps!!
 
My experience is limited to the Remington 700 VS, but in .223, I've found it to be a suberb rifle. I don't know what model PJR had, but my rifle will group 1/2 MOA with surplus FMJ at 100 yards. Perhaps the Tikka will do that as well, but with the adjustable trigger and the availability of parts/accessories for Remingtons, that's where my money would go.
 
Tango27
The model was a 700BDL, thin barrel and wood stock, quite a difference from a 700VS. I don't disagree with your conclusion either except that I wanted a detachable mag.
 
Tango27,

The Tikka also has a super adjustable trigger, right from the factory. Personally, I think it's one of the best factory stock triggers I've ever encountered on a rifle, and it'll certainly compare favorably with the Remington trigger.
 
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