Thread: Browning X-bolt vs Tikka T3

Looking at either a Browning Xbolt or a Tikka T3 done heaps of hunting with the old man and keen to get out a bit more, any recommendations of calibre and other options would be appreciated. Thanks in advance would be my first rifle

T3 can’t go wrong - stick to 270/7m08/308 if you have done a bit of shooting. Someone here might have a good deal for a set up ready to go.

Tikka advantages- standard action length and wide aftermarket parts availability. If you decide to upgrade the stock it will be very easy and you can swap out the grips on the factory stock to customise to your needs. Most of what you are buying is in the barrelled action. The bolt lift isn’t as aggressive as on an x bolt so a smoother bolt lift can be perceived. This will likely suit you better if you value the ability to upgrade your rifle as you go.

X bolt advantages- locking lug arrangement on bolt allows for lower mounting of scopes with a lower chance of the bolt knob conflicting with the eyepiece of your scope. Tang safety is easier to get to with your thumb and also locks the bolt. While this is the same on the tikka, the x bolt has a bolt release button so you can safely remove a cartridge from the chamber with the safety on. Avoid any browning rifles with a dura touch finish.

Caliber choices
223 rem
1:8 twist will prefer heavy pills around the 70 grain mark while a 1:12 will prefer 55 grain. Very cheap to run and capable of taking medium game at close to mid range. Will get blown around by the wind more than heavier calibers and requires good shot placement.

6.5 creedmoor
Great beginner cartridge which excels at medium range but can also be used at longer ranges with good shot placement, almost on par with 308 for ammo availability. Doesn’t like being cut down as it relies on speed and long high bc projectiles to retain energy/ killing power. Highly optimised cartridge with low recoil and good capability.

308win
Classic bush pig caliber which can be cut down to 16” and still be very effective at range when paired with a suppressor. Relies on mass more than speed with subsonic factory loadings also being available which makes it very versatile. - one of if not the most popular hunting calibers in Nz

7 rem mag
Long range hard hitting magnum, one of the top contenders for the most capable/popular long range cartridges. With that stopping power also comes higher recoil. I would not recommend this caliber to someone new to shooting purely for this fact but worth mentioning just for its ability.

These calibers represent a good spread of capability that are different enough from each other while dominating what they excel at.

Originally Posted by ElDax

Tikka advantages- standard action length and wide aftermarket parts availability. If you decide to upgrade the stock it will be very easy and you can swap out the grips on the factory stock to customise to your needs. Most of what you are buying is in the barrelled action. The bolt lift isn’t as aggressive as on an x bolt so a smoother bolt lift can be perceived. This will likely suit you better if you value the ability to upgrade your rifle as you go.

X bolt advantages- locking lug arrangement on bolt allows for lower mounting of scopes with a lower chance of the bolt knob conflicting with the eyepiece of your scope.

The T3 has a lower bolt lift than most two lug bolt actions due to the angled cut of the locking lug abutments. Do you own and use all those calibres/chamberings that you have listed? I do (bar 6.5 Creedmoor, but that will change soon), and don't agree with your assessments. Reads like a Google copy-paste job.
@BullsOnParade , I'd sugguest you go down to the local gunshop and look at ammunition avaiability and prices. No point getting something that other blokes tell you is great but ammo is either impossible to find or mega expensive. Reloading is a large time and resource sink (if you think finding loaded ammo is hard/expensive... try doing that for primers/powder/projectiles).

Originally Posted by caberslash

The T3 has a lower bolt lift than most two lug bolt actions due to the angled cut of the locking lug abutments. Do you own and use all those calibres/chamberings that you have listed? I do (bar 6.5 Creedmoor, but that will change soon), and don't agree with your assessments. Reads like a Google copy-paste job.
@BullsOnParade , I'd sugguest you go down to the local gunshop and look at ammunition avaiability and prices. No point getting something that other blokes tell you is great but ammo is either impossible to find or mega expensive. Reloading is a large time and resource sink (if you think finding loaded ammo is hard/expensive... try doing that for primers/powder/projectiles).

I work in a gun shop, and yes I do own all those calibers bar the 7 rem mag. Tikka t3x has a 70 degree bolt lift vs 60 degree for the x bolt. I’m not sure why you’re comparing the t3x to other 2 lug bolt systems? He asked about t3x vs x bolt. I find it somewhat ironic you advise him to go ask the local gun shop what has available ammo as you type from Scotland after he just got an answer from someone who works in a local gun shop I’m not going to lose sleep over you not agreeing with my assessment, I will have a laugh and tell the story at work though.

I just replaced a 7mm08 xbolt with a Tikka T3. I liked the xbolt but the duratouch stock was annoying. It all got sticky and peeled off. It seemed to be quite fussy on ammo too and took me a while to come up with some good loads for it.
The Tikka I replaced it with seems to be a tack driver in comparison. The thing that sold me on the Tikka was the availability of parts for it. I tried to get another stock to replace the one on the xbolt to no avail, whereas there are untold stock options for the Tikkas.

Originally Posted by ElDax

I work in a gun shop, and yes I do own all those calibers bar the 7 rem mag. Tikka t3x has a 70 degree bolt lift vs 60 degree for the x bolt. I’m not sure why you’re comparing the t3x to other 2 lug bolt systems? He asked about t3x vs x bolt. I find it somewhat ironic you advise him to go ask the local gun shop what has available ammo as you type from Scotland after he just got an answer from someone who works in a local gun shop I’m not going to lose sleep over you not agreeing with my assessment, I will have a laugh and tell the story at work though.

There’s quite a bit of arrogance from your post, just because you work in a gun shop doesn’t mean you have a monopoly on advice or that information given should be taken over others. Caberslash certainly doesn’t have to like or agree with your post.

Just because you work in a gun shop might mean your advice could be more biased pushing a certain product over another due to supply or profit, I had a friend who worked in a H&F store and as an employee he was always told to push H&F branded clothing over others.

I’m also surprised in your recommendation of calibres that you didn’t even recommend one of the most common cartridges being the 7mm-08!

I think what caberslash was getting at was telling the young fella to go down to his local gun shop and seeing what ammo selection and prices there are which may also influence his decision on rifle/calibre combination he goes for bearing in mind that what’s there one month may not necessarily be there the following month due to supply shortages.

The forum consists of many different people from all walks of life and even different countries, a broad range of experience from novice to extremely knowledgeable but what’s important is that genuine information is shared and yet respected, it's up to the OP to read the opinions given, whether they apply or use that information is entirely up to them.

I hope you share this thread with your colleagues at work ��

Originally Posted by Seventenths

There’s quite a bit of arrogance from your post, just because you work in a gun shop doesn’t mean you have a monopoly on advice or that information given should be taken over others. Caberslash certainly doesn’t have to like or agree with your post.

Just because you work in a gun shop might mean your advice could be more biased pushing a certain product over another due to supply or profit, I had a friend who worked in a H&F store and as an employee he was always told to push H&F branded clothing over others.

I’m also surprised in your recommendation of calibres that you didn’t even recommend one of the most common cartridges being the 7mm-08!

I think what caberslash was getting at was telling the young fella to go down to his local gun shop and seeing what ammo selection and prices there are which may also influence his decision on rifle/calibre combination he goes for bearing in mind that what’s there one month may not necessarily be there the following month due to supply shortages.

The forum consists of many different people from all walks of life and even different countries, a broad range of experience from novice to extremely knowledgeable but what’s important is that genuine information is shared and yet respected, it's up to the OP to read the opinions given, whether they apply or use that information is entirely up to them.

I hope you share this thread with your colleagues at work ��

He doesn’t have to agree with what I’ve said but coming at me saying it sounds like a google copy paste when I’ve taken the time to type out a genuine well thought out response is insulting. I didn’t recommend a 7mm-08 because there isn’t enough of a functional difference between it and a .308 with there being far more ammo available for a .308 plus you cannot get factory subsonic ammo for a 7mm-08. I’m giving him exactly what he asked for- a comparison between a tikka t3x and a browning x bolt. I stand to gain nothing and I’m merely pointing out the irony in his statement. It’s like there’s a percentage of the shooting community who read others advice and get salty when the caliber they like isn’t mentioned and suddenly it’s not valid. Please point out exactly where what I said was wrong? While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, some opinions are more well informed than others.

You missed out .270w. Lol. First rifle and has choice between xbolt or tikka SUGGESTS price tag isn't huge consideration. Possibly buy really good scope n something second hand to learn with,to use n abuse before shelling out for big ticket rifle . You got to start somewhere and to me.far better to do so without worry if putting scratch on brand new high priced rifle.

I think the tikka is an all round better rifle than x bolt.
Lighter, better carry rifle. Better trigger. Generally not ammo fussy and superb out of box accuracy.
Stock or chassis upgrades available.

243, 6.5CM, 708, 308

Long story short as have both in safe is pretty disappointed in the xbolt.
Tikka for me.
Chambering,just make sure ammo is common and easy to get!

Sent from my SM-A556E using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

Long story short as have both in safe is pretty disappointed in the xbolt.
Tikka for me.
Chambering,just make sure ammo is common and easy to get!

Sent from my SM-A556E using Tapatalk

Yip Tikka for me , but i'm more interested in why Andy is up at 0449 am

Got both. Tikka in 223 and Browning in 6.5 Creedmoor.
I prefer the shape and ergonomics of the Browning, seems to be more streamlined and handles perfectly.
Accuracy is similar. No real world difference. But, the Tikka is easier to shoot because of a much better trigger. The Browning trigger sometimes prevents the gun from reaching its full accuracy potential. It's heavy even at the lightest setting and difficult to control the break point. Not easily adjustable either.

If I were you I'd get a Tikka in 243 + a Leupold VX3 in 3.5-10x40, and chuck a Gunworks suppressor on it. Proven setup that is guaranteed to work. Mild recoil so easy to shoot accurately and easy to track your shot. Competent caliber at taking down deer.
I would imagine it can cover the vast majority of hunting situations in NZ. You may struggle finding an excuse to buy another gun.

I prefer x bolts over t3s and own 2 xbolts, it all comes down to personal preference and what fits you the best. The triggers are heavy in the xbolts but a "high velocity hunting" trigger spring helps them alot.

Do you need an excuse to buy another firearm? Just bought a Sig Sauer Cross in 6.5 Creedmoor to have a play in F class @ 800/900 ranges. Existing 223 Howa fills the gap up to 600. Just an itch to scratch.