Thread: Browning X-bolt vs Tikka T3

Originally Posted by Trav-6mmrem

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.

What is a "high velocity hunting" spring? A ball point pen spring?

Originally Posted by Synthetic

What is a "high velocity hunting" spring? A ball point pen spring?

Company in oz that does the springs for xbolts

Not used an X bolt but handled my boys T3 a fair bit in 223 and found the stock way too skinny and I'm not a big person. I use a Mauser M18 instead

why not a howa? great value and out of the box accurate.

Owned both Tikka and Brownings. I prefer the Browning X-Bolt. They make a nicer stock - and shooting is mostly about fit and feel. I currently have the Carbon Superlite in both 223 and 6.5x55. They have lighter shorter fluted barrels with M14 threading and are lighter than Tikkas - T3 lites are about 2.95kghs bare.


They have flush mounted plastic mags which are nicer than Tikkas and nicer for rifle carry.

My Brownings have the Dura Touch which is simply an externally applied coating to the standard stock. Like all coatings it will wear. I like it - I prefer a rifle that doesn't slip around and through my hands and in combination with the stock shape, it would have to be one of the nicest firearms I have ever used. And I used to fill my safes with custom builds. When your coating gets so shagged you don't like it no more you can turn it into a tikka lookalike with a little solvent. It cleans off. Keep the solvent off it before you want to do that. I have not had a problem with my rifles.

I find the triggers predicable and consistent if slightly heavier than I would prefer. Predicable is key. I have 2 lighter springs for my two rifles that I have not installed. I guess I am not that worried about the trigger for a hunting rifle.

Yep maybe not as many accessories as a Remington or perhaps a Tikka. But built to a higher spec than both and I haven't needed any outside of rails and rings. First time ever.

Nothing wrong with a Tikka, but it is in my view the ultimate utilitarian rifle, functional reliable and predicable and boring as. If you want a wee bit more look at the X-bolt super light. But even the standard x-bolt is better in my opinion.

Now in saying all that, I have decided to sell my 223. I will replace it with a super light x-bolt 708. I have other small cal rifles which meet my needs and the Browning 223 doesn't get the use that it should get. Accordingly it is immaculate and has prob fired less than 50 rounds. I will put a listing up for it on the forum tonight.

Just be aware that there are alternatives to Tikkas and X-bolts . . . But retailers will always recommend "what they have on the shelf" so sometimes it pays to look a bit further afield before you lay down your hard earned $$$

Originally Posted by Sidney

Owned both Tikka and Brownings. I prefer the Browning X-Bolt. They make a nicer stock - and shooting is mostly about fit and feel. I currently have the Carbon Superlite in both 223 and 6.5x55. They have lighter shorter fluted barrels with M14 threading and are lighter than Tikkas - T3 lites are about 2.95kghs bare.
Attachment 261963

They have flush mounted plastic mags which are nicer than Tikkas and nicer for rifle carry.

My Brownings have the Dura Touch which is simply an externally applied coating to the standard stock. Like all coatings it will wear. I like it - I prefer a rifle that doesn't slip around and through my hands and in combination with the stock shape, it would have to be one of the nicest firearms I have ever used. And I used to fill my safes with custom builds. When your coating gets so shagged you don't like it no more you can turn it into a tikka lookalike with a little solvent. It cleans off. Keep the solvent off it before you want to do that. I have not had a problem with my rifles.

I find the triggers predicable and consistent if slightly heavier than I would prefer. Predicable is key. I have 2 lighter springs for my two rifles that I have not installed. I guess I am not that worried about the trigger for a hunting rifle.

Yep maybe not as many accessories as a Remington or perhaps a Tikka. But built to a higher spec than both and I haven't needed any outside of rails and rings. First time ever.

Nothing wrong with a Tikka, but it is in my view the ultimate utilitarian rifle, functional reliable and predicable and boring as. If you want a wee bit more look at the X-bolt super light. But even the standard x-bolt is better in my opinion.

Now in saying all that, I have decided to sell my 223. I will replace it with a super light x-bolt 708. I have other small cal rifles which meet my needs and the Browning 223 doesn't get the use that it should get. Accordingly it is immaculate and has prob fired less than 50 rounds. I will put a listing up for it on the forum tonight.

Apart from the trigger the xbolt in my opinion is far more of a rifle, boring rifles are just that.

Originally Posted by 30late

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

I had to much sleep!
I was on the wood splitter by 7am ya smart bastard!

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Originally Posted by Trav-6mmrem

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.

Done that and still a shit trigger.
Fact and I am not spending $500 on an after market trigger.

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Originally Posted by Tentman

Just be aware that there are alternatives to Tikkas and X-bolts . . . But retailers will always recommend "what they have on the shelf" so sometimes it pays to look a bit further afield before you lay down your hard earned $$$

Sakos eh tentman!

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

Sakos eh tentman!

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Haha - maybe if ya have deep pockets, I was thinking about Mauser M18's, Franchi and Ruger Americans to name a few . . . Howa has already been mentioned.

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Not used an X bolt but handled my boys T3 a fair bit in 223 and found the stock way too skinny and I'm not a big person. I use a Mauser M18 instead

That's funny, I'd prefer a slimmer stock. My mate has a Ruger something which has a really skinny stock. I like it. Shows the importance of trying before buying.

I think one thing that is true now days is that with modern machining pretty much any new rifle you buy is going to be capable of the accuracy required for hunting and you don’t need to spend a ton of $ to get something that will be either as capable of, if not more than the shooter.

$ is better spent investing in good optics, something with a lifetime warranty at a minimum as it’s essentially built in insurance. If the budget allows after that, then start looking at the nice to haves.

What sets any product apart from the rest is good design and implementation, good warranty’s are a great indicator the company believes they have achieved this, and not all rifles at the same price point are equal. I’ve seen some really stupid rifle action designs which tend to belong to one company in particular (I won’t mention the name so I don’t offend anyone) but it just makes you think they never bothered to think about this design or bother testing it. It’s a bit like with some of the American cars where you have to remove the front tyre to remove the battery vs well thought out Japanese designs.

At the end of the day, your best bet is to get your hands on a few rifles and see what you like.

Choose the one in your heart leaning to after seeing both rifles in the shop. You won't go wrong since both are good choice. To me, it is like Toyota vs Honda. Hard to choose a winner by logical reasoning.

Your curiosity to another brand probably would get you to own both in future.

I like my xbolt (hell cannon) more due to my personal preference of Browning brand. Tikka trigger is better but both my T3X and Xbolt are shooting sub-moa therefore I can still live with xbolt trigger.

Xbolt recoil pad is softer than Tikka. Strongly recommend to get a limbsaver recoil pad for Tikka if buying heavy recoil calibre.

Originally Posted by Sidney

...functional reliable and predicable...

Worst reasons for not buying a rifle I've ever heard

and a Tikka with a factory 16" barrel is lighter (2.6kg) than a Browning X-Bolt Superlight Carbon and cheaper.