Thread: Committed to new rifle, now which one?

Hey fellas,
Went to the gun dealers today and he's going to sell my .270 Remington and with that money plus a bit more I'm going to buy a 300wm for long range stuff and hills hunting. Tossing up between sako a7 or tikka t3 hunter. Only negative with the hunter is I'm worried about warping in constant wet or humid places. Is it really a legit concern or not? Peoples opinions between the two?

where are you planning to hunt?

Tikka over the A7 - coming from a Rem700 owner. Timber stocks have been around a bit long and seem to have done OK.

Bill - I try to do an NZ trip once a year but it'll mostly be for Victorian High Country sambar hunting. You can get rain, hail or shine there with all of that.

US - I have only ever had wooden stocks but it's always been on the back of my mind about warping. This year in NZ my Bav spent the whole week without being dry and I was just petrified it'd warp. It didn't but it's the only thing making me hesitate with the T3 Hunter

If you go with the A7, make sure you get a current model with the Soft Touch (ST) stock as opposed to the original A7 stock that had a smooth finish. The ST stock has ribs in the fore end and weighs about 250g more than the original - which reportedly had some issues with cracking.

could go the T3 and then change the stock?

buy a standard t3 and put a stug stock on it mate

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

buy a standard t3 and put a stug stock on it mate

+1 or if you can hold off for a while and would consider a as new second hand rifle , l would look at a 75 or 85 off Abused guns there have been some bargains coming up there, if you take your time and look and make a offer on one that has been sitting for a while l picked up a 75ss in 300wby with optilock mounts,loopy vx3 and a limbsaver fitted and 2 1/2 boxes of ammo for less than a Mctikka a while ago and was very happy,a lot of blokes cant handle or have no use for the bigger bangers here .The reason l went this way is that as well as being a much better built and handling , l will just keep the 75 now and it will always have the memories of me getting my first of what ever species or the bang stick l took to the Fiordlands/Africa for the first time etc but thats just me

Everyone will tell u to buy a tikka and that a A7 is an expensive tikka. but i think the A7 has a great feel, top loading mag and a nicer feel bolt. The A7s flaws are tinny fore end (that can be stiffened) and lack of after market bits.

Forget them both and buy a secondhand 75 or if your wallet can handle it a new 85.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Forget them both and buy a secondhand 75 or if your wallet can handle it a new 85.

Damn right!

Never had a stock warp or even change point of impact due to weather. Keep it oiled up and your good.

T3s magazine length will restrict you if you are loading for the 300wm. Not sure about the a7.
Wood stocks are fine if properly cared for.

Originally Posted by Shearer

T3s magazine length will restrict you if you are loading for the 300wm. Not sure about the a7.
Wood stocks are fine if properly cared for.

A7 mag is 3.34" in my 7RM but there is a bit of plastic you could cut out

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Never had a stock warp or even change point of impact due to weather. Keep it oiled up and your good.

What he said