Thread: Explaining Brands

Ultimutsus analysis into accuracy and cosmetics is good.

Many people have recommended "feel" which is very important. Specially does your finger reach the trigger and does the palmswell fit your hand ? No swell can be better than bad swell. Good fit and feel costs the manufacturer nothing.

The other is "features" which increase useability but are often expensive and you can do wihout on a budget . Examples are the three lug 60 deg bolt throw, box mag, 5 shots,metal bolt shroud etc that make the sako twice the price of the tikka. On scopes these include dial turrets, ballistic reticles, >9x, >40mm obj and rainguard all offering real but diminishing returns for a lot more cost. Sort of supersizing your spend.

You have generated a fair amount of interest / advice.
Mine is this, there are two basic trains of thought. Learn from a cheapy or cry once buy once.
I advocate learn from a cheapie and know when to fold 'em and know when to hold 'em.
Your first rifle is always going to be something to remember, for all sorts of reasons. What a lot of the guys are talking about has only come with THEIR experience, some things you need to experience yourself and thats part of the learning curve.
Unless you intend going Wapiti hunting alot, then a milder caliber is going to teach you a fair bit.
As a first rifle I would suggest something like a 7 mm 08

Throw up a wanted add on the buy and sell, see what pops up, theres a couple lads on here change rifles more than undies, so there is always something in the works. I picked up a practically brand new tikka with a serviceable nikon scope for $900.

I have owned a tikka, howa, savage, and a biakal. The tikka and savage shot best, but the tikka has a way better stock and was a step up in finish. That said the savage was still a laser. The howa still shot under 1 moa and was well finished also, but in a laminate stock was a heavy ol girl. The Biakal was poked and couldn't hit a barn door, but still accounted for a few hares and goats.

Of the cheap - middle range rifles I have used the tikka is the best balance of weight finish and accuracy, but you can still kill shit with a very basic rifle.
If I was doing it again, id just buy the tikka and skip the others