Thread: Howa 1500 vs. Tikka T3

I have three Tikkas and four Howas.

I guess you could say if one was clearly better than the other, all seven would be the same brand.

Fact is, there’s very little to separate them.

My main gripes are (one each):

Tikka T3: there is something about the factory stock design that produces excessive felt recoil in more powerful cartridges. I replaced the factory stocks with a DPT Hunter chassis which I use for all the rifles, and don’t even notice recoil now. Considering the DPT chassis has a solid metal butt that is saying something. One of the NZ stock makers on this forum explained what it is about the Tikka stock shape that contributes to felt recoil, it was a very interesting post, but I’ve never been able to find the thread again.

Howa 1500/Mini: The bolt & action often need a bit of TLC to smoothen the feel from new. This is often a whinge from non-Howa owners and a very simple thing to fix with fine valve grinding paste and a couple of hours repetitive opening and closing the bolt. One of my Howas was noticeably worse than others but completely rectified now.

The main advantages (one each).

Tikka T3: Having the one size of action is actually a blessing in disguise, because you only need to splash out once on the stock or chassis that suits your needs, and simply drop in the barrelled actions as required. I am forever swapping between the .308 and .223 depending on what I am doing, and the next (long) action will be used in the same way.

Howa 1500/Mini: In proper hunting conditions the proper hunter should not be excessively concerned about scratching their stock or covering the action in mud or everything getting soaking wet. All too often rifles are treated as some kind of adornment and supposed hunters get themselves into a right state when their pride and joy suffers a bit of wear and tear. The price point of the Howa is perfect - it does exactly what it says on the tin and is cheap enough for the average guy not to worry too much about what happens on the hill. Yes they need ongoing maintenance to make sure they don’t rust but that is true of the Tikka too. My Howa carry rifles get a fearful beating, frequently being used as a trekking pole, but they never let me down and I love them for that.

My next new rifle will be Tikka simply because the cartridge I want is not offered by Howa. Last time, it was the other way round, for the same reason.

PS. The Hogue stock (suitably modified) is excellent in dirty wet hunting conditions.