Thread: X-Bolt, A-Bolt, Sako A7 or Tikka T3.

Am looking at purchasing another rifle. What is the best rifle around the $1600 mark, have heard alot of different opinions from rifle dealers but am after some good practical advice from the forum.

Cheers.

Considered the Winchester model 70?

X-bolt, A-bolt or the Model 70 as suggested by Toby. Some people hate the X-bolts and think they're a downgrade from the A-bolt. I own three brownings, like them all. No X-bolt though. If Winchester brought out a Extreme weather 70 in cack-handed configuration I'd buy one tomorrow.

Go handle them, buying a rifle should be about fit and how it feels in your hands

Haven't given them much thought, what are ya thoughts on one compared to others, A7 xbolt etc?

Sako A7, I'm set that that's what my next rifle is and it is NOT an expensive tikka! I'd pay an extra couple of hundred bucks any day of the week to be able to readily top load not to mention having a nice hogue stock and a bit better metal to plastic ratio e.g. steel feed lips, has 3 lugs vs tikkas 2 and comes in short and long action not just one generic action...

Let the shit fights roll.....

Originally Posted by JoshC

Go handle them, buying a rifle should be about fit and how it feels in your hands

As Josh said. Look and compare the features for sure but at the end of the day, it has to feel good when you bring it to your shoulder and pull the trigger.
Quite often when I fire mine, I think "wish i had got it in a 6.5x55" Nothing wrong with 308 but it is a distracting thought

Originally Posted by JoshC

X-bolt, A-bolt or the Model 70 as suggested by Toby. Some people hate the X-bolts and think they're a downgrade from the A-bolt. I own three brownings, like them all. No X-bolt though. If Winchester brought out a Extreme weather 70 in cack-handed configuration I'd buy one tomorrow.

Go handle them, buying a rifle should be about fit and how it feels in your hands

Hey josh what rifles do they do left handed that you've got?

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I've got abolts. And had a left hand bar up until recently. But xbolts come out left handed and are in the country now I see.

Don't forget the CZ550!

invest the $1600 until you double it and then get a Sako Finnlight.

i'd get one in a heartbeat if they made one in a lefthand.

I wanted a finnlight, but then I sat down had a think about it and realised I was paying that extra $1200 or so to say that I have a finnlight. An A7 will shoot just as well. They are beautiful guns though granted - I'd love one.

I've owned 2 a-bolts and and have shot often with 2 sako a7s in different calibres. In terms of ruggedness and solidness the a-bolts win hands down. In terms of accuracy the sako a7 was awesome - but the a-bolts were shooting under an inch which is still bloody great for a hunting rifle.With the a-bolts (and more than likely the x-bolt too) you'll want to buy a trigger spring kit ($50) as they are pigs from the factory even adjusted all the way, whereas the a7's only needed adjusting. Personally - I'd take the a-bolt over a sako a7 purely on the feel factor. I've sold my a-bolt because I'm a mug, and have bought a winchester m70 extreme weather. I returned the first one before a shot was fired because I wasn't happy, but the 2nd one I've just picked up is much better. Time will tell weather it's a shooter or not though.

Originally Posted by Grunta

I've owned 2 a-bolts and and have shot often with 2 sako a7s in different calibres. In terms of ruggedness and solidness the a-bolts win hands down. In terms of accuracy the sako a7 was awesome - but the a-bolts were shooting under an inch which is still bloody great for a hunting rifle.With the a-bolts (and more than likely the x-bolt too) you'll want to buy a trigger spring kit ($50) as they are pigs from the factory even adjusted all the way, whereas the a7's only needed adjusting. Personally - I'd take the a-bolt over a sako a7 purely on the feel factor. I've sold my a-bolt because I'm a mug, and have bought a winchester m70 extreme weather. I returned the first one before a shot was fired because I wasn't happy, but the 2nd one I've just picked up is much better. Time will tell weather it's a shooter or not though.

I personally considered an a bolt wayyy back before i got my bavarian until I handled one, I reckon they feel like toys! ha no offence. Havent had much to do with the X bolt but I've heard they're very similar

lol, no offense taken dude

It's always a personal preference. I'll never buy a tikka purely for the fact that they do feel like toys - yet I know they shoot great. I had the opportunity to grab my mates sako a7 at a reasonably price, but ended up turning it down because I didn't really like the feel either, yet I found the a-bolts nice. I bought a ruger american the other week at a good price and had seen that the reviews were good on them - sold it the following day because that really was a toy - the stock on them was something else - but what can I expect for the price that they are. The winchester I know own I really like except I don't like the bolt lift on it because i've been so used to the short 60 degree lift on the a-bolt. All comes down to personal choice and you'll go through a few rifles before you find what your looking for

Originally Posted by will16

Am looking at purchasing another rifle. What is the best rifle around the $1600 mark, have heard alot of different opinions from rifle dealers but am after some good practical advice from the forum.

Cheers.

see you in 25 pages of piss fights and endless nothing getting anywere ness!!!