I had my heart set on buying a Kimber Montana in 300wsm for use in elk hunting in the mountains. They cost WELL over $1100 new.

Well low and behold I came accross a new Tikka T3 chambered for 300wsm for $550 at Cabelas.

The only short cuming I have ever heard about Tikka T3s is their groups tend to open up once the barrel gets hot, but other than that T3s are considerd one of the best rifles for the money out their.

I know both the Momtana and the T3 have well earned reputations as extreamly accurate, well made rifles so the only thing left for me is how do I justify spending over 2x as much money to buy the Kimber? I already have a scope so that cost is not a factor.

I am the type of gun owner that simply does not part with a accurate rifle, so I most likely will have this rifle for ever as I have little doubt about eithor rifle living up to their accuracy reputations.

So for those out their who own Tikkas or Montanas, what are your thought? I do not want this to become a T3 VS Montana debate, I am just looking for opinions as why to by which rifle based on facts not feelings.

Thanks,

Arthur.

aren't t3's gauruntiiieeeed!!!! to shot 3 shot moa groups?

I dont have a Tikka but do have a Kimber Montana that I love. My answer would be buy the rifle that fits you best--if you are going to keep it the price difference realy doesnt matter.

SSR

I had a Tikka in .280 that just felt cheap in my hands. There was flashing on the seam of the synthetic stock that needed to be taken off before you could put your cheek on it.

I sold it without shooting it. Nate

I have a montana in 325 its a good gun I had to shoot it alot before i got groups under an inch but i think that was mostly me. I looked at a tikka but didnt like the feel im not say any thing bad about tikka just wasent for me. I picked up my kimber at Cabelas for $899 went there to look at a rem700XCR and the tikka seen the Montana picked it up and it felt like it was made for me. I think the stock on a tikka is the deal breaker for me but if i would have paided $1100 for my montana you could get a nice stock for the tikka and be under 1100.

Despite Beretta engineering the T3s down to a price and then selling it for more than the older Mx95/Mx90/Mx5 rifles they still have a what is effectively a sako barrel and a damn fine adjustable trigger.

I've never had a Kimber, the one I have seen looked well finished, better than a T3 and no plastic magazine, trigger guard or bolt shroud, and shot pretty well with the guy's homeloads.

On the other hand the plastic on my M690 has never effected it in any functional way and you couldn't buy her from me for anything.

TIkka rifles tend to shoot very well, barring the odd dodgy batch one hears about occasionally, due to excellent barrels, triggers and a strange bedding system that works well. I also like the stock design and the palm swell.

I can't help you choose but the Tikka will almost certainly shoot well and being designed by the Finns will be a reliable rifle in all sorts of conditions.

As we say over here "you pays yer money, you makes yer choice".

For what it is worth I have no desire to own a T3.I don't like the looks or feel of them and for me that is important. On the other hand there is a Montana at the shop I deal at that I just love. Stainless with a light(Kevlar maybe?)stock and fits me well. If it was not a 325WSM I think I would shell out the $1050 they want for it.

I have a Kimber Montan in 7mm08 which shoots well & love it as it it is so easy to carry during a hard hunt in the hills and bush. On the other hand my friend has a T3 in 7mm WSM & it shoots very well too.

The Tikka is a great rifle and the best value for money among factory rifle now IMHO.

For a 300 WSM I'd go for the T3 as the Kimber will recoil a lot more.

You could actually buy 3 T3 for the price of one Kimber!

Something to think about. Wouldn't a 1-2 shot MOA group really be a more appropriate affirmation for a mountain hunting rifle?? Just saying, speaking from experience. Spend your money and follow your desires.

Just one quetion from an uneducated Redneck. Do you plan on havinmg to shoot at an elk until the barrel gets hot????????

Not trying or meaning to be a smartass here, but very few of the elk I have shot seemed to be interested in standing around if I hit them with the first shot.

Once you get the rifle sighted in, and if you can place your first shot where it needs to go, what difference does it make where shots 2 and 3 go?

If you have done your part the critter should be down and dead with the first shot or at least hurt bad enough that shot number 2 can be taken at feet not yards.

i dont think the kimber will have more recoil my 325 is not bad at all and thats with 220s just get the one that fits you best. My montana heats up after 3 shots the best gourps are when i shot 2 let cool and then do 1 more but im happy as long as the frist shot goes to the same spot.

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .300 Win Mag. It flat out will not shoot TSX or TTSX bullets with any acceptable accuracy. It will shoot anything else such as NP's, NBT's, A-Frames, Gamekings, Accubonds and I'm not sure what else I've sent down the tube with very good accuracy. It is easily one of the ugliest guns I've ever owned. It is also easily one of the smoothest actions out of the box I've ever owned. It does kick a bit hard in the magnum actions, but what would you expect out of a 6.5 lb rifle?

For $550 I can't see a better buy out there. I have nothing against Kimber's but for the extra money I don't think you'd be buying accuracy or a better action.

The plastic on the Tikka would steer me towards a Montana if price isn't an issue. I mainly speaking to the bottom unit and magazine. The Montana is just simply a high quality rifle compared to the Tikka which is built to meet a much lower price point. It's really not fair to compare the two. If accuracy matters more than quality you likely won't be disappointed in the Tikka.

I have a t3 stainless 30-06 love the gun shoots just as well as mine and my budys $1000 + rifles and i don't cry when i scratch the stock

I had a tikka Stainless laminate in 25-05, a very nice shooting rifle and I had a 260 Varmint, both are outstanding shooter with whom ever is their current owner. just prefer my Steyr in 6.5x55.
How many threads and posts have we seen in recent years about my Kimber won't group very well vs threads like this regading Tikka's? FS

I've a Tikka M590 and will be building another one in an M595 or M590 again (best left hand actions in the Tikka range...). I would NEVER sell my M590 and I am sure that I will not regret building the one in the M595 either. Buy the Tikka, hands down. As for the group opening up, well, it is a sporter weight barrel, in a magnum cartridge, so what is the problem? It is going to happen. But, then again, as one of the previous contributors to the thread said, how many times have you shot game till the barrel got hot?

best wishes,

Finman

What made you think ANY opionion is unbiased, gun owners are the most biased people on this planet!!!!

The Redneck hit it pretty well right on the spot...ANY mechanical device can have problems and EVERYONE pitches a fit when they pay chump change and expect "gold dust" in return. and mindlessly whine about "PLASTIC". If you want steel, just replace the plastic parts as time goes on.

You want a good, cheap, accurate rifle, buy a Savage...I haven't found ANY game that came up to me and inspected my rifle brand before saying "OK, shoot.", and EVERY Savage rifle I either built out of parts or bought has shot less than 3/4" groups even with factory ammo...and MUCH smaller when you tune the rifle and load...the same goes for every rifle I've ever built or bought.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a T3...but individual rifles DO have imperfections...EVEN KIMBERS and (gasp) Savages.

This is a bit late to be looking around for used guns, but most large gunshops/sporting goods stores have racks full of excellent rifles in EVERY caliber and much lower prices than new.

You're not looking for a benchrester, so go find something cheap in the 30-50 cal range, with a scope and buy it...you might even find a used Kimber if that is what you must have.

DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF to what other people think...push that envelope until you bust through it.

Luck

Since somebody already mentioned savage....

I have not owned either of those rifles mentioned but after reading an article about this savage

Model: 111 Lightweight Hunter

I've been fighting not to sell off a couple of my hunting rifles and replace them with one of these. For a mountain elk gun, at 6lbs your finished out weight with a scope is gonna be sweet to carry.

Wife has a Tikka in .270 Win, and a good friend has one in .338 WM. Both are older wood stocked versions, and shoot under 1/2 groups with my hand loads.

My Montana, which I just bought, in 300 WM is fantastic. Shot under an inch with a generic handload I put together for a goat hunt.

It has a great stock, is super light, and feeds like proverbial butter.

I didnt't get the Tikka because of the detachable box magazine, I didn't like the stock or the recoil pad. I figured if I bought it I'd want to replace the stock and if I could find one, I'd be looking at the same total cost as the Montana.

Bottom line, if you can afford it, get the Kimber, you won't be disappointed. If price has it's limits for you, get the Tikka and you'll get the same performance, but with a DBM and a tupperware stock. Oh, and the Tikka rings are pretty damn expensive compared to what you can get for the Kimber.

I have a T3 in 25/06, it was purchased due to its light weight making a balanced rifle with a moderator fitted and I didn’t want to have my existing rifles threaded. It’s a nicely balanced combination.

Down side, short barrel, I now use 100g TSX.

It works and is accurate, the wood isn’t the hardest and damages easily. The plastics bits fit in with the rifles weight and intended use. It’s a reliable accurate rifle that I use, but it will probably get traded one day. If your criteria is reliable and accurate a T3 might be the ideal rifle for you, but I lean towards a more classic design/construction.

Foobar, plastic bottom units with a plastic latch to hold the mag isn't mindless whining, it is answering a question relevant to to the thread, you should try it sometime.

My most sincere thanks to all who took the time to answer my request for help. But despite all the respnces (quite a few more than I thought I would get) I still am having a dificult time desiding.

I will say this much. I have given both the Montana and the Tikka T3 a fine toothed come going over, and were I agree the T3 has not quite as good fit and finish as the Montana, I will say I found no "deal brakers" interms of short comings with the T3.

So I will have to think on it some more, but I should not take to long as there was only one T3 in the close out rack.

Again, thanks to all who replied your help is greatly appreciated.

Arthur.

Actually, dempsey, I think I DID answer the question.

I say again, over, if you DON'T like plastic, then you have the choice of picking steel or aluminum before you pay out your hard earned money...the whine comes when you/ANYONE picks plastic then moans(is this word more suitable?) about it.

I didn't mean or imply a diss or flame...plastics, as a noun or a verb or as a polymer, is here with us to stay, it has a mechanical AND chemical definition and will probably still be around when steel has long since returned to ferrous oxide or whatever the resultant form may be.

The polymer form seems to be the whipping boy for some individuals, just as "classical" wood vs "Mattel stocks" are to others. Steel can be thought of as a plastic as well, if you really think about it.

The simple matter is just change it to whatever form you like and say nothing...moaning about "plastic" in it's polymer form seems to be a past time is what I'm saying...MY opinion, yours may differ...YOU should try it sometimes, by the bye... ...not to get a "mindless" hoohaw/fuss going.

Luck

I have owned both rifles. A Kimber in 300wsm and a Tikka in 223. Both were very accurate and very lite. For a big game rifle, ALL OTHER PERSONAL PREFERENCES ASIDE, the safety on the T-3 comes off WAY too easy. The three position safety on the Kimber is far superior.

Lance

quote:

Originally posted by ARTJR338WM:

Well low and behold I came accross a new Tikka T3 chambered for 300wsm for $550 at Cabelas.

BUY IT!!

quote:

The only short cuming I have ever heard about Tikka T3s is their groups tend to open up once the barrel gets hot, but other than that T3s are considerd one of the best rifles for the money out their.

Here comes the unbiased owner's view (look up "oxymoron" in a dictionary, please):

I bought mine about 2 weeks ago (T3 Lite Stainless).
I have been positively pleased.
I did exprience the opening up of the group when sighting in. Then, again, this weekend the barrel was hot enough for me to get heat mirage in the scope but still the holes touched each others @ 100m (110 yds) w/ factory Norma Oryx 180grs ammo. The Federal Trophy Tipped grouped within 1", too, with a hot barrel.
On the lite model the barrel gets hot quite quick so if you shoot a lot on the range, this can be a problem. Whether all Tikka T3 rifles share this problem, I don't know.

Out of the box I'd bet it is the best available - certainly one of the best. No loose screws, no bedding needed etc. Just load it and shoot (well, perhaps better clean the barrel first although I didn't have time so I didn't).

It fits me ill so I bought the higher comb (this year's news, I believe, as few dealers know you can buy it as part for the platic stock. As alternative, there's Beartooth's neoprene combraiser that my friend has had for years on his old Tikka.)
Tikka's recoil pad is hard and one is well advised to replace it with somethin better (I know I just said you only need to take it out of the box and shoot it...)
With the raised comb and longer butt it fits me 90% well, i.e. plenty good enough.

Function is flawless. (With the firm experience of having put 30 rounds through it.)

quote:

I know both the Momtana and the T3 have well earned reputations as extreamly accurate, well made rifles so the only thing left for me is how do I justify spending over 2x as much money to buy the Kimber?

You don't.

- Lars/Finland

PS. I know nothing about the Kimber rifles so I cannot make an educated statement as to the betterness of them versus other makes of rifles.

foobar, the particular plastic piece I refer to will not out last steel by any means. Plastic serves a useful service in many budget priced rifles.

I run a stainless T3 lite in 338 win mag it is fantastic,easy and light to carry smooth as silk to action and as accurate as i can use and then some,barrels heat up on all guns so how many rounds were you figuring on letting go? hit the first time you should be right.lol.I also run a older model tikka in 300win mag cant fault it either.My eldest boy runs a T3 in 204 ruger swears by it for long shots on foxes etc.and is in the process of getting another in 308.My advice grab the Tikka save the$$$,s and go hunting

My one experience with Kimber was a COMPLETE DISASTER. So my opinion of them will be very biased.

The one Tikka I've shot I wanted to hate it but simply couldn't. The bolt was so smooth it felt like it rode on roller bearings and the accuracy was superb. My only complaint is the rifle has too much plastic on it for my taste.

If I had to choose between the two I would buy the Tikka and a really nice scope with the money I saved.

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:


If I had to choose between the two I would buy the Tikka and a really nice scope with the money I saved.

Terry

Wisdom so profound, I wish I had said it first.

My Tikka has an illuminated Zeiss on it worth multiples of the value of the thing.

Best advice for a hunting outfit, ever.

Having a few Tikka rifles...both T3 and the earlier 595 series....all I can say..like others is they are accurate...trigger is superb (with instructions in manual) Sako barrel...bolt action is slick as snot...most will complain of the T3 plastic...but I can live with it...they are a workhorse rifle....put good glass & rings on it and go huntin'...two pc Leo bases for Tikka are #54447 then I add Burris Signature rings..here's my T3 lam/SS 6.5x55 w/Nikon 5-20

Here is my opinion as an outsider, as I have neither. You will pay lots more for the Kimber and personally, I couldn't care less how pretty the wood is because it means NOTHING to me. A gun is to use, and for this, the TIKKA takes the prize. Any gun but a heavy-barreled varmint, will open groups when it gets hot-irrelevant for a hunting gun. You are going to be shooting elk for God's sake, not prairie dogs! Buy the Tikka and don't look back unless you have lots of money to throw away.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:

My Tikka has an illuminated Zeiss on it worth multiples of the value of the thing.

Best advice for a hunting outfit, ever.

Agree - my Zeiss is almost three times the price of the Tikka.

- Lars/Finland