204- Browning vs. Tikka?

M

Mwsfarm

New member
Hey guys,
Been a lurker for quite awhile, finally joined the site, lots of good info here.

I don't own a 204, got it narrowed down to a stainless browning xbolt or a tikka t3.

I own a few Tikka's, 22-250 and a 30-06, fantastic shooters.

My son and daughter each won a rifle at our last pheasants forever banquet, a 17hmr browning Tbolt, and a BLR22. I tell you what, browning makes some nice rifles.

I know I wouldn't be disappointed with another Tikka, will I be happy with a browning?
 
Since some have found that the .204 is just not their caliber after getting one, I think it would depend on how much you are wanting to spend/invest in the rifle/caliber...As well as your intended purpose and realistic expectations from the round..

As t the rifle selection, I would go with the one in which you have the most confidence...

We've had some members on this site that have expected more out of the cartridge than it was designed to produce...It's a "Varmint" caliber and while it will work on most predators, some seem to push it's envelop and then complain when the end result is less than they anticipated...

I have two .204s, one is a custom AR and the other a CZ Varmint grade...I've had a Savage in the past that would out shoot most others (wish I had never let it go)...When the .204 first hit the market, a bunch of us bought the caliber in different rifles and at the time, the Savage was the least expensive, but all I could afford...It would shoot better in the other guys hands than their more expensive rifles would, if that makes sense...They started to question their investment, but once spent, you tend to say you like it...
 
Old Turtle... Your opinion on the .204 is interesting. Can you please expand on your opinion? I purchased a .204 a few months back based upon reviews, recommendations, and no negative feedback concerning the round. I would be interested in hearing what you say. BTW, mine is a Savage and it's a heck of a shooter. Thank you...

MWsfarm.... I believe you would be happy with either. The accuracy between the two is comparing apples to oranges. The X-Bolt stock is much more comfortable and well balanced in my opinion, but you pay for it. one question though, why get a .204 when you have a .22-250?
 
Originally Posted By: mailmanmark The accuracy between the two is comparing apples to oranges.

are you saying one will shoot way more accurate than the other? if you are then which one is the better?
 
I personally had a 204 in a browning xbolt predator and it didn't seem to shoot the factory 32 grain v max all that well. Now before guys start slapping me around, I never got to hand load for the rifle cause my loading bench was down at the time so I went ahead and traded it away. That being said, if I were going into it blind and could only choose one to be my shooter it would be the tikka. Like I said I have nothing against the brownings, I didn't give mine a fair shot but man do those tikkas shoot...
 
Brownings and Tikkas are my 2 least favorite bolt guns. Not because they don't shoot, but because of lacking design.

In fairness, I haven't tried an X-Bolt. They changed a lot of "features" that were lacking on the A-bolt, which is maybe the most over priced POS bolt gun ever made IMO. Browning makes some nice guns, just none of them are bolt actions.

The Tikka is not my cup of tea due to the plastic parts, free floated aluminum recoil lug, and the fact that it does not come in a true short action. Just not what I want for what they charge for one.

As for the 204, mine is a Rem Model 7. Very handy and accurate rifle. Great for kids also. I use it for crows to coyotes with no complaints. I like the CZ 527s as well......

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I've owned many rifles in varmint cals and am currently shooting a Browning X-Bolt ( my first browning) and see nothing wrong with it at all. Bolt throw is very low, 60 degrees to be exact....cant stand rifles with high throws. Mag fits flush to rifle. Metal trigger guard and bolt shroud come factory. Factory Dura-Touch stock is nice in -30 temps and the rifle plain out shoots good. Most hand-loads with Varget in 50-55 gr. bullets produce 1" and some well under 1/2" MOA. Trigger is adjustable with no creep. The fit and finish is actually pretty nice in comparison with Tikka. They also design the action around the cartridge vs a one size fits all vs Tikka.
My past Tikka rifles have shot very well but come with thin plastic trigger guards and flimsy bolt shrouds,,,Im in extreme cold temps and most plastic does not fair well at all. I can live with plastic mags, they are usually thick and sturdy but Tikka parts are pretty thin.
Id buy a Weatherby Vanguard over a Tikka T3 lite. T3 lite was a super rifle 5 years ago but others have stepped up and its no longer the deal it once was.
The .204 is a great round if you can load for it and find 39 gr. Blitzkings, 32 gr. bullets usually splash and cause runners. I hunted for a bit with a . 204 Model 700 LVSF...It had extraction issues and I promptly got rid of it after 2 smiths couldn't fix it.. Remington have never really been good to me.
Again everyone mileage may very...this is just one coyote hunters thoughts.

Cheers!!
 
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Slicker.... for the most part, either will out-shoot the shooter.... and both shoot very well. Out of all the Tikkas and X-bolts that I have and had, I would never bet my life on which shoots better. If really set on a .204 , I would seriously look at the CZ 527 ...
 
Not to sidetrack the thread, but how in the heck could 2 smiths not fix a 700 extractor problem? Obviously,(I have to assume) it wasn't just a bad extractor, because I can replace one in 5 minutes. I'd love to hear what they had to say in regards to this, if you care to share it........
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunNot to sidetrack the thread, but how in the heck could 2 smiths not fix a 700 extractor problem? Obviously,(I have to assume) it wasn't just a bad extractor, because I can replace one in 5 minutes. I'd love to hear what they had to say in regards to this, if you care to share it........


cold fingers???
 
Either way you go, should have a good shooter, but some things to consider may be.

Do you plan to do anything different with it after purchasing? like a stock upgrade, or trigger upgrade? etc. Then look at what the aftermarket supports. Tikka is starting to get a lot of support in that arena so that may be a selling point one for it.

From what I've seen each individual rifle seems to have it's own personality and what it likes. I have a Rem XR-100 and it likes the 40gr bullets significantly more than the 32's, Doesn't seem to matter how hard you drive either of them either. While my dad's 2 Rem 700 (one sporter barrel and one varmint) both like the 32's better (same twist rate on all 3 rifles). Granted we're talking the difference in 1/4" groups and 3/8" groups but it is a difference. Meanwhile my brother's Ruger M77 varmint seems to shoot all bullets pretty much equally well but doesn't like the highest velocities with them. All 3 will shoot the factory Hornady ammo (any flavor) well under an inch @ 100 though.

Long story short all 4 of the rifles in my family shoot very well, but all get their best from different hand loads.
 
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It's not just which one is better, it is which one fits you better. I was planning on buying an X-Bolt a few years back until I held one. It just didn't feel good to me, but the Tikka fit me very well.
 


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